Barclays given dept to DCA, Help needed

[aki]

Hi,

I’m hoping you guys can help. I’m posting this on behalf of my brother who has just received a letter from a DCA (Red debt collection services) demanding money for a dept given to them by Barclays. Just to give a little back ground info. My brother had an account with Barclay’s a few years ago, he didn’t use the account very much but he became overdrawn after not honoring a DD. At this point the bank started to charge him penalty fee’s for being overdrawn and continued to do this for approx 18 months after which they finally closed the account. Barclays dept management started sending letter and then telephone calls demanding the money be paid back. He told them he would not pay them any money as the debt was a result of illegal bank charges. The bank has now passed this debt on to a DCA (red debt collection service)

What is the best way to respond to the letter from the DCA? Should he write a letter and if so is there a template on here that he can use? Should he call them or just ignore it?

Thanks

Aki

[42man]

I would just write to Red saying that the debt is disputed due to a significant amount of excessive charges that have been added to the account...However your brother MUST start the process of reclaiming the charges + 8% compounded interest.

 

It might be a good idea for him/you to start a new thread in here for that particlar process - http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/barclays-bank/

[aki]

Hi 42man,

Thanks for the quick reply. I help him draft a letter this afternoon. Should he say he disputes the debt because they're excessice bank charges or becuase they're illigal bank charges? Is there a template letter for this on here?

 

The only reason he hasn't tried to make a claim against Barclays was because he hasn't actually paid them any money for the overdraft charges. Can he still try and claim this money back though? I will start a new thread as you've suggested.

 

Thanks

Aki

[42man]

No there isn't a template, however you should write and say that the amount is disputed due to excessive charges, and that you are in the process of reclaiming the charges....

 

And yes he MUST start the reclaiming process and don't forget to add the 8% compounded interest...