Urgent help needed please

[nutcracker]

It's a really long story, but basically about 5 years ago I had a loan from Barclays who I also bank with, for £6000, I paid the monthly payments without fail for about 2 years until I started to struggle and the loan was redone with lower repayments.

When I split with xp last year, I couldn't afford the repayments anymore and Barclays were awful with me, eventually saying that my only option was to go onto temp payments of £40 a month for a year and then go back up to payments of £104 a month.

They have written to me today stating that from Dec my payments will go back up to £104. I have just rung them and they have said that it is non negotiable, I either pay £104 (for 118 months) or it goes to court. I explained my circumstances and they didnt give a toss.

They said that basically, when it gets to dec, they will take out £104 a month from my account wether it is in there or not, which will then mean I am overdrawn without authorisation, even tually they will sell the debt on, after they have got me into loads more debt and left me without money to feed my kids, and then they will close my account.

I said that surely it is within their interests to accept the £40 a month I am offering, rather than it go to court and me get told I can pay £2.50 a week, and they said no, we'd rather close the loan down.

What do I do now ??

I feel so ill.

I'm afraid Barclays are notorious for behaving like this with customers who get into financial difficulty.
My friends have had some financial problems and have all they're debts put through a debt agency(free one recommended by CAB).All of their creditors apart from Barclays have accepted reduced payments and are no longer 'harrassing 'them for payment.
Barclays have been the complete opposite.

Have no advicew other than echoing others saying get in touch with CAB first thing tomorrow.

Good Luck

Def can't do set hours LIZ, I discussed that with them when I had to leave, they offered me day time shifts then, but can't give set hours as then everyone would want it. Not sure if xp can have the kids every sat as I think he may have to work the odd one. He could probably have them sundays though.

I'm gonna make a list of all of the suggestions made here and go through them once I have finnished this bloody assignment.

Right, slight not very good update....been turned down for a bank account with TSB, and everywhere I have tried for jobs so far hase drawn blanks.

One place said they had vacancies but prefered drivers because of the location. I said I could get there by bus (although it would be a bit difficult) and they said no thank you and put the phone down

It is only up the road from me but awkward as one bus doesn't go all the way there and walking would take quite a while.

There is one other job that I could apply for , but it is set hours of Mon-Fri which would mean i couldn't do college, so thats not really an option unless I get even more desperate than i am now.

TBH given the choice i'd rather sort a job out agree to the higgher repayments and leave my bank account as it is, but i seem to be un employable.

Nutty, thought of you today . Next had a sign up for temp admin staff, fixed hours/days one of which was daytime, plus my db's gf is working fixed shifts for them on Thursday- Saturday. Might be worth seeign if anything similar up your way.

Did you maange to speak to anyone for advice/help ?

hi nutty - have been looking at this kind of stuff lately and would agree for now youd be best trying to keep barclays going. theyre no worse than any other bank - once they spit their dummy out it tends to stay out for quite a while. sounds like theyre stinging you for interest tho - the bad bit is that for the amount you need to clear it, against your current situation - youll find most lenders will be wanting as much - if theyll lend. and the more sharky the lender, the more theyll charge - some even charge up to 10% of the loan as a setting up fee.

i juggled a load of debt for years by regularly transferring it between credit cards so i never paid any interest. is a tricky thing to manage so i dont suggest trying it, theyve also stuck a 3% handling fee on now - altho its only once a year so makes for cheap credit.

can you get casual work - even just a few hours to earn £20 a week? you do have to tell dss but dont need payslips - just a letter to say how much/how often etc. i also did that for years when kids were little. doesnt effect any benefits, but you must tell dss. works out at £86.66 a month!! goes a long way towards your loan, and you can hold off looking for a proper job. ive done window cleaning/gardening/car repairs/drain cleaning/decorating, you name it, if it paid i'd do it. i just had to convince the benefit fraud people i wasnt fiddling - on more than one occaison. but it kept me going and out of financial bother for long enough.

and in time you will get a proper job! i really thought i'd become unemployable as i'd been out of it so long - no one took me seriously when on paper it looked like i'd been sat on my arse for years - did loads of voluntary stuff which was excellent experience and fun. and when youre working more youll have a better credit rating and will beable to find a better deal than barclays are giving now and can shop around.

hope you find a solution soon - and look after barclays, theyll put their dummies back eventually - there are far worse people to be in debt to.

Hi Nutty - here's the link to the 'up your income' board on MSE - have a read through and see if there are any ideas for work

Up your income