Barclays Bank
Reviews and Complaints

Wow, what a joke of a bank. Barclays Bank's customer service department is by far THE worst I have encountered. I am surprised Frontier Airlines has not moved on to a different bank to administer the frequent flier credit card offer. The customer service at the bank is the worst I have ever experienced.

If I did not love Frontier Airlines and want the mileage credit I would have dumped Barclays Bank long ago.

Seriously, I do not understand how a company (Barcays) can stay in business with the poor customer service, lack of follow through, incompetent employees, not well-trained employees on their own products (e. g. stating they don't offer a "Pay Pass" credit card through Frontier Airlines, when they do!), weak supervisors, not calling back within 24 hours as they state a manager will do and managers not even aware of what the problem is.

This goes back to mid-May when I was sent a new credit card because I was "upgraded" to a better card. Two months later and nearly 30 phone calls and I don't have resolution and continue to get incompetent customer service employees who give me incorrect information and do not seem to care to fix the situation. Stay clear of getting one of these cards if you can help it. (I read the negative post by a person who "was roped" into one there at the Denver Airport.)

I am so disappointed in this product, Barclays Bank, any Barclays cards, especially the Frontier Airlines Barclays MasterCard, the incompetent call center they use in Manila, the uniformed bank customer service personnel in the U.S. who do not follow through and seem uninterested in helping, Frontier Airlines.

There are other better choices out there. Be aware - Mike

I received a payment notification letter effect transfer of 820, 000.00 british ponds who i received from the yahoo lottery award prize and promotion organizers but I had to pay handeling and bank charges the amount 355.00 british ponds I send the money via my consultant Dr John D patrick of Patrick consulting service R4400.00 South African rands the send me a official receipt and after that i have to pay british inland revenue becuase they put it on hold then i pay the monatry fund ecause they put on hold throw city bank new york then i pay to citibank because they made a mistake than i had to pay city bank because the account was dormand al because baclays bank deal with citibsnk new york to transfer the money to me citibank say they deal with reserve bank south africa they said they work with the goverment I pay over R73000.00 south african rand to received this money and i received till today nothing the money disappeared
Thanks Charlotte

Dear sir i received email from united kingdom lottery!Is this bank money is true or blow?
Hello deckmann renáta,

We are very surprise and amazed about your talk as regards be scam. Barclays bank is one among the biggest financial institution in the world and we see no reason why a whole barclays bank should involve on scandalizing.

Your e - banking have be created and it was send to you for view so that you can transfer your money after activation.

We agreed the 550 pounds is big for you in hungary but there is way our bank can assist you. The money cannot be deducted from your money because its against our banking constitution to open your parcel of your 500, 000 pounds.

The bank management have decided to reduce the charges for activation to 450 pounds so that your account can be activated and register.

Right now you advice to pay 450 pounds instead of 550 pounds so that you would not loss your 500, 000 pounds.

We await your urgent respond.

Regards,
From the desk of
Mr larry beckham,
Barclays bank plc.
England. Registered no: 1026167
Registered office:
1 churchill place, london, e14 5hp

Attention:deckmann renáta,

This is to confirm the documents of your bank account openning and aslo the scanned copy of your identity. Once again we congratulate you on being one of the very lucky winner of the bbc online promotion. We wish to inform you that after the verification process as conducted on your bank account openning / identification document, the administrative / promotions department has approved the transfer of your 500, 000. 00 pounds sterling in favour of the bank account openning. We also want to inform you that process for transferring your 500, 000. 00 pounds has been made simple so that in no distant time, you are assured of having received your cash prize of 500, 000. 00 pounds sterling in your nominated bank account online transist.

**understand that the telegraphic online bank to bank wire transfer is the transfer of your winning funds from a premium account which was set - up in the barclays bank for the purpose of funds transfer to your nominated / prefferred bank account which have just being opened. And as soon as you meet our bank activation commission as charged by this bank for funds transfer service**

You will need to make an upfront payment for the activation to enable us effect funds transfer into your barclays bank acount online transist. Note that its after this payment that we can begin with the activations of your account to get the activation code.

Activation fees is 550 pounds sterling (Five hundred and fifty pounds sterling) . Transfer expensive is inclussive

* note that the activation fees is to enable us to register your account online. And without your activation fees you cannot get your activation code that will enable you have access to our bank online.

Once your account have be activated you would now have our account number (Iban) because for now our account number is not given out to anybody who did not have an account with our bank because of many criminals who have try several time to break our account code.

And once your account is activated the new bank account details will be send to you with the activation code so that you can access your account and your money will be transfer to you, without your activation fees pay we cannot activate / register your electronic online transit account to the online account admnistration.

We need your urgent reply so that your account can be activated in time for you to access your account and transfer your money.

Best wishes.

Mr larry beckham.
Hello deckmann renáta,

We are concern about your money won in bbc corporation and our bank are just mandated to remmite your money to you.

We advice you that you should look for friends or relatives that can borrow you the money so that once your money reflect in your account you payback now that you are the only one taking charge of your two children education.

Its an opportunity for you and once you loss this opportunity the chance might not come your way again in life.

We are only trying to help you now that your electronic online account is openned which will make it easy for you to claim your money fast.

Assuming we did not open an electronic online account for you, by now you would have be ask by the british inland revenue commission to pay 1, 500 pounds before your money is transfer to you.

But we make it easy for you by creating an electronic online account and you are only ask to pay just 450 pounds so that the account can be activated.

Try and look for the 450 pounds and pay so that you can transfer your money and be happy to take good care of your children.

Regards,

I used to work for Barclays, at 18 i was offered a high paying seemingly stable job where i could help people and have a chance to advance through the company. I found a home of my own, was able to pay for it and have money for a comfortable lifestyle, for my age anyway. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the fact you got paid for the months training, which was easy really, know your products be friendly and helpful. O.K so it starts well then i realise you work a month in hand which is pretty standard i guess. So all my travel and lunches and living costs needed to be covered, here comes the barclays HR department who offered an overdraft to me to help through the first month, great! or not. After a week or so 'live' on the phones dealing with real customers the odd balance query sometimes a home insurance quote no problems, you guessed it . . until I was told i now had a sales target. So i was accredited to sell insurance on loans etc. and shown the loan application process, then things start to get tough. I am being told by my new team leader and my trainer to hammer through as many sales as possible to win this weeks prize! a bottle of wine occasionally an entry into a draw for an i-pod between 1500 people. Hmm! It was not long before i was being monitored and had team leaders over my shoulder pointing out that this customer could get a loan, this customer didnt have an overdraft, this person had a basic account get them to upgrade. Let me say that that sounds like good advice but when none of these customers ask for any of these products and some are totally unsuitable for them like a loan for an 80-year old with £25000 savings just because a loan is available to them that was when i started to feel a little uneasy. Or an overdraft for someone barely managing to stay afloat anyway. Even when someone rang asking to apply for a loan then i had to push payment protection insurance because it made the bank a lot of money many people want the loan enough they will agree to anything even when they dont need it. (this is really serious as these things are governed by the law and i honestly felt very pressured into selling this product by my team and management).
I started to get heartly sick of customers ringing their bank for help and i was being told just to fob them off to get another call going that could offer a sales opportunity. I understand that sales environments are high pressured but they should also be of benefit to the customer. Eventually i started taking days off sick as i could not face telling someone that their cheque would clear in time to cover their bills when in reality it would not and they would be getting a charge for this. There were always simple solutions to these problems but my hands were tied that was not how the bank really operated. The amount of times i heard staff discussing customers balances, problems, accents or direct debits such as porn subscriptions was unreal. It was an awful place to work and eventually because i had so much time off i was sacked which is fair enough. I could have sucked it up and gone after the job with a cold heart done my job and been happy with the paycheck, but at the same time i know i would want to ring my bank and be told the truth. In fact while i was working there if i rang the call centre with a query or request and i was fobbed off until i explained i was staff.
When i was sacked i received a letter and was told that the overdraft that had seen me through my month in hand had to be repaid immediately and as i had not been at the company long enough i would not be receiving any holiday pay or the rest of my wages to cover it.
As i still had a home to pay for and had just fallen pregnant i continued to up my overdraft limit and used it as a way of getting by. Despite knowing my financial situation they continued to increase this overdraft. I am a little to blame there.
Now i have been a stay at home mum for 2 years and my husband works a low paid menial job, we struggle to make ends meet at the best of times they are still trying to recover the overdraft amount which with charges and interest now amounts to over £2500. I get another threatening letter or phone call every week. I honestly wish i had never been so naive and thought a job that looked that good really would be. I am not the only person in this boat and know of at least one other ex-staff member on my team who felt the same way and left who would be willing to bring their story forward. I am sure i have some of the training leaflets still and they are eye-openers too. I would advise anyone never to use Barclays bank or any of their products or affiliated groups they do not have customer service at heart if they have a heart at all. It makes me sick to hear in the press that even through an economic crises that the public fund bailed them out of they still post huge profits and all the bonuses come at the expense of their ripped off customers and any staff who stand in their way. I wish i was the kind of person who could quieten my conscience and live a lucrative lifestyle being part of a multimillion dollar corporate rip-off.

I have a student i-bank account in Barclays. I am a female international student. Every time I do any bank transaction or for that matter even speak to the customer care executives, they ask me for my passport. I was even turned away once for not having carried one with me. I feel so insulted every time this happens.

What is it? Am I a terrorist to them? or is a transaction of £50-£500 a matter of national security? Is this a rule? Must I continue keeping mum over it?

Closed credit card account out, they allowed a charge made after the account was closed. Paid for that charge, they then charged me late fees and interest. they were supposed to waive them, and did not. Several phone calls to them, customer service peoploe can not thnk for them selves, they can only read of a scropt and will not help me.

Supervisor are never available. They supposedly are supposed to revie my account and never do.

they are rude and inconsiderate. Would not give me the address of the President to write a letter. I am very frustrated and refusing to pay this money.

Mike James, Head Private lending is a con-man and a thief. he stole more that $3, 000 over a two (2) year period.

Mike James is not a honest perosn. He continues tro refuse to refund the money I invested to have a overseas international account.

If you ask me, I think and beleive that Mike James should be sent to prison for international monetary fraud.

Paid offJuniper credit card; went to check balance was at zero a couple of weeks later and found they had put on additional finance charges. Called and spoke to customer service agent who barely spoke English. He said it was a charge imposed on them from the bank that made my payoff. Called that bank to find that was not true. Wrote emails and got more incorrect answers and no answer on the last email I sent. Called corporate office and got a song and dance over the charges imposed. Paid the 99.00 because I knew they would just be thrilled to keep getting more of my money by assessing late charges. Paid the #@%$ interest they wanted and then called to cancel my card. They couldn't even do that without transferring me around to more Indian accented whatevers that I couldn't understand and they kept at me to stay with Juniper. So, I even had a hard time dealing with them to cancel my card! Stay far far away from this scamming credit card.

Today was a first for me. Juniper Master Card. Juniper increased my Rate from 7.99 to 23.24 APR. Their reason, my payment was late. Mind you, the payment at best is 4 days late.

As a rule I pay all payments via bill pay accounts and until this late posting of my payment, I have never missed or been late with a payment with their firm. After heated conversations with them my opinion and actions of Juniper are as follows: They are crooks. Juniper Master Card and this industry will continue to rob people unless they become regulated. The reasonable interest that they make on transactions are not enough, they subscript to greed and will not end their blood sucking practices without the applications of a strong hand that is heavier then the one they currently swing.

My responses to their actions are as follows.

1) I closed my account on the spot.
2) My wife closed her account.
3) I have issued payment in full to bring the balance to zero. (I refuse to allow them an opportunity to make one extra penny at my expense.)
4) I will write both to the state and federal Congress and Senate concerning their policies.
5) My memory is long, and I will protest their action at every opportunity and event that I attend. I believe that I come in contact with no less than 30 people per day. Do the math (30 people * 360days). I will commit to this campaign for at least one year none stop.
6) I will never knowingly support any business or associated business related to Barkley Bank and any of it associated firms and or holding.

Note the number 6. The number should really be 666.

Shame on you Juniper Credit Card and the members of its senior management that would support such a business tactic and strategy.

In 8/09 I made a major charge on my Juniper Barclays account causing my balance to be right at the credit limit. I planed on paying this down off of the limit line before any finance charges hit my account. However, My cycle close date was changed with notification so when my "finance charges" for the month hit my account it was pushed over the credit limit causing a $39 over the limit fee. I pay everything through my online bill pay and since I'd been paying on the account so long and was well aware of my cycle close date/due date I didn't even look at the bill. Well since they added the $39 over the limit fee and changed my cycle date, my payment basically went into a black hole, it didn't touch my balance. AND because I went over the credit limit because of the fees they jacked my interest from 7.99% to 27.99%! Next months finance charge was thorugh the roof! Again, since I new what my balance was (at least I thought I did), I made another normal payment of about $10 over the minimum payment. Well since the payment had gone up since my rates were increased and another over the limit fee and now a late fee was added the payment went again into a black hole. Now I call Juniper once I realize what had happened and explained. They said they could reevaluate my account in 6 months but until then wouldn't consider lowering my interest rate. I was now a couple hundred over in fees...every month adding $78 in late fees/over limit fees. I told them I would pay my balance but REFUSED to pay the ridiculous fees! The wouldn't accept that. So I told them I'd pay them the full amount once I had $1700 to pay it off. I began recieving phone calls seriously 5-10 a day from 8:01 am to 8:59 PM 7 days a week...even sundays at 8:01 am! I spoke to some many RUDE people who you cannot even understand that I just gave up. Everytime it's a different person, they never read the notes, they never know what's going on...so I just stopped answering. Then they started calling my WORK 3 times a day! I told them they would get me fired if they continued to call me at work. They said the number was removed. This went on for 2 months. I contacted the BBB. The response Barclays gave was that the number was removed and they didn't have record of these calls being made! Then Barclays sends me a letter stating they will settle for $1760...I'll take it! I call and tell the "supervisor" I want to pay this off but I wouldn't have the full amount until Feb '10. She said that was fine she'd stop the fees and have $89 automatically deducted from my checking account for 3 months until I could pay the full balance off. GREAT! January 2010 comes, I get the money to pay it off, call Juniper and they tell me this conversation NEVER HAPPENED and that I owed $2600 (almost $1000 in fees and interest!) No way! I spoke with a supervisor "Chris". Explained everything to him...he was polite enough and told me he'd get it figured out and call me on the 1/20/10. Well I did recieve a call on the 20th...5 of them...and not one was "Chris" or anybody who had a resolution to this issue. So guess what Barclays, send my butt to collections...at least they won't call me 5 times a day! Everytime they call now I tell them "Send me to collections, stop calling!" Nope. Very persistant. If this was Citibank or a larger bank I'm sure they would have handed me over to collections 3 months ago...but not Barclays, they want every cent of those fees! Not happening.

This is an ongoing complaint with Barclays. Throughout 2009 and also in January this year I have used a Prepaid Payzonemoney Mastercard for high street and online purchases.

However, on 5 occasions last year and twice this year I have experienced "card declined" in online purchases BUT ONLY WHEN THE CARD PROCESSOR IS BARCLAYS.

I have complained with the managers in various branches and even made them contact Barclays Head Office ( in my prescence) - they have denied all knowledge or responsibility. Stated (it was a vendor software problem) - strange isn't it it ONLY HAPPENS WITH BARCLAYS!

We closed our account with Juniper/Airtran (Barclays)because we asked if they could lower our interest rates of 27% after we made a one-time payment covering 33% of our bill and they said no. We were warned that because we were closing the account, the rate could never be adjusted, it would remain at 27%. Now after about 1 year of on-time payments, they just INCREASED our rate to 30%! Once again, like other customers before me, a scripted service rep (if you could call them that) said that Barclays has the right to adjust rates as they see fit. How can you refuse to decrease a rate because an account is closed, but you can increase it?

I missed a payment in Dec 09 of $12.00 for a credit limit of 600.00 credit card I have with Barclay's Bank Juniper Card. I have been harrased by phone and at my job. I sent in a payment on Jan 8, 2010 to cover the late fee and the payments due. I received a call from Barclay's harrasing me again stating a payment hasn't been recived and they have charged me another late charge and over the limit fee. I have proof from my bank, they made the payment on 01/08/10, called them to request a fax number so I could fax them proof of payment. They would not provide me with a fax number and wanted me to give them my checking account number insisting the wanted a payment of $56.00 on the spot. They will charge "only $15.00 fee for the transaction" These people are thieves and will not help at all. Their customer service is horrible. I wish I had known this before I got involved with them.

I warn you, do not get a credit card from this company! I have never been late on a payment, well, I was then 2 days late on a payment and they started to charge me late fees and then over the limit fees. I called them to get these reversed since I am never late. They would not do it! I have done this before with my Lowe's card, when I accidently missed the due date and paid a few days late (never 30 days late) and they reversed the fee with no problem. I have closed my account with Barclay's bank and paid it in full so they will get no more money from me.

i have sent out to Barclays bank several letters regarding a savings bond that i believe i was misinformed or mislead when this was opened, i have not received any confirmation or call from the bank regarding this matter

I was told on the phone that i would be able to access the money when needed, this is not the case, also three days before this, i was called by someone (a male) from Barclays at home saying it would be necessary for me to look at my accounts, when i asked him what he mente, he said "that's all i can say" this made me uneasy and as a consequence i contacted Barclays to look into my accounts, this is when the lady put forward the bond and i was told that if i put the money into a savings bond i would have access to the money if needed

I need to access the money as soon as possible, i have saved long and hard to have the money available to me when needed, i need my money desperately now

I was even thinking of opening a mortgage or a loan but was advised against this

I have on several occasions called the bank, logged a complaint, and even written two other letters to the bank regarding the money

I would like the money placing in the more for more account as i can access the money as i need it, and when i need it

I have explained on several occasions that i have some difficulties reading or understanding long letters, this is why i always like to see people face to face so that they can explain things if needed, i was told that i would have access to my money if my circumstances changed, my circumstance have changed and i need to access the money ASAP

i have had several sleepless nights, and feel that this is having a strain on my health for the worse

i feel that i have been a victim of a hard sell and let down by the people that i trusted the most

Regards

You are a success winner of & pound;1, 000, 000.00 from the uknl online programme, your winning number is 21 - 15 - 33
-{6. } please acknowledge the receipt of this mail with the details below to mr thomas chess, e-mail
[protected]@yahoo.com. Hk
Your name, address, age, occupation, tel and country
________________________________________________________________________________

Ref number: rqa/231-ilgi0431/07
Batch no: uos/15/096/ivnl
Serial no:[protected]
Lucky no:[protected]
Amount won: 1, 000, 000.00 gbp

Congratulations: justin foo,

How are you doing today? I am in receipt of your mail and I must say that you should count yourself extremely lucky to have emerged as one of our winners in this year’s lucky dip sweepstakes. You already know your email address was randomly selected along with others from over 125, 600 website on the internet. Your email address was attached to a ticket number [protected] with serial number 5368/02. Your email address was selected along with others as winners. I have finally verified your winnings and it's exactly with what is present on our database. A certificate of prize claims will be sent to you by barclays bank plc uk.

This is to inform you that you have been cleared a winner of the uk-national lottery online sweepstakes international program. I am happy to inform you, that your original certificate and your winning money has been fowarded to barclays bank plc uk. Find below the contact of the bank.

Barclays bank plc.

1 churchill place,
London e14 5hp.

Tel: + [protected]
Fax:+ [protected]

Email: [protected]@live.Co. Uk

[protected]@yahoo.Co. Uk

Contact person: mrs. Monica catramado

You are advised to send the bank an email to their email address above.

Note: you are to quote your complete names, contact address, winning amount and your direct phone number so that they can honor your letter.

Please be informed that you will be required to settle a compulsory premium surcharge which the transfer of your winnings amount will incure, this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from. This is in accordance with section 13 (1) (N) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd july 1996 by the constitutional assembly. Also have it in mind that your won prize cannot be deducted from; this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value this is to protect winners and to avoid misappropriation of funds.

Once again I say congratulations.

Thanks
Thomas chess (Sir).
________________________________________________________________________________

Barclays bank plc.
1 churchill place,
London e14 5hp.

Dear justin foo,

Thanks very much for your email. We have received all your relevant documents and your winning from the lottery company and an account has been set up with your name to transfer your money to you

Please note that financial transaction has not yet been approved on your account. You are required to secure a united kingdom government offshore grant clearance before your account can be fully operational and the funds wired to your nominated account in your country.

To secure the ukgoc, you are required to pay the compulsory premium surcharge of 338.00. Pounds which is equivalent = $575.00 only. I will email you all the informations
You need to complete your transfer as soon as you send the ukgoc surcharge to us so that we can obtain the the final clearance for you.

Make the required amount available via western union to my name and our office address here in london:

Name: monica catramado
Address: 1 churchill place,
London e14 5hp.

After payment you are to send payment details as it appears on your western union payment slip.
Sender's name and address of sender:
Receivers name:
Mtcn number:

Have it in mind that the charges cannot be deducted from your winning, this is because the total amount has been insured to the real value and as such cannot be deducted from. This is in accordance with section 13 (1) (N) of the national gambling act as adopted in 1993 and amended on 3rd july 1996 by the constitutional assembly; this is to protect customers and to avoid misappropriation of funds.

Should you require other services, our customer relations team are ready to help.

We look forward to a good working relationship in the future.

Yours truly,

Monica catramado.
Phone: +[protected]
Fax: +44 [protected]
Open mondays-saturdays 24hours

________________________________________________________________________________

Barclays bank plc.
1 churchill place,
London e14 5hp.
Tel:+ (44) [protected]
+ (44) [protected]

Fax:+ (44) [protected]

Email: [protected]@online-barclay.com
[protected]@yahoo.Co. Uk

Dear customer justin foo,

I must let you know that the bank is not happy with the way you are joking with your winnings. Transfer of your winning funds to you but at this time still no email from your end, well I think you have to give thanks to god for giving you such opportunity.

If you are still not okay with the explanations, we have obtained a disclaimer form on your behalf. Please see attachment. Please fill and return the form.

Should you require other services, our customer relations team are ready to help.

We look forward to a good working relationship in the future.

Yours truly,

Mr. Gun billy.
Tel:+ (44) [protected]
+ (44) [protected]
Fax:+ (44) [protected]
Open mondays-saturdays 24hours
Proud sponsors of the barclays premier league

Due to post office drop box being robbbed my payment did not reach Barclay Bank by due date. Called to explain had been notified by another credit card company of late payment. They dropped late charge and increase in finance charge. Barclay representative was very rude, when I ask to speak to a supervisor was advised due to heavy call load I would have to leave phone number and time I could be reached within 24-48 hour time frame. I always pay my bills on time and usually in full. Unfortunately I am not the type customer they prefer to have. It is more advantageous for them to have slow pay to generate more income. I am paying my account in full and will send them my credit card with regards to where they can file it.

Dear Sir,

This is with reference to my card number: [protected], payment of last statement received. I made a Cheque of Rs. 15252 and dropped the cheque on 4th November'09 in a dropbox location - Hpcl Petrol Pump Sector -10 Rohini, as I could not find a Barclay Bank location near by.

I received current month statement stating that I made the payment on 12 November and have to pay Late payment fee for the same of Rs. 1519. It is not our fault if the cheque gets picked up late from the drop box location so we would like to request you to revoke the charges or cancel the card as we are not ready to pay these unnessecary charges. We had had a word about the same with your customer relation officer but got no support from them. We hope for a favorable reply at the earliest.

Thank you,
Regards,

Suresh Agarwal

In September 2009 enquired with busines plan to start own business as independent lecturer, due to lack of contract work following recent 'credit crunch.'
Following meeting I was to deposit an amount, the bank would grant a cash loan, and with the credit card facility would give me cash flow for this new venture.
Having purchase some equipment using the creit card, and paying for a course with my deposit to bring my credentials up to date.
I was to discover 5 weeks later that the loan had been rejected, yet I had not been informed.
How can a bank claim its depatments are independent of each other, if in the banks conclusion as stated they feel that I do not 'at present' have the means to repay the loan, at what point does that not apply to a credit card.
If I had been informed I wuld not have used the credit card.
In addition I received an incorrect statement in October 2009 I requested a correct statement, to date and numerous phone calls, I have not received an up todate statement.
But I have been billed £25:00 for late payment, as the Barclays are unable to send a correct statement I have over the phone been told various amount as minimum payment from £86:00 to £160:00 to which my card has been suspended, not that I'm using it, and I am not thanks to Barclays unable to take the start-up process of my new venture further.

If this is the method Barclays use to entrap businesses so that they may profit, in the 1920's this was nothing less that extortion, maybe the name has now changed but the process remains the same under the disguise of big business.
I have complained to Barclays bank, but will not hold my breath for a response.

All I can say is: 'BARCLAY'S ARE BAD FOR BUSINESSES'