Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

CCCS_Matthew

Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.

In answer to your questions:

1) You don't have to provide the personal information that they are requesting, but it will probably help if you do as they are more likely to come to a payment arrangement based on what you've actually got left after your other priorities.

2) As far as the commission is concerned, I would be inclined to advise that if it's not guaranteed every month that you make a suggestion to base the arrangement on basic guaranteed income, and then perhaps extra "lump sum" payments if and when the commission comes in.

3) Bailiffs can sometimes be a bit rutheless and will often try and pressure you into breaking other commitments to keep them happy. As far as your budget is concerned you will need to stick to any priority payments (such as mortgage/rent, HP etc) but if you have arrangements to repay unsecured creditors it's likey that the bailiffs will request you default on those to pay back the CT arrears. If you do have arrangements to pay back unsecured creditors I would also suggest that it would be worth using the money to repay the CT arrears as quickly as possible to prevent the bailffs from applying for an attachement of earnings.

Hope this helps for now,
Matthew.

debttornado wrote: »

I have an ongoing issue with council tax. We have arrears with 3 councils that we have been trying to sort out, as well as keeping on top of our current year. Our current year is £190 pm and we wrote to the 3 councils offering £300 pm split pro rata.

One council has accepted this, a second has not yet replied.

The third and highest amount is with a bailiff company. They wrote to me today, they did not acknowledge my offer of payment at all. They have asked for full details of income and outgoings, copies of HP agreements and several months worth of payslips from me and OH.

I have several questions:
1. Do we have to provide all the this personal information?
2. Will they take into account that my OH gets commission which is not guaranteed?
3. Can they insist that we default on all our other commitments?

Thanks

CCCS_Sarah

Nightroamer_uk wrote: »

There are some useful tips in the booklet but i was looking for some long term solutions Like DRO but that apply to me

Not really sure where to go from here ?

Many Thanks

You would be more than welcome to call for an appointment so we can talk through your budget and see if there is anything else.

If you would like a telephone appointment please call 0800 138 1111.

Sarah

naughtyfairy

Dear CCCS advisors,

I am currently on a DMP with the CCCS as from the 23/04/09, which is great... sadly the one thing i forgot to mention in my appointment with my counsellor is my bank charges that are on on hold.... I currently fall into the hardship loophole. And was hoping that a CCCS advisor here would kindly post me or PM the CCCS template letter for reclaiming bank charges under financial hardship, As i was reading martins tips and a CCCS template letter was mentioned.

Many thanks

I hope this makes sense

Naughty x

The_shuffs

CCCS_Sarah wrote: »

Hi Rachael,

We should be able to track down the payments for you as it will all be logged on our systems where the money has gone. I’m not 100% sure what will happen then as I don’t work on that department, however if you call client support they will be able to give you more information.

Sarah

thank you sarah the problem is being dealt with and should hopefully be sorted real soon thanks for your help Rachael

Scottishmummy

How do CCCS feel about Credit Unions? I have been considering opening an account with one and paying in my emergency fund mainly to save for a new washing machine as I am sure my one is on its way out. This way if and when it does breakdown if i haven't saved enough for a new one I would be able to borrow the rest needed from the Credit Union at what I believe would be a very low rate. But obviously this is still credit which goes against the DMP agreement. Would this be an 'allowed' credit if what I was paying back was my emergency fund anyway?

Thanks in advance for your reply.

jasperconran

Hi,

I would like to ask the experts a question! basically my OH and I owe roughly just over 30,000 on credit cards, :eek:and we have 2 loans. We earn really well between us, and when I posted my SOA on the DFW board, on paper we should have just over 400 quid a month spare, but we havent! dunno where it goes! anyway, I was just wondering if a DMP would be the best way forward for us? Both our credit ratings are excellent (dont really wanna change that) if we can help it, and we have never ever missed any payments whatsoever. But I feel (although my OH doesnt agree) that we are struggling every month and its getting me down. I am currently studying part time as well. My OH tends to not to listen when I try to tell him about things, I am the only one who has had my LBM! and I am tired of struggling on my own. any ideas? please help. thanks

icecube2009

Hi
I am in the middle of setting up a DMP, but finding I am struggling to find all the statements I need from the diferent creditors, is It ok to send them statements printed from the on line accounts ?
Thankls

icecube2009

Sorry another question, my account with Lloyds TSB costs me £17 a month, plus all the extra charges and the same with natwest & they are still adding these on, I just got a letter from natwest this morning saying they will be taking £42 charges next month, how can I get them to stop this? Thanks

icecube2009

oops, and 3rd & final question (for now) is it ok to have a credit card if we pay it off as soon as we use it? I often grocery shop on line as I find i save money this way (only buy what I need) but DH doesnt like putting a debit card on the internet, so if i was to use a credit card (have one with 0 balance which I have never used) pay for my shopping then immediately pay whatever the shopping cost off my card would that be acceptable or not? not a problem if not, just need to convice DH its ok to use a debit card on line!

CCCS_Sue

naughtyfairy wrote: »

Dear CCCS advisors,

I am currently on a DMP with the CCCS as from the 23/04/09, which is great... sadly the one thing i forgot to mention in my appointment with my counsellor is my bank charges that are on on hold.... I currently fall into the hardship loophole. And was hoping that a CCCS advisor here would kindly post me or PM the CCCS template letter for reclaiming bank charges under financial hardship, As i was reading martins tips and a CCCS template letter was mentioned.

Many thanks

I hope this makes sense

naughty x

Hi naughtyfairy and thank you for your message

I will PM the number you need to ring to discuss this further with a counsellor.

Regards
CCC_Sue