DRO questions

Mra199 · 11 February 2017 at 1:58PM

Hello!

I need help. I am currently in the process of sorting my debts out. I have a lot of creditors, 16/17 in total. Just under £13000 outstanding consisting of catalogues, payday loans unsecured loans and telecom. None of this was intentional and happened for unfortunate serious reasons. I am currently living with my partner and our baby under 1. My partner works full time but no contract and his shifts vary so does his pay. I am currently unemployed after mat leave and will be returning in August. At first we were advised a DMP which will take 10+ years to clear. That was as a joint budget. Going off my own share of the bills and my income (which is only benefit related) I have been advised a DRO. Looking at the criteria it seems I do qualify however there are a few things I'm unsure about and would really appreciate anyone's helps before I go through with the app. Creditor preferences? I am not sure what this means, there are outstanding balance I haven't even been able to make minimum payments to whatsoever and there is a doorstep lender I have which I haven't missed a payment for. Is this a preference? Also there is a very recent payday loan which I took because my partner was laid off at work and we had no income, he was to return to work the end of that month but then laid off again so hasn't been one payment made? Is this intentional debt and can I be refused for these reasons? I would really appreciate any advice!

sourcrates · 12 February 2017 at 12:56AM

Hi,

You really need to stop paying all your unsecured debt, if you continue to pay one and not another, that is preferential treatment, and they can go back two years to check this.

So in order to qualify, you need to be able to say that you have not shown preference to any individual creditor, when asked on the form.

Another thing, if you go back to work halfway through a DRO and your income increases and your outgoings don't, your DRO could fail, you need to be on the same budget for the full 12 months really.

Info here :

http://www.i-m-a.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Preferences-and-Antecedent-Transactions-Guidance.doc

You really need to talk this through with an intermediary such as stepchange.

Mra199 · 12 February 2017 at 10:08AM

Hi

Thanks for your response.
I have now stopped paying all creditors (just recently) I only continued to pay beyond my means as it is a door step lender and there was lots of pressure. I am still worried this will be seen as a preference however.

With regards to going back to work I have checked and although my income will increase and take me above the £50 surplus, my childcare cost will outweigh this and bring me back down so hopefully I'm sure that will be okay. Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it!

sourcrates · 12 February 2017 at 3:49PM

Mra199 wrote: »

Hi

Thanks for your response.
I have now stopped paying all creditors (just recently) I only continued to pay beyond my means as it is a door step lender and there was lots of pressure. I am still worried this will be seen as a preference however.

With regards to going back to work I have checked and although my income will increase and take me above the £50 surplus, my childcare cost will outweigh this and bring me back down so hopefully I'm sure that will be okay. Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it!

Once it's all approved, you are not checked up on, or asked to provide any more details about anything.

Talk to an intermediary, make sure your happy with everything, then basically what they write down on the application, is taken as fact, the insolvency service will check up on anything that's not clear, or that they need further info on, but normally, what's on the application, is taken as been the current situation.

Mra199 · 12 February 2017 at 4:39PM

I see, that's understandable thank you.
I am currently waiting for my application pack from StepChange, so when that comes I'll talk to them too. Thank you for your help!

Mra199 · 28 February 2017 at 8:48AM

Hello.

Please help!
I'm so worried.

I have now submitted my application to the insolvency (yesterday evening) and was advised by step change to wait 3 months due to preferential payments. ( me paying the door step lender contractual payments and no payment to any other lender) and the fact that I took out small credit in early January.
They said this is a high risk and I could be rejected.

Obviously I opted to not wait and take the risk as the pressure of people at my door constantly is too much. I was also worried about lots more interest being accrued in that waiting period.

I'm so worried now that I might be rejected. They also informed me that the water arrears plus council tax arrears can be re billed to my partner as he lives at the same address. Is this likely?

Sorry for all the questions. I just find this site and the forums so much more helpful and I appreciate any advice.

sourcrates · 28 February 2017 at 12:10PM

Argh, I did tell you before about the preferential treatment clause.

If it's rejected you can't apply again for 6 years.

Usually what the intermediary says is correct, they know what there talking about, I understand the reluctance to wait, but nothing would happen in three months.

I hope you get a positive outcome, but if you don't, there are other options.

Mra199 · 28 February 2017 at 12:33PM

Oh no. Maybe I've made the wrong decision and should have waited.

Thank you for your response. It's appreciated.
I will post the outcome..

fatbelly · 28 February 2017 at 10:27PM

Hi

This has almost certainly been done on the 'new' system, which seems to have more of a delay to it than the old one, at least at present.

So don't be concerned if you hear nothing for 3, 4 or 5 days.

I agree, generally, that it's not a good idea to press an intermediary to do something they're advising against. They are not allowed to refuse to submit an application but can make comments when they submit it, and may feel that they have to 'cover' themselves.

Anyway, what's done is done and of course I understand that you wanted relief from your debts. That's what the DRO is for - the name gives it away.

My best guess is that I doubt the DRO team will view your behaviour as a serious misdemeanour.

On the joint debts, it is usual that liability moves to the other party, and this will certainly happen with the council tax. Water is a bit more complex and some water authorities will close the account and open a new one with zero balance in joint names. You'll have to wait to see what they do.

Mra199 · 1 March 2017 at 8:46AM

Thank you for that I wasn't aware of a new system so that helps ease my mind as I havent heard and I have checked the register.. I'm not there.

Yes I agree I think they did cover themselves as they sent an email along with the application explaining why, how and when I made preferential payments.

Definitely wanted relief, I have a baby under 1 who's been trapped in the house with me trying to keep him quiet when the door step lender knocks on. I had to do that growing up with my parents and it wasn't nice. I don't want him to have that life and I just for minexpensive and his sake it's best to send the application now and of it does get rejected I can hopefully move on to next solution as fast as possible. Rather than waiting 3 whole months. I know some people say nothing can happen but I have told the door step lender I can't make a single payment and I'm currently seeking help yet he still persistsome to knock on and ring.

With the council tax and United utilities the bills are solely in my name. Does that mean they can still make my partner liable for those?

Thanks for your help!

Mra199 · 1 March 2017 at 8:49AM

Please try and make sense of my horrendous 'autocorrected' spelling. Smartphones and I don't really get along

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