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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Anna Tims

Barclaycard sent me a bill for someone else’s account

Close-up of a Barclaycard Visa card
Barclaycard is sending bills for a credit card that was never applied for. Photograph: Michael Melia/Alamy

A year ago I got an email from Barclaycard stating that my “application was successful” for a credit card. I had made no such application. I immediately reported this to Barclaycard. More emails arrived and I made repeated phone calls to customer service.

I was assured it was a simple typo rather than fraud, and that my email address would be removed. However, I’m now receiving notifications that the latest account payment is overdue.

The customer who holds this account has the same name as me but with a slightly different spelling.

Can you convince Barclaycard to delete my email address and give my namesake a bell?

PG, Manchester

Such a small mistake, so easy to fix, so unnerving for you as the payment reminders become more urgent. The other PG is also affected by Barclaycard’s incompetence since you have his email address and know that he is in debt.

Barclaycard blames “human error” and removed your email from the account exactly 13 months after you reported it. It apologised for the delay and offered £200 for the “inconvenience”.

We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at [email protected] or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions.

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