Settlement with Barclaycard - but they're still chasing me?

abandonship

Hello there,

First of all many thanks for the great advice I was given here a few years ago. I was in a real state with my finances due to a bit of bad luck and I came here when I was in a very bad place. I'm glad to report that together with your members' advice and changes to lifestyle I'm debt free - keep going folks, debt feels like a form of mental illness at times, you're always ill at ease and anxious - you can get there and it's such a peaceful feeling when you finally do. :beer:

Well I say that anyway.

In July last year I agreed a "settlement" with Barclaycard, they only wanted £1800 of a £4000 debt. I snapped their hand off, and paid it all off pretty quickly. Done and dusted, or so I thought.

Today, over 6 months since I thought I'd heard the last of it, I received a letter from Moorcroft, the collection agency. They sent me a letter claiming £2700. I also got a few calls from the number I now know to theirs. I know very well from experience that these companies do not listen to disputes, they are there to collect the amount and that's final. So I decided to go to the source.

The call handler at Barclaycard tried to fob me off and put me through to Moorcroft, claiming they "no longer had my account". I said that I consider third party collection companies to be harassment and that I will not be dealing with them, and that I was ringing to resolve the situation locally as a goodwill gesture before I go to the FCA and my solicitor.

She continued to act like this is just the way it is and that there was nothing Barclaycard could do. I asked to speak to the manager who tried to give me the same line. I told him it made little sense not to try to resolve this with me as under no circumstances would I deal with Moorcroft. Eventually he started to bend, and said that as I had been given a settlement and he could see that I'd made payments in July, August, September, October, November etc. that it could be an error, these sometimes happen etc.

I said that the "debt" being sold to Moorcroft was indeed an error and Barclaycard would need to reverse it. He said he would send an e-mail to them, or something. I asked him to confirm to me when it was done, to which he claimed his call centre could not call me back. I asked him to e-mail me instead. He agreed.

Now, a whole day has passed... no e-mail. Moorcroft are still spamming my phone, and also have mistakenly sent correspondence to my Dad's address (he voted for me by proxy the other week, probably why) so now he's worried they'll turn up there.

The one thing I've realised is I have no proof of any of this - the settlement, in particular, and actually, the call I made today. I thought it was done and dusted - true to form, Barclaycard never sent me anything in writing, which is not unusual for them to be honest.

poppasmurf_bewdley

How did you agree the original settlement with Barclaycard?

Was it by letter, email, or on the phone?

abandonship

It was by phone. I never got a confirmation letter, but I rang multiple times to discuss it and they were well aware of the arrangement. (e.g. I had to change the date I'd initially made to pay each month, as my salary date changed - which they were fine with, point is, we chatted about it on multiple occasions)

It must've been on file. Now they claim they don't have my file. Then the manager guy, when pressed, seemed to call up information about me.

StokieBecks

Did you ever check your credit file after paying a settlement to see what it said.

Sadly without getting the agreement in writing or asking them to confirm in writing that the account was closed you have little ground. A verbal agreement is effectively useless with these companies. They will say anything on the phone to get their money.

Your only real hope is the call was recorded and you can request the recording (they will no doubt charge for this)

abandonship

I was considering doing a subject access request. They must have the recordings.

Or I'll just file a complaint with the FCA or Ombudsman, as a delaying tactic. I'm leaving the country soon anyway so they'll have to send Interpol to receive a penny from me after that.

Trouble is these collection companies tend to be pretty belligerent to the circumstances, don't they? I need to get Barclaycard to take this back in-house.

sourcrates

Unfortunatly that snapped off hand may cost you dearly.

Unless you have it in writing that the settlement they offered is in full and final settlement, and you won't get chased for the remainder of the debt, then they are perfectly entitled to sell on the balance and chase you for it.

Where debt is concerned, always, always get everything in writing.

You were too hasty and have fallen fowl of there bad practices.