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Hi,

Never posted on here but I feel I have to comment on this.

Just so you know, I am a 46 year old (now) single mum with 3 kids. I found myself in trouble when my husband left. !!!!less bas***d left, went bankrupt and I haven't heard from him since, one piece of good news I suppose lol. Anyway, due to my job, even though I'm not a homeowner and have no assets I couldn't really go bankrupt, so I approached CCCS for help. That's what the forums say, that's what my employer at the time said. Being reasonably bright about financial statements, I had worked out my own disposable income to be around £200 ish on about £30,000 debt, most in joint names. What was it I said about being bright? Anyway, I spoke to CCCS fully expecting an IVA recommendation at around £200 per month. Let me tell you that my eyes were opened that day. Not only did they not bother discussing an IVA with me at all, they said it was BR or DMP, they then expected me to pay £300 per month on a DMP. No way could I afford that, but they didn't care, their attitude was pay as much as you can. They insisted I should knock both my childcare and petrol down, even though without enough to pay then I couldn't have worked anyway. Laughingly, they gave me the spiel about their plans being paid for by creditors, hinting that it didn't matter what I paid as it made no difference to them. I have since learned that they are paid a %, so the more you pay, the more they earn.

Anyway, I approached a well known IP for an IVA, who was horrified by the way, and I entered into one at £180 per month. I kept all of this from everyone, until my brother found out. I can't say I found the IVA easy, but £180 was a hell of a lot better than the £300 that CCCS wanted. My brother, bless, funded a full and final settlement 2 and a half years in and I am now debt free.

Anyway, all of this really is background to now. I work for a very large creditor (which is why I never wanted bankruptcy) who doesn't refer leads to CCCS and never will. My employers view them as sanitised debt collectors, who are a law unto themselves. I was given, this week, a copy of the latest Credit Today magazine, circulated primarily amongst the credit industry. I don't think you can buy it in the shops. The centre page spread is a huge advert for CCCS, boasting about how they are going to help many more people in debt. This is not going to come from ever more creditor referrals, but from massive advertising on TV, Press and internet. Where is this money coming from? Is it the millions in cash that they sit on perhaps? Let me quote a couple of lines from an advert that no ordinary man in the street/on the internet will ever see, as they will not dare publish it a newspaper,

"For those in debt distress, that means a more caring and considered approach to their problems. For UK creditors, it means the best possible help and advice for your customers. And, importantly, more debt repaid."

"With our debt management plans, all money repaid goes towards clearing the debt, None goes to us, Last year, we repaid over £312 Million to UK creditors. By referring customers to us, not the commercial sector, you're assured of better rates of debt recovery."

"Call us now to find out more on **** *** ****. If you'd like to know more about how we can help your customers overcome debt problems, and manage their debt repayments, contact us now."

This is an advert aimed solely at those creditors that do not refer directly. It blows away completely any lingering hint of impartiality that CCCS claim to have. They mention no ther solution than DMP, and are promising creditors a better return. Why? so they can earn more commission. It stinks. CCCS receive, I believe, around an 11% "dividend" or "donation" on what they collect. Meaning nigh on £3 Million per month in fees. Why on earth would they recommend anything other than DMP? And GD2 is right BTW, CCCS WILL turn you away, though they may say they won't. Search this whole forum for people who have written that they were refused help from CCCS, there are hundreds on here. Or, search for those that were advised DMP when it will take 10, 20, 30 years or more. Probably thousands.

Mat, and the others, may believe what they are fed, but the reality is so much different. I have always said that actions speak much louder than words, and my advice to anyone would be to speak to Payplan, CAB, National Debtline. Anyone but CCCS.

If you want to pay your creditors as much as you can then do it direct, don't let these money grabbers earn their commission. Maybe, as more people (and creditors who pass them 10,000 leads per week)are cottoning on to them, that is why they are going tobe directly advertising at,great expense,to replace the captured market monopoly that they have hitherto enjoyed. Maybe that is why this "debt myth" thread has appeared. The only debt myth here is that CCCS is impartial.