my friend getting constant calls from barclays and more

Maysie

She split from her husband and they have a lot of debt in her name as his credit rating was worse. She asked to be taken off the barclays joint account and thought it was sorted. This was at the start of last year. AT that point she had put money in so it was in credit. He continued to use it and racked up debt on it. I believe he is paying a token amount to them now. She cannot get herself taken off the account and has other debts to consider near £20,000! She is also pregnant by her a new partner (live separately)and her income has dropped in the last year and she is really struggling. The mortgage is all in her name from before they were married. She used a scheme to own/buy 70% and the builders kept 30%. The paperwork for this has gone missing and she needs to prove for the divorce how much of the flat she owns. Council that runs the scheme have no details, her old financial advisor has no details, if she asks the solicitor he will want paying, land register will not help and the builders say they don't' keep those records locally so they won't help. Also the mortgage company say they have nothing on file.

Barclays keep calling her and asking her about this debt and when she can pay it etc. She is a self-employed hairdresser and is barely earning enough to pay the mortgage and minimum payments for cc and loans. She cannot change her mobile number as its her work. She is getting very upset about the constant calls every day nearly. She is the type of person who cannot say no and as she knows the debt is in her name she thinks she has to put up with the calls. She keeps referring them back to her ex. I am sure she can ask them to stop as its harrasment but i wanted a script of keyworks for her to say if anyone can help it would be great.

I keep referring her to this site but i thing she is a bit boggled by it all.

Her income last year was just under £12,600ish i think but she is self-employed so is convinced she cannot get legal aid in divorce case is this correct? A friend referred her to a solicitor who was supposed to be cheaper as they are new. She saw for one meeting that was supposed to be for an hr but they started late and it was more like half an hour she has given him all the details and has had a bill for hundreds i cannot remember but it was under £500 and over £400. Is this usual? She needs the info about her % of her flat she owes to proceed. This solicitor does not take legal aid anyway she says. If she can get legal aid before much more happens should she try switching to somewhere else?

When her boiler was playing up a couple of years ago britsh gas talked her into
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£28.75 a month. She is in a flat with a person below and above her and to each side. I have said she should cancel this but she is worried her boiler might break down again. I don't' think its the right cover for her situation. She was also told after a year this would go down to £20ish and it never did. Any suggestions ?

Tixy

Hi

Regarding the mortgage/ house ownership - it may be that she will need to bite the bullet and speak to the solicitor and accept it will cost her to get this information.
You say the land registery will not help - what has been done in relation to them so far?
How long ago was the house purchased? Has she done a formal written request to to the building company for the info she needs?
Is she still with the same mortgage company as when she purchased the house? has she considered doing a written subject access request to them for all info they have (costs £10) to see if there is anything on their files which will help her.

Regarding the barclays calls - the only way to stop them is to send a letter - template here - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=11571485&postcount=4

Don't know about the legal aid side of things -sorry

Regarding the boiler that seems very expensive - if she does want boiler breakdown then I'm sure she could find it much cheaper or even just see what other deals british gas do that just covers the boiler, central heating etc.

Regarding paying her debts and managing her finances it sounds like she cannot cover all her debts from her income (including the joint account) - perhaps you could point her in the direction of one of the debt charity advice services here - IMPORTANT - Where to seek professional impartial advice about your debts.