Question On Closing Account

[milly5]

Hi , I am asking this on behalf of a relative and would like some advice on what she should do next.

 

Relative had barclaycard account and in Dec 09 she sent them a payment to clear her account so she owed nothing .

She assumed that was end of matter but shes had 3 months of harrasment and threats on a daily basis from them saying she owes them 50 POUNDS.....

She has told them she owes them nothing account is closed but they have now got Mercers involved.

After talking to her today I dont think she ever recieved a letter saying her account was closed BUT surely they should have automatically closed her account ?

She has still been getting statements with interest being added each month which is where the 50 POUNDS comes from.

 

They wore her down so much she sent them a payment last week for 28 pounds!

I only knew about this today so hoping someone can advise best action to take next..

thanks milly.

[DoomPriestKano]

Hi and welcome.

 

1). Whichever account she used to pay the original £50, go to that bank and get a copy of the statement proving the money was taken.

 

2) write to both Barclaycard and Mercers stating that £50 was paid to Barclaycard on xx date (give them a photocopy of the statement and highlight the payment on it, remember to tipex out anything you don't want them to see) and that when you spoke to them you asked the account be closed down.

 

3) State in the letter you consider the account closed and you will not be liable to pay something as a result of unprofessional staff members who cannot follow instructions.

 

Come back to us if they argue the point.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Mercers are unprofessional and EXTREMELY intimidating, whatever happens, stick to your guns with them, tell them you owe them NOTHING and if they threaten legal action tell them to do their worst, by the sounds of it this is an open and shut case as soon as you prove the £50 was paid.

 

The other issue is, i'm gathering from your post that the lady requested that the account be closed when she spoke to Barclaycard, if she did theres a strong basis to have this resolved. If not then you may be in hot water, as account would have remained open and all banks charge a standard fee per month for the facility so that may have accumilated to the £50 they are trying to recover.

 

The call with Barclaycard should have been recorded, if the lady asked for the account to be closed there will be evidence to show this in the call recording, they shouldn't be claiming you never asked to close the account if theres proof you did.

Edited March 16, 2010 by DoomPriestKano

[milly5]

Hi Doompriest kano,

thanks for your advice,have spoken to relative and now she says she never actually asked barclaycard to close account.She ASSUMED that because she sent them a large payment and cleared her balance the account would be closed.She remembers reading something that says even if you clear your balance you have interest to pay for previous month.

So I suspect now she may be liable for these charges that have accrued since dec but she can get the account closed from now.is that correct?

thanks milly

[slick132]

HI Milly,

 

You need to see the account statements which will show what has happened on the a/c.

 

If the full payment was made by the due date, the balance would be left showing as nil, whether the a/c was formally closed or not.

 

Regardless of the size of the payment made, if it was any less than the full balance shown, there would be a balance remaining which would attract interest, and then monthly penalty charges.

 

Or, if the full payment was made even 1 day late, there may be a penalty charge and/or interest which will continue.

 

If you don't have the a/c statements, get them by sending A SAR.

 

Any penalty charges can be reclaimed in full, regardless of why they were added to the account.

 

[DoomPriestKano]

Slick is the guru to listen to!

 

In any case, make sure you request the account be closed next time you speak with them, if possible you could send them a letter requesting it, so theres no doubt and whichever way this goes you wont have a repeat of the issue

[milly5]

Hi Slick/doompriest, thank you both for your input,am going to tell relative to check her statements as Slick advises and get her account closed with written confirmation from barclaycard.

 

Will update any news

thanks milly.

[slick132]

Please note, they will only close the account once the balance is brought down to NIL.

 

Don't worry if there are any penalty charges - pay them to close the a/c and then reclaim them, along with any interest on the charges.