Default notice sent but never received

A question about : Default notice sent but never received

Hi,

I have recently applied for a mortgage (actually a few) and been refused. When I checked why this might be it is because I have a default (satisfied) registered to my credit history by Barclays bank plc.

The reason for the default is that I had a student account with a Ј2000 overdraft, which I maxed frequently. After I left university I continued to use this account as my primary bank account but I could never pay the overdraft off. Having not used the account frequently (as I was self-employed simply to avoid being on the dole) I received a letter from a debt collection agency requesting that I pay Ј918 to clear the debt that I had with Barclays. As I had not received any notification of this from Barclays themselves I assumed it to be a scam so called the bank. They confirmed that they had closed the account and passed the debt on to the mentioned agency. I was rather upset about this as I loved the bank and would frequently preach to friends that they ought to move their funds to Barclays as their service was second to none. I immediately paid the requested amount (as I did owe it to the bank and it made sense that they had the power to request it) and made an appointment with them to re-open the account.

As you might have guessed they refused to open a new account and sent me packing to Lloyds TSB.

I hadn't thought this would be a problem as I paid the requested sum as soon as it was requested by the bank and it all seemed above-board (also I know very little about credit and finance in general). It wasn't until I needed credit that I noticed the stain on my credit history.

When I called the bank recently they seem to have record of 9 letters sent to me, including a default notice, the referral to the debt collection agency and two text messages. I never received any of these letters or texts as I would have been happy to make arrangements to pay the bank if only to keep my beloved account.

The address they have for me is correct though the phone number is wildly off.

I would like to have the default noticed removed from my credit history but I don't think I have a chance appealing to the bank. They simply have a 'record' of the communication but can't prove that anything was ever sent, or prove that I ever received anything.

I can only assume that the other documentation is in order as I can't imagine Barclays not keeping the necessary paperwork.

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks in advance.

Best answers:

• you loved barclays?are you insane??
• Well until now I'd never had any problems. The people in-branch were polite and helpful. There was always someone to speak to and I almost never had to wait in a queue, and when I called and asked for something they sorted it out immediately.
  Could you try to be more constructive with your replies? I need to know how I should approach this problem and I don't have a clue.
• Barclays is an anagram of the 'devils bank from hell' or at least it should be! (sorry that wasn't very constructive either, but someone will be along who knows what they are on about, its just Barclays don't get much sympathy on here as they are gits, allegedly)