Can anyone help my dad

Smelis

My dad has received a letter from a debt collecting agency on behalf of Barclaycard.

He hasn't used his barclaycard since 2003, and owes nothing on it, but the letter states he owes £80!

He phoned barclaycard and they said he payed his last payment in Sept 03 £122 which payed off his account. The lady at Barclaycard said she couldn't tell him anymore as they had no record! :mad:

So he phoned the debt collecting agency who told him they no nothing of his previous, but they had bought the debt from Barclaycard and didn't have any other information. :mad:

By this time my dad was cursing down the phone, the bloke from debt agency says if he had proof of paying off his account to send it to them, but........... mum and dad moved house and dad took it upon himself to shred a load of paperwork :eek: so, no proof! The bloke from the debt agency then said, "well send us 50 quid and we'll call it quits" to which dad replied "*********** i don't owe anything in the first place".

So the question is, what can he do.

Thanks in advance all!

Smelis

Oh, also, me dad always payed off his account in full every month.

daveboy

Let them take it to court, let them spend their money chasing it for nothing.

What I would do, possibly, is get your Dad to ring them again, and for him to note who he spoke to, the time, the date etc.

Others on this site have been known to record calls but I cannot suggest that as it may break the law.

The above is what I would do if this situation happened to me.

blondie1963

If he paid his last payment by cheque he could get in touch with the bank they might still have some record and may be able to send a copy of the cheque which I think there is a charge for.

MrsTinks

Call the debt collection agency and ask for proof of debt They have to provide this and once you have this you can start tracing it backwards. In the mean time advice the collection agency that you are disputing the debt and to leave your dad alone until the matter has been investigated.
With the proof of debt you cna find out where it was issued from and ask them to explain what the debt is from and how they came to that amount etc etc etc etc

Smelis

Thanks all for the replies. Unfortunately he has always paid his CC by cash at the bank, so no trace of cheque.

The most annoying thing is he hoards everything under the sun, from plastic bags, to boxes. He's one of those blokes who, if ever you need something he has got it! Obviously excludes important paperwork!

Smelis

harrie_2

he has fhoned barclay and they have said what he paid off they have a record so ask them for the last statment..this will cost 3£

HLK

Under the data protection act he can request statements going back 6years.. it might be a place to start. There's a lot of information on the current account board in the thread about bank charges.

Mikeyorks

Do the old fashioned thing and WRITE to Barclaycard - setting out the facts as in your original posting. To the effect 'you' have been approached by a Debt agency for an amount Barclaycard confirm is not outstanding. Finalise it to the effect you will counter claim in the small claims court if any further action is taken.

Copy that to the Debt agency - and cover it with a letter addressed to them (copy of that in with the Barclaycard letter) re-iterating that Barclaycard have confirmed there is nothing outstanding on the account which has been cleared in 2003 - and monthly preceding that.

Send both letters Recorded delivery. Pain in the proverbial - but worked for me with the morons at Sky.

scarlet19

when your dad paid off the barclay card did he actually close the dormant account.
If not the balace may have accured as a result of card protection or any other type of insurance. Then obviously with the change of address he would have been none the wiser and some interest or late pament fees or even a trace fee may bring the balance up to 80 squid. As a former employee of a leading bank who finance most high street store cards. this would be i would say a likely explanation. Some insuarance in my time would send a letter in the form of junk mail through the door of which most people would throw away but in actual fact the letter is stating one way or another card protection would be added to your account if you sould not require this service then please contact bla bla bla. If this is the case then your dad will have to as above contact barclaycard and requset a copy statment from this date then go through the rigmaroll of getting the insurance company to cough up as he did not request this service. Just another thought if this is with a debt collecting agency then your dad could have default notices against his name this also will need to be rectified.
Hope this may help.
SCARLET19

ariba10

daveboy wrote:

Let them take it to court, let them spend their money chasing it for nothing.

Others on this site have been known to record calls but I cannot suggest that as it may break the law.
.

There is no problem in recording a call,
I do it often but I always say I am recording it.

Smelis

Wow!

Thank you again for your replies. I will show them all to me dad. I suspect that SCARLET is right and that is what could of happened!

I will post back and let you know what action me dad's gonna take.

Smelis