Hello, advice sought

wishface

Hi, I've come to this site to get some advice with the £1654 (iirc) I owe on my Barclays overdraft. This isn't the only money I owe but it's the only one I cannot resolve and it's the most.

I got some advice from the CCCS who, up until recently, seemed quite helpful. In November they told me to send in token payments with an accompanying letter and budget (which they all prepared). I've spent ages trying to get Barclasy to understand my financial situation; I'm not working and I can only afford to pay £4 a month - the interest alone is £20 a month. They refusd to listen at every turn, but told me they listened to the CCCS.

I sent the first token payment in November which promptly got lost in the post (the first and only time this has ever happened to me). I sent another off in December which was received. I got the letter + budget sent back a couple of days ago sayng the budget was out of date. The budget was dated March 08 because that's when it was prepared. When it was sent to me in November the details were the same (they are the same now) so they jsut printed it off as is.

I've since rung the CCS back to get a properly dated buydget but was told that I have to go through the entire process again because they've had some kind of administrative overhaul.

I rang Barclays to tell them it would take a couple of weeks to get a new budget. In the process they asked how much i intended to pay (which they already know because it was on the letter they received). I was then told that wouldn't be enough and they wouldn't accept it. So it seems that despite claiming to listen to the CCCS they in fact don't; not only that they have the wrong impression of how they work (thinking that the CCCS will speak to them on my behalf directly, they won't).

The upshot is that £4 will go nowhere and be a waste of money. The bank aren't listening at all and I'm at my wits end. I've done everything taht was required of me and was suggested by the CCCS and still Barclays won't listen. They tell me that the intereste will continue to be levied and that the debt will wind up with some debt collector. I can't deal with that; I can't cope with the thought of some nasty old bruiser on my doorstep threatening me; I'm not working at the moment because of stress and anxieey as it is. This hardly helps (not that the bank cares of course).

I feel like no one is listening and that, for all their good intentions, the CCCS aren't really helping. They don't seem to understand or really listen. What's the point of me making token payments if the money is just going nowhere. It may only be £4 but it could be better spent that's for sure.

Does anyone have any advice or knowledge in this matter? I realise my debts aren't as much as some people's, but it's a big issue for me and it will only get worse as they continue adding interest.

Thanks.

MrsTinks

Deep breath and have a cuppa - Barclays WILL listen to CCCS once things settle down - yes they might sell the debt on to a debt collection agency - this is ALWAYS a possibility if you can't pay a debt.
The £4 IS going somewhere - yes they may be putting on £20 of interest at the moment but try not to worry about that for now. You can reclaim unfair charges and more likely than not then as time progresses and you have more money then you can put a little by to make them a full and final offer of in the region of maybe 30% of the debt so try to not worry about the interest for now
Doorstep collectors - they have as much right as your paperboy! And infact if they start threatening with sending one then there is a letter template here you can send to basically withdraw the implied permission for them to come on to your property meaning any door step collector would be guilty of harassment

wishface

Thanks for the reply. If they sell the debt, then surely that £4 a month is wasted. I dont really understand how it all works and the thought of dealing with debt collectors, who will undoubtedly add their pound of flesh, leaves me extremely anxious. Something I have enough of already.

MrsTinks

It's not wasted - it will still be paid towards the debt at the end of the day and IF anyone should try and go for a CCJ then likelyhood is because you have clearly been trying to repay what you can then even if a CCJ is granted it will probably be for £4 a month
The only time someone can come to your home and have any power is if you fail to pay a CCJ - but that is a LONG way down the line yet and so long as you pay the £4 then you should be fine
If they sell the debt they will sell it for a fraction of what you owe - anything between 25% to 50% so even if they add their pound of flesh then they will eventually lower the full and final offers

wishface

The whole situation is utterly ridiculous. Why should the bank be allwed to profit from my inability to pay and then make it the responsibility of some scumbag debt collector? There are way too many ifs and ands in all of this. What if it does go to court? I can't deal with that at all. I'd rather top myself than go to court and be forced to pay what could well be more than I can afford. The system is absolutely immoral IMO.

wishface

So what, really, should I do? I feel that sending £4 a month with a letter is getting me nowhere. Especially if I'm then charged £20 consequently each time.

bank_of_slate

Usually once CCCS is involved the interest is frozen isn't it?
...Linda xx

wishface

Apparently not.

Nigella_2

Barclays are unfriendly in my experience, daily phone calls and no compassion. Go to CAB or speak to CCCS. Do a budget and an offer. It is annoying that you pay £4 and incur £20!! They may back down after a few payments.

I went Bankrupt as I couldn't cope anymore with the hassle.

lxpeanut

I had a similar experience with Halifax even to the point they denied getting any letters from CCCS. Unfortunately they can't be forced to freeze interest. However once it was over the overdraft limit they added charges for a couple of months then passed it to the debt collectors. Now they've done that I'm going to complain about the adding of interest and charges ignoring my letters ect and ask for all interest and charges back.

CCCS_Matthew

Hi there,

We advise on making token payments rather than nothing at all, as it shows that you are willing to make regualar payments (albeit only £1). It shows you are trying to acknowledge the situation, and you are not running away from the debts.

The supporting letter we supply for making token payments does request the creditors consider freezing intrerest until things improve, but it's down to their discretion whether they want to do it.

Generally if the creditor is unwilling to accept the payment, it means they are much more likely to follow the collection process through to either passing it to a debt collection agency or applying for a CCJ. Now a CCJ will never make you pay more than you can afford, assuming that your budget is reasonable for the needs of a family your size. If a judge sees there isn't any more money than £1, you won't pay it.

Matthew.