I think there is a big difference between missing the fine print on an agreement and what occurred here. The changes that occurred had nothing to do with me not reading the fine print. I was completely aware of the terms that I originally agreed to. The only assumption I made was to believe that the contract I originally entered into would be honored. I'll take credit for that mistake. As far as catching it now or 6 months ago, there isn't much of a difference. It was the same amount of grief and it only took a phone call to get it fixed. The purpose of this thread was just to warn others to be on the lookout and make sure that if you see something funny, you call out the company and not just complacently accept it.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Beware of Apple - Barclay Visa Financing - Terms can be deceiving
- Thread starter apockalipse
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I think there is a big difference between missing the fine print on an agreement and what occurred here. The changes that occurred had nothing to do with me not reading the fine print. I was completely aware of the terms that I originally agreed to. The only assumption I made was to believe that the contract I originally entered into would be honored. I'll take credit for that mistake. As far as catching it now or 6 months ago, there isn't much of a difference. It was the same amount of grief and it only took a phone call to get it fixed. The purpose of this thread was just to warn others to be on the lookout and make sure that if you see something funny, you call out the company and not just complacently accept it.
I am financing through Barclays and they are very easy to do business with. I make my payments on line with a very simple interface and its done. With all the bad mouthing going on about banks, I want to thank Barclays for being there when i needed them. Very easy to deal with. All the online info is very easy to understand. The Customer service is very friendly, And no im not a shareholder.
hey guys how long did it take to get charged? i bought a macbook pro in august and got my barclay account set up and started making payments. but i still have not been charged and the card will not let me make any more automatic payments because i have a positive balance on my account.
i did all the paperwork at apple and got the computer the same day. i noticed on the receipt there was a different account number then my barclay account number. i dont know if this has to do with the fact that i got the student discount and i just got my rebates (three months later) i am wondering if it took anyone else a long time to get charged for it. was there different account numbers on the receipt then on your card?
i did all the paperwork at apple and got the computer the same day. i noticed on the receipt there was a different account number then my barclay account number. i dont know if this has to do with the fact that i got the student discount and i just got my rebates (three months later) i am wondering if it took anyone else a long time to get charged for it. was there different account numbers on the receipt then on your card?
Thanks
As some one who gets your initial intent, thanks.
I was contemplating using it to buy a new MBA and held back. Now, if I change my mind I'll know to watch for it.
It's a bit disengenuous to say, "Read the fine print." Just say thanks and move on. Catching it in your statement doesn't change the OP lesson learned, only the timing.
In a big picture point of view, the timing is irrelevent. For those still not catching on, it doesn't matter if he caught it Day 2 or day 62. It's still something to watch for and you may have to rectify....on day 3 or 63. Get it?
As some one who gets your initial intent, thanks.
I was contemplating using it to buy a new MBA and held back. Now, if I change my mind I'll know to watch for it.
It's a bit disengenuous to say, "Read the fine print." Just say thanks and move on. Catching it in your statement doesn't change the OP lesson learned, only the timing.
In a big picture point of view, the timing is irrelevent. For those still not catching on, it doesn't matter if he caught it Day 2 or day 62. It's still something to watch for and you may have to rectify....on day 3 or 63. Get it?
Wanna know something almost as dumb? 
When I first tried to buy a MacBook Pro online, I noticed the Apple offer of special financing, and applied for it. The reply was that I already had an account that I could use...which I couldn't figure out.
Turns out I had an old Barclay card that I'd forgot about, no balance on it, never used.
I called and they openly and freely told me that they'd be happy to cancel the card that I had, and if I'd wait 24 hours I'd be able to apply for the new card and get my machine online.
Weird, huh? Waste of time, eh?
No idea why they couldn't just use the card I already had.
But that's the only "problem" I've had with them, and in the real scheme of life's problems, this is no problem.
When I first tried to buy a MacBook Pro online, I noticed the Apple offer of special financing, and applied for it. The reply was that I already had an account that I could use...which I couldn't figure out.
Turns out I had an old Barclay card that I'd forgot about, no balance on it, never used.
I called and they openly and freely told me that they'd be happy to cancel the card that I had, and if I'd wait 24 hours I'd be able to apply for the new card and get my machine online.
Weird, huh? Waste of time, eh?
No idea why they couldn't just use the card I already had.
But that's the only "problem" I've had with them, and in the real scheme of life's problems, this is no problem.
Honestly who stills mails their bills in an envelope? Why would you not just pay online? It's instant and you get proof.
Xlii wrote: All banks are crooks and Barclays is one of the worst.
Just make your payments on time and they leave you alone. Try to make at least 4 times the minimum and they will luv you. I don't love Barkleys, But they were there when i needed them.
Just make your payments on time and they leave you alone. Try to make at least 4 times the minimum and they will luv you. I don't love Barkleys, But they were there when i needed them.
Last edited:
Well, the printer and the macbook are two separate items... Wouldn't that give them grounds for making it two different orders?
No. That's like saying I buy a MacBook pro and 2 software titles at the same time. All those should be on the same transaction not 2 or 3.
I just got suckered on this, too. But here's what's fishy: I spent $2540.73 at once and I even have the Apple bill to prove it. But calls to Barclay VISA and Barclays claims there was NO 18-month no-interest offer in effect during the early part of 2010 and your post has proven I'm not crazy. There was, indeed, such an offer. With that said, do you happen to have the original finance terms spelled out on paper? If so, can you send those to me (via whatever means you'll willing to employ) so I can fax them to Barclays? Please, please, please? I'm being charged $374.00 in interest and they're telling me there's NO wiggle room.
Me as well
I had the EXACT same thing happen to me. They told me 18 months (the only reason I went with the deal). I had 18 months planned and then they hit me with the interest at 12. I too purchased a computer well over $2600. If you are able to find that documentation, I too am interested. Seems like such a scam to me... You wonder how a reputable corporation like Apple can possibly feel good about associating their company name with a bank as horrid as this Barclaycard...? Its crazy.
I had the EXACT same thing happen to me. They told me 18 months (the only reason I went with the deal). I had 18 months planned and then they hit me with the interest at 12. I too purchased a computer well over $2600. If you are able to find that documentation, I too am interested. Seems like such a scam to me... You wonder how a reputable corporation like Apple can possibly feel good about associating their company name with a bank as horrid as this Barclaycard...? Its crazy.
https://www.1stfinancialfcu.org/
Between that and my Costco Executive AMEX, I get back about $100/month.
+1 Costco AMEX. Best credit card IMO.
If you don't have it, look into it.
I filed a complaint through the Delaware Better Business Bureau. Barclay continues to maintain there was NO 18-month offer (even though I, and many others, KNOW there was!) but, through the BBB complaint, they ultimately extended my payoff period to 18 months and refunded my interest charge. I suggest you give it a whirl and see how it shakes out.
Wow 3% interest. Where was that at? I don't know of any 3% interest rates on any checking account. Even in Nov 2010. What a deal.
1st Financial CU in St. Louis. They started at 5% a few years ago, but by this summer they have gone down to 1%. Nevertheless, it was nice while it lasted and netted me over $1000.
Beware of Barclays
Beware of them. I don't think this is an issue with Apple as much as it is with Barclays and what I consider to be borderline deceptive practices or their customer service organization just not knowing the terms. Here is my recent issue.
I called to cancel my Barclay Visa card that I used to purchase my first Apple product, a Macbook Air. I applied for the Visa card in April 2011, was approved, purchased the product with no interest per the promotion, paid off the balance and was never charged interest. My reason for canceling was that I simply did not want to have a credit card with 22% interest.
When I called Barclays to cancel, their Customer Service rep assured me that the deferred interest (basically zero interest if paid within the prescribed time) was valid for subsequent purchases and that is maybe a reason I wanted to keep it. As I was looking to purchase a new iPhone 4S from the online Apple store, I decided to keep it.
When I went to Apple to purchase it, I noticed they indicated the special financing was only for first time purchases. I sent a message via my secure message service from within my online Barclays account inquiring about this and the email response back was that subsequent purchases did NOT qualify for the special financing terms. I called Barclays back and the Customer Service rep indicated that the email response was in error and that subsequent purchase DID qualify.
I then called Apple and spoke to someone who indicated that subsequent purchase were NOT qualified for the special financing terms. I then called Barclays back to cancel my card as the different answers I got from Barclays created a trust issue for me. Their Customer Service rep indicated again that subsequent purchase DID qualify. I finally got them to cancel the card.
Bottom line is that if I would have listened to Barclays and made my purchase, I would have incurred a finance charge.
And people wonder why their is a trust issue with Big Banks....
Beware of them. I don't think this is an issue with Apple as much as it is with Barclays and what I consider to be borderline deceptive practices or their customer service organization just not knowing the terms. Here is my recent issue.
I called to cancel my Barclay Visa card that I used to purchase my first Apple product, a Macbook Air. I applied for the Visa card in April 2011, was approved, purchased the product with no interest per the promotion, paid off the balance and was never charged interest. My reason for canceling was that I simply did not want to have a credit card with 22% interest.
When I called Barclays to cancel, their Customer Service rep assured me that the deferred interest (basically zero interest if paid within the prescribed time) was valid for subsequent purchases and that is maybe a reason I wanted to keep it. As I was looking to purchase a new iPhone 4S from the online Apple store, I decided to keep it.
When I went to Apple to purchase it, I noticed they indicated the special financing was only for first time purchases. I sent a message via my secure message service from within my online Barclays account inquiring about this and the email response back was that subsequent purchases did NOT qualify for the special financing terms. I called Barclays back and the Customer Service rep indicated that the email response was in error and that subsequent purchase DID qualify.
I then called Apple and spoke to someone who indicated that subsequent purchase were NOT qualified for the special financing terms. I then called Barclays back to cancel my card as the different answers I got from Barclays created a trust issue for me. Their Customer Service rep indicated again that subsequent purchase DID qualify. I finally got them to cancel the card.
Bottom line is that if I would have listened to Barclays and made my purchase, I would have incurred a finance charge.
And people wonder why their is a trust issue with Big Banks....
I don't have a trust issue with banks. I just don't trust them, so there isn't an issue about it.