Barclays being totally out of order.

Little_Miss_Lexi

I've got a terminated business account with £1,500 overdraft on this, They've froze the account and I've not heard anything from this otherwise. I split from my business due to discrepancies on my business partners behalf. All correspondence has to go through her no matter what so I've not got any letter saying to pay back or anything unless its gone through her, in which case I've not seen any of them.


Today I get a letter through saying that I need to pay up in full by the end of next week or they will send round bailiffs basically.

I've called up the company explaining my situation and I don't know what to do, I don't think I should be paying off her debt but because its in a joint name I'm apparently being made to.

I've told them I'm on job seekers and get the bare minimum each week but they don't care.

I think this is a bit unfair due to the business splitting up shouldn't I of been contacted through my home address to have some kind of pay plan sorted out?

I've tried to get an appointment in barclays but as usual getting the normal crap with they will call back in 3 hours, I've called back twice and got the same crap.

I've not received any other letters apart from this one demanding money by the end of the week or legal action will be taken against me and bailiffs will be contacted.

I don't know what to do? I've been told not to worry by my family because they can take what I don't have, I live with my parents and I don't own anything which they can take! I've also been told that they are unlikely to proceed with legal action over this sum of money because it wouldn't be worth them doing..?

olly300

You should post this on the business thread.

You have not stated what kind of business you have so there is no clue to your liability to the debts.

Extant

Little_Miss_Lexi wrote: »

I've called up the company explaining my situation and I don't know what to do, I don't think I should be paying off her debt but because its in a joint name I'm apparently being made to.

Without knowing what kind of business you have/had, it's impossible to tell your liability - but I'm guessing you're not limited in any way, and operate as a basic partnership. If that's the case, then you are jointly and severally liable for debts run up on the account, as you are with joint personal accounts. I'm sorry, but this is not a Barclays "thing," this is fairly standard for such situation - you both "own" the account, so you're both responsible for the debt. This isn't unfair or out of order - you have a responsibility here too.

I think this is a bit unfair due to the business splitting up shouldn't I of been contacted through my home address to have some kind of pay plan sorted out?

Correspondence regarding the business going in to overdraft would be sent to the business address, not to the owner's home address - indeed, it would be unfair of us to send details of an account to any address other than that which we are given. The mailing address might be shared, the mail might fall in to the wrong hands, etc.

You say the business split up - why did you not remove yourself from the business bank account?

I've tried to get an appointment in barclays but as usual getting the normal crap with they will call back in 3 hours, I've called back twice and got the same crap.

If you've still got an open business account (i.e. notice of termination has been issued, but the account remains open) then your relationship manager is still responsible. They have a target to return calls with X working hours, and it is part of their performance reviews etc. If they're not returning your calls, I'd suggest you telephone the local business support line on 0845 605 2345 and say that calls haven't been returned - it will be fed back to your business manager's line manager.

If your account has been terminated and is closed, they are unlikely to return calls to you as there's nothing they can do; it's all in the hands of collections. Yes, they should call back and say that though.

I don't know what to do? I've been told not to worry by my family because they can take what I don't have, I live with my parents and I don't own anything which they can take! I've also been told that they are unlikely to proceed with legal action over this sum of money because it wouldn't be worth them doing..?

If you can't pay, you can't pay. Write back explaining that you cannot pay, and that you are willing to make a token payment of £1 a week, etc.