Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

SHANKS1000

Hi we are in the process of setting up a DMP via the CCCS. Sent paperwork back to them on Monday so should have received it Tuesday. We are now in one months arrears with 4 of 5 credit card companies and have now received a default notice from one of them. Can the DMP still be set up and how much longer will it take. Till now we've been able to say in the process of setting one up but would like to know how long it normally takes. Total debt around £ 25,000 of which £ 11,000 owed to MBNA in your experience will they accept the DMP - its the best we can do.

Thanks in advance

toniabbey

Hi, my husband is on DMP staring this month, one of his creditors ask him to pay but he told them that he is already in CCCS. He was told to pay any amount, so he said that he could only afford £5 and gave his debit card details. Then after few hours they deduct £200 with out his knowledge, which he save that money for the payment of our coucil tax, gasoline and our food for this week. I check his online account and the only money left is £5.69 then next day it his payday they again got £30 without authorization and again left him .35pence in his account. I want to know where could we write a letter of complaint with this company. We already rung his bank to froze the payment and change his card number.

supersleuth

Hello,
I about to commence a DMP with CCCS and all the figures seem fine and I have nearly gathered all the papers I need ( statements etc) small problem is I may have to change my job/hours etc in the next few months. To be honest the stress of mine is nearly killing me - am off sick currently ( but being paid) but whatever I do my SOA won't change much as I earn about what I pay in childcare so if I work part time I'll have less money but less of a hefty childcare bill to pay.

Does this seem reasonable? I am desperate to get things up and running as I can't sleeep with the stress of it all.

Basically I think i'm asking - if I know things might change soon financially but I expect to have "about" the same about spare for the DMP - is ot ok to go ahead ?
Thanks a million
SS

CCCS_Matthew

seh567 wrote: »

Need some advice please. My son has an interview with one of your counsellors on 17th July due to being unemployed and unable to meet minimum payments on his debts. So far as advised he has been paying £1 token payments per month to each of his creditors. Before becoming unemployed he realised on one of the loans he was paying PPI insurance which was missold because he was self employed at the time he took out the loan so he asked them to cancel and requested compensation which they have agreed. However before they refund his compensation they have sent him a new agreement to sign. Can you advise what he should do as he has already sent a hardship notice confirming his CCCS appointment, token payments etc. Should he sign this new agreement at this moment in time?

Hi Seh,

What's the reasoning behind them sending out a new agreement? Is it just an updated contract to say his agreement no longer has the option of claiming the PPI? He just needs to be wary not to sign an agreement that looks like it's refinancing the existing debt over a longer period of time. It would suggest at this stage, he might be better to wait until he has his appointment in order to discuss his options with the counsellor on the day.

Regards,
Matthew.

CCCS_Sarah

sams247 wrote: »

Hello. My partner is a student, and at the moment is also between jobs. She starts a new summer job at the end of July. At the moment she has an arrangement set up with Marks and Spencer and pays them £60 a month. When she knew she would have a job break she called them to ask if she could reduce her payment to them for three months (i.e until her new pay came in at the end of August). They said that would be fine, and they said £10 a month would be acceptable. They also said they could set this up until next March to give her flexibility of payment. All good so far. They then said that they would now be charging interest, and would charge interest from now on even if the original £60 was reinstated. They advised the interest would be as much as £30 a month so this would obviously be increasing the loan for the next 3 months and then half the payment would be swallowed up by the intererst after that. Is there anything we can do please?

Unfortunately, it is at the creditor’s discretion if they agree to stop the interest and charges. I would recommend that your partner sends them a detailed budget detailing her income and expenditure. This will then show the creditors that there is no more money to give them at the moment. When she sends the budget, she could enclose a letter again asking them to agree to stop the interest and charges.

The best way of making the payments would either be by standing order or payment book. Even if the creditor does not agree to the £10 payment – send it anyway.

miss_bexy

We received post today from 3 creditors. One saying they are accepting my OH reduced payment and stopping charges (woohoo!).
The other 2 though are about the cancelling of his direct debits to them, adding on charges for missed payment, and insisting he re-instate the DD.
Now obviously we aren't going to do this, but we were wondering if this meant they hadn't received the Notification letters from us and if it was worth sending duplicates?

Our first CCCS payment is due on July 1st, which I understand the creditors won't receive until the end of July. Do we need to contact the creditors who have written to us again to inform them of his DMP, or can we assume CCCS have already been in touch and they are just trying to make him pay more now?

CCCS_Sarah

thedrum wrote: »

Hi, My Father has just revealed that he is in debt with thVAT man to the tune of £30000 and he doesn't have the money to pay! I also believe that there may be some other debts that are causing him a problem aswell. I just wanted to know if anyone out there could give me an idea on what the outcome might be if he was to go Bankrupt whilst owing this VAT? Would it work in the same way as a normal Bankruptcy? He is worried about the prospect of Prison!

Hello,

VAT would be included in bankruptcy the same as any other debt. If you were able to get your father to come for an appointment, we would be able to help him put together a detailed budget and see if there were any other options. If bankruptcy was his best option then we can offer the appropriate advice.

If he would like an appointment, our helpline number is 0800 138 1111.

Regards
CCCS

CCCS_Sarah

heybankrobber wrote: »

Hi,

I purchased a car on HP in May 2001 but left my job in December that year. The car was taken back by the finance company and sold at auction leaving a balance of over just over £6000. I started paying £50 a month towards the debt on a payment card but I stopped making payments in August 2002 (confirmed by my credit reports from Equifax and Experian). A default went on both CRAs in May 2003.

I recently received a letter from Marlin FS, who had taken over recovery of the debt, asking for payment in full. I sent off a Statute Barred letter in the hope this would be sufficient. They have now responded saying that, "We have a computer record showing that you have made payments to this office, which in itself is an acknowledgement of the debt, we have also enclosed a copy of agreement and statement of account which concludes that you still remain liable for the outstanding balance". They also enclosed a copy of my signed Conditional Sale Agreement.

The 3 payments shown on their attached records are in June, July and September of 2004. I am almost certain (they have got me thinking to myself and driving myself mad!) that I did not make these payments and that their info is at best innaccurate, and at worst falsified.

How important are the CRAs reporting of payments towards this debt? Is this any kind of proof? Why would I have paid towards the debt a year after defaulting despite no correspondence from Marlin? And if I had, why was that not reported to the CRAs?

Does anyone have any help/advice they can give me, or has anyone had any experience of DCAs falsifying payment records?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

Hello,

Thank you for your message.

I think you would be better seeking legal advice for this. I would recommend you contact an organisation called Community Legal Advice. Have attached this link to their website for you http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/ or they can be contacted on 0845 345 4345.

As I would be unsure what to advise.

Sarah

bluecandy5

Hi, i have a dmp on which i have 7 debts and have been on it for nearly a year. I know you can make offers of settlements if you come into some money.

I will have some money at the end of this month or the following month but only to offer a settlement on one debt. Is this worth pursuing as its just the one and as i have 3 debts with the same company, will they seek to try and get money on the other 3?

CCCS_Sarah

PaulB79 wrote: »

Hi

I have recently started a DMP and one of my creditors, HSBC has offered a managed loan in place of the credit card and overdraft and will reduce annual interest. The rate there offering is quite attractive compared to the overdraft and cc interest rate but I was wondering if there may be a catch.

I was wondering if you have had any dealings with these loans or if you would recommend taking this out?

Many thanks

Paul

Hi Paul,

I would advise you not to sign anything,just let the payments go through on your dmp as normal.

Sarah