Barclaycard default policy

Movingon5464

Hello, I was just wondering if anyone knew the default policy for Barclaycard. Like many others on here I am on a DMP and I have over 6 years worth of AP markers from a Barclaycard account on my credit file and believe they should have defaulted me in line with ICO guidelines within 6 months of the DMP starting. I spoke with them on the phone and was told they don't follow ICO guidelines so I have put in a written complaint. Would love to hear from anyone who has had contact with Barclaycard on this matter and been given a reason for them either issuing a default or not issuing a default. Thank you so much in advance to anyone who can shed light on what their policy is. I know I must wait for their response but want to be prepared for when they call.

sourcrates

Hi,
Written complaint was the right way to go.

There are many, many people on this forum who have had a similar experience to you, I'm sure as the day wears on, you will receive a good many replies to this thread.

See what response you get from your letter, if they try to fob you off, you have the choice of going to the FOS.

rizla_king

Movingon5464 wrote: »

I spoke with them on the phone and was told they don't follow ICO guidelines

Im sure the ICO would be interested to hear that Barclaycard hold their guidelines in contempt.

Movingon5464

She said they are only guidelines so they don't have to follow them and seemed to think Barclaycard done me a favour by not defaulting me. To be fair she did seem to believe what she was saying and wasn't being rude but the fact is I am worse off now as if they had defaulted me the record would have fell off my file by now.

cakeforbrains

This AP thing is really unfair. How can people who pay off their debts and communicate with their lenders (either directly or indirectly) end up in equal or worse positions to those who simply refuse to pay?

I'm just learning about AP markers now and my whole concept of the 'hierarchy of bad debt' (for want of a better phrase) has been turned on its head.

Movingon5464

I agree it is not fair. By trying to do the right thing we end up in a worse position. My advice to anyone out there who is just starting out sorting out their debts is to stop payments until you get defaulted and then start a dmp. I wish i knew then what i know now.

Jeff_winter

Hi, I was in a similar position to you, I wrote to the complaints department re the omission of a default on my credit file.
I was 3 years down the line in mm DMP and barclaycard were still showing an AP marker.
After the complaint they issued a default and backdated it to the point where I have missed 6 payments some 30 months earlier. If you want to DM I can pass you any details you may need.

Good luck.

dumpyboy

rizla_king wrote: »

Im sure the ICO would be interested to hear that Barclaycard hold their guidelines in contempt.

Do not be so sure of that I waited 2 years for an answear from the ico on ar markers only to be told that they are fair

Chrisblue1962

I had similiar problems with Barclaycard but strangely once the debt was sold on to Cabot Finance, things actually improved!

After some long but surprisingly amicable discussions with Cabot, they amended the "AP" marker to a "DM" one and then further to "OK" marker as I'd been ok with my payments to them :T.

The fact that Barclaycard hold ICO guidelines in such low regard beggars belief

Movingon5464

I think it was your post I had read dumpyboy where the ICO sided with the creditor although looking back at it now I see that was with MBNA not Barclaycard. Still it shouldn't make any difference as if the ICO set guidelines they should encourage companies to follow them. I am just hoping Barclaycard do what I see as the decent thing. The people who I have spoken with were all very polite and friendly however I just don't understand what the policy is as a lot of people seem to have had the same problem with them adding these markers but when they have complained Barclaycard have mostly corrected it and even paid compensation. Seems that in the past someone at Barclaycard didn't do what they should have done and the staff now are having to clean up the mess.

Movingon5464

I have read that DCA's can be easier to deal with. The last person I spoke with seemed to imply that they don't follow ICO guidelines because they are helping customers to avoid a default but in my situation they have not helped me and following ICO guidelines and issueing a default would have been more helpful. I just hope they see this when they investigate my complaint.