Persistent Debt Discussion

GeordieGeorge

Bicycle_Bill said:

My husband passed away at the end of December 2020 and there is a loan outstanding for 12,700 for a car.  The estate is still not settled (it may need to go to probate), but I have received two letters from Santander, one in February the other yesterday 27 April, which come across as intimidating and saying that if I do not contact them regarding repayment they will refer me to their partners, Philips and Cohen for repayment.  The amount outstanding has also risen from the original 12,700 to 13,200 with no explanation as to why.  I have contacted both Santander and Philips an Cohen to explain and neither can give me any explanation as to the increase in amount.  It is not the first time that I have complained to Santander - I called after receiving the first letter and they offered me £100 compensation but this second piece of correspondence has left me very distressed.  Once the estate is settled it will be very easy to pay off the amount outstanding but the way that the bank is behaving is absolutely disgraceful.  I don't know if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I am sorry for your loss. Do you know why the bank are writing to you regarding your husband’s debts? Were they joint loans?

[Deleted User]

GeordieGeorge said:

Bicycle_Bill said:

My husband passed away at the end of December 2020 and there is a loan outstanding for 12,700 for a car.  The estate is still not settled (it may need to go to probate), but I have received two letters from Santander, one in February the other yesterday 27 April, which come across as intimidating and saying that if I do not contact them regarding repayment they will refer me to their partners, Philips and Cohen for repayment.  The amount outstanding has also risen from the original 12,700 to 13,200 with no explanation as to why.  I have contacted both Santander and Philips an Cohen to explain and neither can give me any explanation as to the increase in amount.  It is not the first time that I have complained to Santander - I called after receiving the first letter and they offered me £100 compensation but this second piece of correspondence has left me very distressed.  Once the estate is settled it will be very easy to pay off the amount outstanding but the way that the bank is behaving is absolutely disgraceful.  I don't know if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I am sorry for your loss. Do you know why the bank are writing to you regarding your husband’s debts? Were they joint loans?

OP is going to deal with the estate, the estate owes money, debts don't disappear just because you die unless your estate is insolvent. Doesn't need to be a joint loan, loan has to be paid from the estate.

Hellybalder

I hi have received this letter and I called my lender and said that I wasn’t happy as I had asked the bank before for help when they offered a financial review but they’d said credit cards were different department and they couldn’t help 
the lady I spoke to said I had two choices pay the card in full or keep making payments but either way the card would be stopped I complained and spoke to various other people who fobbed me off and gave me other numbers to call, I asked about 0% balance card and was fobbed off, I complained that I pay my card on time every month have recently been made redundant and am disabled and no one would help me
i tried to speak to persistent debt and asked for help and asked again about 0& balance card and they told me no other bank linked to them will give me a card
i searched for 0% balance and debt consolidation loans but now my card has been stopped I can’t get any credit and can’t get help to clear it 
they have completely screwed me over and have been no help at all

CaggieG

I have just received a letter from JAJA.  I pay off more than my minimum payment and this card is not a priority at the moment.  I paid off the whole thing (which is how I tend to work) 3 years ago and do pay off larger sums when I choose to do so.    I don't use the card either.   I rang them and said that they were not a priority card.   I am paying them well over the minimum amount.   they were determined to put me on a payment plan but I want some flexibility to decide what I pay.   They then said they would stop my card so my reply was - that I wanted confirmation that this would not go on my credit rating as I always pay my card and have no record in not having done so which was confirmed.  As I don't use the card now then whether they take it off me of not is irrelevant - once paid off I certainly do not want to be a customer.   I said I was happy to return it - JAVA were very quick to give me a new one and bombarded me with letters when I didnt use it .   They were very unhelpful.   I also asked if they would reduce the interest as we do have interest rates that are the lowest ever - so that was then noted as a complaint and passed on.   As we are gettng out of one of the hardest periods for so many people I think this heavy handed approach is appalling and the FCA also need to take a serious look at their own conduct.
I do have a major concern that credit cards are out of step in terms of interest with interest rates now and this should be reflected in what is charged - why this hasn't been dealt with is a mystery to me.

[Deleted User]

CaggieG said:

I do have a major concern that credit cards are out of step in terms of interest with interest rates now and this should be reflected in what is charged - why this hasn't been dealt with is a mystery to me.

Rates are set by risk, not by other interest rates. Expect them to keep rising for now.

It sounds as if you need to get on top of your finance a little more.  Go to the DFW boards for help on budgeting and how best to mange your existing credit.

[Deleted User]

Hellybalder said:

i tried to speak to persistent debt and asked for help and asked again about 0& balance card and they told me no other bank linked to them will give me a card
i searched for 0% balance and debt consolidation loans but now my card has been stopped I can’t get any credit and can’t get help to clear it 
they have completely screwed me over and have been no help at all

You're not in the right risk category for a 0% card.  That's not the fault of your bank. Stay away from debt consolidation loans.

You'll need to clear the debt the old fashioned way - by paying it off with your own funds.  The DFW boards can help.

[Deleted User]

Hellybalder said:

I hi have received this letter and I called my lender and said that I wasn’t happy as I had asked the bank before for help when they offered a financial review but they’d said credit cards were different department and they couldn’t help 
the lady I spoke to said I had two choices pay the card in full or keep making payments but either way the card would be stopped I complained and spoke to various other people who fobbed me off and gave me other numbers to call, I asked about 0% balance card and was fobbed off, I complained that I pay my card on time every month have recently been made redundant and am disabled and no one would help me
i tried to speak to persistent debt and asked for help and asked again about 0& balance card and they told me no other bank linked to them will give me a card
i searched for 0% balance and debt consolidation loans but now my card has been stopped I can’t get any credit and can’t get help to clear it 
they have completely screwed me over and have been no help at all

The lenders are required by the UK regulator to deal with persistent debt by encouraging you to make payments or stop spending to run up more debt.