credit card arrears

pipster547

Hi I am currently off sick from work and I am struggling to pay all my bills let alone credit cards so I went to CAB for some advice, they told me not to worry and just to send them a letter along with a personal budget sheet and tell them that I will make a £1 token payment I have 2 credit cards 1 is egg they phoned me and said that a payment was needed I told them about the letter and she said there was something on her pc saying they had a letter from me she said to pay the £1 and that I should hear soon from them, its been over a month now and still not heard from them I just get emails saying my account is in arreas, The 2nd is barclay crad they phone me regualy asking for payment and when I tell them about the letter they say they have not got it and they say that they will not except a £1 payment it has also been a month since sending the letter and I have now recieved a letter from a debt collection company called mercers and they say that I need to pay £174.81 to reach barclays by the 8th of august it also states that if I do not take action before this date a debt collection company will send a formal demand for the whole balance of my account. I am worried about this as I can't pay £174.81 and deffo can't afford the whole balance of £3262.

What should I do was I given bad advice from CAB?

CLAPTON

write again to both companies by recorded delivery including your income and expenditure sheet and also ask that they DONOT phone but only deal in writing

it's quite amazing how many companies 'lose' letter from people strugggling with debt.

continue to pay £1 each month to the companies

they probably will default your a/c with them which will trash your credit record
for the next 6 years

they may take you to court but that's unlikely

debt collectors have no powers what so ever so tell them to get lost

if your bank account is with Barclays then open a new a/c elsewhere asap otherwise they will raid your a/c

udydudy

Read this useful post and do the needful. i.e resend letter sto both card companies by recorded or signed for special delivery and send the requisite letters to the debt collectors especially the one about harassment by phone as also insisting everything come only in writing and also refusing entry/appointment to your property.

Send all letters in writing.

PNPSUKNET

Mercers are barclaycards own internal company, they are just run of the mill collections even could be the same ones as barclays collections. Never speak to anyone over the phone and always do things by recorded delivery.

I would as the above says pay the £1 even if they dont accept, if taken to court the judge can only make you pay what you have. Although it is very likely they will sell the debt on.

pipster547

thanks for the help guys will be writting to them again on monday with personal budget sheets this time I will send it recorded delivery and I'm playing them at their own game now when they phone me up I can never remember my date of birth and they wont speak to me lol.