Feeling a bit stuck!

RhiBi

Hi again,

Firstly, I been successful via CAB with 2 write off requests. Two small ones have been unsuccessful.

I have been waiting to hear from Virgin, Barclaycard and Next, all of which have now defaulted.

CAB have said they were declined, however I’ve had no letters either via CAB (who forwarded all other successful and declined requests) and my last update from them still stated that they hadn’t heard anything from them. So I was surprised to receive an email from CAB stating there is nothing more they can do and will be closing the case.

last week I sent a SAR request so that I have all information that has been shared before looking at next steps. I am going to escalate to FOS as I feel there is nothing to lose.

My concern is that things will escalate now defaults have been registered. Next have sent my account to Brecon Debt Recovery which I think is an in house debt collector. I contacted them myself a while back and told them that I was awaiting writeoff request and the reasons why. I’ve since received an email from them stating that they will be passing my account on as I’ve not made any payments.

I also haven’t received anything from CAB since the SAR request. I know they have 28 days but I expected some sort of confirmation that they are actioning this.

Do I continue to sit tight until I hear from debt collection companies? I feel it’s all a bit of a mess and that I’m in the dark until if and when CAB send me the information I’ve asked for. I needed CAB at the time and am not doing them a disservice at all, but now I just feel a bit lost I guess.

RhiBi

just to add, Barclaycard has currently dropped off on checking credit reference agencies, so I’m expecting that to pop up with PRA at some point.

ManyWays

It might be helpful here to have a summary of your situation?
Buying or renting?
Children?
In work?
A list of all the remaining debts: lender, rough balance, write off requested/denied/ not asked ofr, affordability complaint made & status/ not made.

RhiBi

I’ve previously done a long post debt and DV, I appreciate it was a long time ago, November 2025) and this board moves fast.

House is owned outright and my children are all adults, 2 are at uni.
Due to the DV, which was physical, emotional and financial, I had a debt and mental health form completed by my GP.

Novuna and marks and Spencer wrote the debts off.

Virgin credit card approx £9900, the letter prior to the default stated the write off request had been received and they will deal with it on an ‘ad hoc’ basis.

Barclaycard (£4300)defaulted, no acknowledgement of request

Next, (£1000) defaulted, no acknowledgement of request.

Halifax (£700) rejected request, not yet defaulted

Secure Trust (£600) rejected not yet defaulted

Natuonwide loan (5000) no acknowledgement of request, not defaulted.

ManyWays

When did you send the DMHEF and request for a write off to Virgin, Barclaycard, Next, Secure Trust, Nationwide?

if you have to make payment arrangements with some debt, how much spare income do you have available? Did you supply an I&E form with the write off requests?

RhiBi

This was done back in December, CAB, dealt with this for me. It seems they didn’t include Nationwide initially so theirs was only sent in March this year.

I have about £200 a month I can pay towards debt repayment. I completed a I&E with CAB and which I presume was forwarded to all creditors.

Although as CAB dealt with it on my behalf I am unsure what was sent to each individual creditor or when. Hopefully if and when I get a reply to SAR request it’ll become clearer. In the meantime, is it best to hold tight, then look at contacting the FOS about the rejected and no acknowledgment ones? Once I have all the information I need?

ManyWays

Unless CAB phrased their request for a write off as a complaint, I think you may first have to complain to the lender asking why you haven't been sent a response before going to FOS.

in_need_of_direction

rather than just a sar, I would make a request for electronic copies of correspondence under the right to data portability as there may be fewer redactions made.

RhiBi

Thanks, that makes sense. Should I go to the FOS about the 2rejected ones? Is it worth it with them being smaller amounts?

ManyWays

I don't think I have seen anyone get a write off ordered by FOS when they own their own house outright and can afford £200 a month to their debts.
Some of the previous threads made a reference to affordability complaints. Which have you complained to, are any currently with FOS?

RhiBi

I haven’t because I didn’t want to blur everything with complaints coming from me and write off requests coming from CAB. Like I said, I feel a bit lost, hopefully it’ll all feel clearer when I get the information I’ve requested from CAB.