I got the same story, i.e. interest would be backdated by 14 days from when the account is eventually opened. Barclays is clearly surviving the credit squeeze by borrowing money from customers and paying them nothing in return. They've had my money since 12th April but so far I've got nothing to show for it.

Letter from Barclays Savings, PO Box 75, Liverpool, L69 7HG 08456030845 (use saynoto0870 if appropriate). There is also an 0800 complaints number which I was told to use as CS also, for all Barclays stuff - I found them very helpful.

Re; TAX HAVEN

Apologies for delay etc...

"your savings will start earning Tax Haven interest from the date the account was opened...

IGNORE MISINFORMATION. If you are not 'backdated it's an admin error. Make sure they put it right. Ask for compensation...

ALL straight savings products are 'backdated' if necessary. Don't take no for an answer!

Thanks for that. I'll persist with my complaint.

We were also told that we had to open a current account with Barclays in order to open the Tax Haven ISA - which turned out to be untrue. We opened it on the 14 April (AT THE RATE OF 6.5%) and Barclays cashed our cheques a couple of days later and kept the money in the current account. On the day we opened the ISA we were told that due to high demand there will be a delay of no more than 2 weeks until we get the letters confirming that the ISA was opened and that the interest would be backdated to the day we applied. After numerous telephone calls, 4 weeks later we finally received confirmation of the ISA being opened but the opening date is now noted as the 9 May and no mention of backdating the interest. Also, the rate has changed to 6.25%, without any notice. Reading comments on this forum, Barclays seems to be actively deceiving customers by telling them interest would be backdated as well as making people open current accounts and then telephoning them to get them to transfer all their banking to Barclays while taking customers' money and not paying any interest. I think anyone who has had a bad experience with the Tax Haven ISA should complain and take their complaints as far as the financial ombudsman as well as reporting Barclays to programs such as Watchdog and generate as much negative publicity for Barclays as possible! Then I think we might get our interest.