Challenging The Instructor College, Barclays Partner Finance and Cabot

[Pure Feminine]

I wonder if anyone can offer me some advice. I applied to start training with the instructor college back in summer 2007, as my credit wasn’t great my Mum agreed to sign as a guarantor for the interest free finance with Barclays to pay for the course. We later realised this wasn’t actually a guarantor contract, but that she had signed completely for the loan.

 

I attended my 2 first lessons at the college before choosing to leave as I felt they had given us very misleading information in the welcoming tour and the course did not suit my needs. I was told it would be easy to fit around my part time working schedule, I could complete it within 6 months and then be earning £30,000 a year, all of which was very untrue. The course was so overbooked I had to book each session 3-4 weeks in advance which could not work. So I began writing letters to them to request withdrawal and cancellation of the contract due to the course not being fit for the original purpose described to me. And of course they ignored me for some time, before replying with an unreasonable letter which basically said NO.

 

Few years down the line, things are not so great. After the 12 months interest free period was up Barclays finance literally doubled the amount from £3495 to £7000, it was a very dodgy and unfair contract we later realised but we started to pay it. Unfortunately I had become a victim to my own young naivety and drawn to the unrealistic lifestyle they sold us. We stop paying as I decided we should dispute it. Now they have sold the debt onto Cabot who are sending my Mother threatening phone calls and letters.

 

Before the debt was sold I originally asked the college to provide the original contract as advised by a friend, but they throbbed me off and after speaking to a secretary on the phone I realised they didn’t have it. I am wondering how much power this will give me?

 

I want to resolve this as efficiently and effectively as possible, as it involves my Mother’s name. Thanks to the advice I’ve got so far on here I am learning how to deal with this. I have prepared a CCA letter to Cabot, in the meantime I was wondering if anyone can spare any advice on how I can challenge this debt. If I were to accept it I find the added interest incredibly unreasonable and am not willing to pay it. But I also want to challenge the original lending for £3495 for the same reasons as above. Does anyone think this is achievable? Any advice you could offer would be much appreciated.

 

Thank you so much for your time,

Pure x

[FORMISTER]

There could possibly be many areas where it could be challenged, however until you get your CCA results we are just guessing.

 

When did Barclays default you and cancel the agreement and how much has been added on since?

[Pure Feminine]

Hey thanks for replying! The agreement was defaulted early 2009, they have added £3817 Since.

 

I will update when my CCA result comes back..

[FORMISTER]

When was the agreement terminated by Barclays? Interest should of stopped being added then