Threat of a defualt

Mermaid18

Just signed up for a bit of advice.

I recently received a letter from Santander Cards with whom I have a balance of £780 outstanding.

Due to recent problems money has been very short and I missed a total of three payments from (and including December). This flagged up on my credit file and I knew I needed to get back on track with repayments, as I simply could not afford to default.

Two weeks ago I contacted Santander and was put through to its collections branch, which operates under the name of Viking. I told the advisor over the phone my predicament and we arranged a payment plan of £60 a month for the next three months at which point the account would be reviewed.

I stressed I was desparate to avoid a default and he explained that as I had now arranged a payment plan all would be rosey.

Despite this, I received a letter last thursday saying I needed to make a payment of £174 or risk the possibilty of;

1) Closing of the account
2) Taken to court/legal proceedings
3) Risk a default notice

With this new letter I rang Viking again yesterday and paid another £60, as agreed from the first point of contact.

Then alarmingly today, I received yet another letter from Santader, stating that I was being given a notice of 28days of their intent to default my credit agreement. This has shocked me.

I rang Santander, and was again put through to Viking where I asked for an explanation. The lady this time told me that as I had not cleared previous arrears, I was chalking up missed payments, which were now also recorded on my credit report

I again stressed that I didn't want to default, and paid another £174 over the phone (aswell £60 yesterday as agreed with the previous agreement).

My worry is that the left is leading the right, with no real communication about payments I am making - resulting in missed payments being sent to Experian/Equifax.

Aside from these calls, I was just wondering if the board could advise on any other steps I could take to avoid going into default with Santander.

It seems no matter what I do, this is the route they seem intent on taking.

Many thanks in advance,

Mermaid18

Tixy

HI

The default notice letter - does it state how much you have to pay by when to stop it being stop them registering the default or does it just say something vague like rectify your account?

With the £60 and the £174 are you now up to date with repayments? with all arrears cleared or not?

Mermaid18

Hi Tixy, thanks for your quick response.

I was told by the lady at Viking that my arrears had now been paid, although I was suprised I wasn't made aware of this with the agreement to pay I had made two weeks earlier, resulting in missed payments being relaid to my credit file.

The default notice itself simply states my outstanding balance and apparently serves as their notice of intention to register a default on my account.

Although I only received the letter today, it is dated as being sent last wednesday (the 14th), which is a little underhanded.

I accept that I am the reason for this mess. But i'm suprised at the way in which the account is being handled.

Thanks for advice in advance

eyeopener2

Santander are rubbish when it comes to these things. They issue letters like confetti and the left and right hand do not know what they are doing. the letter dates are just par for the course.

Your also finding out exactly how banks and their collection agencies work. Just because someone tells you something on the phone does not make it true.

E2

Mermaid18

Sorry to be a pest, but I was hoping a could gather a little advice on the above predicament.

Many thanks,

Mermaid18

Tixy

I doubt you can do much about the missed payments. Its usual for these to be reported when you are in arrears.

You might want to send a letter in response to the default notice to ask them to confirm in writing that the arrears have been paid and that a default will not be filed at the CRAs.