Barclays Partner Finance / DFS

martingunn

Good morning everyone
I do hope you are all very well during these extraordinary times!
I'm hoping you may be able to help me with an avenue of contact with Barclays Partner Finance and/or Moorcroft Group. I do hope my letter/email to Moorcroft Group will help to explain my individual situation, but in short the following has occurred:
I purchased 2 Sofas from DFS which were subject to credit via Barclays Partner Finance in July 2019. Payments were regular until February 2020 when unfortunately I first contracted  COVID and resultantly ended up in hospital in a very serious condition on two separate occasions. In between times I stayed with my parents as complications meant I found it very difficult to look after myself during that time, and obviously unable to work. I will allow my letter below hopefully explain more, but I have never received a response from Moorcroft, and don't seem to be able to find email contact details for Barclays Partner Finance. Frustratingly Moorcroft are refusing to speak to my father regarding the account over the phone, and I am still unable to hold any kind of lengthy conversation sadly, although this is improving, so I am looking to communicate in writing to them preferably. In the first instance can someone assist with contact details? or what my next move should be. Thank you so much in advance. Martin

From: xxxx, Martin
Sent: Wednesday 20 January 2021 13:03
To: customers@moorgroup.com
Subject: Re: Moorcroft Reference - Ref: xxxxxxxxxxx Barclays Partner Finance)

 Dear Sir, Madam

 I write with reference to Moorcroft Reference - xxxxxxxx (Barclays Partner Finance), following a year of health orientated trials and tribulations for myself.

Up to and including January 2020 payments were regularly made with regards to this credit agreement. Unfortunately in February 2020 I contracted coronavirus which resultantly ended up with my being admitted to Frimley Park Hospital, Surrey and diagnosed with COVID-19 on Sunday 9th February 2020.

What followed were 2 separate periods, each of 5 weeks duration within ICU, and a further 6 weeks resident within the respiratory ward of Wexham Park Hospital. During this time a number of bills unfortunately were unpaid, including that listed above.

 Having finally returned to my work on Monday 4th January 2021, I am now seeking to resolve all outstanding accounts. I was disappointed to learn that a DEFAULT has been registered with regards to the above account.

Given the extenuating circumstances of this year, could I ask you to compassionately request understanding from Barclays Partner Finance, informing them that I would be able to pay the outstanding sum in full, £1636.35, to be paid on Friday 19th February 2021, on the understanding that the DEFAULT notice be completely removed from my file with all credit reference agencies and status restored to ‘account closed’ ‘settled’ and paid in full with no detrimental information remaining ongoing.

 Thankyou for your understanding regarding the above

 I look forward to hearing from you soon.

 

 .   

[Deleted User]

Your next move should be to clear settle the default.  They're extremely unlikely to remove the default as it's a factual record of your payments.

Its impact will diminish over time, but the sooner you settle it, the better.

martingunn

I forgot to mention that the default was registered to my account in April 2020, during a period I was admitted and in ICU.

[Deleted User]

That's good - it means you're already almost a year into it.

martingunn

Deleted_User said:

Your next move should be to clear settle the default.  They're extremely unlikely to remove the default as it's a factual record of your payments.
Its impact will diminish over time, but the sooner you settle it, the better.

Thank you ZX81, I would normally agree, but do feel the circumstances are rather extenuating in this instance. Having discovered the default only recently I plan to make full payment on the 19th February, but do feel some compassion should be shown given the extenuating circumstances. For the record, sadly I was admitted and placed on a ventilator during the period the default was added to my account.   

[Deleted User]

You can't effectively blackmail a firm into removing a default by offering to pay back money you owe, the default is the correct reflection on your finances. You can ask them nicely with reference to covid, with your medical details etc - it would help if someone had contacted them during the period you were ill to explain this too.

martingunn

Hi Farfetch. Unfortunately I live alone in the south of England, and stayed with my parents for a 6 month period in the north of England last year. Resultantly I wasn't even aware of the default/threat, and with all due respect, my parents concerns were understandably my health during that time  

finalfantasist

martingunn said:

Hi Farfetch. Unfortunately I live alone in the south of England, and stayed with my parents for a 6 month period in the north of England last year. Resultantly I wasn't even aware of the default/threat, and with all due respect, my parents concerns were understandably my health during that time  

I'm sure they were but that doesn't really change anything.

People have not so nice things happen to them entirely outside of their control and their financial situation can take a turn for the worse.  That's life I'm afraid.

You've arguably made things a bit worse for yourself by effectively telling the DCA that you can afford to pay them back in full within a month, so I'd just do that.  I suspect they might be a bit sceptical if, after your offer is knocked back, you return with a "well I'll give you a tenner a month as it's all I can afford" type response.

User_101122

There’s clearly no doubt that your reason for defaulting was beyond your control.

Unfortunately the creditor has to report an accurate reflection of your account conduct on your credit report.  The fact of the matter is your account defaulted.  Paying in full will mark the default as satisfied but it’s highly unlikely they will remove the default as they haven’t done anything wrong.

[Deleted User]

martingunn said:

Hi Farfetch. Unfortunately I live alone in the south of England, and stayed with my parents for a 6 month period in the north of England last year. Resultantly I wasn't even aware of the default/threat, and with all due respect, my parents concerns were understandably my health during that time  

Hence why I said you could ask them nicely with your medical issues and hopefully they will have some compassion

sourcrates

As someone who was also hospitalised by Covid-19 for a number of weeks, I can sympathise with your situation.
However, as mentioned above, the creditor was not aware of your circumstances at the time, all they knew was that no payment was received from you, hence after so many missed payments, the default would automatically be triggered.

You could try the complaints route, explain your circumstances at the time to Barclays, see how that goes, in the meantime it looks as if they have sold the debt to Moorcroft, but your letter should be addressed to Barclays as they added the default.