Barclaycard AR on credit file

Heffi1

Hi I thought I would tell my story about Barclaycard, I went into a DMP with Stepchange in 2007 and each month since then Barclaycard have registered AR (arrangement to pay) on my credit file, which you may know means that it would not drop off my credit file for 6 years after I had made my final payment.

I called them the other day as I was a bit annoyed about this and spoke to a lovely lady called Chloe, she said that it was factually correct and would have to stay, I explained that really Barclaycard should have put a default on my account after 6 months as clearly I could not pay the amount back as originally agreed, and if I continue to pay at the rate I am paying, it will take another 14.8 years, to clear the balance, then I would have another 6 years on top of this before my credit file was clear of it.

I was very calm, but stated that I thought that this was very unfair, I wanted a default put on and backdated so that it would clear in less than 20 years. She did not agree with me, so I told her to escalate it to a complaint and pass it up to the next person who could make this decision.

Well I have just had a phone call from Chloe who said she had spoken with her manager and they have agreed to add a default onto my account.

I never thought I would want a default so badly, it means that once it is added, the whole account will drop off as the 6 years was up last month...

Finally I feel I am getting somewhere, all my other accounts were defaulted, so it looks like I 'might' be able to get a mortgage one day after all.

Merry Christmas :T

runforlife

Thats useful to know for me as one of my creditors is Barclaycard who at the moment in the early stages of my DMP have been very supportive and understanding. I will check to see that a default is applied in due course.

Heffi1

They told me that I had AR on as they constantly look at my account at review time and add another arrangement, so in fact she was telling the truth, I just turned it around and said how so far I have decided to pay back what I borrowed as I feel that is the right thing to do, I am making an effort to repay, so they should not penalise me becasue of it.

I will pay back every penny I borrowed, it will just take me a long time, with a default it will drop off my credit file, but I will continue to pay it back.

I told her, that I could have made myself bankrupt and the whole sorry business would have disappeared a few years ago, so I am not sure if this had any bearing on matters, also I have an Egg CC which Barclaycard took over and that has been defaulted, so I used that as an example of how they could default if they 'wanted to'

Oh and one more thing, when she told me it was impossible to back date the default, I said that she was not exactly telling me the truth as another company I had dealings with had just done the very thing.

I quoted the ICO guidelines to her about treating me fairly if I was trying to pay as opposed to not attempting to pay.

Read the guidelines and understand them before you speak to them.

Good luck.

cookyy2k

Do you have a phone number or direct line to the lady you delt with that you could pm me? I have been trying everything to get barclaycard to default me rather than constantly "AR" me. It would be great if you could provide any information that might let me get through to someone who knows what they're talking about instead of the ones I've been dealing with.

Heffi1

The complaints team number is 0800 015 0451

I would advise to read up on the guidelines before calling, I am not sure if it helped, but knowing your rights before speaking to them can help I think.

A passage copied below.

If the payment set out in the DMP is at a level that represents only a
token sum in repayment, because that is all the customer can afford, the
account should be recorded as a default. A notice of correction can be
added to the credit agency files by the customer, or the third party not for
profit debt adviser acting on their behalf, to record the existence of the
DMP. Lenders should bring the notice of correction facility to the attention
of customers and their debt advisers. The notice will distinguish the
customer from those who have acted less responsibly. The record should
be removed six years from the date of the default so that the customer is
not disadvantaged over those who have made no effort to pay
whatsoever.

Here is the full article

http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/docume...%20%20doc.ashx

also when calling, if you are not happy ask for them to register the phone call as an official complaint and to pass you onto the next level of support. They can do this as it is what happened to me, but be prepared to be on the phone for quite a while.

Oh and try to remain calm while speaking as getting angry and frustrated does not help you

misscutiepie1984

I need to try this myself as otherwise my account will not be removed from my credit file for another 2-3 years although I paid it off years ago.

Heffi1

It is definitely worth a try, the worst that can happen is they say no, but they just might say yes, give it a go and see what happens.

Jason_Bourne_2

Heffi1 wrote: »

The complaints team number is 0800 015 0451

I would advise to read up on the guidelines before calling, I am not sure if it helped, but knowing your rights before speaking to them can help I think.

A passage copied below.

If the payment set out in the DMP is at a level that represents only a
token sum in repayment, because that is all the customer can afford, the
account should be recorded as a default. A notice of correction can be
added to the credit agency files by the customer, or the third party not for
profit debt adviser acting on their behalf, to record the existence of the
DMP. Lenders should bring the notice of correction facility to the attention
of customers and their debt advisers. The notice will distinguish the
customer from those who have acted less responsibly. The record should
be removed six years from the date of the default so that the customer is
not disadvantaged over those who have made no effort to pay
whatsoever.

Here is the full article

http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/docume...%20%20doc.ashx

also when calling, if you are not happy ask for them to register the phone call as an official complaint and to pass you onto the next level of support. They can do this as it is what happened to me, but be prepared to be on the phone for quite a while.

Oh and try to remain calm while speaking as getting angry and frustrated does not help you

I've tried already with no joy, they say I entered a formal agreement with them.


The quote of yours mentions a token payment, I was making payments of around half my minimum payment each month (£40). Should I still have defaulted after 6 months?


I'd love to get this default raised & back dated, my only worry is if I keep on their case they will cancel the arrangement and start charging me the full interest as I'm now actually paying enough money monthly to have my account back on track.....

rizla_king

Heffi1 wrote: »

The complaints team number is 0800 015 0451

I would advise to read up on the guidelines before calling, I am not sure if it helped, but knowing your rights before speaking to them can help I think.

A passage copied below.

If the payment set out in the DMP is at a level that represents only a
token sum in repayment, because that is all the customer can afford, the
account should be recorded as a default. A notice of correction can be
added to the credit agency files by the customer, or the third party not for
profit debt adviser acting on their behalf, to record the existence of the
DMP. Lenders should bring the notice of correction facility to the attention
of customers and their debt advisers. The notice will distinguish the
customer from those who have acted less responsibly. The record should
be removed six years from the date of the default so that the customer is
not disadvantaged over those who have made no effort to pay
whatsoever.

Here is the full article

http://www.ico.gov.uk/~/media/docume...%20%20doc.ashx

also when calling, if you are not happy ask for them to register the phone call as an official complaint and to pass you onto the next level of support. They can do this as it is what happened to me, but be prepared to be on the phone for quite a while.

Oh and try to remain calm while speaking as getting angry and frustrated does not help you

Nice one.

Stewart_78

I also managed to get BC to add a default as of 2010 when they should have done. I complained in writing and although it took a while they did agree in the end, even gave me some compensation! So it's definitely worth fighting this one.

cookyy2k

I used this number too and after having a couple of people defend the practice of posting 6s every month I finally got someone who said of course it should be a defaut. They said they would sort it and it would be these on January's credit report.