being bullied "coz they can"

Dylanwing

Phillstarr - All the more reason why you need to seek professional help. From what I have read, the Banks are not acting correctly. When I had problems I found the Banks to be total bullies, and quite happy to lie. As soon as I stood up to them, and insisted they put everything in writing, their attitude improved a lot. I appreciate that it is difficult for you, but don't let them treat you like this, it will be a lot better for you in the long run.
What really pi**ed me off was hearing Bank apologists continually say 'If you have difficulties, contact us and we will do all we can to help'. Utter bulls hit. I started off determined to pay off my debts, I ended up cheating, lying, and basically taking the pi** and trying to force them to accept low settlements. Treat them like they treated me! Two Companies acted with fairness and sympathy, and offered a mutually acceptable solution (Long-term low-interest loan with affordable repayments),they both ended up being repaid in full.

Windscreen_Viper

Phillstarr - firstly you should ring the credit card company and explain your health situation - they 'should' have a specialist team who will handle your case on a one to one basis i.e with a named contact who will only contact you in an agreed manner, most banks work this way to assist customers with health issues, especially if it is mental health. secondly ask for the money back. All banks offer a refund of monies taken if it can be proved that the money taken is indded from benefits - some (LLoyds for instance) will give it back if you inssist even if not from benefits - when I say insist, I would however, suggest asking nicely rather than insisting. Yes change your bank account to one not associated with barclays as has been said - bt,w although HBOS is part of Lloyds they do not cross over "yet" i.e. Lloyds will not take money from a Halifax account and vice versa - given time they likely will though.

Again if your situation is explained properly, you may well get the overdraw charges on your account refunded too - ask, the worst they can say is no.....

Be prepared however, whilst they may indeed do all of the above, the price for this is that they will expect that you be prepared to discuss ways to stsrt to make inroads on whatever the amount is that you owe - note I only said discuss.

james1bradley

Yes i agree it is down to ourselves to ensure our bills are repayed on time, but unfortunatley circumsatances change and you find youself in a situation that you cant.....!!!!! i was in a position where my partner left me, so obviously my income did not now stretch to my previous lifestyle not that it was that lavish but was comfortable...i was left with a mortgage, and the usual bills plus i have just given birth!!!!!! I work but have been on maternity leave since october and from january i go onto basic statutary marternity pay and my tax credits. i contacted all my creditors, to which all but 1 were very helpful and undersatnding and yes you have prob guessed the 1 was of course barclycard.......

all my creditors have been great in allowing me to lower my repayments again even my mortgage company, but not barclaycard, my other cc have froze interest for me, but not BC...i have been dealing with their inhouse debt collection company, Merecers and agreed with them to involve a debt managment company as they will only deal with a third party in regards to repayment offers... and to my surprise yesterday barclaycard took 370.00 from my account.... I find it disgusting that they can do this, regardless of the fact they are apart of the barclays group, and that is apart of the agreement you sign, i have tried to come to an agreement with them, but they are very clever to the extent that they would not even take you to court, as they know that if the customer has done all they can to come to a agreement the court would usually go in your favour. with barclays and as with most other credit companies it is just about making more money and if that involves putting their customers into more hardship then so be it.... yes we carry the responsibility of repaying our debts, but the companys have a responsibility to assess each case on its own merits....................

philstarr, if you wanted to do a bit of xmas shopping,there aint nothing wrong with that.... regardless of who you owe, any budget plan sheet allows for these circumstances, just because you are in debt not nessercerily through your own fault you should not have to live a life of misery.... hope you get it sorted and have a better year next year... all the best