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Barclaycard Debt Collection Agency – Should You Pay?

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By
Scott
Scott Nelson Profile Picture

Scott Nelson

Managing Director

MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.

Learn more about Scott
&
Janine
Janine Marsh Profile Picture

Janine Marsh

Financial Expert

Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.

Learn more about Janine
· Mar 12th, 2024
Could you legally write off some debt? Answer below to get started.

Total amount of debt?

This isn’t a full fact find, MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

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Barclaycard Debt Collection Agency

For free & impartial money advice you can visit MoneyHelper. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options. This isn’t a full fact-find, some debt solutions may not be suitable in all circumstances, ongoing fees might apply & your credit rating may be affected.

Have you just got a letter from Barclaycard Debt Collection Agency? You are in the right place. Every month, over 170,000 people visit our website for guidance on their debt problems.

In this guide, we will show you:

  • How to check if the debt is really yours.
  • Why you should not ignore Barclaycard Debt Collection Agency.
  • Ways to stop them from bothering you too much.
  • How to set up a plan to pay back the money.
  • If it’s possible to have some of your debt written off.

We understand that receiving letters from debt collectors can be scary, as research shows that nearly half of the people who are chased by debt collection agencies have experienced harassment or aggression1.

You’re not alone! We know how to deal with these letters. Let’s start discussing your options and determining what your next steps should be.

Could you legally write off some debt?

There are several debt solutions in the UK, choosing the right one for you could write off some of your unaffordable debt, but the wrong one may be expensive and drawn out.

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find. MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

What happens if you have debt with Barclaycard? 

Firstly, we recommend that you get in touch with Barclaycard to discuss the debt. They might be able to help you come up with a solution that works for both parties. 

However, if you don’t get in touch with them or make a payment, there are several consequences.

Your credit rating will likely be negatively impacted, and you’ll continue to amass fees and charges. They will also refer your debt to a debt collection agency or debt purchaser.

In such cases, the full balance on your account might be immediately due. 

Clearly, having a debt with Barclaycard is no small matter. However, as you’ll see, there are options for dealing with the situation. 

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Fill out the short debt form

Can they visit your home? 

In some circumstances, debt collection agencies will try and visit your home.

Often, they either need to ask permission to do so or give you adequate notice that they’re going to. However, even if they turn up on your doorstep, they have no real powers at this point. 

Our financial expert, Janine, says: ‘I understand that having a debt collector at your door can be scary, especially when you are already under huge financial stress. It’s crucial that you stay calm and know your rights. They have no power to enter your home or take any of your possessions.’

Debt collection agencies like those used for Barclaycard debt collection aren’t bailiffs. As such, they don’t have any court-appointed powers.

If you are visited by someone like Central Debt Collection Services, you can ask them to leave. They cannot threaten or harass you, and you can report them if they do. 

How a debt solution could help

Some debt solutions can:

  1. Stop nasty calls from creditors
  2. Freeze interest and charges
  3. Reduce your monthly payments

A few debt solutions can even result in writing off some of your debt.

Here’s an example:


Situation

Monthly income £2,504
Monthly expenses £2,345
Total debt £32,049

Monthly debt repayments

Before £587
After £158

£429 reduction in monthly payments

If you want to learn what debt solutions are available to you, click the button below to get started.

Get Started

Can you write off your Barclaycard debt? 

In some cases, writing off Barclaycard debt is possible.

There are a couple of ways you can go about this but, first, you need to make the debt collector prove that you are liable for the debt.

As you can see, sometimes debt collection agencies make a mistake and send collection letters to the wrong people.

We always recommend asking for evidence that you are liable for the debt before you make a payment. Keep in mind that you are not obligated to pay anything until you are given evidence that you owe the debt.

Follow our ‘prove it’ guide with letter templates and get them to prove that you owe the money.

Check if it’s statute-barred

If it has been 6 years – or 5 years in Scotland – since you last paid towards your unsecured debts and you have not written to your creditor about your debt during this time, it is statute-barred.

This means that the debt is not enforceable.

It still technically exists, and you still technically owe the money, but there is no legal way for you to be forced to pay or for the debt to be enforced.

Keep in mind that not all debts become statute-barred! Any HMRC debts, for example, will stay enforceable for decades.

Any debt that had a County Court Judgement (CCJ) attached to it during the 5 or 6-year window it will be enforceable for the duration of the CCJ.

Use a debt solution

There are a few debt solutions that will allow you to write off part of your unsecured debts. They are:

  • Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or Trust Deed
  • Debt Relief Order (DRO)
  • Bankruptcy or Sequestration.

Keep in mind that the amount of debt that you can write off will vary, depending on your circumstances.

If you would like more information, you can check out our detailed debt solutions guide.

Your Rights With Debt Collectors

It’s common for debt collection agencies to try to intimidate you. However, they are not allowed to harass you.

To prevent unfair treatment, it’s crucial to understand your rights. That’s why we’ve prepared this table that explains what debt collectors can and can’t do.

If you’d like to learn more and require further advice, make sure to check out our detailed guide.

Debt Collectors Can But They Can’t
Contact you by phone or mail. Call you after 9pm or before 8am.
Conduct home visits (on rare occasions) and knock on your door. Forbily enter your home, or stay if you ask them to leave.
Threaten to take you to court by suing you for payment on a debt. Harrass you, including threats of violence, repeated calls and visits, or abusive language.
Negotiate a debt settlement. Tip: make sure to get this new arrangement in writing. Visit your workplace.
Access your bank account, but only after a court judgment has been made. Take anything from your home or threaten to do so.
Sell your debt. Speak to other people about your debt without your permission.
Contact you frequently. Keep doing so if you request that they reduce communications.

Remember, debt collectors can’t come to your workplace, act threateningly, force payment, or discuss your finances with others. If they violate these rules, you can complain.

Thousands have already tackled their debt

Every day our partners, The Debt Advice Service, help people find out whether they can lower their repayments and finally tackle or write off some of their debt.

Natasha

I’d recommend this firm to anyone struggling with debt – my mind has been put to rest, all is getting sorted.

Get started

Reviews shown are for The Debt Advice Service.

How do you make a complaint?

If you think that your debt collector has been unreasonable or behaved inappropriately, you can make a complaint.

You can also make a complaint if you feel that they have broken any of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) guidelines.

Fortunatley, filing a complaint against Barclaycard debt collection companies is quite straightforward.

Make your first complaint to the debt collector in question so that they have the chance to sort out the issue themselves.

If you feel that they have not taken your complaint seriously enough or have not addressed your issue properly, you can escalate matters.

You can make any secondary complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).

They will investigate and, if your complaint is upheld, the debt collection agency may be fined. You could even be owed compensation.

Barclaycard Debt Collection Contact Information

Phone: 0800 151 0900
If calling from abroad: +44 (0)1604 230 230
Braille, audio, or large print: 0800 161 5326
Text relay for speech impaired: 1 8001 0800 161 5276

Postal Address:
Barclaycard Centre, Norwich way
Kirkby Town Centre, Knowsley, L32 8UY
Email: Contact Form
Barclaycard App:
Download the app here.
Website: https://www.barclaycard.co.uk/

FAQs

Does Barclays settle debt?
Yes. Barclays does settle credit card debts regularly but it must be noted that settling a debt will be marked on your credit score as an inability to pay in full.
What if I can’t pay my Barclaycard?
If you cannot pay your barclaycard bill then you should definitely contact them to let them know. You may be able to settle, get a payment holiday or come to some other arrangement.
What happens if I leave UK with debt?
If you leave UK with debt your interest and payments will continue to get worse and with international debt collectors you may not be able to escape it.
Could you legally write off some debt?

Answer below to get started.

How much debt do you have?

This isn’t a full fact find, MoneyNerd doesn’t give advice. We work with The Debt Advice Service who provide information about your options.

References

  1. Indebted Debt Collection Survey
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The authors
Scott Nelson Profile Picture
Author
MoneyNerd’s founder, Scott Nelson, has a decade of financial industry experience, including 6 years in FCA regulated loan and credit card companies. Troubled by a lack of conscience in the industry, he founded MoneyNerd to give genuine advice to those in debt and struggling financially.
Janine Marsh Profile Picture
Debt Expert
Janine Marsh is an award-winning presenter and a valuable member of the MoneyNerd team. With a wealth of experience as a financial expert, she's been featured on BBC Radio 4, BBC Local Radio, and BBC Five Live, and is a regular on Co-op Radio.