Computeach and Barclays CDL

[Obi1Kanoobie]

Hi.

I've received a demand from Barclays for £5,197.70 for a CDL taken out for a course by Computeach in 2006.

 

I actually asked the tutor/salesman "what would happen if I paid for this course by CDL and didn't complete it,

that'd be an awful big debt for nothing?"

They replied

"well, because the loan is from European funding it would just go back from whence it came and you can go about your business

- but you will complete the course, won't you?" **chuckle**.

 

Satisfied with this answer and eager to begin I filled out all the paperwork and sat back contemplating a rewarding future.

 

I was okayed by Barclays and I enrolled for the MCSD course which comprised of

the IC3, Comptia A+ and the MCSD in Visual C# = Total cost £4995 or near on.

I gained the IC3 quite easily, and began the Comptia and C# pack.

 

Then in 2008 it became very difficult to complete it or even have access to a computer

due to spending several months homeless and ending up in sheltered accommodation.

 

I explained this to Computeach and they were at the time quite happy to put the study on hold

and give me time for circumstances to improve. However, they didn't and

 

after 6 months I received a letter saying a must pay £500 for an extension otherwise

"my student file would be discarded" (I think that was almost the exact wording).

The course closed as I didn't have the £500 at hand.

Everything seemed fine and dandy.

 

I had a CDL with Barclays which, handily, is the bank I have an account with anyway.

And it seemed as though what the tutor/salesman had said was true

- the money had happily been passed back to Europe for someone else to use

since I didn't need it, no cost to me No demands, no nothing, for years.

 

Now 2012 - bang!

 

Every week or two a demand from Barclays.

I largely ignored them, seeing them as a computer or administrative error.

 

Yesterday I rang their number just to clarify that the course was cancelled.

 

After an initially happy conversation with a Barclays advisor on the phone;

and after saying that since circumstances have changed

(I live in rented accommodation as a single father with a 21 month old son who is on Income Support)

I could not afford not even a £5 token payment, or any payment at all to this debt I do not feel I owe

- they are going to apparently going to pass on my details to the DCA who will be making far less happy conversations.

 

Anyone have any advice?

Personally, given the option of paying maybe £10 a month to a DCA to pay a £5000 loan is going to take me years

(since I know saying I was in my view misold a course but have no way of proving it,

which is not going to get me far in a court of law or in terms of a refund from

Computeach for a course that finished 4 years ago to all intents)

 

I was considering just tearing each letter up in future and just allowing them to make me bankrupt.

 

At the end of the day I can only volunteer as a Red Cross First Aider for the foreseeable future;

it is just me and my son in a one bedroom flat as that is all the council deem to view as necessary for us both;

I've got very few material items apart from my childs which the court bailiffs cannot touch.

 

Really, what have I got to lose apart from the ability to gain credit for 6 years?

 

Am I being naïve on this issue though?

 

Any thoughts welcome.

Edited August 3, 2013 by Obi1Kanoobie

[dx100uk]

might be an idea to see what your cra file says

about this 'debt'

 

see below

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

Thanks for the link to Noddle. Looking at my cra now, not quite sure what to make of it but the Barclay's debt is appearing on there. Been default for the last 6 months.

[dx100uk]

so Barclay still own it good

 

what is the default date in the summary please?

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

The date of default is 26/01/2009.

[dx100uk]

ok so jan 2015 before it vanishes then.

 

seems a bit strange if you only tok out £5k its still at £5k.

 

have you been getting statements since birth

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

The original loan amount was £4,995. It became £5,145 by the time it defaulted. It is now £5,197. Is that what you are asking?

[dx100uk]

no that's great.

 

and you've been paying this since 2006?

 

how much have you paid so far

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

Zero. The course was cancelled because I couldn't give Computeach the £500 to extend it.

[Obi1Kanoobie]

Just to clarify, the terms of the Career Development Loan are that it didn't have to be paid back for three years and that there was interest free for that period. Sorry if I didn't mention that. Don't know if all CDL's work the same or not.

[dx100uk]

so when 'should' you have begun to pay this.

 

if the course was 'cancelled' you still had 'something' to pay for I assume

 

so 3yrs would sort of workout right for the dates of the default?

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

That would be the case I guess. The IC3 is the only thing I got a certificate for. The Comptia and the MCSD I couldn't do at the time.

[dx100uk]

one last thing

 

is this Barclays partner finance

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

It just says Barclays on the letterhead. Career Development Loans on the address. Barclays Bank Plc on the footer. Not aware of any mention of Barclays Partner Finance anywhere on the letter.

[dx100uk]

ok

 

something def not right here with what you owe that's for sure

 

can I suggest to further your quest!!

 

you type in

computeach

 

in the search of our grey toolbar up top [on the right of it]

 

there are numerous threads here involving this lot

 

and it might give you a better insight upon how to proceed

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

Sorry if this is vague but to be honest I haven't ever had any real dealings with loans or credit cards.

 

There is only 2 times I've ever taken out credit in my life and they've both been for distance learning and I've regretted both decisions.

 

Otherwise if I don't have the money I live without.

 

Distance learning courses seem so attractive to me with little to no skills at that time.

[dx100uk]

no not an issue at all.

 

i'm hoping that by having a read at other peoples dealing with them

 

it will give you overall a better picture

 

that we can apply to your situation.

 

reading how others have tackled these people

 

and there are lots of them

 

will help you understand it all.

 

i'm MY eyes there is something not right here with the money owed

 

and

 

i'm wondering if their 'claim' on you

might not be all they think it is worth or even collectable.

 

I've not really dealt that much with distance learning stuff.

 

but there are many that have

and those threads will open your eyes

 

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

Thanks for the info DX.

 

I had a feeling Computeach and other such companies operated in a purely money making sense.

 

But at the moment I'm not overly concerned about how to deal with them,

 

I'm more expecting how to deal with any court action.

 

In my case it may be doing me a favour I guess; no car; everything rented; spend more on a child than myself; on Income Support; working voluntarily.

 

The upset could be if I switched from unpaid to paid or NHS Ambulance Support Crew.

 

If I actually got taken to court tomorrow I'd only have to wait a year before I could do paid fulltime work if what I hear about bankruptcy is correct.

 

But I could be wrong.

[dx100uk]

i'll have a guess they will sell the debt.

 

I wouldn't be too worried about court

 

that is a VERY long way off

 

if you want to scan up the letter you have

please do.

 

set your default scan page size to A4 less than 300DPI [150 will do]

scan the required letters/agreements/sheets - as a picture[jpg] file

don't forget you can use a mobile phone or a digital camera too!!

'

BUT......

ENSURE: remove all pers info inc. barcodes etc using paint program

but leave all monetary figures and dates.

*********************************************************

{DO NOT USE A BIRO OR PEN OR USE SEE THRU TAPE OR LABELS]

try www.pdfescape.com TO BLANK STUFF,

*************************************************************

or

DO IT IN MSPAINT.EXE or any photo editing program

goto one of the many free online pdf converter websites ...

http://freejpgtopdf.com/

..

if you have multiple scans/pics

put them in a word doc FIRST and convert that to PDF

or use www.pdfmerge.com

 

convert existing PC files to PDF [office has an installable print to PDF option]

..

 

it would be better to upload a multipage pdf if

you have many images too rather than many single pdfs

.

or if you have PDF as an installed printer drive use that

or use word and save as pdf

try and logically name your file so people know what it is.

though dont use full bank names or CAG in the title

i'e Default notice dd-mm-yyyy TSB

.

open a new msg box here

hit go advanced below the msg box

hit manage attachments below that box

hit the add files button on the top right

hit select files, navigate to your file on your pc

hit upload files

.

dx

[Obi1Kanoobie]

I will try and upload a copy of the letter soon once I am near a scanner