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changesusieslife

Hi,

I'm new to all this and looking for advice.

Me and my hubby have debts, a total of around £12,000 on C.C's and a loan of £20,000 secured on our house. While we were both working this was fine, as we could easily pay the bills; but I had my second son in Jan, and now i'm in a position where I can't find any work as a teacher, I don't drive, so can't commute easily. And in order just to cover the cost of bills and childcare have to earn over £20,000 a year.

And we are stuck... really stuck. We don't qualify for any help, we can't afford the minimum payments on bills and food anymore, and we have cut out all luxuaries- I've not left the house for 3 days because I can't afford to do anything. Should we be going to see someone, to get advice on our debts?

I just know that I've reached the end of my tether, my hubby is working 3 different jobs in order to try and make ends meet, but I can't even seek work as the jobs I'd have to go for wouldn't cover my £1000 childcare bill each month, let alone our debts.

Many thanks.

CWSG

Yet another fool here who has managed to get herself into serious debt with not a great deal to show for it!

I've been on the CCCS website and filled in the debt remedy form and plan to phone for an appointment tomorrow to discuss a DMP.

I'm still not entirely clear how it all works in terms of what money you are left to live on. I know that you have to demonstrate to your creditors that you are paying all that you can but does that mean that living on a shoestring for the next X years? Am prepared to do whatever it takes to become debt free (looking into getting a second job at the moment but not too hopeful...) but I just want to have the full picture of what it entails.

Can anyone on a DMP tell me how it works in practical terms? At the moment I don't go out anyway and have cut out nearly every 'frivolity' so life isn't a great deal of fun but hoping it will be again one day!

Thanks in advance for any help!

holdste

Hi I'm new to posting hope this is right.

I've just finished paying back a car loan from a loan company not a bank. I got into difficulty along the way accrued a lot of charges, over £500.

Can I attempt to reclaim these charges using the bak charges letter templates or are private loan companies exempt from this type of claim.

Thanks for your help.

Steve

Goodtimesahead

We are being conned by the Banks, Credit Card Companies to pay back money they recklessly lent, most have sold the debts on to 3rd parties for pennies in the £ and Joe public is expected to pay it back...eh right I don't think so! Offer £1pm max, many write these debts off anyway and don't bother chasing you in this global slump.

I 've noticed several large debts have gone from my credit file after only 4yrs on file & good riddens to them, not my doing, I just told them I don't have any money and if you want to take out a CCJ then please feel free to do so, none have. Its all a game, the harder you play them at it the more respect you get. They will try every trick in the book to get you to pay back as much per month as possible, threatening big black bold or red letters or phone calls. I ignored them all. I'm struggling like millions of others.

The whole system needs bringing into the 21st century, leaving data on credit files for 6 years is a nonsense and should be challenged, its not lawful, there is no law that confirms data must remain on your files for 6 years.

Everyone should challenge this a bit like unlawful bank charges. The system need a complete shakeout. Citizens time to stand up and fight for your rights.

To_be_Free

changesusieslife wrote: »

Hi,

I'm new to all this and looking for advice.

Me and my hubby have debts, a total of around £12,000 on C.C's and a loan of £20,000 secured on our house. While we were both working this was fine, as we could easily pay the bills; but I had my second son in Jan, and now i'm in a position where I can't find any work as a teacher, I don't drive, so can't commute easily. And in order just to cover the cost of bills and childcare have to earn over £20,000 a year.

And we are stuck... really stuck. We don't qualify for any help, we can't afford the minimum payments on bills and food anymore, and we have cut out all luxuaries- I've not left the house for 3 days because I can't afford to do anything. Should we be going to see someone, to get advice on our debts?

I just know that I've reached the end of my tether, my hubby is working 3 different jobs in order to try and make ends meet, but I can't even seek work as the jobs I'd have to go for wouldn't cover my £1000 childcare bill each month, let alone our debts.

Many thanks.

Hi you are not alone,
The first thing to do is contact one of the free non-profit debt counselling services have a look here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

Also do a SOA (Statement of affairs) this will give you a better idea of your finances go here http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

freedom777

We were advised by a dept company that to go on a DMP we will have to default on any debts.At the moment we havent defaulted but we wont be able to manage them if we continue without doing anything.

We dont wish to default on our payments. So is this true? Is there another way of doing this?

Thank-you!

CCCS_Sarah

depressed_but_determined wrote: »

Hi cccs counsellors I went down this morning to Abbey with my passport and a bill to open a new totally basic account with no overdraft or switch facility as I am now on a DMP and want to manage my money more carefully.

I was in for about an hour, the customer service manager said he was having trouble with my address. I explained the purpose of the account and basically said it was because of money problems etc and that I just wanted to keep my money all seperate from my bills.

When he printed off the paperwork he said he would just explain what would happen. I would get the account number and details tomorrow and could use the account from then. I would also recieve my card in the post along with a black card!!! He said this was a credit card - I paniced and said I had never asked for a credit card and didn't want to be credit checked - I didn't mention the CCCS but I was terrified it may jeopordise my DMP and be see as me appyling for more credit which I didn't even ask for.

He said this was a 'gift' for banking with them. I was totally fuming, he said there would be no harm done if I just cut it up or why don't I just take advantage of the 0% free balance transfer!.

I didn't want to go fully in to the ins and out of my finances because thats none of his business and I think the damage may have been done. I have been on the DMP since December and never used any form of credit since.

Are they allowed to do this, I doubt I will even qualify for a credit card with my bad rating but they will credit check me anyway with no permission. He had me sign 2 forms before explaining about the 2 cards but I just assumed they were for the bank account, it was like a credit agreement but he never explained what they were.

Any advice will be gratefully received.

dbd x

Hello,

Thank you for your post.

Banks are not allowed to complete a credit search without your permission. It may also be worth checking your credit file to see if they have searched your file twice (once for the bank account and once for the credit card) If so, get them to remove the second search.

I would recommend that you cancel this credit card account fully as soon as possible. You could also look at writing a letter of complaint to the bank explaining that you did not want an application for a credit card, and you only wanted a basic bank account.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

sal70 wrote: »

i need help i am up to my ears in debt i have 84 pound disposable income about to miss a mortgage payment and secured loan payment i have around 17500.00 pound in credit debt have been advised to offer reduced payments or bankruptcy but for me and husband to go bankrupt it would cost around a thousand pound which we haven't got think bank will close overdrafts soon mine and husbands wage will be gone because new bank account didn't open in time for payroll so how will i feed kids and pay bills this month feeling very suicidal at moment please help me

It’s difficult to give you detailed advice on your options as we don’t have your full financial details. However you can visit our online debt advice facility called Debt Remedy. Debt Remedy would assist you in completing a financial statement and you would be provided with tailored advice on the best way to deal with your situation. Click here to go directly to Debt Remedy.

If you would prefer to talk to a debt counsellor about your situation, you can book a telephone based appointment by calling our helpline free on 0800 138 1111. Lines are open Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00. It would be helpful that when you call you have details ready regarding your income, expenditure and creditors, as this can help speed up the referral process. If you have this information ready it may be possible to refer you directly to a counsellor if one is available, otherwise we will arrange a time that is convenient for you to be called back for an appointment.

Regards,
CCCS

CCCS_Sarah

angelflower wrote: »

Glasgow office specialist mortgage advisor was meant to call me this afternoon but called this morning and I missed the call because I was in a course. She didnt leave a number to call her back on.

Should I wait or can you give me a number to call them? (Private message ok if you are not meant to make public). Yesterday, they were unable to transfer my call from the main number.

Thank you

Hello,

I will PM you our appointments number and they will be able to book you in for another appointment.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

toniabbey wrote: »

hi my husband rung one of his creditor today, asking them why they taking payment on his debit card without his knowledge. Last thursday, they ask him to pay any amount but he told them that he is on DMP with CCCS and could only afford to pay £5 and gave them his card details. They took £5 then few minutes later took £200 which without his authorization. He rung them today and asking why they took the money on his card but they told him that he don't need to as know as they will take more money as much as they can to pay his debts of £750. I want to know where could we able to complain about this company who is doing this thing. Is it in OFT ? Please help us if you have template to write a complaint letter. We are not able to pay our bills and buy foods because of what happen, they left us .35 pence in his bank.

Hello,

Thank you for your post.

You would need to cancel the card as if it were stolen; this will stop any further unauthorised debits and leave the bank to deal with any further attempts at debiting the account. You might have to insist that a new card number is issued rather than a duplicate. and of course then you will have to wait for a new card.

You will also need to complain to the creditor. These transactions are usually recorded anyway so a written complaint is the only real solution. I would also be demanding a refund of any default costs plus recompense if I might be minded to send a written complaint and then follow it up with a call to a manager/team leader to see if they are prepared to refund the monies etc otherwise, your only further recourse is the Financial Ombudsman Service. The only issue here is that this can take up to 6 months!