Barclays - Help or assistance required

[jo90]

Hi, hope someone might be able to advise me.

 

Ive been a Barclays customer since they took over The Woolwich. Recently I was made redundant as have been so many, and as such approached Barclays with the standard letter and budget sheet as advised by the CAB. I recieved a letter today from Barclays stating that due to the outstanding amount I owe and the amount I have offered to pay they are closing my account and assigning it to creditors. Here now is where my problem lies.

 

Though im out of work I am actively seeking employment. I work in the IT industry by trade and of recent I have been approached for potential interviews within the financial sector (though doing their IT work). If I end up pushed to creditors this will leave me with a black mark against my credit history. Potentialy this may well stop me obtaining a job with a financial company as you have to have a credit check with most employers. I contacted Barclays to explain this, going over my outgoings and incomings with them and asking if they would at the very least allow me a few months, interest free, to try and ensure I find a role. Their reply was far from helpful, explaining that at this time they where unable to help.

 

So now im stuck. They are asking that I simply keep below my overdraft threshold, but to do this I would have to find approx £50 a month. Take into account im only recieveing £257 on job seekers, and that I have other outgoings such as food, living expense (the usual stuff, nothing frivaless) i simply cannot find that much.

 

Has anyone else found themselves in this position at all and found a way out, or does anyone have any advice on what i can do next ?

 

I will be writing to them again today directly (no CAB forms) to explain my situation in detail (the fact I was made redundant of no fault of my own, that Barclays have never once had to issue any warning to me in all the years etc I have been with them and so on).

 

Hope someone can give me some advice, what Barclays are planning to do could stop me finding work, of which I really need to get back into.

 

cheers

[slick132]

Hi Jo90 and welcome to CAG.

 

I'm sorry to learn of your predicament, which is a real dilemma.

 

I'll have a think about this, but nothing springs to mind immediately that would be of much help.

 

Have you tried going into your own branch to speak to your own manager (if such a thing still exists). A bit of personal contact with someone who has some discression, rather than automatons who have their hands tied.

 

If you could avoid the a/c being closed, even for a short while, this may buy you the time you need to find either the money or the job that will get you out of this mess.

[jo90]

I would go into a branch but i do not actually have a 'home branch' to speak of. There is one in my town, but they are not actually classed as my account manager - daft to put it blunt huh.

 

Finding the money is going to be difficult. Familly are already helping me with some payments, so they cant really do any more. Bit stuck on this one.

[slick132]

In your circumstances, at least try calling your local branch and make an appointment to see a manager.

 

Even if this is a long shot, it has to be worth trying.

 

Good luck.