Barclaycard - Taken debt without authorisation?

GibbsRule_No3

Can I ask why you did not change to a bank account that they did not have a number for? That is the first thing I was told to do. I had to open a new account with a bank that I had no debts with and swap all money from old accounts into it.

woodmally1979

shanks84 wrote: »

Hi. I checked my online banking today for my Barclays current account, and noticed that there was a large debit for nearly £2000. I rang up telephone banking, and I was told it was Barclaycard

Long story short, I am in about £10,000 of debt, and have lost my home and everything. I am currently dealing with StepChange Debt company, and am set up to pay £170 per month to clear my debt, but Barclaycard have now completely ruined me by clearing me out (they waited the first working day after I got my first pay to take the money)

Can I do anything about this? Obviously I am devastated that this has happened. I spoke to the CAB and they saidd it shouldn't be an issue me having a Barclays current account with a debt to Barclaycard

Please help

Firstly you need to change banks. To stop them from doing this again. I had the problem with the HBOS group. My wife had an account that was transfered over to Blair Oliver and Scott (BOS Bank of Scotland but they had a funny name to make them sound important). We sorted our debt out but if they are doing extreme offsetting then I would change banks

Then make an arrangement to pay the rest but on your terms. Seek advice from a debt charity. Payplan is good.

Thrifty_Pixie

why didn't you open an unaffiliated account as was suggested here?

Allypops

As they have done it again, despite the contact from yourself and Step Change I would contact FOS immediately to seek their advice. To leave you with nothing for essential living expenses when they have been advised of your situation is plain wrong and they know it.

shanks84

I was told by StepChange that because the plan was now set up, there would be no reason why they would take any more out of my account, as an agreement had been reached. However, they did it anyway. Am in the process of changing banks now, but t doesn't really matter now because they have taken the full amout I owe them. I suppose its £2400 chalked off my debt, so it's not the end of the world - just angry at the way they have gone about doing it

Will get in touch with the FOS

Find_The_Real

I'm very surprised that StepChange said it was ok to stay with your bank as one of the first things I was told was to open another account with someone I didn't have credit with as they would probably off set against the account even if they had promised not to in my case. I didn't take any chances and transferred to an account I already had open but even with a new account the process is very simple, I had swapped all my DD's within the hour with the new account details rather than wait for the new bank to do it.

Although we tend to be loyal to who we bank with sadly it counts for nothing when the banks see a chance to get their money back and I am sorry to hear you are now in this situation.

I can only advise via experience that as well as contacting FOS you also set up a new bank account ASAP with another provider. Good luck with the situation and I hope you manage to get it sorted out.

StepChange_James

Hi Shanks84

If you could PM us your client reference number to StepChange Private Messages I’ll look into this for you.

Kind regards

James