Payment protection charges - Without card!

Jimrod

Hi all,

Not sure if anyone can offer me some advice, basically about 7-8 years ago I got a Morgan Stanley credit card for work expenses, never used it much and let valid date run out a couple of years ago with nothing charged to it. (I can't even remember taking out payment protection on it).

About a year ago I was sent an invoice from Barclaycard for a small amount, apparently for payment protection on that Morgan Stanley card which they had since taken over. I told them I'd not even got a current card, don't want one etc. After a few arguments with them I agreed to pay the fee and cancelled the "Barclaycard" account which I never signed up for in the first place.

Now, last month I was sent an invoice from £29 or so from Barclaycard - for payment protection, I called them up, rightfully annoyed as I'd cancelled the account I'd never signed up for, or even had a card with, and was told - 'yes sir, but you didn't cancel the protection' - no, I don't have a Barclaycard, I never had a Barclaycard, why the **** should I pay protection on a non-existent card??? I was told I'd have to take it up with their claims dept - by writing a letter - a letter? What century are we in? I can't call or email them as they won't give me any numbers but am expected to write a letter. I am a busy man and forgot, sure enough another bill arrived this week with £10 added for missed payment.

What is my legal position on this? I don't intend to pay. The bills are sent to my parents house (where I haven't lived for 5 years) who are soon to move, I'm temped to not pay and will never receive the bills again as they will be unknown at the address. I don't see why I should waste my time writing to claims departments for what I see as a scam basically as I've never even owned a Barclaycard or opened an account with them, my Morgan Stanley account was inactive when they took it over without my knowledge.

mitrant

Even if you change address they will eventually find you. I, through my own fault I admit, forgot to pay a final months line rental on a mobile phone contract I had before moving house and a year later a letter showed up at my new address from a collection agency requesting the £15 I owed. Obviously, I phoned them up and informed them that I accept it was my error, paid up etc. but this still goes to show that even if you move house the companies will still hunt you down, and even for very small amounts. Furthermore, if you simply refuse to pay they could add to your credit record that you have defaulted which would be damaging for your record.

Anyway, with regards to your case, sending a letter is still considered the best course of action and that is what you should do. There are some form letters that people have on this site that might prove useful but as a newbie here I'm not sure where they're found - but basically you need to tell the claims department in writing that you do not acknowledge the debt, explain to them the circumstances regarding the card and ask them to send evidence that there is indeed a debt - as if the PPI is tied to the card and there is no card then there shouldn't be a debt in your opinion.

Jimrod

well I've been bombarded by calls from Barclaycard today and left a message indeed saying that if I don't pay my credit rating will be affected (I didn't answer the calls as I never answer "unknown" numbers).

Does anyone know where I stand legally on this? If they refuse to wipe the debt would I have a case against them? The amount doesn't bother me too much but they way they have behaved does, I will gladly take them to court if I am in the right. As I said, I cancelled my Morgan Stanley card with zero balance so I should have no relationship whatsoever with Barclaycard. They obtained my details through their takeover of Morgan Stanley and billed me for credit card protection on a non-existent card - They never even sent me a new Barclaycard or informed me they would be billing me, I have no contract with them as far as I can tell as I never agreed to/signed for anything with Barclaycard on it.