CCCS Questions

redgirl_3

Can I have some advice please?

Notwithstanding partners' problems in another thread, my situation is that I can't afford to pay some of my credit cards minimum payments, and have written to them saying so. I'm going to make a token payment to them whilst I work out what to do. But I have other credit cards/loans that I am continuing to pay the minimum amount to.

So I'm thinking about contacting the CCCS. So questions are:

1. Do I have to 'default' on all my credit cards/loans or is just some of them ok? Is it ok to pay as requested what I can?

2. If I go with CCCS and they give contact my creditors that I'm not paying, and they have a copy of my SOA,
2a. will I lose my bank account?
2b. will I have to give up my mobile phone (use this to keep in touch with partner who is often away on business during the week, so inclusive minutes saves me a fortune than if I used my landline-his mobile).
2c. will I lose my internet access? It's the only "luxury" I have apart from my mobile. I don't go out at all (eating, drinking, cinema, anything like that).

3. Whether or not CCCS take me on, can I refuse to talk to my creditors on the phone and tell them I will only communicate by letter (due to stress of it all etc and so I have everything in writing)?

Sorry if these questions seem daft but although I'm in a mess, I want to try and have a clear head about it all.

Thanks.

ffs

1 The CCCS will negotiate pro rata payments across all your creditors
2a No
2b No, but your plan/contract will have to be judged reasonable
2c As above
3 Yes

southernscouser

To be honest with you the best thing to do is ask the CCCS these questions. Just because you phone them it doesn't mean you are comitting to anything and they will probably make you feel alot better about your debts.

Good luck.

sallyjo_2

Hi redgirl.

I really recommend the CCCS. They can answer all your questions and they were brilliant with me when I was in your position last year. The CCCS are a charity whose activities are supported financially by the banks and credit card companies. Most respect their work and the budget they help you prepare and will accept your offer based on their budget and their ethical approach. I really do recommend going with them.

I too was reluctant to add all my unsecured debt to the DMP, but it is necessary and actually it was great to just let go and admit I had a problem and include all the creditors in the plan. Twelve months later it has made 2005 a much better year than 2004.

I didn't give up my internet connection, my mobile is a pay as you go so I don't have a contract, but I did have to cut it right back, difficult in this day and age but achievable.

Two things:-

1. RE. speaking to your creditors on the phone. Don't. They don't want to respond in writing, because their telephone staff are trained in techniques designed to cause you stress and under stress get you to agree to paying as much as possible, usually more than you can afford. Keep it on paper! and only offer what you can truly afford. The CCCS budget showed me that I was only able to pay a certain amount.

I wrote to my creditors last year advising that I would only communicate in writing and it was liberating. (DMP or not, you don't have to talk to anybody on the phone) They didn't stop calling, but I did stop talking! 7/8 of the time, I can tell its 'them' as there is a pause before the call centre connection comes through and someone speaks. and I JUST HANG UP!
If they call and I am with someone and can't talk, I JUST HANG UP!
If I do talk to them, I am always polite and say the following:-
"yes I am 'sallyjo'";
"no I don't disclose my (postcode/date of birth/other info they ask for for ID purposes) on the phone"
"I'm sorry, but the <creditors name> knows that I do not discuss matters of my account over the phone, however if they write to me I will reply (and I do)"
(sometimes they say I have been ignoring their letters - I don't ignore letters, and they are lying, and often they've not written!.
sometimes they will say 'you have to talk to us' - well no I don't.)
I then say. " I look forward to receiving your letter. Conversation's over. Have a nice day" then I hang up.

Re creditor harrassment, see Jason Lawrie's advice - its one of the first posts at the top of this chat area.

2. Important RE your bank. If your bank is not one of your creditors, re overdraft or credit card or loans, then there is no problem keeping your current bank account. If you have debt products with your bank (and many of us do-they throw them at us), then it is important that you secure another current account to put your salary in prior to contacting your creditors about a DMP--start NOW. If your credit history prevents a bank from offering you a full current account, go for a basic account. If they offer, DO NOT OPEN an overdraft or accept a credit card (they offered me both when I opened my new account even though I was drowning in debt and had mortgage plus credit card payment arrears! --incredible!)

Good luck.

redgirl_3

Thanks so much for the advice, sallyjo, it's a great help and I'll take it on board.

Cheers.