Just a question

The_Pink_Wafer

Sorry if this is in the wrong place.

I have a pretty hefty credit card debt, it's actually with a debt collection agency at the moment.

Anyway, just a bit curious. The credit card is with barclaycard, i never asked for it, I asked for a cash card and they sent me a credit card (this was over 2 years ago.) They also increased the limit to £4800 from £3000 without me asking. At the age of 18, it was my first credit card. I never signed an agreement.

Obviously, I'm not silly now and if it happened again, I'd send it back to them, but I'm curious as to how I got one to begin with without signing an agreement.

purplemoon

I think its incredibly cheeky, and I hope you challenge them over it. (Ask to see the form that you did sign regarding the cash card. Even if it seems you did sign for it, still challenge them. I would!). Hopefully somebody that knows a little more about this kind of thing would agree... I got a hefty credit limit from them also that kept rising too- they aren't always stingy with credit limits it seems.
Good luck.

galileo

I suspect it would be argued, as a matter of law, that even though you didn't sign an agreement, you implicitly agreed to be bound by the terms of the agreement by conduct i.e. spending on the card.

Are you sure you didn't sign something unwittingly without knowing what it was?

Try talking to the financial services ombudsman.

It is unlikely you will be able to wriggle out of repaying this debt. I suspect if the debt collection agency is involved, you have missed a number of payments which will have harmed your chances of getting future credit. You need to address this debt NOW. There is no point starting savings if you have hefty credit card debts attracting nasty rates of interest.

You must deal with this because if the agency issues court proc eedings against you and judgment is entered against you. The CCJ on your credit file will scupper you for years to come.

Try applying for one 0% card and see how you get on.

The_Pink_Wafer

Hi,

I wasn't planning on challanging them as I was the one who ran up the debt. I am in the v.slow process of paying it back so it's getting sorted that way.

I was just wondering how I got it to begin with and no, I definately did not sign anything.

Just wish I'd thought to send it back at the time now, as the debt (loonnng story) isn't totally my fault. Anyway, c'est la vie, you live, you learn.

purplemoon

I still think that although you don't want to challenge the fact that the debt is yours and you are responsible for paying it off you could still firmly point out how it was aquired, and complain. I expect it wouldn't be too late for them to take back the debt and although you to pay off interest free, or something less damaging for your future credit/ current finances.

galileo

Purplemoon makes a good point. Whilst the priority is dealing with the debt, you should do this in conjunction with formally complaining, using the financial services ombudsman for advice as and when needed.

Good luck!

oldfella

if you didnt sign a credit agreement the money cannot be recovered

ask for a copy

Mike

Phoenix79_2

oldfella wrote:

if you didnt sign a credit agreement the money cannot be recovered

ask for a copy

Mike

I'm amazed at the advice on this board sometimes. People encouraging other people to weasel out of paying money they legitimitely owe.The original poster has already said he/she will pay the money back so lets leave it at that.

You may not have asked for the card but you still used it...and quite a lot it would seem and that will probably be seen as acceptance of the card.

The_Pink_Wafer

Phoenix, that's what I thought and I honestly had no intention of using this as an excuse to get out of it.

I was just wondering how/why it was sent to me.

I did use it a lot, though over half the balance on it is actually interest. Like I said...you live, you learn, I'm paying for it now, but will get there in the end.

Phoenix79_2

The_Pink_Wafer wrote:

Phoenix, that's what I thought and I honestly had no intention of using this as an excuse to get out of it.

I was just wondering how/why it was sent to me.

Hi

I wasn't having a go at you in the last post! You had already stated that you were going to be pay it back

I have been there....i racked up £8k on a Barclaycard when i was 18 years old and was only earning £6k per year! :eek: How on earth i managed to get a limit like that i will never know!

The_Pink_Wafer

Oh deary me....Barclaycard have totally baffled me over this and put me off credit cards for life I think!

Thanks for your input though