A very hard lession to learn

confused84

I really could do with some advice!!
I took stupidly took out a credit card in uni in 2004 as my ex partner was working for them at the time. I had no intention of using it but he took it and used it, when I found out I was very angry but he told me he would make the repayments..he never did, the last payment made was in 2005.
As if that wasn't bad enough I signed as guarantor so he could get a car in 2005, i was heavily pregnant at the time and didn't realise that I was being financially abused(i never heard of that term untill womens aid told me) He also ran up a mobile bill in my name and ran up an over draft with my bank.
I left him in 2005 just 3wks after having my son. I managed to get the car back off him and sold it but it wasn't enough to cover the loan, i've been paying £100 a month and still have £4,560.80 to pay. I've paid the rest of my debts.
Trouble was I never heard from Barclay as i left in such a hurry(basically the clothes on my back) I was traced by the other companies and have paid them off except for the car loan which i'm paying.
I had finally managed to get back on my feet financially, working full time for 3 years and paying all my bills on time. Things were looking up for us until i came back from holiday a month ago to find a letter from hfo services saying i owed £1,115.02 for a barclaycard that as far as i remember was only £500 before i left.
I rang them and gave them all details right down to my debit card number where they took out a payment for £38. I had agreed a settlement of £717 which they were going to take next week.
I've since cancelled my card and asked my bank not to allow them to set up any direct debits without my permission.
The reason I done this was people said i shouldn't have gave out so much info via the phone and that the interest was a bit ridiculous and if i was to pay then they should send me out some sort of payment slip. I appologise for the long story, please help!!!

sofababe

As it appears that the debt has doubled since u left I would ask them for all statements relating to the debt. Send an SAR request so u can see exactly what has been added. Have u looked at unenforceability?
You have done the right thing by cancelling your card, these people have no scruples and would think nothing of using your card details to take further payments.
If u are happy to accept the Full and Final offer, once u have seen some statements, there is particular wording that u need to have in their letter. It must state that u will be released from all liability to the debt and that no third party may chase u for the remainder. Also they should mark your credit file as satisfied.

confused84

I might actually look into that, what makes me sick to the stomach is that had i not made that payment of £38 another 6 months and it would have been off my credit report!! I feel so angry for not researching this sooner.
I've tried ringing the company but no answer, should this debt company have a breakdown? I have a feeling he's going to tell me he doesn' have it.

sofababe

I was going to mention that if u hadn't made that payment of £38 the debt would have been statute barred in a few months and u wouldn't have had to pay a penny ever but didn't want to make u feel any worse but I see u already realise this. Definitely have a look at unenforceability, they should send u a copy of the credit agreement as part of the SAR request I think. If they can't provide one its probably not enforceable. A lot of people don't agree with going down that route but as it wasn't u that ran up the debt I wouldn't feel too guilty about not paying if I were u. I'm sure your ex isn't feeling guilty about putting u in this position.

Good luck and if u need more help with the UE post back and someone will point u in the right direction x

confused84

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

NorthernLas

Info on organisations to contact for advice in NI

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/northern-ireland.php

You should be able to see from your credit file if/when the default was registered for the debt and who owns it.

As it is close to dropping off your credit file, you may want to look at enforceability (see https://www.all-about-debt.co.uk for experts in this)