Living with less income

John’s story shows typical situations people find themselves in and how we can help. You’re not alone – we’re here to help you.

John’s story

John always had a steady job, so he’d never worried about the possibility of being out of work and being left in a challenging financial situation.

His change in income meant that supporting his family, paying bills and making mortgage payments became a little more difficult.

The weeks went by and more and more bills went unpaid. Everything was building up and he felt stressed by the situation.

John’s next steps

John called us to explain his situation – we told him it’s more common than he might think, and that most banks are prepared for it.

We worked with John to create a repayment plan, so John could manage his day-to-day expenses while still making repayments.

We also introduced John to the Barclays app, to help him keep on top of his finances.

On the app, he found helpful features, like the spending section that showed him exactly where his money is going.

He was also able to add his accounts from other providers, so he could see all his balances and transactions in one place.

We told John it would be reported to credit reference agencies before he agreed to the monthly repayment plan, and that it could affect his ability to get credit in the future. For him, entering into the repayment plan was still better than continuing to miss payments.

Coronavirus help and support

We have fewer colleagues than usual answering the phones right now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. This is having a big impact on our call wait times – we’re sorry about this.

If you’re worried about your finances because of coronavirus, we’re ready to help.

See frequently asked questions about our credit cards. Or visit our coronavirus help page.

Please only call us if you have an immediate financial problem that can’t wait – this will help us support those who need help urgently. You can also see information on managing your money in the Barclays app¹ and Online Banking.

Thanks for your patience and understanding. We’re working to try to help as many people as possible.

How we can support you

Our Money Mentor team shows you where you can get tailored information to help through this challenging time.

Contact us

Worried you’ll miss a payment?

Help is always at hand. As soon as you think you might have some financial difficulties, give us a call – it could help make things better.

Have some information about your financial situation ready, before you call, including your income and outgoings. You might be talking for a while – we’ll want to understand your situation in detail, so make sure you set aside some time.

Mortgages – 0333 202 7492 Monday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm, Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday, 9am to 4pm

Barclaycard – 0800 051 8346 Monday to Friday 8am to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am to 9pm

Overdraft and Barclayloan – 0333 202 7412 Monday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm, Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday, 9am to 4pm

Self-employed or have a business? Get some support

Call charges

Missed a payment and want to catch up?

If you’ve missed a payment on your Barclayloan, overdraft or Barclaycard, you might be able to pay it using the Barclays app¹, – or give us a call.

Overdrafts and Barclayloan – 0345 703 4034 Monday to Thursday, 8am to 8pm, Friday, 8am to 7pm and Saturday, 9am to 4pm

For a mortgage or Barclaycard, please call the relevant number in the section above.