Feb 28: Initially I was unable to apply due to issues with the Barclaycard website, I eventually managed to successfully apply after COB. It took 3 attempts, spread out across the day.

Mar 1: Confirmation email - card and PIN are in the post and will arrive separately within 3 – 5 working days.

Mar 7: Welcome to your new card email.

Mar 8: Text message- Barclaycard Avios cards are flying off the shelf and it won't be long until you'll have yours - it'll be with you in the next few days.

Mar 8: How to pay for your online shopping email.

Mar 9: Pin arrives in post.

Mar 9: Action – activate your Barclaycard today email.

Mar 9: Action – activate your free Apple subscriptions email.

Mar 13 : Your statement is here email. Can't access the statement as I don't know my card number.

Mar 14: Still no card so I called Barclaycard at about 07:15 on 08001510900. The automated answering system asks for my card number. Obviously I can't enter this as my card has not arrived. It is possible to skip this by pressing *. After approx. 50 minutes on hold I got through. The person I spoke with was able to find my account but she could not access it. Ended up on hold again while she contacted a specialist team. It seems she was using a chat facility to talk with someone else in Barclaycard, it’s a painfully slow process. Apparently the card was issued on Mar 1. So they assume it is lost in the post and are issuing a new card. The wait for the new card is 4-5 days, so circa Mar 18. I asked about the statement as I could not access it. There is a £20 membership charge on my account already, I asked for this to be removed as it doesn’t make sense to charge me for a card that has not been activated. £20 has been refunded to my card. The person I spoke with confirmed the 3 month welcome period started on Feb 28. Apparently card policy means this cannot be changed or delayed. This seems grossly unfair as I have no card yet and probably won’t receive the replacement card until Mar 18 but they weren’t budging on it. I was on the call for 1 hour 15.

For anyone else who has not received your card, I suggest ringing as soon as you can as the clock is ticking on the welcome bonus.