Credit Card Debt, Help Required

steverido

Hi, I have posted on this site before and taken the advice however, I am finding it difficult dealing with Barclaycard. I tried to talk with someone on the phone because I have finally missed a payment after running out of money after five months of unemployment and paying my bills.

They insist that I can pay a minimum of £73 pounds on a £10 000 debt even though I have explained that I am getting £120 a fortnight to live on. I have sent a letter to Barclaycard head office using the standard letters adjusted to my requirements and with a breakdown of my income and outgoings, offer etc and had no reply. They are constantly calling me today and I finally spoke to them to no avail. It appears that they are not symphathetic or helpful to professional people finding themselves unemployed because of the recession. I hope to be back at work once the new financial year starts and just need help and a break for a short while.

Can anyone advise what I can do to get through to someone at Barclaycard who isn't reading from a script or has an address to the relevant department that can help me please?

I have been in touch also with CSSS and they can't help with my current situation because I do not have enough income.

Many thanks in advance.

Merlinexcalibur

They insist that I can pay a minimum of £73 pounds on a £10 000 debt even though I have explained that I am getting £120 a fortnight to live on.

Well, firstly I'd simply not speak to them on the phone.

Can anyone advise what I can do to get through to someone at Barclaycard who isn't reading from a script or has an address to the relevant department that can help me please?

Yes, only communicate in writing. Not only is this emminently sensible because you have absolutely no proof of any conversations but should it get to court what would you produce to a judge as proof of what you've done? Letter writing is vital when tackling creditors/DCAs. The more paperwork you have, the more proof you have.

It appears that they are not symphathetic or helpful to professional people finding themselves unemployed because of the recession.

It's nothing personal but they are like that with everyone regardless of what job you had before.

I have been in touch also with CSSS and they can't help with my current situation because I do not have enough income.

But did they at least offer you anything else? I have been through CCCS, so know the process and what other assistance they can offer. Not just a DMP which I think is what you are referring to with the 'income?'

My next suggestion, purely up to you whether you do it or not but it's purely for your own protection when things get heavy - because I should think your debt is with Mercers or will be pretty shortly, who are as you may know Barclaycard's debt/arrears collections dept; it's important I mention that to you because they are NOT a third party DCA though they may make out they are with the wording in their letters - is to request a copy of your CCA from them. This is for your own protection, as it gives you more barganing tools later. Remember it is on your terms, not what they say you can pay them.

As for the demands they are making. Again, you will get nowhere speaking on the phone as you've found. They are merely ordinary members of the public whose training does not exceed picking up the phone, asking questions from a script, possessing no specialist knowledge. In other words you will get a load of scripted waffle off you and have you believing the world is painted pink by the end of it.

I would do whatever CCCS has suggested eg write them an offer, keep it in writing and inform them you will not communicate any other way other than by letter from now on. If the calls are bothering you, just either block their number or simply not answer. Your phone, your house, your right not to answer. Yes, I know they call dozens of times a day and on a weekend the worst.

I have sent a letter to Barclaycard head office using the standard letters adjusted to my requirements and with a breakdown of my income and outgoings, offer etc and had no reply.

Providing you have kept the delivery receipt then that is more than sufficient proof that they had them. Also, I am afraid BC will ignore whatever you throw at them. Which is why I suggested obtaining a copy of your CCA as a back up plan. However, do continue to pay BC whatever you can reasonably afford per month. They will accept your payment so therefore they are also accepting any offer you make. They then cannot say you have not been. But doing your best to pay whatever you can.

Hope some of that is of use, and I realize it's long but rather than in many posts, easier in just the one.

Merlinexcalibur

Just hang fire there a sec whilst I go get you one useful letter to send them at this point.

Merlinexcalibur

Send Barclaycard this letter. It won't do much good but is a legal request, again to show later when they continue to ignore it:

Your Street
Town
City
Postcode
DATE HERE
Company Name
Road

Town
City / County
Postcode


Dear Sirs
Harassment by telephone

Account Number: XXXXXXX
I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.
I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls. (Delete if necessary)
I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.
I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.
If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.
Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company will be recorded. (**Even if you don‘t yet have recording equipment!!**)

Yours faithfully,


[NAME HERE]

10past6

steverido wrote: »

after five months of unemployment and paying my bills.

If your on benefits, you should not be paying these muppets.

Send the following letter to them and what ever yo do make sure you keep to the 3 golden rules

1 - Never ever ever speak to them on the phone
2 - Follow number 1 above
3 - Follow numbers 1&2 above

Amend & send

Dear Sir/Madam

Re Account No XXXX

Since making that above agreement with you, our circumstances have changed.

We cannot now afford to agreed monthly payments because ... [your paragraph added here]

We enclose a Personal Budget sheet which shows our total income from all sources, and the total outgoings of our household. As you can see we have no money left to make offers of payment to my creditors.

In view of our circumstances, would you please accept no payment at present to be reviewed in six months. If interest or other charges are being added to the account, we would be grateful if you would freeze these so our debt does not increase.

Should my circumstances improve we will contact you again.

Thank you for your assistance. We look forward to hearing from you as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully

In_Search_Of_Me

you have my sympathies...I made a mistake and paid one of my accounts with barclaycard twice in error and theyve harassed me for a week despite the fact that I sorted it out on Tuesday. Can now understand how people really get to the end of their tether whe you cant pay...mine was a simple error and I've had daily phone calls, increasingly threatening texts, letters and today two letters and two silent calls...cant wait to get rid of them...hugs for you!

RAS

Hi

You cannot pay what you do not have. At most send them the letter above and if they bleat, then a £1 per month token payment is the max, absolute max.

Do you have any late payment charges on any account you have had over the last 6 years?

Do you have PPI on any account that you can claim agaonst?

HAVE YOU HAD ppi ON ANY ACCOUNT AT ALL OVER THE last 6 years.

get busy reclaiming.

Also check whether you can reclaim any tax if your income was higher in the early part of the year.

And have a look at the Boost your income thread http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/make-money. A lot of those things do not affect your benefits and an extra £30 in vouchers and goodies would be nice on your sort of income.

Georgie4

As usual RAS is correct - never ever speak to these people ! But contact BT and have their number barred so ending silent phone calls - there is a fee for this but I'm not sure how much - someone here will be able to tell you I'm sure
Anyway try not to let it get you down