Barclaycard Debt Collection Agency – Should You Pay?

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.

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. 

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: ‚ÄòI 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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/

References

1. Indebted Debt Collection Survey