How Do I get Out of This Mess

cammysnana

Hi, I have been trying to get the interest on my 2 Barclaycard accounts frozen since last August, After making a phonecall to them they promised to stop the interest for 3 months after which I would have to call again to have the arrangement re-newed. The guy I spoke to said he would have to alter the amount I was paying, just slightly over the minimum payment, and also change the date of the direct debit payment. The following month I found that they had charged me the interest they had promised to stop and also a late payment fee. The following month they had done the same thing. I rang them and was on the phone for a nightmare 50 minutes being passed from one hardly English speaker to another. I eventually asked to speak to a someone who spoke proper English as I was having great difficulty understanding what the off-shore people were saying. The person I got put through to was also off-shore and was initially very rude to me, though she did apologise at the end of the call. She did however promise to cancel the late payments I had been charged and also the interest. It didn´t happen. I wrote to Barclaycard critisising their staff and their lies. I eventually received a letter saying the interst would not be charge for a further 3 months, as a matter of goodwill. I wrote and asked them what was to happen after the 3 months as there was no way I could or would continue to make payments of 50.00 on each card when 40.00 was going in interest. I said I need the interest to be stopped or a least lowered, I am currently on 27.9%. They answered my letter refusing both. I then stopped the direct debits using interent banking, and wrote to Barclaycard telling them what I had done and saying Iwas not refusing to pay the debt but would not pay any interest. I have just checked my bank account on line (also Barclays) and find that despite the direct debits being cancelled they have taken the money out of my account. Not only that they have charged me late payment charges pkus 50.00 for stopping the direct debits. On one account where last months balance had been 2011.0 they have taken the 50.00 but I now owe 2076.00. Surely this cannot be legal. Any ideas how I can get this interest frozen. My income per month is less than 500.00 and that is made up if disability living allowance, my state pension which is not a full one, a private pension of 100.00 PER YEAR and a pesion through Barclays of 350 PER YEAR.....HHHHHHEEEEELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!! :mad:

beanielou

Hello & we;come tpo lovely MSE

3Dogs

Hi Cammysnanna - I am afraid that there is no way of forcing banks/credit cards to stop inerest and fees, they will only do it as a goodwill gesture. If the debt is passed to a DCA (Debt Collection Agent) however the amount is held at that point, with no added interest.

Have you sent them a statement of your finance position showing that this is all you can afford? They are more likely to accept a lower sum from you if you prove that you can't afford to pay more. You can do a SOA (Statement of Affairs) using http://www.makeseseofcards.com/soacalc.html and then post it on here if you wish so that others can advise you fully.

All the best

fozmcfc

Hi and welcome.

I'm sure someone can 100% confirm it, but if your have a Barclays account and Barclaycard, then they will continue to take money from your bank account to finance the Barclaycard payments.

I believe that whilst they are not linked as one account, because it's your banks credit card, they can and will treat it as such for payment purpose.

Only 2 things can stop them, 1/ If they are leaving you with absolutely no money for rent/food etc. 2/ Open an account with another bank, then they can not touch the money unless they take legal action against you.

The trouble is that by basically just saying I can't afford it, so won't pay it isn't going to help in the long run. There are lots of people who will be able to help you here, if you make a SOA, but you will also need to give a bit more info as to why you are struggling with the repayments, to get the best advice as to what course to take.

Good luck.

wardie2437

Please correct me if I'm wrong - but Debt collection companies are not allowed to take into consideration any DLA money you receive. So if you fill out an income and expenditure form don't include this amount. I'm not sure if it goes to court whether they need to know (maybe someone could let us know). But we are going to be in the same situation fairly soon, due to a big shortfall on our repossession. My wife is on DLA and I was made redundant and I'm now her carer.
Also, if you make an offer of payment (any offer at all) they have to acknowledge it, and if they don't agree they have to send out an income an expenditure form for you to fill out. Basically these companies get arsey because they know their chances of getting the money back are very small.

Stuckinarut

wardie2437 wrote: »

Please correct me if I'm wrong - but Debt collection companies are not allowed to take into consideration any DLA money you receive. QUOTE]

I think you are right here, but do remember that once the money hits your bank account it is then just money regardless of where it came from, so Barclays are still free to then use it. Or if a bank arrestment was ever put in place then the could still arrest your DLA.

indierocker85

If you were to get so far as to receive a default notice for the debt, you will find they are much more willing to co-operate. Also, if you were to tell them that if they can't help you, then your going to have to look at possible bankruptcy, you will find they will magically co-operate. They would sooner you pay and give them their money back without interest, than the debt get written off. Be careful though, as depending on your circumstances, this could well backfire.