www.iva.co.uk

Please can someone help. I have had an iva in place since 28 May. Since the iva has been put in place Barclaycard have been phoning me up between five and six times a day. They ring my mobile and I can't answer because I am at work. Each time I ring back I get someone different. I tell them the situation, they say OK we put account on hold for 14 days. I put the phone down and then they start phoning again. I am spending money I can't afford by continually phoning them to sort this out. I have been in touch with the client support department who are supervising my iva but Barclaycard refuse to talk to them as they are not me and can't answer some of the security questions. I was in the hospital with my dad yesterday whilst he underwent tests to see if his cancer had returned and they phoned me six times. I know they don't know this and they only doing their job but I could really do without this.

And now Barclays Bank have decided to phone as well. Did not hear anything from them before I had the iva in place. They phoned me at work on Tuesday and when I explained situation to them they apologised, said it was their admin error and they not ring again. They did. Today. I have now been reminded by my line manager that I am only allowed to receive personal calls if they are an emergency. Luckly she didn't ask if there was a problem.

Ready to jump is the ideal log in because that is how I feel..... ready to jump!

Is this phoning after an iva is in place normal with Barclaycard and Barclays? None of my other creditors have phoned me since it was put in place (Barclaycard and Barclays
are owed the most money by me).

Get your IP to deal with this for you - that is what they are being paid to do after all.

The problem is, it often takes a while for things to filter through the system after the IVA is in place. Usually the head dont know what the back side is doing.
Speak with your IP about it but dont worry, it will stop soon.

we had GE money calling constantly for about 4/5 weeks.. has stopped now so i think maybe the left hand has shook the right and they both seem to know whats going on.. these company are big organisations with different depts think takes a while to link up.

Hi there and welcome to the forum. Dont let these calls get you down, your Ip should deal with them immediately. Otherwise telephone their customer services department and explain that you are in an approved iva and that you are being caused distress and upset by these calls and that they legally should not be doing it, as you are now under the protection of the iva. I know it can take a while for these things to filter through to different departments but it does not make it right. It only takes an entry on a computer screen to stop this.

Dont let this get you down, you have enough to deal with.
It will stop soon .
Please change your name as well. I understand how down you must feel but concentrate on the important things, the debt is dealt with and they can do nothing. Take a deep breath and dont let it all get to you.
We are always here for support if you need it at anytime.

Ang xx

Hiya RTJ

This is nothing short of harrassment, youre obviously sick and tired of all this and entered an IVA as you are trying to address this problem.

When they ring again, get a name, threaten to report them for harrassment. It is an offence for a creditor to cause stress, ringing 5/6 times a day when youre in an IVA and legally protected, what else can it be??

These callers are hoping you will give in and give them a payment which would also be illegal. Dont let it upset you, and certainly not to the point of 'being ready to jump'. Turn it around on them, like, hey you do know this is the 5th time you have called me today, do you know it is an offence to harrass me? Do you know it would be illegal for me to make a payment?? Whats your name, I am going to record everything else you say and report you?

It is very unlikey that these callers know anything about the law regarding harrassment, or IVA's or Bankruptcy. They are told to 'get a payment'. It will get better when things filter through.

Youre very precious to your friends and family and worth so much more than the money you owe Barclays.....Dont let them push you over any edge.

This is terrible - most peoples calls stop shortly after the IVA, I only had a couple and they were ok when I explained the situation to them.

As Lily has said, it is illegal for them to phone and for you to make payment.

Could you not change your mobile number? I did and it stopped all my calls from Barclaycard.

Get in touch with your IP and ask them to sort it out.

If they phone you again at work tell them you are not allowed to received personal calls, and if they persist you could be out of a job and then they would get nothing.

Don't let them get you down. They will stop.

Barclaycard will deal with someone else as long as you have given your permission, usually in writing.

Hi There,
As everyone else has said - do not answer, change your number, etc.
I received calls for a couple of weeks - possibly up to six weeks, but they do stop after a while.
It's a communication error, a lot of the companys employ people to make calls and they don't appear to talk to each other, or update electronic systems.
Please don't let this upset you or make you emotionally sensitive. We've all been there - keep posting for more help and advice and try to be positive, there is life during and after debt!!
Big hug,
Chardonnay

Hi

Believe me this situation is only temporary. When you start an IVA there will still be the odd phone call filtering through. I had the same when I started my IVA 10 months ago but now no calls! Your details of the IVA will be already on record with Barclays but like all computer systems today it takes time to update the databases with the information. The calls you are getting are only from the call centres who haven't a clue yet of the situation. Your IP should be dealing direct with this. So you may not need to change your number just yet as it's too soon. I know it's very stressful, as I know I had the same but strange even though Barclays were one of my creditors they just wrote a couple of letters to me, the worst of the phone calls were from MBNA, they were more persistent! Try to be cool, calm and relaxed, you have an IVA in place which is a legal contract between you and the creditors.

Take care

Maz

Well Barclays have stopped phoing. Instead they have passed it on to Mercers who appear to have started phoning! Today I received a letter from Mercers saying they are sending round a debt collector and that they have been phoing me and cant get hold of me. I have been on leave all week so they must have been phoning me there cos they certainly havent phoned me at home. I have phoned them today on the number they have given me as I have family coming over today and I don't want anyone to call and I have been told that they cant help, dont have the details, it is with another department and they will not be open until 9.00am on Monday, when I will be back at work. Result - me in floods of tears being calmed down by my daughter (she is a grown up)! Now I feel bad and that I am being weak. If this carries on I can see the IVA failing as I shall end up losing my job because of the phone calls. I work in an industry that knows that Mercers are debt collectors.

Please try not to let it get to you easy to say I know, pass on all letters and details of phone calls to your IP and ask them to deal with them as soon as possible. I found the phone calls and the threating letters the hardest to deal with, no money to pay and have been told by IP not to pay while the IVA was being set up. They will stop phoning and writing to you soon just remember you are doing all you can to get out of the debt you are in.

Jan.

Thanks Jan. I just felt that once the IVA was in place everything would be settled and I am disappointed that it is not. I know I shouldnt contact them and I have been advised by my IP not too (she must think I am a nighmare) but when I get the letters I panic. Used to sorting things out for myself but I just keep hitting brick walls when I phone. I need to learn not to be intimidated otherwise I am going to end up with a very sore head. I am not in control of the situation and I dont like it!

Coming on this site really helps, you read the problems others are having and although it is awful for them it good to feel you are not alone.

HI
I was lucky in that the phone calls and the letters stopped pretty soon after my IVA was agreed. I just sent any letters on to my IP and didn't answer them myself any phone calls I received I just said I am going for an IVA and my IP is ... and put the phone down, I was always polite but I didn't get into any conversation. I am 3 years in to my IVA and it is difficult wish IO had known about this site at the beginning, I felt so alone and thought i was the only person to get into debt--I know thats daft but at the time I have been unable to share my problems with my family, my parents are unwell and it would worry them so much and my children have their own problems and lives.

So keep strong I am sure your IP doesn't think you are nightmare but some one who is struggling with the situation that will soon end. This is what I have found to be the biggest relief is no letters or phone calls.

The great thing about this site is that you are not alone everyone is in or has been in the same situation no one judges us and we are free to talk about it.
as some one puts at the end of their postings 'there is a light at the end of the tunnel' I sometimes think at times the light has been switched off.

Take care

Jan

Just dont let them get to you,they are only tring to get you to pay something which you dont need to pay. Send any letters to your Ip and do what you are on the phone,possibly look to changing your number due to harassment calls.The companies have no need to call you and will certainly not send round doorstep collectors,because you just wouldnt pay them,or let them anywhere near inside your house,its all scare tactics and dont think you are weak,these people use these tactics day in day out.
I got off the phone to egg the other day having spent 10 minutes explaining about my scottish trust deed,the guy said ok we will stop calling and when I put the phone down it rang immediately and it was the same guy(although he claims he was someone else),I just got angry and told them they couldnt get blood from a stone and that I wasnt allowed to treat them unfairly by offering them a token payment,and hung up,they havent called back since.

It's disgusting when these calls don't cease. I understand them carrying on for a week or so, but then that should be it. By then, the news should have travelled down as far as the trained(?) monkeys who operate the phones.

Mercers are one of the worst, and they are always threatening debt collectors, but none ever turn up. They phoned me on the day my IVA was agreed, and apart from trying to get me to part with money!!!!, they were fine.

As Plasticdaft says, get your number changed both on your mobile and your home phone if you can. I just unplugged my old phone as I had a different number with BT total broadband.

I never used to phone them, I used to write, and quite strong letters they were too!

As regards anyone else dealing with your account, if you give your permission (not sure if it's in writing or not), they can deal with a third party.