cleaned out by barclaycard

[glenothica]

This is the latest thing Barclaycard have done to my account, I got into debt, made arrangements for a repayment plan, after twelve un-eventful months, they contacted me to increase the payments, this is when the trouble started, I increased the payments and arranged that the repayment plan continue ,....... it didn't. Barclaycard sent me monthly bills that got bigger and bigger, I repeatedly rang them, getting one operator after another, I paid what one such said I should and ignored that which another advised me to. The bills kept coming , to complicate things, although the account is in my name, my ex wife pays it. Setting up direct debits doesn't help either, the last action by barclaycard was to ignore the directdebit amount and take 20 times what they should, clearing the account. I finally contacted them to try sort something out, gettng hold of the number to call if you are in difficulties repaying, big mistake....... the individual would not listen, spoke as if reading text, could not answer the most basic of questions, and continually repeated, what were , I presume , set responses and spoke in a foreign ,thick, accent, one that I wasn't able to follow or understand. I ended by saying until barclaycard contacted me and were willing to 'talk', I had no alternative but to seek advice elsewhere.............. anyone out there been anywhere near this kind of situation ???

[slick132]

Hi Glenothica and welcome to CAG.

Sounds like BC have exercised their Right to Set-Off, which they are entitled to do in some circumstances.

However, if they are parly responsible for the confusion about the amounts that you should pay over the last few months, they have no right to Set-Off and you should complain to their Head Office urgently.

I'll come back with links to some other threads which you should read as examples.

[slick132]

Here's one - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...ml#post2714381

and - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...ml#post2641296

and - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...ml#post2661733

If you want to get the Set-Off reversed, for instance because it has left you unable to pay priority items like rent, mortgage, council tax, utilities, etc, you should complain immediately to Barclays HO by email and back it up in writing by Recorded Del'y.

We'd normally suggest that you open a non-Barclays a/c to avoid a recurrence of this but, if they cleared the BC debt in full, that may not apply to you.

However, if you manage to get a refund, opening another bank a/c may well be sensible if you can.

[slick132]

I see that, on one of the threads, Deperate Daniella advised to urgently speak to the fos. This is something you could do on Monday.

BC may treat your complaint more seriously if they see that you are determined and that you've already contacted the fos.

The main points you need to show are:-

1. BC have made errors in advising what you should pay.

2. BC have unilaterally decided your payments should be increased, ie without your consent or agreement.

3. They have left you short of funds for priority debts.

[slick132]

On a different note, if BC have added any penalty charges to the a/c in the last 6 years, these can be reclaimed in full plus interest.

If you don't have all statements for the last 6 years, send off for them with a Subject access request - http://www.consumerforums.com/resour...access-request-