Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

gethro

Hi
My wife has started a DMP with the CCCS and has been advised to open a new bank account,she has an overdraft with her current bank of £1550 which she has been told must be included in her debts.
She has been with her bank for 20 yrs,we have applied for an account with another bank not linked to any of her debts but what does she tell them if they phone and ask why she wants to change accounts ,should she tell them about the DMP ?
We have not taken the option of them changing all the debits as her bank doesn't know about the DMP yet,she would prefer to stay with her current bank but has been told as she owes them money she must change. is this correct.

staffiegirl

Hi I've approached a company called Debt Release Direct who are willing to handle my credit cards debts that have got out of hand. They charge £400 one-off set up fee, and will approach my creditors to try to come to an arrangement whereby I would pay them £200 per month, £40 to them and £160 to my creditors. It sounds ideal, but I'm worried a) is this the right way to go, b)are they reputable? How do they differ from a CCCS DMP? This is my first post. I'm anxious to to face up to my problems and find a way to solve them but I dont know which way to turn.

sandalwood_2

runningems wrote: »

Hi

I have today completed the debt remedy on the CCCS website albeit it rather quickly with 2 children running around so may need to go back and tweek a few bits & pieces.

To try and get straight to the point, my OH and I between us have some credit card debts loans and overdraft which I feel are now getting out of control and the situation is keeping me awake at night. At the moment we have been able to make all our monthly payments and we are not in arrears with anyone we seem to be able to struggle through each month taking a bit here and putting it over there but I am now getting to the stage where I don't want to struggle but want to get something in place to pay off so I feel that we are getting somewhere and that we are not going to be homeless next week!

CCCS website recommended a DMP but I'm not sure how this works - do we still have a bank account with a cheque book / debit card facility I am not sure that we could pay everything in cash? My OH monthly salary can vary each month with overtime although none of its guaranteed (although I think our main prob is that we have been living as if it was) even more so of late - what would happen on the months that we earnt more money I'm not thinking that we keep it and not pay of our debts but would it be taken straight from us or would we be able to put aside some for the kids birthday if it was coming up etc.? My OH doesn't know I have posted and I am not sure how he would feel about a DMP or if it even exists he has said about such things in the past that our life wouldn't be our own but I feel I need to do something as I can feel the worry starting to take over all aspects of life.

Hi,
I am sure a counsellor will be along soon,but thought I would put my 2 peneth in:
CCCS will probably base your payments on the minimum you earn each month(thats what payplan do who I am with) any overtime that you receive can be put in a emergency fund that is for birthdays or car repairs and also to build up a fund for full and final settlements
You will also need to open a bank account away from any of your creditors so that they cannot take any money from you bank account to cover the debts you have with them
I have opened an account with Barclays who have given me a visa debit card that can be used everywhere-I would suggest you apply for a bank account now,get everything in place,i.e get your wages paid into the new account and change any priority D debits & S orders,gas,electric,mortgage,etc,etc then put in place the DMP that CCCS will advise,I hope that answers a few questions until a councellor gets in touch

sandalwood_2

staffiegirl wrote: »

Hi I've approached a company called Debt Release Direct who are willing to handle my credit cards debts that have got out of hand. They charge £400 one-off set up fee, and will approach my creditors to try to come to an arrangement whereby I would pay them £200 per month, £40 to them and £160 to my creditors. It sounds ideal, but I'm worried a) is this the right way to go, b)are they reputable? How do they differ from a CCCS DMP? This is my first post. I'm anxious to to face up to my problems and find a way to solve them but I dont know which way to turn.

Please,please please do not go with a fee charging DMP company,there isnt anything they can do that is different to CCCS or payplan.The £400 one off fee could easily go towards paying a debt and also the £40 a month can go towards paying your debts
I nearly went with a fee charging company a while back,so glad I found this site and decided not to.
I am sure a counsellor will be along to adivse you more

runningems

Thanks for your 2 peneth Jaybag it all feels really quite scary and I still do not understand the full implications or results achieved by a DMP which is what I need to do before I can even try to convince my OH that we should do this.

sandalwood_2

runningems wrote: »

Thanks for your 2 peneth Jaybag it all feels really quite scary and I still do not understand the full implications or results achieved by a DMP which is what I need to do before I can even try to convince my OH that we should do this.

It is not as scary as it sounds,trust me,best thing I have ever done
Have a look at the the DMP Mutual support thread,this will answer any other questions you have-it is a great help to me
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1735087&page=47

samantha12345

CCCS_Sue wrote: »

Hi Sam

Thank you for your email.

You could get a copy of your credit file to check if you have an outstanding CCJ, though these are normally only kept on file for 6 years.
I have attached a link to a booklet called ‘Credit Explained’ you may find useful,and which gives you further help on how to get a copy of your file.

Creditors are unable to legally pursue you for the debt if, after six years;

• The creditor has not already obtained a county court judgment (CCJ)

• You or any one else owing the money (on a debt in joint names) has not made a payment

• You have not written to the creditor admitting they owe the debt

This is known as statute barred and refers to the Limitation Act.

If you believe that the creditor is timed out to collect the debt and there is no CCJ, you may wish to use the template letter below.

Hope this helps
CCCS_Sue

Example letter – limitations act

From:
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Date:
CCCS Client No:
To:
Creditor’s Name:
Account/Agreement No:

Without Prejudice

Dear Sirs
Ref
I do not admit any liability for your claim and will not be making any payment towards it, as it is now more than six-years since any cause of action may have accrued. Any claim would, therefore, appear to be statute barred under section 5 of The Limitations Act 1980 and any court claim will be defended on that basis.
In addition section 2.14 of The Office of Fair Trading Collection guidance states that it is unfair to pursue such claims where, as here, the creditor has made no contact during the relevant limitation period.
If, however, you have substantive evidence that your claim is not statute barred then please supply it to me within 21 days. If you are unable to provide such evidence please confirm that no further action will be taken against me.
Yours faithfully
(Signature)
(Print name)

Thanks so much for your reply Sue.
However, do you know how I would find out if I did get a ccj 12 years ago?
(or should I just send the letter you suggested and then surely, if they do have a ccj for this old debt, they will reply telling me so?)
My credit file is clear today, but like you say, any ccj would have fallen off 6 years ago. I have not been in contact with anyone, nor paid anything towards this debt ever.
Thanks again,
Sam

katkins2

Hi there,

I have just done the debt remedy on the CCCS website. I based our incomings on mine and my husbands basic wages. My OH works overtime each month to boost his income as his basic is pretty dire. He has always done this however the amount of overtime available each month does vary, especially of late. I was hoping to set up a DMP, but as I used OH's basic wage, the debt remedy result was an IVA or a low dmp which would be £162 per month. I know we can afford more than this, especially as at that rate it would take 16 years to clear our debts (31,000 in total). I really would rather pay more than that to our creditors each month as I know we could afford it. Did I do the debt remedy correct in using just his basic wage? I don't feel that is a true reflection of his income.
The IVA was the recomended route for us, I am very wary of this as I believe our home would be at risk if we took this option.
I would be grateful of any advice you could offer.

Many thanks

CCCS_Sarah

slimjim74 wrote: »

We are struggling to make our mortgage payments and have contacted our lender. In order to go on an interest only mortgage we have to prove we have the means to pay the excess off - how do we do this? If we had extra money we would be using it to pay the mortgage ! They can't guarantee we can do this, but if we could prove it we would need to pay £75 to do this.

They have suggested we could extend the term of our mortgage to 30 years which will lower the payments, but will this seriously affect us in the long term?

We really need a payment break or something for 3 - 6 months until we get back on our feet again.

Is there anything we can do? short term preferably

Hello,

Thank you for your message.

Your lender does not have to allow you to drop your mortgage to interest only. If they are objecting to you doing this then we need to see if there are any other solutions for you.

I would recommend that you have a telephone appointment so we can help you put together a budget and look at your possible solutions.

If you would like an appointment please call 0800 138 1111.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

thealfster wrote: »

hi everyone this is my first post on the mse forum and would be very gratefull for any advice, have got a credit card with £2800 owing annual apr 17.9 an overdraft of £3000 @19.5 plus numerous other outgoings but just cannot get them any lower because of the interest is there any way of getting the interest frozen have rung them both with no joy the problem is have not yet missed a payment so no one will help many thanks

Welcome to the boards!

It’s very unlikely that the creditors will freeze the interest and charges on your accounts if you are not in difficulties. Are you struggling with making the payments or just want a better rate of interest?

Sarah