Consumer complaint received 2025-08-04 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Trouble using your card — Can't use card to make purchases
Company: BARCLAYS BANK DELAWARE
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
I am writing to formally request reimbursement for the sales tax I was forced to pay due to Barclays ' delayed processing of my verified purchase. On XX/XX/XXXX, during XXXX XXXX XXXX  official tax-free weekend, I attempted to purchase a computer totaling {$2200.00}. I successfully authenticated this purchase through multiple verification codes sent by Barclays ( see attached evidence, page XXXX ). 
Despite my timely verification, Barclays placed a fraud hold on the transaction, and I did not receive a fraud alert text until approximately XXXX hours later on XX/XX/XXXX, after the tax-free window had closed ( see attached evidence, page XXXX ). As a result, I lost the state tax savings that I was entitled to. South Carolina 's state sales tax rate is XXXX percent. On my {$2200.00} purchase, this equates to a tax savings of approximately {$130.00} that I was denied due to this delay. 
I am requesting that Barclays reimburse me the {$130.00} tax amount or issue a credit to my account in this amount, as this delay was the direct result of their payment verification system and not any action or inaction on my part. 
Please see the attached XXXX  with timestamped proof of my verification and the delayed fraud alert for your review. 
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I expect confirmation of reimbursement or further instructions within XXXX business days. 
Sincerely, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Barclays XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX ) This screenshot confirms that multiple verification codes were sent by Barclays during the XXXX XXXX tax-free weekend, proving my timely purchase attempt. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Barclays : DON'T share this code. We'll NEVER call o r text you for it. Your c o d XXXX for your XXXX c o m m XXXX r c XXXX t r a XXXX XXXX a c t i o XXXX i XXXX : XXXX. I t expires in XXXX mins. 
Barclays : DON'T share this code. We'll NEVER call o r text you for it. Your code for your XXXX c o m m XXXX r c XXXX transaction i XXXX : XXXX. It expires in XXXX mins. 
XXXX  XXXX Barclays : DON'T share this code. We'll NEVER call o r text you for it. Your code for your ecommerce transaction is : XXXX. It expires in XXXX mins. 
Barclays : DON'T share this code. We'll NEVER call o r text you for it. Your code for your XXXX c o m m XXXX r c XXXX transaction i XXXX : XXXX. It expires in XXXX mins. 
The sender i XXXX not i XXXX your contact list. 
Report XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX ) This screenshot shows the fraud alert was delayed by XXXX hours, causing me to miss the tax-free purchase window. This delay was caused by Barclays, not by me. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX 

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX c a XXXX c XXXX l. 
To d a y XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX F r XXXX XXXX F r a u d Alert : XXXX & XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ending in XXXX - A charge for {$2200.00} a XXXX XXXXXXXX * XXXX XXXX & XXXX w a s declined on XX/XX/XXXX. Reply XXXX if valid. Reply XXXX if not valid. Reply HELP for Help, STOP to cancel Fraud Alerts. 
XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : We're sorry but w e did not recognize your response from phone ending in XXXX. Please try again. Reply STOP t o cancel. 
XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX : Thank you for confirming t h e charge from phone ending in XXXX, please retry. Your card is n o w available for use. Reply STOP t o cancel. 
XXXX They could have contacted me for XXXX more hours after purchase questioning if I wanted or ordered this. They waited XXXX hours, until the next day, making us lose the tax free weekend in South Carolina. 

Thank you for looking into this, XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation