It’s a fact of modern life that personal finances are a pain in the neck. Whatever your circumstances, letters about money are never fun to receive.
For those of us who owe money, however, receiving correspondence about finances can be a massive source of stress. You may experience a familiar dread at the sound of bank letters arriving through your door, or when you receive an email notification from Online Banking marked ‘URGENT’.
With catalogue credit on the rise, receiving letters from retailers like Argos can be yet another cause of that dreaded financial worry that many of us know all too well.
If this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. Whether due to a sudden redundancy, divorce, difficulty with budget management or a range of other issues, many people find themselves not able to pay their catalogue arrears.
Before speaking to any debt collectors for your Argos Card bill you should speak to a debt advisor as there are some debt solutions that consolidate debts into one monthly repayment plan where you could write off large parts of the debts.
Did You Know You Can Write Off Up To 85% Of Your Debts?
Do I Qualify?Argos credit card debt is more common than you may think. Often, unforeseen changes to people’s financial situations can affect their ability to pay off their arranged amount. There are a lot of catalogue credit schemes out there, meaning more opportunities for customers to go into arrears. The terms and conditions of these credit agreements are often difficult to understand, meaning the amount due can mount up in unexpected ways if you’re unable to make the Argos card payments.
If you owe payments to Argos and are struggling to pay it off, there’s plenty of advice and help available to help you get out of a tight spot. Read on to find out steps you can take to pay off what you owe, as well as your rights as a consumer and a debtor. Remember that there’s lots of expert help available to you, no matter how tricky your situation.
Table of Content
- 1 I Can’t Pay Argos credit card Debt – What Should I Do
- 2 Do Not Pay Argos Until You’ve Received Free Debt Advice
- 3 Who Is Argos?
- 4 How to Stop catalogue companies from Calling
- 5 Popular Questions
- 6 Complaining About Argos’ debt collection
- 7 How Do I Close My Argos credit card Account?
- 8 Final Thoughts
- 9 FAQs
- 10 Other Debts
I Can’t Pay Argos credit card Debt – What Should I Do
Firstly, try not to panic. Though owing cash can feel overwhelming and stressful, we’re here to support you, whatever situation you find yourself in. With our help, you can quickly resolve your financial worries and get back into credit.
Once you calculate that you’ll be unable to make the payment that’s due, the first step you should take is to take the debt quiz (at no charge).
Find Out The Best Debt Solution
30 Second Debt Assessment QuizThe quiz will review your situation, and offer you several repayment options. Whether you’ve got one outstanding payment or many debts from different sources, the quiz will offer you simple solutions for their re-payment. It can help you to affordably pay all your debts within a single monthly payment plan.
Do Not Pay Argos Until You’ve Received Free Debt Advice
Through the debt quiz, you’ll be offered free help with no obligations.
Depending on your current circumstances, it may be possible to legally write off as much as 90% of your debts using our service. If applicable, it may also be possible to freeze your credit and extend the period of time you have to pay off your BNPL credit.
This is why it’s important to take the quiz as soon as possible, before speaking to the company directly or to payment collectors. The quiz will inform you of the solutions available to you, allowing you to weigh up your payment options and proceed on the best path to resolution.
If you’re struggling to pay Argos credit card bill or other debts- whether from credit card bill, overdrafts, loans or catalogues- you may want to contact IVA companies, debt management companies or UK debt charities who can help.
As catalogues are unsecured debts and it is always advised to speak to a debt advisor for free advice before making any payments.
Here are all the debt options available in November 2024 to you depending on where you are based in the UK:
- Best DAS Companies
- Best Full and Final Companies
- Best IVA Companies in Manchester
- Best IVA Companies UK
- Best Sequestration Companies
- Best Trust Deed Companies
- Debt Consolidation Companies
- Debt Relief Order Companies
- DMP Companies
Debt advisors can provide useful advice on how to deal with debt collectors and the best way to go about clearing your debts.
Who Is Argos?
Argos Limited- trading name Argos- is a catalogue company that operates in the UK and Ireland. Since 2016, it has been a subsidiary of Sainsbury’s. Its parent company is Home Retail Group (Home Retail Group plc). Trading both online and through physical shops, Argos is one of the largest high street retailers in the United Kingdom. Its 883 shops are visited by around 29 million shoppers a year, and its website is visited by nearly a billion visitors per annum.
The Argos Credit card bill is issued by Vanquis Bank Limited. The Argos credit card can be used by customers with no credit history, or poor credit history. Currently, the Apr interest is advertised as 29.9% (variable), on credit between £150 and £1000. This is around double the average for credit card interest rates, which is around 15%. It is not surprising that many people have issues with their monthly payments.
Though Argos’s easily available credit may be appealing, there are certainly better deals out there. A credit card with a lower apr would make you significant savings and potentially prevent you from going into arrears.
How to Stop catalogue companies from Calling
You have the right to deny retailers and bailiffs communication with you.
Being in arrears is a massive source of stress, particularly when you’re being contacted by either the company itself or collectors who are known for their unrelenting persistence. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in this situation.
But there is no need to panic. Help is readily available to you, at no charge.
Debt experts can stop collectors and retailers from contacting you, by notifying them of your current circumstances.
Even if you’re being contacted by multiple bailiffs or payment recovery agents, an expert can get in contact with them and instantly stop them hounding you. If bailiffs are causing you stress, linking up with an advisor or expert is definitely a good idea.
If you have been contacted about persistent debt by your lender, where you have paid more interest than the amount borrowed, check out what you can do here.
Popular Questions
Can you get a CCJ for Argos catalogue debt?
Argos catalogue can apply for a County Court Judgement (CCJ) to be brought against you to retrieve their money owed.
Only the court can implement the CCJ (County Court Judgement) for your catalogue of unsecured debts owed.
If you do not keep up with payments to your CCJ then and only then will the court, not the catalogue, have the authority to send in bailiffs.
Can Argos catalogue send bailiffs?
Argos catalogue company do not have the authority to send bailiffs to your home.
Catalogue companies are also not allowed to take any of your personal possessions in order to pay for your unsecured debt.
Only the court, not the catalogue, have the authority to send in bailiffs if you fall behind on payments to your CCJ.
What happens if i don't pay Argos catalogue?
Argos catalogue company reserve the right to impose a charge to cost the cover of missed or insufficient payments and are entitled to debit your account with any costs incurred by them.
Catalogue companies will ask you to catch up with the debt arrears and if you can’t pay the creditor the account will default and further action could be taken against you.
You are signing a consumer credit agreement when you have a catalogue account, which means the debt is enforceable in the courts.
Complaining About Argos’ debt collection
If you have been treated poorly by Argos or Home Retail Group Card Services while attempting to pay off the cash you owe, you may have grounds to file a complaint. Regardless of how much you owe, you have consumer rights regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. If you feel these rights have not been upheld, you should file a complaint.
Your complaint should be put into writing and sent directly in the post to Argos Limited at this address:
- Argos Financial Services, PO Box 211, Huddersfield, HD8 1FA
You can also make a complaint on the phone by calling the contact number below:
- 03456 400 700
You can also email your complaint to :
It’s also possible to raise a complaint via social media, on Facebook or on Twitter. If you choose this route, be careful not to include any of your personal details, because they will be displayed publically.
If your complaint takes more than eight weeks to be resolved, or if you’re unsatisfied with the response given, you can take your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS).
The Financial Ombudsman Service is an independent government body that settles disputes between companies and customers. The Financial Ombudsman Service is free to use. The Financial Ombudsman Service may increase your chance of receiving compensation or action in response to your complaint, particularly if the retailer’s response has been inadequate.
If you wish to pursue this course of action, you should file your complaint within 6 months of Argos’s final response to you.
Argos Limited provides credit cards through the Home Retail Group Card Services, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It is also a member of the Finance & Leasing Association, compliant with its Lending Code which can be found on the Argos website.
How Do I Close My Argos credit card Account?
Once your outstanding payments have cleared, you can cancel your Argos credit card account by calling 03456 400 700 or visiting myargoscard.co.uk.
It’s worth remembering that this process can take up to a month. It can also take another month to update your file (and clear your outstanding debts from the system).
Final Thoughts
Remember, although it can feel stressful and isolating, you’re not alone. Many people across the UK face catalogue debts, and there are many services you can consult to discuss your options.
It’s important to take the quiz before paying off anything you owe on your Argos credit card. It will advise you of the best course of action and put you in touch with experts who are fighting your corner.
Interested In Finding Out More About The Debt Solutions Available?
Find Out MoreIf you’re unhappy with how you’ve been treated by Argos Limited while attempting to resolve your credit card issues, you have the right to make a complaint, regardless of how much you owe. You can do this via written correspondence, email, phone call or through the website.
If the response you receive is unsatisfactory, you can take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, through a letter, an email or a phone call.
You also have the right to tell a debt collector to immediately stop communication with you. If you’re being chased for amounts that you’re unable to pay, get in touch with a financial consultant, who can contact bailiffs on your behalf.
FAQs
What is buy now, pay later?
Also known as store finance, BNPL agreements are a way to purchase goods on credit.
Once entered into, these agreements tie you into an instalment scheme. Terms of these plans can vary across retailers. For items over the cost of £50, Argos offers 3 months, 6 months and 12-months payment plans, which you don’t pay interest on. After this set period, you pay interest (apr 29.9%). Interest is added to the initial price of the purchased product, making it easy to accumulate unpayable debt if initial payments are missed.
A pay later agreement may be the only way to purchase things that you can’t afford in full. However, many of these schemes have harsh terms and conditions which negatively impact the consumer. Many of the details of BNPL agreements are hidden in the small print, making them easy to miss. If you run into trouble with repayments, however, a financial advisor can help you.
What happens if I can’t pay credit card debt?
If you don’t pay your Argos credit card debt in line with the card’s agreed terms, you may accumulate late fines. Your interest will also go up, and your credit score may be affected. If monthly payments are repeatedly missed, your card may be frozen. Your arrears may be handed to a collection agency, who will attempt to collect the payments from you.
If you know you’re unable to make your next month’s payment, you can contact the company directly, and an amended payment schedule can be arranged before debt collectors are involved. You can also request to freeze your account to avoid accumulating further fees.
You may be able to request a payment freeze on your normal credit (this is the amount you can spend on credit without incurring interest if you pay it off within the month window). You may also be able to request an extension on your buy now, pay later plan.
How does the Argos credit card work?
It allows you to borrow on credit in two ways.
Credit plans: When you spend over £50, you can pay later in instalments, for 3, 6 or 12 months. You don’t pay interest on these instalments provided you repay them by the end of the agreed timeframe.
Normal credit: This allows you to shop at Argos like you would with any other credit card. The borrowing is interest-free, provided you pay your balance immediately upon receiving your statement.
How can I pay my Argos credit card?
You can make payments online through the Argos website, at myargoscard.co.uk.
Through the website service, you can also set up a Direct Debit.
Why can’t I use my Argos credit card?
The Argos credit Card is a store card, meaning you can use it to make purchases in Argos (online or in-store) and Sainsbury’s. It can be used to buy anything that’s stocked in Sainsbury’s and Sainsbury’s local stores, with the exception of Sainsbury’s Petrol Stations and Lloyds Pharmacy Counters.
If your card isn’t working, you can get help by contacting card service help on 03456 400 700.
If you think your Argos credit card may have been frozen due to an issue with non-payment, get in touch with a debt advice organization, who will be able to offer you specialist help at no charge whatsoever.
Other Debts
If you are struggling to pay various debts here are debt related articles you might also like:
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