Nationwide Credit Card Debt
Today we are going to look into a question for one of our reader who has Credit Card Debt With Nationwide…
I have been unable to pay my Nationwide Credit Card, due to a change in personal circumstances . I am now nearly 2 months in arrears.
I wrote to Nationwide and offered them a token payment of £10 per month because I cannot pay the required amount at present. I told the that I hoped my financial situation would change after 2 months, although this isn’t guaranteed.
I wok up this morning to find that I got two letters from them. The first letter contained an income and expenditure form. After reading it, it seems that they are requesting me to fill it in and send back along with a payslip, and bank statements. The other letter is a final demand for payment within 72 hours or they say they will make a visit to my house!
I really don’t know what to do! Do I really have to send copies of all my bills and my bank statement?
I really could do without people knocking on my door adding to the stress that I’m under. Should I acknowledge the final demand letter in writing?
Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide.
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Our Answer…
Well, to start off with you are under no obligation to provide them with copies of bills and bank statements. At this stage in your arrears
it is unlikely a home visit will be made.
If you are unable to come to an arrangement with your debt, they will more than likely send you a few more letters and then pass the debt on to a debt collection agency. At this stage the debt collection agency will go through the process again. Its standard procedure.
While you should do your very best to pay the debt, at the end of the day you can only pay what you can afford. No one from Nationwide has a right to visit your home without your permission.
Nationwide, and most lenders have set arrears and debt procedures and will go through a cycle of different letters and telephone calls.
You should stay in contact with your lender at all times but don’t let them harass you. If you are uncomfortable with telephone contact you are more then entitled to request that your dealings take place via mail only.
If your situation doesn’t get any better and you are unable to pay, It will usually be two or three months before it’s passed to an outside debt collector. If it does reach this stage you are best dealing with them via post and make sure everything thing is sent recorded delivery.
If your debt situation doesn’t get any better you should consider entering into a formal debt arrangement such as an IVA.
