Mercers/Barclaycard-won't co-operate!

poukamiso

Hello all,

Moved abroad at the beginning of the year and was 100% honest to all creditors etc, and have managed to clear 2 debts by f and f settlements and the rest, I have now got reduced payment plans with, except barclaycard/ mercers - who are being extremely difficult!! The are the only ones that would not freeze interest or charges and will not accept any kind of reduced payment, I did manage to keep a payment of £10 each month, until Mercers started phoning me saying they cannot accept it. As, I am abroad, they refused to take a payment by any method... although now, I have found another way, so am still paying £10. Mercers kept phoning and sending letters saying 'do not ask us to accept lower payments again.' I cannot afford to pay them £60 a month and it would be unfair to the other creditors with whom I have arrangements with ( pro-rata). I have explained this and still they call. Today I had another call, 'we can stop all this if you pay £33 now' - why, I asked, because it will stop it being sold on and then what,I ask, more calls from mercers asking for more money?? Again, I explain, pro rata it is unfair and I cannot arrange for money, now, as I am abroad and have to send money via a third party in UK... Well, it will be sold on to a debt collection agency in the country you are in and they will come to get you, I am told. The debt is unsecured, so I don't think they can take anything. I am sick of being hassled by Mercers and have tried to arrange a payment plan, but they won't accept it, as I am abroad and it isn't enough money... I have written them a letter explaining my circumstances, income and outgoings, what I pay to other creditors pro rata etc, etc., so they have the full picture. I've also used the OFT statement about harrassment...
So, now what - can anyone advise??? Should I try and pay the £33 to stall the selling of debt and see what happens or should I let them sell it on and risk this foreign debt agency coming to see me ( could that be just trying to scare me into paying...) and finally, I might be able to arrange my payment plan with the new agency... I've been honest and tried to keep a regular payment going in, but what do you do, when they just won't accept it- I feel like I've been forced into a difficult corner...

Any advice gratefully received

poukamiso

pikachu

I am having exactly the same experience with Mercers / B'card.
I made the fatal mistake of giving them my debit card details back in July (STUPID, STUPID, STUPID) after a phone call in which I believed to be making an agreement to pay payments over 2 months of £44. They took more money, £168 & £136 (of course B'card have this down as what I agreed). Then last Thursday I found another payment of £136 had been taken on 3rd October of £136 completely unauthorised by me. I have mortgage arrears which I my priority and I'm only paying my other creditors £10 per month, the most I can afford. I would never have agreed to anything more than £50. I now owe money to gas and electricity companies and missed a council tax payment all due to this whereas I'd never missed those payments previously despite being on JSA for 10 months.
I've spent so much time on phone calls this week trying to get B'card to at least refund the payment taken on 3rd October, but I'm going round in circles and going nowhere fast. The last phone call I had, B'card told me Mercers said they would refund the £136 only if I agreed to pay £70 a month.
They have persistently refused to take token payments, persistently made phone calls hassling me and refused to take a I&E statement. When I explained what had happened to my bank, Natwest they took a very dim view of Mercers behaviour when I spoke to them last Thursday. CCCS advised contacting my local Trading Standards which I have done, but could only get voicemail for me to leave a message to contact me urgently. Nobody has.
I have a telephone appointment with the CCCS tomorrow with a debt counsellor.
I feel like I have nowhere to turn to with this - every time someone says they'll call me back they don't.
I'm asking for my debit card to be changed causing no end of hassle. I'm completely sick to the stomach over the whole situation.
My total debt is just over £29k

Nicola

stebiz

Nicola,

Could you cancel your Debit Card and get a new one issued? Then send them a cheque for £5 a month or whatever you feel you can afford. If they don't like it the worst they can do is take you to court. You may get a CCJ but the judge would then order that you pay £x a month. I have one from about 3 years ago with Natwest and I pay £5 a month.

Okay your credit rating may be 'screwed' but surely it is already??

Take Care
Stebiz

pikachu

Hi Stebiz

Yes, I am cancelling the card as I just got nowhere at all speaking to Barclaycard - I'm checking my account online everyday.
I'm also going to make a complaint to my local trading standards as advised by CCCS, but couldn't get hold of them via phone so am going to have to write or email

Money-come-lately

Have they threatened you with bankruptcy? Barclaycard have with me through a DCA.

pikachu

Mercers haven't as yet - I think they are Barclaycard might be a bit fed up of me at the moment
Haven't even had a default notice from Barclaycard - probably as extortionate amounts of money have been taken off me. They called twice though asking for money - once I spoke to them, but the time before that a couple of days before the last call they just left a number. I thought it was regarding my complaint, but when I called the number it was their automated payment service asking for something like £7.50 in payment. It's costing me a fortune in interest and charges for going over my credit limit, but that's the current state of play with them. I haven't got the time nor energy to start calling again even though I have names now.
Credit Solutions called me to threatened to take me court to force the sale of my home. Just carried on with token payments. When I called to let them know that I had a CCCS telephone appointment, they asked if I was goinf for bankruptcy and I said "No" This was on Thursday and they then said they would be in contact on Monday. On Friday I received a letter from Credit Solutions, a "Notice of Legal Proceedings" with 4 possible actions listed below:

1) CCJ
2) You paying court costs
3) Your possesions being seized
4) Attachment of earnings

I'll take option 4 please - all my money is being directed towards mortgage arrears if I can help it.

True to their word, they called today and left a number with my partner - luckily they only have my home number. They have been calling at least once a day since at least last Thursday though. The only contact they are now getting is in writing.
BTW Any advice on what to say if I am cornered into speaking to them, as my first action is to reduce payments to them from £10 to £1 and I know they are not going to be happy.

Nicola

pikachu

Just had a call back from my local Trading Standards and explained situation regarding Mercers taking the overpayments and the unauthorised payment and they said they couldn't help. They used to deal with DCA's but don't anymore apparently. The person I spoke to gave me the number for the Financial Services Ombudsman and said they might be able to help.

lou_lou_skinty_poos

if you dont want to speak with mercers or barclaycard then tell then u cant confirm your details and due to data protection they must end the call if they cant confirm who you are like checking your d.o.b. etc then they must terminate the call.

pikachu

Thanks for the tip, Lou lou