Financial Help For Single Parents
Kath’s story
It’s been a difficult time for her family, and things won’t be fully settled until Kath’s divorce has gone through and they can begin to adjust to a different way of life.
Before her separation, Kath had enjoyed managing the finances with her partner, who was the main earner for the family and covered most of the bills. Now she 's struggling to cover her share of the bills. She's worried because:
- she hadn’t realised she'd reached the limit on her Barclaycard
- another loan is in her name only and the repayments are high
- the last council tax bill hasn’t been paid
Not knowing what to do with the finances is one thing, but Kath was finding it really difficult, not to mention emotionally taxing, making ends meet.
How Barclaycard helped
Kath was very anxious about ringing Barclaycard, but really needed some advice on what to do. When she called, she was put through to one of our support team, Peter, who reassured her straight away.
- Peter gave Kath time to explain things in her own words and wasn’t judgemental or demanding, as Kath had feared
- Together they created a repayment plan that Kath could afford now, and put a longer term plan in place for when the final settlement had gone through. Peter explained what information he needed and why, as well as how it would affect Kath's credit score and what could be done to help
- He checked that Kath knew she could access her Barclaycard account online or using the app (and that she could only access her Amazon Barclaycard using the app) to make debit card payments, change payment due dates and, when she could afford to, set up a Direct Debit
- He also advised that there is free help and advice available and that she should also check out the government website for information and services available to her. We’ve included links to organisations that offer independent help and advice in the ‘Other ways to get help’ section below
Kath was nervous about calling as she’d never handled the finances alone before, but Peter listened and gave her everything she needed to confidently move forward and keep things covered until the settlement.
Does your story sound like Kath's?
A separation or divorce can have a huge impact on your family and your lifestyle, causing emotional upheaval for everyone. Worrying about your finances just makes the situation worse.
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.
Get in touch to find out how we can help
Talk to us on the phone
As soon as you think you might be facing financial difficulties, give us a call. It could make things much easier.
Before you pick up the phone, it’s a good idea to jot down some notes about your income and spending. And set some time aside – we’ll want to understand your situation in detail, so you might be talking for a while.
Worried you’ll miss a payment?
Missed a payment and want to catch up?
If you’ve missed a payment on your card, you might be able to pay it using the Barclaycard app.
Alternatively, you can call us:
Calls to 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines. Mobile charges may vary. Find out more about call charges.
You can also:
Use the Barclaycard app
Send us a message from the 'Help' section of the Barclaycard app. It's secure and You don’t have to wait for our reply, just log back in when you’re ready to see if we've replied.
You need to be 18 or over to use the app. T&Cs apply.
Other ways you can get help
If you're struggling with a few different debts or money worries in general, there are organisations that may be able to help:
StepChange is the UK's largest provider of genuinely free independent debt advice and managed solutions, helping almost 600,000 people a year resolve problems, repay debts and rebuild lives.
The National Debtline offers free independent support for advice on how to deal with your debts, including live online webchat with a National Debtline advisor.
MoneyHelper provides a range of free and impartial money advice over the phone and online, including tools and calculators to help you manage your finances.
Are you receiving all your benefits?
Find out if you're getting all the money you could be entitled to.
Visit entitledto and use their free benefits calculator to understand if financial support is available.
Feel like there's no-one to turn to?
You can talk to The Samaritans anytime you like, in your own way, and off the record.
To protect the privacy of our customers, we have used photographs of actors and fictitious names, but they are based on real situations.
How close are you to a Debt Problem?
If you're worried that you need help with your finances then you can try StepChange Debt Charity's 60-second debt test. By answering a few simple questions they'll be able to tell you if you need debt advice.
