Please can someone help i am in dispair

HairY

Christ...some people.

Jane, I would advise not opening any current or savings accounts with firms you have debt with. Offsetting allows them to pull money out of your account to pay off your debts. Once you get it sorted I'd move the account so they can't do this again.

grumbler

Unless it was an account at Barclays, I think that Barcalycard cannot take money from it without the account holder's consent. How can they do this technically?

If it indeed was a Barclays account, it was a really bad idea to open the second account at this bank.

SnowMan

Hi Jane

Sorry to hear about the position you are in.

It is a common problem that where someone owes money to a bank they will use income going into another account with them to pay off the loan. They usually have an offset clause in their terms and conditions which allows them to do that.

The solution is to open a basic bank account with another bank into which you pay your income and then the bank can't just use that money and you can use it to pay your carer instead.

You should get some advice straight away from one of the free debt advice charities see this page for a list. They will help you to negotiate with the bank. If you do this you will find things aren't as desperate as they seem at the moment.

When you have the basic bank account set up and have got advice it should only be any excess income that is left over after paying your carer that may go to paying off your debt.

Best of luck

SnowMan

dealer_wins

In my book you borrow money you pay it back. May be old fashioned but its what my parents taught me and I firmly believe it.

And if you borrow unsecured you make sure that in event of illness,accident,death you are insured etc

OldElstonian

Maybe the OP wants advise on taking up matched betting? :A

dave52

incapacity benefit and dla. I am also. Worried that the local council will think that I have embezzled the money by paying barclaycard, however they took it without my consent.

I am worried and frightened of the consequences so much I don't know what to do. Plus the fact I now have no money what so ever to pay my carers wages and Im sure she needs her wages

Is there anyone who could give me some advice please. I am in such a state that after the last two years Ive just really had enough with life full stop. [/QUOTE]

Do you have your Barclaycard account registerd online?

If not best to do so.

Also

http://www.barclaycard.co.uk/personal-home/customer-service/complaints/index.html

This number may work

0800 9177277

jobbingmusician

Thank you to the member who pointed this thread out to me and advised me to move it.

I'm going to move it to the[STRIKE] benefits board[/STRIKE] debt free wannabee board, as I think you will get the best advice there. In the mean time I think you should write to the bank and explain the circumstances, and also to the local council, enclosing a copy of your letter to the bank.

I am surprised that barclaycard have taken money from your bank account, as I understand that they are two separate companies, but maybe your original post was confused???

I would also advise you to visit the debt free wannabee board, where you will get LOTS of support and ideas for dealing with your Barclaycard debt. (I'm really torn as to which board to move it to, to be honest!) - EDit: No, visit the benefits board and ask them how to manage your carers' money. Maybe an account with a different bank?

I think some of the members on here have given you a bit of a rough time, but this isn't the right board to find people who know much about benefits or debt. Please do KEEP READING and RESPOND to people who give you advice - and you should get some real help on DFW.

Jane_toms

Thank you all it was only a basic card account that was opened and they were aware that this account was purely for payment going in from the local authority to pay for my carer yet when I spoke to barclays bank
they said that barclaycard was nothing to do with them???? So I said how can you let them take payment without authority??? They just said
sorry we can't help

As far as working for extra money I wish I was able to generate income. I am dictating this as I cannot use my hands sorry

brummiebabe

I thought that banks are not allowed to take DLA etc to pay debts?? Am sure someone on DFW will clarify .....

SnowMan

Hi Jane

As mentioned in my earlier post it is possible that the offset is technically legal but you need to speak to one of the debt charities tomorrow to check it out.

Going forward your IB (or DLA) will not have to go to pay off your debt (unless you have money left over after paying your carer and other reasonable living costs) and the opening of a basic bank account and help from a debt advice charity will help you achieve this.

Even though the offset may be technically legal if you have told Barclays that the money was your money to pay your carer then Barclays by using it to pay the card debt may have infringed debt collection guidance which says that banks should deal with people in debt sympathetically.

Give the consumer credit counselling service or national debtline a call tomorrow and possibly fix up an appointment to see a specialist adviser at the CAB.