Help Me...Barclaycard..Grrr

BrightonSun

Hi All,
The lovely people very kindly helped me on here a few weeks ago with a claim re Aqua credit card that had gone to a debt collection agency. The agency still have not provided me with the application form this, so I sent the letter some time ago re no contact and have not heard anything since.
Basically I am going to contest my Barclaycard and wondering if it's the same process. I have no problem in paying the debt I owe but currently the minimum charge on that card alone is £102 a month so every payment only £97 is going off the balance. I have a really poor credit rating and don't care at this present time if this defalts as I would rather pay £100 a month of the debt than directly to Barclaycard. I have had the card since 2002/2003 (The debt has been sat on the card since then so looks like I have probably paid £8100 + in interest alone (ARRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH)

and have paid hundreds possibly thousands in charges on it.
I want to get my debt cleared but Barclaycard wont reduce payments/interest.
Basically last month as normal I went on an paid online but it seems my payment did not go through and now the minimum is £200 which this month I cannot afford. I have logged on and seen that on the 01.02.10 at 13.11:45 Payment Initated. However just spoken to a really rude Indian chap from Barclaycard who says that have no got it.
I can't pay the full amount and what with now a overlimit charge, a late payment and the interest this is the one debt that is getting me down.
So can anyone advise if I should start the process? or Firstly asking them not to call (I was on a training course for 2 weeks and they called 45 times during that period as my phone logs calls) and then requesting the application form I orginally signed.
Sorry for the long email & thanks in advance for any help people can give me. I am not trying to get out of my debt but if by defaulting it stops the interest then I don't care if I can't get any more credit for a million years quite frankly.
Thanks

DarkConvict

Credit Card Charges can be reclaimed if they were over the set limit
Guide - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/credit-card-charges
Forum -http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=102

Credit Card charges are different to Bank Charges

You do not want the application form, you want the CCA (consumer Credit Agreement) The whole progress has been nicely detailed here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2305463

If you have multiple debts and don't care about defaults, CCA is a route to certainly try if you are struggling. You could also go on a DMP and see if they will drop the interest. Ring CCCS or National debtline for help on setting up a free DMP.

Little_Miss_Uni-Debt

Hi,

I would advise that you get your statements from Barclaycard (ALL of them) You can go back upto 6 years. There is a template letter on here, something like 'Subject Access Request' I'll pop back and insert the link in a minute.

Basically Barclaycard try and charge for £7 for each duplicate statement!!!! SO this letter gets around these charges and enables you to see ALL of your old statements and calculate how much they've taken. They may mess around for a letter or two but just re-send & re-send. BELIEVE me it's worth it compared to trying to find all your own old copies.

Once the several envelopes of statements arrive, sit down with a nice new highlighter pen and start to rack up how much you can get back off them :-)

Highlight just the late fees and overlimit charges or charges for returned payments. You may find that once the charges have been removed then the balance is a) more manageable b)getting less interest c)more of your monthly payment is going to the debt. If you choose to default after the charges have been refunded then once it gets passed on to a DCA and you will probably be able to make a lower full and final offer because your outstanding balance is lower. No point defaulting before you re-claim charges ehh!!

Once you have highlighted all the fees/charges draw up a list of the amount they charged you and the date and the reason on a new piece of paper. This 'schedule' of charges shows that you are organised and mean business. If you are super accurate you're more likely to get a quicker response.

Then send the usual re-claim letter with the schedule attached asking them not to compound your financial difficulty further and that currently the minimum payment is barely covering the interest.

I claimed credit card charges back from both HSBC and Barclaycard (£400 and £600) I found they were easier to do compared to current account charges. Expect them to reply with a standard letter to put you off first, just reply again stating this is the second time you have written and if they fail to respond within 14 days then you will go to the Ombudsman. This usually hurries them along!!

Best of luck!

Little_Miss_Uni-Debt

This is the letter you should use to get your statements - This can be dowloaded from http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges#reclaim

You will also need to include a cheque for £10 as this is the max they can charge and it saves time if you just include it anyway. Mine was never cashed by either bank. You can just edit this to apply to just your credit cards.




[insert your name
and address]

[insert date]

[insert name and
address of bank]

Dear Sir or Madam,

Ref: Subject Access Request
Account number: [insert the number of any accounts you are writing to reclaim from]

I am writing to request that you forward me a copy of all data held by your organisation about me for both current and closed accounts. This should include, but not be limited to all transaction lists, agreements, notes made on my account and copies of letters relating to my account.

[USE THIS SENTENCE IF RELEVANT OR DELETE]
As well as my current address, previous addresses that may have been attached to this account include: [enter details of any previous addresses you have had whilst being a customer of this bank].

This request should include any data held for more than 6 years as under the Data Protection Act there is no time limit for information requested. If you do not hold data for a period longer than 6 years I also request confirmation of this in writing along with your methods used for disposal of such information to comply with the Data Protection Act stating the name and contact information of your registered Data Controller and Code Compliance Officer.

I look forward to your response within 40 days, as [insert name of bank]is obliged to reply within this time under the Data Protection Act. If not I shall seek remedy from the Information Commissioner.[Delete this last part if not relevant]I enclose the statutory maximum fee of £10.

Yours faithfully,

[insert your signature]

[insert your name (printed)]

BrightonSun

Thank you so much for all your help!! :j

I think I would have been in a right mess if it had not been for the help on here!!

Will get the templates done up first thing in the morning and posted out!

Thanks Again people