Local businessman Jim Smith has hit out at Barclay's Bank, which runs his Sky credit card, after it took him two days to cancel his lost credit card.

The raging shoe repair man, who owns and runs Clach Shoe Repairs on Lochalsh Road, blasted the company's customer service after he spent most of a day trying to cancel his missing card.

And he also slammed the service which left him hanging on the phone for 40 minutes before he eventually managed to speak to a person.

Despite talking to one woman for only a few minutes, he was charged for the calls he made – including the ones he was on hold for – at a total cost of £3.25.

But after contacting HN Action, Mr Smith has been left delighted after Barclay's apologised and credited his account with £30.

Mr Smith has had a credit card from the television company, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, since last year.

But he told the Highland News: "The thing that flummoxed me was the fact I couldn't get an answer on the phone on the Sunday. If I had then I would have slept an awful lot better at night.

"I gave up because I assumed there was no-one there. But it still took me the best part of an hour trying to get through on the Monday to report it lost or stolen.

Mr Smith added: "I don't know what the situation up here for credit card fraud is like but in London or other big cities you would certainly panic in a situation like mine."

It was on Sunday while getting groceries that Mr Smith believes he lost his credit card.

On realising it was lost, he rushed back to his shop to report his card missing. He called the only number on one of his statements and spent more than 15 minutes listening to the ringer before he was connected to an automated service.

He said: "As soon as I arrived at the shop I called the 0870 telephone number on my bill to report it missing.

Jim Smith of Clach Shoe Repairs in Merkinch, who was angry that it took him two days to cancel the Sky credit card he had lost. Alasdair Allen

"When I eventually got through it was an automated service asking me which service I needed so I pressed 1 for lost or stolen, but still nobody answered.

"On my brother's advice, I left it until the next morning, but the same thing happened and it was then he told me that I would be charged for the call despite not speaking to anyone."

Mr Smith said: "I eventually got through to some woman who asked me six different questions to check my identity and accepted the card was lost or stolen. She also assured me that nothing had been cashed on it.

"But when I finished the call I realised I had been charged a few pounds for a conversation that really only lasted a couple of minutes. It is scandalous.

He added: "The thing is this is the only number I can call in a situation like this. I went over the bill with a fine tooth comb and this number was the only one on the bill – twice."

However, pleased that HN Action had stepped in to help, Mr Smith added: "I am delighted that the Highland News has been able to help me out. Because of its intervention, the credit card company have given me £30 and have apologised. Thank you to HN Action."

A spokesman for Barclaycard said: "We have spoken with Skycard and we are very sorry. The situation this customer was left in was unacceptable and we have provided that customer with a gesture of goodwill.

"The situation arose as there was a problem at our call centre at that time."

c.hay@highland-news.co.uk

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