Barclays Apple Bait and Switch
Bait and Switch?
I was about to purchase a new Imac for $2600 and I see the Financing Available (IN RED) so I clicked on it and up pops the deal. No interest for 1 year if you use a Barclays card. Cool, so I "Apply Now" right there in the first area that pops up. Fill out the application,and I'm approved, although I had to give them some more info. No big deal so I make the call and explain EXACTLY what I am planing to do: Use it for the free interest in plain english to the Barclays agent I am talking to. So he tells me just go to the store and make your purchase and the Apple sales person can call Barclays and get approval since I won't have my card yet. So I zip down the next day and voila! they never heard of such a thing at Apple so I speak to the store manager who speaks to the manager at Barclays and what do you know, the charge is approved. Great right!
Wrong!!! They send me the Itunes card (black) as opposed to (white) that i would have had to scroll down to find and for which I get Itunes points but no free financing. I call Barclays to be treated rudely by Nicole (FCANGI) who swears that I had filled out the wrong application. Well Golly Gee! Wouldn't you think the agent that took the extra financial information who I told I was using it for the free financing might say something? Apparently not! So back to my rude Barclays agent Nicole who tells me it's my fault and there is nothing she can do about it and she says it with real attitude. Up one level to her supervisor who says the same thing but that if I apply for the free financing credit card she can move the charge to it and wave all the interest and fees. Then she tells me this happens a lot! Hmmm, sounds like the have a bait and switch problem to me. So I ask you. If an honorable company puts a link to "Financing Options" and then includes a card with Itunes points and no free financing, and then supervisor clearly states that a lot of people all mistakingly apply for the Itunes card in "error" maybe just maybe Barclays has a "small" bait and switch problem?😱
So I have applied for the white card and hopefully this will get sorted out.
Beware of doing business with companies that operate this way and I'm really surprised that Apple uses Barclays for their financing when there are many reputable financing companies they could select from.