Reclaiming Charges If.....

dexters_mum_2

You paid the charges through a debt collection agency and they closed the account?
Been chatting with a close friend who is in the midst of sorting her finances is out following a seperation.

She had an account with Barclays in 2002 not sure what type this was but she set up DD's from the account and due to an error with her pay or benefits (unsure which), they went out and she was charged a fee per item plus an OD fee, this resulted in Barlcays swiftly (all too swiftly as I remember) passing the debt to a receovery company. I think she had to pay £75 per month for about 5 months and the debt was paid off.

Having seen Martin on TV recently she's going back through her bank statements and came across this closed account. Could she claim back the money and if so from whom as she can't remember who to debt company was and in addition she has married and moved since all of this happend, hence she doesn't have the same address as she did when this happend nor does she have the same name.

Any advice is appreciated, I wouldn't know where to start, I thought the branch might be an idea?

Also, she got a record of her credit file recently as I think she is going to try to sort her finances via Pay Plan and the registered a default against her, could she get this removed of she won back the charges?

Larumbelle

Yes, she can claim the charges back from Barclays. If she has all of her statements then so much the better - assuming she has a complete set there is no need to make a subject access request, she can just calculate the amount and set the ball rolling with the fist letter. If I were her, I'd send a copy of my marriage certificate and a utility bill to prove identity and address.

The letter and the 'how to claim back' are here:http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1141050760,24632,

She cannot 'make' Barclays remove the default, but can request this as part of any settlement. She will most likely get this from Barclays as they won't want to go to court. Tell her to come visit us at the forums, we can support her in her claim as well as to make herself debt free via payplan. In any case, wish her all the best of luck.

dexters_mum_2

Thanks silvercharming.
She doesn't have net access at present, her former husband has been a bit of a scum bag taing the PC she uses so I offered to post this on her behalf.

I will certainly check whether she has a full set of statement and ask her when she does write to enclose the documentation you mentioned.

According to her also, the debt recovery people allegedly added charges for 'managing' her account, is it likely she can claim this back or is that just a fact of life and if she can, is that from the agency or from Barclays.

P.S Final thought...am I right in think Barclays are a bit difficult in refund the charges or have I just made that up?

Larumbelle

They can be difficult. They tend to pay up the day before you go to court. PM for you.