Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

Cee

CCCS_Sue wrote: »

Hi cee and thank you for your message

I can understand you want to keep your credit ‘clean’ but we would not recommend that you pay off debt with more debt, as the interest added can make the debt increase, and you could end up worse off.
And if you were to default on these new payments in the future,then your credit rating would be affected anyway.

At the end of the day, this has to be your decision, but if you are struggling to make the monthly payments, then you need to look at ways to pay your creditors back at an amount that is affordable to yourself, so you do not fall behind with your priority payments.


I would recommend you call us for an appointment to discuss your situation as we do not have your full financial details.
We could then look at all the options available for your circumstances.All our help and advice is free and confidential.

If you would like 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

Thank you for your reply, since posting this i put down in black and white the amount i owe and what i pay out etc plus the interest rate, I've worked out that i can afford to pay off the creditors myself without the loan and within the 5 year period i was hoping to take out for the loan. Adding together the fact that when i get some overtime in (which is readily available where i work) I can start to knock off the top of the ones that charge more interest first.

If all else fails I will take steps to sort out my problems with the cccs as I know it works but I'm not struggling too badly as i first thought, its so easy to throw in the towel and think "Oh i'll get a loan and it will be easy for me" without thorough thoughts of all options available.

mrsdarbs

mrsdarbs wrote: »

Hi

I have looked through the credit explained book, but still have a query.

My husband and I had been experiencing some cash flow issues for most of this year and they are only just starting to be resolved as we finally managed to rent out my flat (when we married in Sept I moved into Army accomodation with him) so now have the rental income coming in. During the last 6 months however our credit cards were maxed out by just trying to pay our bills and put food on the table etc, no lavish expenses or holidays or anything.

As a result we have been late with some of the payments and are incurring the late payment charge making it harder to get the balance down on them.

I am really wanting to get a 0% card to transfer the balance over. With the rental income coming in we are now able to pay more than the minimum payment, this would make such an impact if we could lose the interest. I applied for a Virgin card about 3 months ago and was refused.

I'm not sure if this was due to my credit rating or that I wasn't on the electoral role. I sent the forms to the council yesterday so that should soon be changed.

I do not want to apply for another card if my late payments are really going to show on my credit file as I do not want the rejection making my rating worse.

Do the credit card companies mark every late payment to the credi checking agency or do they wait until you are in arrears etc??

Thank you!
Gemma

Can anyone help?

gargrave50

Hi, after doing a debt remedy with CCCS and speaking to the lovely people there I have written to all of our creditors explaining our circumstances and outlining the reduced payment we can afford. I have had a response from HBOS acknowledging my letter and requesting a full list of creditors and balance owed to each. Should I provide them with this?

catcressa

Hiya
Am looking for a bit of advice, have been on a DMP with the CCCS now for 2 years and recently missed our payment we advised the CCCS and our creditors, which was fine, since then we have had a letter from our credit card company asking for the whole balance £8000 pounds before the 14th july or they will be taking court action, would they be likely to take us to court as we have been paying around £180 a month for the last 2 years and have only missed 1 payment. Hope you can advise us. Thanks in advance Cat xx Will be debt free in approx 4 years owed £25.000 when we started the DMP and now owe approx £18.000

CCCS_Sue

catcressa wrote: »

Hiya
Am looking for a bit of advice, have been on a DMP with the CCCS now for 2 years and recently missed our payment we advised the CCCS and our creditors, which was fine, since then we have had a letter from our credit card company asking for the whole balance £8000 pounds before the 14th july or they will be taking court action, would they be likely to take us to court as we have been paying around £180 a month for the last 2 years and have only missed 1 payment. Hope you can advise us. Thanks in advance Cat xx Will be debt free in approx 4 years owed £25.000 when we started the DMP and now owe approx £18.000

Hi catressa
I have replied to this question via the PM you sent
Regards
CCCS_Sue

bigjohnuk

Answer found.

However, you have indicated that you have an additional adult living in your household. If you have any financial links with this person, e.g.; joint mortgage or bank account then your financial situation may affect their credit rating as well as your own.

CCCS_Sue

oftenpuzzled wrote: »

Please help firstly sorry if this is a repeat of my first request my laptop seems to be doing its own thing.I received a letter from link financial saying my address has been highlighted as a new address for their customer.After doing some research I now think that MBNA have sold on a credit card debt from my old address which I left 2yrs ago after a not nice marriage breakdown.The thing is I had no idea MBNA had done this so how can I be a customer of link.I did try ringing them but the queues on the phone are horrendous and must be costing a fortune.Should I wait for another letter as on here I read that link send out letters to people with the same name hoping someone will pay up,but my name I fear isnt that common please help ,I live on my own in a part ownership house and get working tax credit so there isnt much money at the end of the month and I am really worried

Hi oftenpuzzled and thank you for your message

The creditors should inform you when a debt is passed to a collection agency but as you have moved, the letter may have gone astray.

As you are not sure about the debt being yours, you could ask them to send you a copy of the original agreement and statements showing amounts paid up until now. It is up to them to prove that you owe the debt.
I have attached a letter you could use. They are not allowed to enforce the debt whilst it is in dispute.

Without Prejudice

Dear Sirs

Ref …………………………………….

With reference to the above account:

Please will you send me a true copy of the original signed agreement together with an up to date statement of the account showing all transactions, including interest and charges, and a copy of any other document referred to in the agreement.

I understand I am entitled to this information under ss77-79 of The Consumer Credit Act (CCA) 1974.

I also understand that this information should be sent to me within 12 working days of you receiving this letter. The CCA states that creditors are unable to enforce an agreement until this request is complied with.

I am enclosing the £1:00 fee, payable under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, for each account.


Yours faithfully

Hope this helps

Regards
CCCS_Sue

CCCS_Sue

PAULneedsHELP wrote: »

Hi, we,ve been paying into a DMP for approx 18 months £90 pr month with debtfreeme they charge me £25 pr month to do this. It would seem with £27000 of debt it would take 25 years to clear his. We dont own our own home and have a car worth £2000. We dont know wether to carry on with the DMP or go for the IVA or even bankruptcy. Thanks Paul

Hi Paulneedshelp and thank you for your email


It is difficult to give you detailed advice without knowing your full situation.

However, it may be better for you to contact one of the non fee charging charities about your situation.
The money you are currently paying every month in fees could be going to your creditors to pay the debt off quicker.

If you would like an appointment to speak to one of our debt counsellors at CCCS about your situation, you can ring our free helpline on 0800 138 1111

CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for the services we provide to our clients. We take great pride in offering first class help and advice, but we only offer this where we have been able to fully explore and understand your circumstances with you.
The counsellor would look at your situation and look at all options available for your situation.
Alternatively you could look at our online facility called Debt Remedy.

Regards
CCCS_Sue

CCCS_Sue

costaerer wrote: »

just a quick question...

is it better to offer full and final to settlement offers to dca, or is it better to offer to the creditor themselves.

i have offered f&f to 5 cc companies, 3 are direct to creditors and 2 to dca.

the dca always want the payments then they will send paperwork,obviously i insisted they sent me paper work and then i would pay. but actual creditors will send paperwork then will take payment.

these are the figures we have settled on, do you think these are ok?


Barclaycard: 650 DEBT, barclaycard direct offered 320
Vanquis: 650 DEBT, Collect Direct DCA have offered 338
Lloyds TSB: 630, Lloyds TSB DCA(think its still Lloyds) offered 415
Capital One: 360, DCA have offered 267
Halifax supposedly dont do F&F??!!

any help would be appreciated!!

Hi costaerer and thank you for your email

You need to send the offer to whoever has the debt at the time you make the offer.

I will PM you some information on full and final settlements and a sample letter you can use.
The important thing is make sure you get the agreement in writing and that they agree to settlement in full.

Regards
CCCS_Sue

sfinch_3

hi i have various credit cards which i am struggling to pay off monthly.i have been contacted by a company called debtsure who say they can take the credit card balances and i would pay them a monyhly fee instead at a much lower rate would this be a wise move ......has anyone done this ......any help or advice wud be much appreciated thanks x