Unbelievable

[dj1971]

Got a text message from sharklys today saying you have outstanding balance on your card, please pay immediately to avoid further charges. Had 2 accounts with them, 1 of which I shut down after transferring the balance to virgin card 3 months ago and the other I am sure there is nothing owing on. Called them this evening and after a lot of messing about, eventually found out the text was in relation to the old account which was shut down 3 months ago. Now get this: the over due balance is the PPI ( which was mis-sold) on the account for the last 3 months. They are saying canceling the card does not cancel the ppi and I should have phoned the ppi department in dublin to cancel the ppi separately. They did'nt send out any statements or notification letters, first I knew was a text from debt recovery people today. Have a few battles going on with sharklys at the moment, and I have seen them do some really stupid things, but this really takes the biscuit. What should I do?

[Steward]

You can use Google to search the web using these links below:-

[slick132]

Hi dj,

I've moved this to the BC forum. BC's explanation makes no sense to me as I thought PPI was a monthly percentage. If the balance was transferred and therefore nil, why any PPI.

Look into reclaiming the PPI if you think it was mis-sold. Start a thread for this in the PPI forum.

If there were any charges on these BC a/c's, have you reclaimed them.

[the_shadow]

PPI normally is a % of the total owed on the account at monthend. If as Barclaysharks are saying this is a fixed fee then what is the benefit if the account is £0, they will pay this £0 whilst you are off sick or perhaps they will use the PPI to pay the PPI premiums on the account whilst you are unable .

Sounds like a load of tosh to me. If they have given you the number of the PPI people in ireland I would attempt to get hold of the t&c of the PPI.

You could SAR Barclaycard but this will take upto 40days and you'll have to be very specific and probably go back to Barclaysharks and chase as the first SAR they send out tends just to be statements. This is if the insurance is an internal PPI product. If they introduced the PPI from another outside company then they have to tell you how to contact that company and you'll need to SAR them to get details.

S.

[dj1971]

Thanks Slick & The Shadow. My thoughts exactly, there should not be any PPI because there was no outstanding balance. Spent an hour on the phone with them last night getting passed from pillar to post and in the end gave up. Have written a letter demanding refund of charges and will give the insurance people in Dublin a ring on Monday.

Slick I have SAR'd Barclays and am waiting on statements for both cards and then will be claiming PPI as mis-sold and also any charges, thought I don't think there are any. They have until Monday to comply with the SAR. So looks like will be banging in a complaint to ICO.

[dj1971]

Just got a call from Mercers demanding payment. Put the phone down on them. Called Barclays head office and they put me through to barclaycard. Balance was made up of interest charged on balance from 05 March (date of statement) until 20th March, date of settlement. PPI was then charged on this balance. Never received any statements after settling balance in full and therefore they refunded charges in full today over the phone. Have to contact PPI on Monday to claim refund of PPI.

[dj1971]

Called PPI Dublin and they say they have been getting a lot of call referals from Barclays. There is nothing they can do and they are only acting as underwriters of the insurance and refered me back to barlcaycard. Any advice?

Secondly, still getting daily calls from barclaycard debt collection even though when I called on Sunday was told the charges have been written off. Made a note of phone number and not answering calls now. Any advice?

[the_shadow]

Called PPI Dublin and they say they have been getting a lot of call referals from Barclays. There is nothing they can do and they are only acting as underwriters of the insurance and refered me back to barlcaycard. Any advice?

Secondly, still getting daily calls from barclaycard debt collection even though when I called on Sunday was told the charges have been written off. Made a note of phone number and not answering calls now. Any advice?

Hmm, I think you need to in the first instance make a formal complaint in writing to Barclaysharks setting out the points exactly. State you require a reply and that if its not sufficient you will seek redress through the fos.
(hopefully the amount outstanding is small and they wont want to incur the £450 charge for investigation)

(This is not ideal as fos take soooooo looonnnggg) but they have been getting good reports recently in the press about PPI Reclaims and 70% of complaints are upheld

Alongside that it might be worth a SAR to barclaycard to get details of all charges you can possibly claim back outside of the scope of the PPI.

Neither of these are quick fixes I'm afraid.

You could write to the head of the Barclays group explaining everything:-

John Varley
Group Chief Executive
Barclays Bank PLC T/A Barclaycard
1 CHURCHILL PLACE
LONDON E14 5HP

S.

[dj1971]

Thanks The Shadow. Letter to barclaysharks will be in the post tomorrow. The amount outstanding is £63 including £24 late payment charges. Did a SAR to Barclays which they have now breached as of Monday 8th June. Letter to ICO going in post tomorrow.

[dj1971]

Spoke to bc again on friday and they confimred the outstanding balance has been written off. Still getting calls from their debt collection department which I am not answering. 2 text messages and 3 phone calls today. What can I do?

[the_shadow]

I take it you've not had a response from them yet... I think it tool 7 working days before I got an acknowledgment.

I think you need to hang in there until you get something back from them, If you've heard nothing in writing by this coming friday then I would send another letter but find you local MP and on the letter put "CC your mp's name" at the bottom or top and state that you are contacting your MP as this is a clear case of harassment.

S.

[dj1971]

Got so annoyed with number of calls from sharkleys I rang head office on Tuesday evening. Got a very nice lady who explained only the late payment charges had been refunded, so there is still an outstanding balance. She spoke to her manager and balance due has been wiped out. No calls for 2 days now. Thanks for alll your support and guidance.

[the_shadow]

Well done dj1971, fingers crossed you wont hear from the muppets again

S.

[slick132]

...........unless you decide to pursue BC for the return of PPI.

[dj1971]

Claim already in process thanks Slick132