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Barclays' customers can rest assured they are not being charged for payments made to local businesses despite receiving text messages warning them they may be.
Some customers have reported receiving a 'warning message' about the cost of using their card abroad after buying goods in some shops in the island, often within less than a mile of their own home,
Barclays has spent time over the past week looking into this after Express asked for clarity on the situation.
The bank has now confirmed that it is "a ‘warning message’ only and is not an advice of an actual charge".
It has become apparent that the message is activated by certain merchants which allow customers to pay in either Sterling or Euros. That then alerts a warning system that charges may be added to the transaction. However, Barclays has said "there are no charges for GBP transactions locally, and the alert is purely a warning triggered by those merchants who have the option to offer different currency payments".
A spokesperson for the bank explained that "Barclays UK and Guernsey clients are not being charged for using their cards in Guernsey in GBP.
"The messages are sent when some merchants allow clients the option to pay in Euro or Sterling and it is this option which triggers the alert warning in order to bring to your attention a potential charge if you choose to transact in a foreign currency.
"We will go through an internal process to consider switching alerts off for Local Clients, but we do need to ensure that all clients are aware so this will need to be reviewed further."
The Barclays' spokesperson also confirmed customers can't switch off the alerts but "if you choose to pay in Sterling at all times, you can ignore the message".
Barclays' Guernsey branch is currently in the process of relocating from The High Street to the bank's main office at St Julian's Court, St Julian's Avenue.
All counter services will be moved to the main office with new 'Quick Service Points' too.
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