Unaffordable Lending Barclays

loopybec2002

I'm just looking for advice if possible.

I have been addicted to gambling on line for 20 years... I have now got this under control since having my daughter & trying to manage the fall out. 

I only have one credit card with such a large amount and I can see statements online as far back as 2015(I probably have had this credit card for nearly 18 years) I have had the same credit limit for all that time despite being sat at the top on my limit every month being charged over limit fees.

2015-2020 every time I made a payment I then spent every penny on gambling on the credit card. 

I received a letter saying my credit would be going from 3700 to 250 in April 2020 looking at my statements this never happened. 

During the time I've had the card 3 times I've paid the card off with a big win but within 2 months I'm back up to limit. 

I wonder if anyone had any advice if I have a case reading on line I think I may have for irresponsible lending - not dropping my limit and profiteering on me paying the minimum amount and obviously struggling with a gambling addiction that there were aware of  also not making the decision to give me a lower limit even tho my credit account has always been poor and they could see all of my transactions are gambling or cash transfers. 

I have written to them regarding this and I've had a call saying they are going to call me on Friday regarding it. Do you recommend only dealing with them in writing or answering and seeing what they have to say. 

I know this is my debt and I know it is all my own fault I am just trying to set up a better life for me and my little girl and if this can help even with just the one debt it means I can get others paid off quicker. 

stu12345_2

good info and real life case studies

https://debtcamel.co.uk/gambling-refunds-loans-cards-overdrafts/#:~:text=If it is unaffordable, then,the Financial Ombudsman (FOS).

loopybec2002

stu12345_2 said:

good info and real life case studies

https://debtcamel.co.uk/gambling-refunds-loans-cards-overdrafts/#:~:text=If it is unaffordable, then,the Financial Ombudsman (FOS).

Thank you! That site is why i actually decided to write to them. I just wondered if people recommended my speaking to them on the phone or if I may get fobbed off and may be better waiting for the writing. 

Brie

The obvious reason to have everything done by writing (email or letter) is so that you have an exact record of what is "said".  And obviously you don't have that with a phone call - unless you can record it.  Now all bank calls should be recorded and presumably you could ask for a transcript.  But there may be errors or corrections.  So I would see if you can record the conversation some way.  Mobiles often have this facility.

And just between you and me.....it was around 2019 or so that Barclaycard put in a policy of (supposedly) not allowing any of their cards or accounts to be used for gambling. (Might have been an industry thing)  And in 2020 there was a crackdown on affordability on the cards severely cutting some credit limits across a LOT of their customer base.  (My limit dropped from £20k to about £1400)

So some open questions for them might be

• Why, if Barclays and Barclaycard had a policy of their accounts not being used for gambling, did you allow me to continue doing so?
• Why, if according to affordability rules you were cutting my credit limit from 3700 to 250 in response to my obvious debt problems, did you never do this and continued to allow me to run up more debt?
• Obviously Barclays failed in its duty of care to me as a vulnerable customer.  What responsibility do you think you have for the level of debt I accumulated and the amount of interest I have paid year after year?  How do you plan on rectifying that situation?

If you are talking to them by phone ask what team they are on.  If it is "customer service" I'd suggest asking that your case be moved to a team that deals with vulnerable customers.  And whatever is discussed on the phone ask that a summary at the very least be sent to you in writing.  Take notes as much as you can, be sure you get every single person's name that you talk to along with noting the date and time of the call(s).

DE_612183

My view would be to talk to them - but do not agree / disagree to anything - hear what they have to say, then ask them to put whatever they have said in writing.

Doing it over the phone gives you the opportunity to ask questions as they arise and as you think about them.

But anything you don't want to give ( perhaps details of personal income ) say you need time to think about that question before you give a response.

loopybec2002

That's Amazing thank you both of you! It is a very small amount of debt at £3700 but interest and chargers over that 18 years could amount to worth fighting for & I do believe they knew I had a problem and should have cut the limit down. They have thousands in chargers and interest so profited from my addiction when they could have made both of our lives simpler by lowering my limit.

I will write down the questions you have said Brie and be sure to write anything I think of too. 

On line I also cannot see anything before 2015 (I was already at my credit limit at this point) so I cannot see when my credit limit was raised originally or if it started at that amount. 

loopybec2002

Personal income isn't a major if they want to know if I'm currently working for a community project so not on the best wage but used to be a teaching assistant in a school so have never been on a standout wage and that's why my debts are big for me but for others would feel like nothing.

born_again

April 2020 when the ban on using CC's for gambling came into force.

enthusiasticsaver

I don't see anything wrong in talking to them but I would ask for a follow up of all that is said in writing. 

The limit they give you is all relative really.  £3700 is a small amount of debt if you are on a £40k annual income.  If you are part time on a minimum wage then it becomes a much higher percentage of your income so being on a low income helps your case.  I would stress that as a vulnerable customer they failed given they obviously flagged the gambling transactions and did nothing since April 2020.  I hope you get some compensation out of them.