Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

spoll_2

I recently spoke to the CCCS via telephone and as my outgoings are more than my income it wasn't possibleo to do a DMP. The CCCS provided me with template letters to send to those I owe money to and so far I've had 1 reply (out of 7) who has said that they will dro the interest rate on a CC to 1.5% but asked that I make a min payment of 35pounds rather than 1pound which I told them I cannot afford. They are dropping the rate regardless which is great. Abbey got in touch and after explaining my debt issue the helpfully suggested I take out another loan with them - can you believe it?!

Anyway, i've also switched my mortgage from repayment to interest only which has knocked 350pounds of monthly mortgage payment. I also plan to switch energy provides in the coming weeks which should save a further 40punds per month.

My question is: now that I have some surplus money at end of month should I get back intouch with CCCS to see if they can arrange a DMP for me so that I can start to clear my debts?

Thanks

s1h

Im looking at a debt management plan just a couple of questions.

I have just started a new job so dont have a current wage slip. Can I still do it or do I need to wait till the end of march till i am paid and have a wage slip?

Also with regards to this do the creditors see the wage slip? I would not want them knowing where I work or contacting me at work as this could cause me extreme problems due to the industry I am in.

CCCS_Sue

Nargleblast wrote: »

Is there a standard letter I can send to a creditor asking them not to contact me by phone but only in writing? I have had 5 calls this past week from one creditor even though I am on a debt Management Plan and am having an IVA proposal drafted. This creditor has been kept fully up to date with the situation yet I am being bombarded with calls, one even to my place of work ( silly me for giving them my works number 2 or 3 years ago before I got into financial difficulties). I just wondered if there was anything in the Financial Services Act that I could threaten them with?

Hi Nargleblast and thank you for your email

I have forwarded a letter you can use to your PM box.
However, once your IVA has been set up, all the calls from the creditors should stop anyway

~Regards

CCCS_Sue

CCCS_Sue

Godiva500 wrote: »

Hello There
I have read all the threads and info, and I am thinking I will prob qualify for a DRO when it comes in in April.( ie low income, under £15k, no chance of repaying etc ( a pensioner) I have a couple of questions

1. When should I start to take any action - I assume its too early now?
2. My car - I need it, as although not reg disabled, I have poor mobility and would be more or less housebound if it was taken. It is valued via parkers at £510. What would be your best guess as to whether they would take it or not, and could i do anything to help the situation? Also if they decide to take it, could my husband purchase it?

When it comes to the crunch, what paperwork will I need to provide? I assume all my pension details, bank statement ( how far back), and what else?

Thanks in advance

Vron

Hi Godiva500 and thank you for your message

The new “Debt Relief Orders” have not yet come into force as the detail of the scheme has yet to be finalised. They are due to start in April 2009.
We are unable to offer any advice on them at the moment, but if you enquire nearer the date, we should have more information for you then.

Regards
CCCS

CCCS_Sue

huxley78 wrote: »

Hi
My partner and i have roughly £90k (mostly from house rennovation) debt of which £40k is owed to parents. We have a lot of equity in our house, however after being on the market for over a year we aren't hopeful of selling it too soon (although fingers crossed on a viewing tomorrow!).
We are really struggling as my partner is self employed. We are terrified of not being able to get a mortgage or business loan in the future. Good ridance to credit cards though im not worried about them at all. If we had a DMP would it be likely to affect our chance of getting another mortgage?
If we sold the house (ever!!!!????) how much would go on the creditors debts and would parents have any entitlement whatsoever? They are fantastic but we feel guilty and really wnat to give their money back-or at least some for now?
Sorry if its waffled im just very confused at the mo
thankyou

Hi Huxley 78 and thank you for your message


First of all, a DMP should not affect you getting a mortgage. It is purely a way of repaying your debts.

If you sold the house, after paying any mortgage,secured lending, then you could look at repaying your parents loan.
If there was sufficient equity left then, you could offer a full and final settlement to your creditors.
You could do this yourselves and we have a pack we could send you with information on how to do this.

An IVA is a legally binding contract. If you opted for this option and agreed to a lump sum IVA settlement by using the equity in your property, then your parents debt would be included and they would receive a share of the lump sum along with your creditors.

It is difficult to give you detailed advice as I do not know your full situation.
I think it would be best if you make an appointment to discuss this further with one of our debt counsellors.
Our free telephone helpline number is 0800 138 1111.

Regards
CCCS_Sue

CCCS_Matthew

castlekeeper wrote: »

Hi I wonder if anyone can help please. Some time ago we had a call from BT and signed up for Broadband and phone, however they must have also said something about BT vision, I cant remember. However we didn't even know what it was until we started to get bills, apparently its similar to SKY which is what we have already. I rang BT, the first person said do not worry they would cancel it and we would not have to pay, however they now keep sending bills. I have written twice to explain but they never reply. Is there anything we could do.

Regards

Did they send you a contract in the post advising exactly what you had agreed to sign up for? Furthermore do you know if tha agreement was for a set time period?

If you have spoke to them and they've said they are happy to cancel it, but are carrying on writing to you requesting the money after you've written to them you could really do with some consumer advice. You could consider speaking to OFCOM about the matter, or perhaps even Consumer Direct?

Regards,
Matthew

CCCS_Matthew

bexxie90 wrote: »

Not sure if this applys here? But thought would ask anyway.

I have a credit with Hitachi Capital which was for furniture from DFS,it has a year left to run and Payplan have said it is to be included in my DMP. Now my Q is, I read up the page that HP cannot be included in a DMP so if thats the case why has mine?

Just a query as this is worrying me now to whether they will come and take our sofa

Thanks in advance
Bex.xx

Hi there,

If you have finance with Hitachi Capital for a sofa, it's likely to be a credit agreement and not a Hire Purchase agreement. With this in mind, the sofa would not be at risk if you are making reduced payments via a DMP.

I would suggest checking your agreemeent to be sure, but speaking from experience I know that nearly all credit agreements, with the exception of Brighthouse are not Hire Purchase.

Hope this helps,
Matthew.

CCCS_Sue

Tangerine wrote: »

Hi there,

My partner and I are not married but have been together about 12 years. About 10 years ago we bought a house. The mortgage was in my name only. However as we re-mortgaged a couple of times through the early 00's his name was added on. We currently have an RBS interest only mortgage of £93k. I doubt we have any equity in the house at the moment.

All bills are in my name and we have no joint bank accounts/agreements. Our only financial link is the mortgage.

About 2 years ago o/h confessed to huge debts. He had to when companies started hassling us on the phone. I don't know the exact figures but I'm guessing around £60k. To cut a long story short, we had a very rough time and I was very angry at him, but we're mellowed and OK now. He liaised with the CCCS (thank you) and now has voluntary arrangements with his debtors to pay reduced monthly amounts.

I have credit card debts of £2.5k and earn about £24k. I feel we get by with some pennypinching. I always pay on time and never get into arrears.

I applied for a loan this week with Tesco to borrow £6k ay 8.8% to replace my (near defunct) car. It was turned down. I applied to Experian to view my credit report/score. It came back as an excellent 999 showing I use 45% of the credit available to me. It did show the link with my o/h for the mortgage.

Am I now terminally doomed when it comes to obtaining any credit due my link with my partner? Even though my score came back 999? Is there any solution to this problem?

In darker moments I wonder if bankruptcy for him is the answer as his debts seem insurmountable. But I worry about how it will effect the house.

I feel backed into a corner when it wasn't my fault.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Tangerine and thank you for your email

I would not be able to comment on whether bankruptcy was the best option for your partner without looking at his full situation, but if he has spoken to us already, if that had been an option at the time of the appointment, it would have been discussed with him then.
If his circumstances have changed since his initial appointment , then he could have a review with a counsellor to discuss his options again.

His debts should not affect your credit rating. There may be another reason why your loan was declined.

You could write to the lender and ask why your application was declined. However, they are not obliged to give a reason.

I have attached a link to a booklet called Credit Explained .Page 3 is the section you may find useful click here.

Regards

CCCS_Sue

ultimatecalm

hi everyone, i am with payplan, in the early stages not recieved a pack yet, would it be also possible to phone cccs to see the figure they get when i give the info or should i stay with payplan.

many thanks in advance UC xx

hbos1

hi, hope you can help, my partner heard an advert on the radio for companies who can challenge your credit agreement with a firm who has given you a loan or credit card and its been reported that people have had the debt wiped because of the agreement terms.
we contacted the company, details below, i am wondering if this is a legitimate company and do you have any knowledge of such caes. the reason i am asking is because they are asking for a fee upfront of £225 which £150 will be refunded if they are not successfull.

many thanks for your help


Credit Checker UK

Suite 27, Briggs House,
26 Commercial Road,
Lower Parkstone,
Poole,
Dorset.
BH14 0JR