Struggling With Credit Card Bills After An Accident?

Tomasz’s story

In a car accident, Tomasz broke his leg and badly bruised his ribs. As a self-employed courier, he wouldn't be able to work until he’d fully recovered – but that meant no income.

His wife’s wages were covering the mortgage, but with just one income there was no way they’d be able to get the bills paid as well. When Tomasz should have been resting, he was worrying himself sick about money.

Tomasz knew he wouldn’t be able to work for at least three months, during which time he’d miss some  payments and would also incur fees and charges. Realising there was nothing he could do, he called Barclaycard to let us know what was going on with his finances. He wanted to tell us:

•  he couldn't make the next repayment on his card
•  he’d borrowed money from a friend but it still wasn’t enough
•  what little money he had went on the electricity bill

How Barclaycard helped

When he rang Barclaycard, Tomasz got through to one of our advisers, Adam.

• Adam gave Tomasz time to explain things in his own words and wasn’t judgemental or demanding, as  Tomasz had feared
• Together they agreed how to get through the next few months, working out what Tomasz could afford  for now and putting a longer term plan in place so he could catch up when he was getting paid again
• Adam explained what information he needed for this, as well as how it would affect Tomasz's credit  score and what could be done to help
• He checked that Tomasz knew he could access his Barclaycard account online or via the Barclaycard app to make debit card payments, change payment due dates and, when he could afford to, set up a Direct Debit
• He also advised that there is free help and advice available and that he should also check out the government website for information and services available to him. We’ve included links to organisations that offer independent help and advice in the ‘Other ways to get help’ section below

Tomasz was pleasantly surprised when Adam understood his situation and gave him realistic options – and not just for his Barclaycard bill, but people to talk to about his other debts.

Does your story sound like Tomasz's?

A sudden injury or accident can cause a lot of pain and anxiety, made worse by the fact you may have to go weeks or even months without an income. Even if you know it’s only temporary, missing payments on bills and affecting your finances can be frustrating and worrying.

You're not alone - we're here to help

We know your debts aren't going to disappear on their own, but we really can help. If you get in touch, we'll ask you about your income and outgoings so you can feel confident you're only repaying what you can really afford. And your priority payments – Council Tax, rent/mortgage repayments and household bills – will always come first.

It's probably the last thing you want to do, but giving us a call won’t make anything worse. We won't spring any surprises on you; our advisers are here to listen, understand and agree a solution with you – not demand payments you can’t afford.

You can rest assured, we’ll ask your permission before we do anything and check how you feel about your other finances.

We'll try to provide you with help that’s clear, practical and easy to understand. Also, we'll advise you where to find free and independent help.