Barclaycard closed account

[Alacoque]

Hi,
I’ve had business Barclaycard for about ten years, problem-free until about three months ago (due to well publicised strikes affecting my income).

I’ve been in constant contact with Barclaycard about the situation. I'v been no more than 2 months in arrears on the monthly payments in the last few months and was acutely aware that 3 months of late payments would lead to the closure of the Barclaycard.

I was repeatedly assured by various Barclaycard advisors that if I made a payment by ‘X’, the account would remain open. In fact, I tried to make a cash payment before ‘X’ at a Barclay’s cashpoint but the ‘bill payment’ option was not working (the branch was closed at the time). I attended the bank the next day, the day I had been advised would be the last day before the next bill would be created, i.e., day ‘X’.

I inserted the Barclaycard into the branch’s internal cashpoint to make the payment in cash and the machine ‘retained’ the card.

I spent hours on the phone with Barclaycard immediately after this and was given all sorts of conflicting answers, including that a new card would be reissued. No one told me the card had been cancelled.

I called again the next day, was told that the ’system’ had cancelled my Barclaycard and the decision could not be reversed. I insisted on making a complaint, which was taken by someone so bored and incompetent it was shocking. They informed me someone from Barclaycard would be in touch.

I duly received a call from someone who seemed to reading from a script…..’I’m sorry it’s not the outcome you were hoping for ….etc.’ When I said that I had been following the advice and assurance of Barclaycard advisors, the person just reiterated his script. I insisted that they actually listen to all the conversations I had with the Barclaycard call centre. He reluctantly agreed to and called me back so quickly there is no way anyone listened to the numerous telephone conversations I had with the call centre. He said Barclaycard ‘appreciates I was misadvised’, offered £100 in compensation for the ‘misinformation’ and that the account would remain closed. When I suggested this was entirely unreasonable and Barclaycard was acting in bad faith, he muttered something about the financial ombudsman, followed by ‘I am now terminating this call’.

Dealing with Barclays is like dealing with a brick wall (no offence to brick walls) and I don’t know whether it’s actually worth it to….write to the head of Barclaycard, do something? I mean, it's outrageous for Barclaycard to admit I was badly advised and then penalise me because of their error. They clearly have a record of all my calls and my efforts to pay at the cashpoints.

I’m wondering if it’s worth pursuing - and if it is, what’s the best route (I’ve always found the Ombudsman utterly useless) or if it will just be a big waste of time….?

Thanks in advance for any ideas….

[Alacoque]

ECHAT11, thanks so much for the guidance. There's v little in the account. As I resign as the sole signatory, my partner will be taking over the business and become a (sole) signatory. The company is still 'trading', though nothing coming in or out. Again, many thanks for your help.

[echat11]

Am confused, would love some clarity on how best to respond to the DCA, if anyone has any advice....thank you

Them enquiring about your personal circumstances, maybe to 'illicit' your financial situation. Make sure you haven't 'squirreled away' company assets, cash etc.

I would thank them for the their email / letter. Thank them for confirming you have no personal liability for the debt.

Answer the questions that relate to the company accounts / assets. If you are going to resign, does that have any relevance as such to whether the company can pay it's debts? Are you owed salary, bonus, holiday pay etc?

[Alacoque]

Am confused, would love some clarity on how best to respond to the DCA, if anyone has any advice....thank you

[Alacoque]

Yes, the business is liable.

Why do they keep enquiring about my personal circumstances?

As I’ll be resigning soon, guessing this leaves the company with the debt (there is far from enough in the account to cover it)?

I'm in uncharted territory here, Would really appreciate any advice on how to respond.

Huge thanks in advance.

[echat11]

The DCA responded (below) to my (v low) settlement offer and I&E. My replies to their questions in CAPS. The debt is in my name. I intend to resign soon, should I mention that in my response to them?

can see that you have no money left over and are overspending by —— per
month; how are you covering this and where will the money come from to make
payment to the account? We can accept a lower offer if this will be more manageable
for you, and we're happy to set up a payment arrangement based on your current
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . IF THERE'S NO MONEY LEFT AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WHERE WOULD I GET IT FOR A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT?
• Are you expecting any c h a n g e s to happen within the next 3-6 months? NO
• What's the total amount you can you use for settlements? I'VE ALREADY GIVEN THEM THE FIGURE
• How long have you got to use this money? (Is it only available for a short time?) IT’S A LOAN SO A SHORT TIME
Please also tell us more about the business:
• What does the business do?
• Is the business still trading? If so, how is it doing at the moment? BADLY
• If the business is not trading anymore, when did it close and what caused it to stop
trading?
• Does the business have any savings, stock, equipment, machinery, vehicles, or any
o t h e r a s s e t s ? NO
• Does anyone owe your business any money? If so, are you looking to pursue this? NO
• Are there any other outstanding creditors associated with the business? If so, please
provide details including the balances owed. NO

We would like to make you aware that as this is a business debt, it would be the business
itself that is responsible for this balance being owed. What this means is that you will not be
personally liable for this debt, and we would not expect you to make any payments from your
personal finances.

We would like to make you aware that as this is a business debt, it would be the business
itself that is responsible for this balance being owed. What this means is that you will not be
personally liable for this debt, and we would not expect you to make any payments from your
personal finances.

So they want payment from company bank accounts, company assets etc, not from you.

[Alacoque]

The DCA responded (below) to my (v low) settlement offer and I&E. My replies to their questions in CAPS. The debt is in my name. I intend to resign soon, should I mention that in my response to them?

can see that you have no money left over and are overspending by —— per
month; how are you covering this and where will the money come from to make
payment to the account? We can accept a lower offer if this will be more manageable
for you, and we're happy to set up a payment arrangement based on your current
c i r c u m s t a n c e s . IF THERE'S NO MONEY LEFT AT THE END OF THE MONTH, WHERE WOULD I GET IT FOR A PAYMENT ARRANGEMENT?
• Are you expecting any c h a n g e s to happen within the next 3-6 months? NO
• What's the total amount you can you use for settlements? I'VE ALREADY GIVEN THEM THE FIGURE
• How long have you got to use this money? (Is it only available for a short time?) IT’S A LOAN SO A SHORT TIME
Please also tell us more about the business:
• What does the business do?
• Is the business still trading? If so, how is it doing at the moment? BADLY
• If the business is not trading anymore, when did it close and what caused it to stop
trading?
• Does the business have any savings, stock, equipment, machinery, vehicles, or any
o t h e r a s s e t s ? NO
• Does anyone owe your business any money? If so, are you looking to pursue this? NO
• Are there any other outstanding creditors associated with the business? If so, please
provide details including the balances owed. NO

We would like to make you aware that as this is a business debt, it would be the business
itself that is responsible for this balance being owed. What this means is that you will not be
personally liable for this debt, and we would not expect you to make any payments from your
personal finances.

[Alacoque]

Yes, I did mean DCA - autocorrect prefers DNA!

Thanks for your advice, will let you know what happens.....

[echat11]

Thank you Echat11. It sort of helps. My concern is keeping my husband out of it. I don't pay rent or a mortgage or a lot of other bills. And will all these blank spaces on the form give the DNA the idea they can come after him? It's my corporate debt not his but DCAs seem to have their own code of behaviour.

I'd be tempted to give them all the details, but give yourself some 'head room', so you aren't committing yourself to more then you can afford. Think 'Cost of Living' i.e. energy, food etc. The way the world is at the moment, everything could shoot up if things go the wrong way.

As for 'give the DNA the idea they can come after him?', I think you mean DCA.

If they try to go after him, you can simply correct them on the fact that the debt is solely yours.

[Alacoque]

Thank you Echat11. It sort of helps. My concern is keeping my husband out of it. I don't pay rent or a mortgage or a lot of other bills. And will all these blank spaces on the form give the DNA the idea they can come after him? It's my corporate debt not his but DCAs seem to have their own code of behaviour.

[echat11]

I’m in the midst of completing an I & E form and would love some advice.

My income is the state pension. I live with my husband in a house that we own outright. He takes care of utilities, insurance, maintenance etc. My pension covers food and personal expenses (clothing, etc.). I clearly don’t want to drag my husband in to all this, i.e., don't want to mention he takes care of most things.

Most of the line items on the I & E form reference things that I am not responsible for. Will leaving them blank trigger more questions from the DCA?

Thanks so much in advance.

Does the following help?

https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info...living%20costs.

[Alacoque]

I’m in the midst of completing an I & E form and would love some advice.

My income is the state pension. I live with my husband in a house that we own outright. He takes care of utilities, insurance, maintenance etc. My pension covers food and personal expenses (clothing, etc.). I clearly don’t want to drag my husband in to all this, i.e., don't want to mention he takes care of most things.

Most of the line items on the I & E form reference things that I am not responsible for. Will leaving them blank trigger more questions from the DCA?

Thanks so much in advance.

[Alacoque]

Thanks so much for the advice ECHAT11!

[echat11]

And, if asked, are Wescot obliged to reveal how much they bought the debt for?

They won't tell you for commercial reasons.

[echat11]

I offered roughly 5% of the balance in a letter.

Wescot has written back, counter proposing half of the total amount due.

Then they say they can ‘refer’ my original offer but this would require an I & E breakdown. If the funds are from the business, they’ve attached a form to declare assets and liability and I & E.
If from personal, they want an I & E from me.

They’ve placed the account on hold for 3 weeks. If I don’t reply. ‘collections activity will resume and contact will restart’.

I’d be grateful for any advice on my next move……many thanks.

What you could do is fill in a personal income and expenditure form, take into account the 'cost of living' crisis, i.e. energy, food etc. Give yourself a buffer, just in case things go up considerably. Because they haven't 'batted' the offer out of hand, is a plus.

https://nedcab.cabmoney.org.uk/