Some news for those tricked into Arrangements to Pay (AP) by Barclays

blueball

(Post this on Money savings expert, had loads of AP cases with Barclays all denied by the same person at the ombudsman...

I have news that I feel is highly relevant. Please pass my post on or at least share my findings.

I've been through 3 years of absolute hell because of an AP. Like most I was tricked by Barclays into accepting an AP, of course after accepting the AP my credit score went from outstanding to the lowest possible rating (very poor).

I tried to take Barclaycard to the ombudsman because they should not have given financial advise, it was ruled in Barclaycards favour because they offered me £500 (which then ended up being £500 credit on card).

After 2 years of constant research I can categorically state that an AP is significantly worse than a default and a CCJ.

I converted my AP into a default and was approved for a mortgage last month, admittedly it was with a sub prime lender but that same lender said there is not a single underwriter in the UK that would approve a mortgage to someone who has an AP on their credit file. I spoke to L&C mortgages (a massive nationwide broker) who told me that all applicants with AP's are rejected regardless of their circumstances.

If you have been tricked into an AP by Barclays, please document it and consider taking legal action against them. Seperately I know of a few people who are planning to fund a case against the financial ombudsman themselves for breach of impartiality with regards to Barclays AP cases. The staff at the ombudsman are in cahoots with Barclays on AP cases and you have to be VERY careful as they deliberately leave out things in order to rule in Barclays favour. The same staff names at the ombudsman keep popping up in Barclays AP cases and one of them is a supervisor, they have been recorded in list of "AP Rogues" . My advise would be to go straight to a solicitor. I'd be happy to forward a link to "AP Rogues" to give to your solicitor.

AP Barclays is a big issue effecting many people. Remember: Barclaycard are not qualified financial advisers and they are breaking the law by putting their customers onto AP's and saying it doesn't effect their credit score.

agrinnall

As you don't have a credit score I fail to see the point of your post.

BoGoF

Quite a vivid imagination you have there.

MEM62

It sounds like you have been through the wringer and I hope that things are looking better for you now.

How do you feel you were tricked by Barclays?

Also, assuming that they did not go through the pre-advice compliance protocols required before you can be given financial advice, what made you believe that you were being given financial advice?

As I understand the system, an arrangement to pay is reported each month until the debt ends and the remains for a further six years whereas the 6-year clock starts ticking on a CCJ from the judgement date. Both have a detrimental effect but the CCJ drops off quicker. Therefore, there would be very few circumstances where an AP is preferable if improvement of your credit standing in the shortest time period is the main goal. Were there other factors at play that persuaded you away from the CCJ route? That is, assuming that there was no third option available to you.

eskbanker

blueball wrote: »

(Post this on Money savings expert

Was that an instruction from your sub-editor?

blueball wrote: »

The same staff names at the ombudsman keep popping up in Barclays AP cases and one of them is a supervisor, they have been recorded in list of "AP Rogues" . My advise would be to go straight to a solicitor. I'd be happy to forward a link to "AP Rogues" to give to your solicitor.

My advice would be that, when breaching the post-GDPR Data Protection Act, doing so in full view of solicitors is probably not a particularly bright idea....

blueball wrote: »

Remember: Barclaycard are not qualified financial advisers

Remember: Barclaycard didn't give you financial advice.

jonesMUFCforever

Any bank or lender would not need to start an AP or anything else if the customer adhered to their part of the contract - ie pay what is due on time?

redux

Much simpler approach:

When the AP markers on credit files reach their 6th anniversary, ask Barclaycard to remove the account from the records, on the basis that it would be unfair to keep this on file longer than someone who actually defaulted and may have paid less.

Ben8282

How exactly were you tricked' into the AP?

TadleyBaggie

Ben8282 wrote: »

How exactly were you tricked' into the AP?

Details in their original thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5869992

boo_star

Ombudsman are in cahoots with Barclays over AP markers?

They're clearly not as they awarded you £500.

Your adviser at L&C was wrong. An AP marker in itself is not worse than a default, but if it sticks on your record for six years or more it's obviously worse than a default which will vanish at that point.

redux

boo_star wrote: »

Your adviser at L&C was wrong. An AP marker in itself is not worse than a default, but if it sticks on your record for six years or more it's obviously worse than a default which will vanish at that point.

And that's why I said ask for it to be removed, which Barclays and others have been willing to do.