Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

[Fi358]

Hello Everyone,

I am feeling a sense of relief finding and registering on this amazing forum!

I am running ( or feels like ) a Barclaycard credit card debt of approximately £8,300 before interest.

Like everyone else, I took pride in my excellent credit rating for many years. I fell on hard times when I had a child, split with the father and had to pay a £1,000 mortgage alone with no income. I had no choice but to use my Barclaycard for baby essentials and food shopping, nothing lavish, just general survival.

I took out the agreement online for BarclayCard Platinum in Dec 2011 and first defaulted on monthly payment in Oct 2014 along with a Nationwide Credit Card with first default payment the same month for £4,500, I .also held my current account with Nationwide

I also defaulted on another Barclaycard around the same time for £220, this was a dormant card dating back to 1998 applied for at university when Barclaycard was throwing credit cards at any student who would take one.

I immediately contacted step change when I realised I could no longer make minimum payments on any. Nationwide directed me to step change.
Step change did the incoming/outgoing expenditure and I was in deficit every month, they then issued me a reference number to contact all creditors to freeze the account and offer £1.00 nominal payments. I did this, Nationwide accepted this upon a 3 monthly review of my financial circumstances.

February 2015, via telephone call to Barclaycard, they refused to accept the £1.00 nominal payment or any acknowledgement that I was being supported by step change and refused to freeze the account and accept the nominal payment on the basis I could not afford the £1.00 due to me being in deficit with my incoming/ outgoing expenditure every month, when I tried to challenge them to accept the £1.00, they told me "they don't follow what Step Change has to say, they have their own rules" and ultimately terminated my call.

This has been my last contact with Barclaycard and I am getting increasingly worried as they have never sent me any written acknowledgement of me defaulting the account, not one letter, in over 2 1/2 years. All I have received are a couple of emails after my last ever payment asking m.e to contact them.

A few days ago, I received a text out of the blue, softly softly asking me to give them a call, like a text from a long lost friend, they have never text me before, never chased me or involved any third parties.

In August 2015, I settled my default in full with Nationwide for £4,500. Shortly after settling, I started to get numerous calls daily that I did'nt answer, I believe it was Barclaycard, who would have seen on my credit file that I settled in full with Nationwide. The calls disipated after a few weeks.

I sold my home due to risk of losing it and used equity to pay Nationwide in full, there was nothing left for Barclaycard, I was happy to settle with Nationwide because they totally empathised with my financial situation and froze my account for over 9 months and touched base with me every 3 months and supported my step change nominal payment no problem, they never pressured me in any way and I never felt I had to run from them.

Having moved, you may as well say I am incognito because of Barclaycard and my paralysing fear of what is going to happen or when they find me. I am afraid to go on the electoral register and feel like a criminal on the run.
I am single mum unsupported, starting a new life from ground zero and I am a low income so there is no point contacting them as I am in no better financial position in terms of disposable income.
My only rationale is to live like a fugitive and wait for statute bar on the debt... the only problem is living like a fugitive has affected every aspect of my well being and I can't go on like this much longer.

My question is, how do I move forward with Barclaycard, if it all??

A million thanks in advance.. and what a relief to find legal beagles...finally there is hope...

Long winded, but only with the intention of answering questions that could arise.

[Amethyst]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

Good Morning First, stop worrying ( and get some sleep !!) . We don't have debtors prison in this country. Your, and your children's, health and wellbeing are far more important.

Barclaycard use a number of different debt collection agencies and do seem to hang on to accounts before selling them on longer than other companies. But they aren't anything special... and really aren't worthy of taking your health.

Can an you see the number that text came from?

What currently shows on your credit file? Default, arrangement or still just late payment ?

Did you tell Stepchange about Barclaycard and are you still making the nominal payments through them ? Did you tell them when you settled with Nationwide?

Do you now rent your home?

Also what's the current situation with that 220 card debt?

Any other debts ? Up to date with priorities? ( rent, council tax, utilities etc)

A few days ago, I received a text out of the blue, softly softly asking me to give them a call, like a text from a long lost friend, they have never text me before, never chased me or involved any third parties.

It'll be a new tactic from one of the debt collection firms I expect, they'll start sending you pretty stickers on evil letters soon lol.

Sorry for the questions... we need to suss out your situation overall to know what to suggest xxx

[Fi358]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

Hi Amethyst,
,
I am really grateful for your response, it is the first time I have shared this terrible burden, so thank you for your words of reassurance, it has helped to give me some strength to face this issue and stop running.

To be as succinct as possible here goes:

1. Barclaycard have NEVER accepted a payment plan or the offer of a nominal payment from me on the basis I could not afford to, based on the incoming and outgoing expenditure Stepchange did for me.
2. They refused to freeze my account during the my Stepchange interaction.
3. Stepchange informed me Barclaycard HAD to accept the nominal payment offer but Barclaycard said they were under no obligation to accept a nominal payment and do not have to abide by anything Stepchange say if they feel I cannot afford the £1 nominal monthly payment.
4. I did not inform anyone when I settled my default in full with Nationwide
5. I am too scared to look at my CRA file on the basis to do, Noodle are asking for my current address, which Barclaycard do not have as I am too scared to go on the electoral register.
6. I had to buy a cheap dilapidated property with the proceeds of my flat sale in 2015, due to bad credit, renting or mortgage was no longer an option. As a result, I had to move over 100 miles away from all my friends into a property that needs major works as a single mum with a 2 year old as this was my only option in terms of affordability.
So no rent and no mortgage.
7. I am up to date with council tax by the skin of my teeth
8. I have entered into a payment plan with British Gas for both utilities at my current address due to my low income, but have never made a late payment on this plan.
9. Barclaycard texted me from a number I cannot retrieve, shows on my mobile as "BARCLAYCARD" from Barclaycard support team, "WE WANT TO CHECK IF EVERYTHING IS OKAY WITH YOU AS WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET HOLD OF YOU."
10. I have no idea what is going on with the £220 default on the historical Barclaycard but feel I may have an unenforcability case due to just signing a student marketing leaflet at the University who had Barclaycard Rep's there dishing out the credit cards? ( wishful thinking!)

I am petrified that if Barclaycard find out I own a property, they will start legal action to acquire my property for the debt. . Running from Barclaycard has caused me to do things that make me feel like a criminal, such as, not informing British Gas of my previous address when I moved to the current address to enable me to get a utility account, I told them I had lived abroad prior and lying to the electoral registration canvasser when they knocked on my door, stating I did'nt live there and closed the door before they could ask me any details.. I need to stop this way of living and get my life back by not being afraid to live with my true identity..

Is my paranoia so bad that I cannot even check my CRA records for fear that will cause an alert to Barclaycard, or am I right in thinking giving the CRA my current address as they all ask before you can view your file is a move that could cause Barclaycard to find out where I am currently living?

My post is still redirected from the address Barclaycard hold on file and I have never recieved any correspondance since the redirection began in DEC 2015 or prior to this since my last payment that led to default.
I have not made any payments to Barclaycard since I defaulted on monthly payments.

I feel blessed to have you run your eyes over this for me and anyone else who feels they may have advice for me on how to or how not to proceed in clearing this mess up.

I know help is limited until is see what is held by CRA against my name, could I look at my CRA without declaring my current address and just giving my former one that all
this trouble relates to?

Thanks in advance for being kind enough to read my long winded posts and helping with words of comfort and wisdom.

xxxxx

[Amethyst]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

No problem at all

If it helps to know where I'm coming from, I split up with my ex-husband and moved over 100 miles away with 3 children under 9 10 years ago. Had awful debts, lost the house and so on... so I understand how bloody hard it is and how your mental, and physical health can suffer. Thankfully it was just after we'd started LegalBeagles, and although at that time we concentrated on bank charges, I found the support from others who were going through, and had been through similar extremely useful and without it think I might have crumbled completely ... hence still being here 10 years later. We will help you out all we can. So post away, no one will judge you on here.

I think you made a good decision to use the proceeds from the house sale to buy a cheaper property, and moving away for a fresh start is a positive, not a negative, although we need to stop you hiding out and feeling like a criminal - you aren't - you're a mum doing the best she possibly can and sorting herself out despite previous shitty circumstances.

So all your debt is with Barclaycard ( £8500 & £250 ) that needs sorting out, and otherwise just British Gas which is already sorted with a repayment plan. Your only a couple years in from defaulting and you don't want to live like this for the next 4 years or have to deal with a court claim down the line.

Have you completed an income and expenditure form recently ? Might be worth doing that to see what you could afford to pay IF it came to negotiating installments to keep this out of court and enable you to stick your head back above the parapet.

Are you getting all the benefits you are entitled to ?

I'll ask [MENTION=48934]Debt Camel[/MENTION]; to take a look as she might have a better idea as to your options considering you own your own property.

[Fi358]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

Amethyst, your message touched a nerve and got me emotional. I feel overwhelmed and consumed at the very thought of being supported and not judged as a debt fugitive.
I focus on being the best mum I can be going without for myself just to ensure my daughter gets what she needs. I struggle to make ends meet but I'm frugal enough to just get by on bare necessities. Before having my daughter, I worked for 15 years as a freelance Police Station Criminal Defense Lawyer, on 24 hour call out to police stations and made a decent living. After having a child and no support with childcare to enable me to work on a 24 hour call out basis as a single parent, I had to let my career go to find 9-5 work unrelated to what I am trained to do.... I took home £2.,000 a month when my daughter was a baby doing a 9-5 in local authority, not too shabby some may say... but that's when the real financial hardship kicked in..... I was paying £1,000 a month mortgage, £1,000 childcare and was left with nothing on payday, I was given food bank vouchers by my health visitor and started to default on EVERYTHING forcing me to sell my home before repossession. I lived in London and have moved to a small town over 100 miles away from everyone I know.
Things are acrimonious with my daughters Dad who refuses to pay child support and won an appeal to pay zero contribution...that's another story!
Upon moving to this small town, there is limited employment, mostly minimum wage, every job I have applied for I don't get due to being over qualified or my skill set being too specialist to transfer....So I started my own business as a mobile Holistic Therapist and I am currently earning £400 a month hoping to build up my income but it is slow. I receive working tax credit and childcare element. Even though no official expenditure, incoming and outgoing has been done in my current circumstances, I perceive I would still be in a monthly deficit and in the same position when Barclaycard refused to accept a nominal payment from me.

In my eyes, Barclaycard are going to want to take my home from me when they find out I own it outright with no mortgage and that is the fear I live with every day if and when they get hold of my current address as they have no recourse with my current financial circumstances to recover £8,300 before interest ( I have no idea what they may have added to the capital).

I really feel like I am in fight or flight mode in a metaphorical prison cell scoring each day that goes past on a 6-year prison sentence until the debt is SB. I resent and detest Barclaycard for stone walling me when step change got involved and using the excuse that I could not afford £1.00 a month to refuse acceptance of a nominal payment in 2015.

The quest to face the music and rebuild my identity from one of debt fugitive to normal human begins here and now.,

Love to all who read, advise and support in a non-judgemental way... it goes somewhat to ease my pressure...Thank You. xx

[Debt Camel]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

At the moment you really don't know know what the situation is. If you had a serious deficit budget, Barclaycard would have been quite right to refuse to accept token payment that you could not afford. You have no idea if they have carried on adding interest or defaulted you.

It is a great shame you settled with Nationwide in full, when it would have been better to have made a partial settlement with Nationwide and Barclaycard. But that's been done and can't be changed.

But I think you do have to stop this mental division saying nationwide were great and Barclaycard was horrible - it isn't going to help you take good decisions from here on.

The chance of you staying under the radar for 4 years is very low. Honestly, it's not worth trying to live in a mental prison because of this. Just get a copy of your credit record and see what it says.

Barclaycard aren't going to want to take your home from you. They can't do that. The worst that can happen is they get a CCJ and a charging order, but they will not get an order for sale if you keep up with the court set CCJ payments. And you aren't going to get a CCJ if you can reach a sensible payment arrangement with Barclaycard,

[Fi358]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

@Debt Camel

Thank you for the matter of fact advice, made me realise I have in no way been objective about Barclaycard.. After reading your post, I looked at my credit report with knots in my stomach, but it is a massive step for me in facing this debt head on.
I am really shocked to find that Barclay Card are reporting both debts as late payments code "BB" (over 6 months late) since November 2014, no default? That is nearly 3 years without default, I am shocked!
What should I do next regarding Barclaycard and how I begin to approach them for the best possible outcome. Nationwide had lodged a default at the outset of 6 months of freezing my account, it shows as satisfied.
A silly question, but do I have any bargaining power with Barclaycard in terms of a settlement / payment plan agreement, I am worried that if they do the disposable income thing with me they will deem my unable to make realistic payments?
Records show they were adding interest, different amounts for the first 6 months of non payment and since May2015 the figure has been static.
Any support or help to move forward means alot and empowers me to face my fears ..so thank you in advance..xxx

[Debt Camel]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

Well done! Sometimes tackling your fears is as important as tackling your debts.

I suggest the next step should be to get in touch with Barclaycard and ask for a statement of your account for each of the debts. You can't rely the amounts showing on the credit record as being completely accurate.

They will send that and they will probably also ask you start making payments or send an income & expenditure sheet for you to complete.

Expected plan from there on:

1) for the old dormant card, when did you last make a payment to it? If it is over 6 years ago, it is statute barred and is unenforceable in court. There is also a good chance Barclaycard can't produce the Consumer Credit Act agreement for the debt, which would be another reason they can't enforce it. Template letter here for you to ask them for it: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/...nt-advice.aspx.

2) the larger debt. If they carried on adding interest after StepChange sent them details showing you had a deficit budget, then it's worth complaining about. See https://debtcamel.co.uk/creditor-wont-freeze-interest/ which explains how - Barclaycard definitely subscribed to the Lending Standards. Adapt the letters in that post to say you want them to remove the interest they added after StepChange supplied them with your budget.

Also ask them to add a default to your credit record back in November 2014. See https://debtcamel.co.uk/debt-default-date/ for how.

Combine these two letters asking for interest to be removed and a default date added into one. If they don't agree, take your case to the Financial Ombudsman.

This is going to take a while to get sorted. But in the end you do need to send them an I&E. If you can only afford £5 a month to the debt, then that is all you can afford...

[leicesterman]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

I hope things are able to get sorted for you.

[Fi358]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

@Debt Camel

I am really grateful for your advice and gudance moving forward it really has given me the confidence to face Barclaycard with a structure in place.
I have a couple of questions:
1. Should I enter into communication by writing or initiate it over the phone?
2.If they do agree to enter a default retrospectively when I start making payments will the default disappear after 6 years from the date it is entered if I still owe them money outstanding on a payment plan? Or do I have to wait until the debt is fully settled for the default to be removed?
I am just trying to understand how long this will adversely impact my CR as the debt is significant in proportion to what I can afford to pay monthly.

I would like to share my journey with Barclaycard on the forum as it unfolds, in case anyone else may benefit who are scared to approach their creditors, would that be okay?

Thanks again for the help and support and time taken to respond to my lengthy messages

- - - Updated - - -

I hope things are able to get sorted for you.

Thank You, [MENTION=47286]leicesterman[/MENTION], I really appreciate your support!

[Kati]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

I would like to share my journey with Barclaycard on the forum as it unfolds, in case anyone else may benefit who are scared to approach their creditors, would that be okay?

of course that would be really useful for others in your situation!

I'm sure DC will reply soon xx

[Debt Camel]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

I suggest doing it in writing. Email is good (instant, free and you get a copy automatically), otherwise letter - keep a copy of letters and note the dates you sent them.

If they enter a default date of January 2015 the debts will disappear in January 2021.

[Amethyst]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

I am really shocked to find that Barclay Card are reporting both debts as late payments code "BB" (over 6 months late) since November 2014, no default? That is nearly 3 years without default, I am shocked!

Hi Fi, Great to see you are getting some help with all this. You inspired me to try get mine sorted too .... my credit file has BB on but not for very long before they defaulted me, but it is still with Barclaycard, so I'll have a whack at sorting it out next month with an F&F (it's not a massive amount) ... let you know how I get on so THANK YOU xxx

[Fi358]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

@Amethyst

Hi Amethyst,
I feel really fortunate to have found you amazing bunch of people who have made it possible for me to release myself from a crippling doom!
It feels great not to feel ashamed anymore, and know I'm not the only person who has to tackle difficult issues that take months, sometimes years to resolve.
What I find interesting from your status history with Barclaycard, is it illustrates a lack of consistency and evident lack of an intrinsic protocol in their approach to non-payment. My status history for £8,800 looks like this:

status_history_barclay_card_credit_file_report.jpg

I'm sure I'm in for fun and games with Barclaycard and I will be intrigued to see if and what date they will enter a retrospective default on my CR. Well, they clearly don't follow any regulatory guidelines for defaulting accounts so I can only hope that whatever Tom, Dick or Harry is in a good mood when my matter lands on their desk.
I am taking Debt Camels advice and I am going to raise the unenforceability argument in relation to the other Barclaycard debt of £440. No statute Barred argument as I made a payment on the card in September 2014 but I will be interested to see if they can produce the original agreement I signed at Uni in 1999, might be a long shot but I'm going for it.
I would love to hear how you get on with Barclaycard, I will post my progress or lack of it when I start the ball rolling this week.
Thank you so much for supporting me to the point where I can post my CR status history from being petrified to look at it before coming here. xxxxxxxx

[Fi358]

Re: Finally... Can I find a way to stop hiding from Barclaycard?

I suggest doing it in writing. Email is good (instant, free and you get a copy automatically), otherwise letter - keep a copy of letters and note the dates you sent them.

If they enter a default date of January 2015 the debts will disappear in January 2021.

I am taking all your advice on board, I will start emailing them, No statute Barred argument with the older card as I made a payment in Sept 2014 so I will try to put them to task to find my original agreement. Thank you for all your help!