Thousands of people have been trying since Monday 4th May to apply for bounce back loans from Barclays Bank.

Barclays Bank have relentlessly blocked and denied customers with questionable reasons why they cannot even access the form to apply. 

This is wilful prevention most likely to avoid administering and servicing multiple loans of up to £50,000 per customer at 0% for the first 12 months. It could be argued they do not want customers running these loans for a further 5 years at the low rate of 2.5%. This government action designed to help small businesses is being wilfully blocked by Barclays Bank for no good reason in many cases. People cannot even access the application form. Barclays are preventing customers even reaching this stage. 

Whilst customers have these loans,  Barclays will possibly therefore have low uptake of their own higher rate loan products.

Barclays should be forced to financially compensate any business which enters administration as a result of not being able to access these loan funds within the 24 hours stated by the government.

Barclays customers who are forced to move to other banks to secure these loans should be financially compensated for the stress and hassle caused by Barclays. Both the customer and the alternative bank willing to take on the new customer Should be compensated. Why? Because Barclays have deliberately and willfully blocked the smooth administration of this government initiative policy. Why? Because they don’t want to do it. 

The reasons provided as to why customers cannot even access the application form are weak and in 99% of cases unfair, ridiculous and potentially legally questionable.

This petition calls on the amazing legal firm Slater & Gordon to lead the charge on behalf of the public collective. This is the firm currently relentlessly pursuing VW over the diesel emissions scandal.

In many cases Barclays insults the customer, insinuating the issue lies WITH the customer sending them off in a wild goose chase to find details the bank has held in some cases over 10 years. It is insulting. Why? To simply to delay or encourage customers to give up and/or go elsewhere.

Phone lines are inaccessible with waiting times over 4 hours. Once through the staff cannot help and instead fill in a form suggesting you will receive a call back - which never comes. If and when it does, more excuses are given. Some customers have been advised the loan has been granted only to not receive the money - even still some days later. 

This Petition calls for swift public government, media and legal action by a reputable firm such as Slater and Gordon to bring Barclays to account. Justice is required. IMMEDIATE action is needed. Barclays are responsible for destroying businesses by sending them into liquidation. 

The Barclays Bank Chief Executive Matt Hammerstein, Senior Management & ALL Board members should be called to account, legally challenged and charged over this clear and wilful damaging negligence.

Several years ago bank financial incompetence and negligence was bailed out by the taxpayer. We saved their skins. Now it seems they are too arrogant to return the favour or too incompetent to administer a loan with simple instructions. Perhaps they do not see why they should do it? 

It is therefore distasteful, arrogant, unprofessional and incredibly ignorant of Barclays to treat its customers in this disgusting manner. 

ACTION NOW! Barclays customers deserve better!

Bounceback loans are OUR RIGHT - NOT a privilege!!