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Ask a CCCS counsellor a question
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i am currently in around 13k of debt, 8 of it is on 2 credit cards.
these are now charging me interest but i cannot get approved for a new credit card or loan to cover these. what do you suggest i do?
i am currently paying over the minimum payments but only really paying off about £40 a month of the actual balance.
can i ask the card companies to stop the interest to help me pay it off?
Hello,
If you are able to meet the minimum payments it is unlikely that the creditors would agree to stop the interest and charges.
You will need to put together a detailed budget and see if there are any areas that you can cut back on. Another thing you could look at is trying to increase your income ie part time job, overtime benefits etc
If you have enough money to overpay any debts, then you would need to start clearing the higher interest accounts first of all. This will help clear the debts quicker and you would pay lest interest overall.
CCCS_SarahI am a Debt Counsellor that works for the CCCS and have specific permission from Martin, to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on the CCCS and what it does in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article.
CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for any of 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. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
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Hi,
I wanted to know whether it would be a good idea for me to consolidate my debts (I know, it's never the best option!). Currently I am just paying the minimum each month which is not making much of a dent in the debt itself and am struggling to survive the rest of the month with what I have left over.
A quick overview:
Income: £2093
Mortgage: £1000
Credit Cards: £342
Loan: £212
Travel: £150
Remaining: £389 (£30 for mobile, £17 for insurance)
This doesnt leave me with much at all to shop for grocieries etc and I dont even go out as Im very concious that I will end up spending money that I dont really have.
Would a consolidation loan be a good idea, if so are there any recommendations as I dont have a good credit score (no idea why as I've always made payments on time). Or would it be an idea for me to ring and ask for a holiday payment?
Any advice would be more than appreciated.
Thanks,
Mani
Hi Mani,
There are a lot of other things that you will need to take into account such as, council tax, gas, electric etc I have attached a link to Debt Remedy. Debt Remedy is an online debt advice system that will allow you to type in your financial details. Once you have a detailed financial statement, you will have a true figure of how much you have available to offer your creditors. If there is a shortfall you will also be provided with the best way to deal with your situation.
This link will take you directly to Debt Remedy. Have a look at that and let me know how you get on.
CCCS_SarahI am a Debt Counsellor that works for the CCCS and have specific permission from Martin, to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on the CCCS and what it does in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article.
CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for any of 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. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
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Hi
I really need some advice.
I've been unemployed for over a year now and I'm really struggling with money.
I have an overdraft with Natwest for 1600, which I'm always maxed on.
I receive just under £65 a week in jsa
Every month I'm paying either £20 or £26 and have been for years.
I can't take a loan to pay it off as I wouldn't be able to meet the repayments and I doubt the bank would offer me one anyway as I'm unemployed.
It's a vicious circle I'm stuck in
Any advice would be really appreciated
Thank you
Chris0 -
say your on a dmp with cccs, and you make f&f offers to the majority of your creditors and are left with one or two left, is it possible to revert back to your original payment plan with the creditor and not pay a reduced payment on dmp, purely for the sake of cleaning up your credit file sooner ?
thanks0 -
Hiya
I was previouisly on a DMP but had to come off it as I missed 3 payments in 2 years. I'm really struggling again now and am getting all the calls again. Is it possible to go back on a DMP with CCCS or with another company such as payplan?
Thanks
Hello,
Give CCCS a call on 0800 138 1111. You would need to have a full first appointment because if there has been any changes in your situation a DMP might not be your best option.
CCCS_SarahI am a Debt Counsellor that works for the CCCS and have specific permission from Martin, to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on the CCCS and what it does in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article.
CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for any of 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. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
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Hi,
Another extra stress to my already stressful situation
I am trying to set up a basic bank account (starting my DMP in Sep). I tried applying over the phone with the one that most people have suggested, Co-op cashminder. I've discovered a major problem in that they require Photographic ID. I do not have any as I do not have an up to date passport, nor do i drive. This has caused me trouble in the past, but as it isn't a legal requirement to have a UK passport I have never forked out the high cost of replacing my expired one. Co-op said I can go into the branch and fill out an "exclusion" form for people like me wihout photo ID. However I live in Edinburgh area and my nearest branch is Glasgow :eek:. Just wondered if you have experienced people in same position as me and if there are any banks that don't require photo ID or maybe banks that offer basic accounts that have a branch nearer to edinburgh area (but not Lloyds TSB or Clydesdale as they are my creditors)?
many thanks0 -
Hello,
Due to unforseen circumstances I had been off work for 6 months however still managed to service loans/cards etc However last month I simply ran out of money!!
Due to a mix up in my workplace the SSP was being claimed by my company to clear 2 months they paid me a salary when they shouldnt have. Therefore I had no income.
In July I have not had funds to pay for two loans, egg/Lloyds. I have not heard from Lloyds yet however Egg after talking with them yesterday didnt really offer me much assistance.
Monthly loan is £270 I offered what I can which is an additional £30 on top of the loan payment till I am clear starting from this month (Getting a salary) however Egg told me I MUST repay this debt within 6 months, told them I dont have the nessecary funds to acheive this and £30 is all I can afford. Egg then said since I cant agree a repayment with them they will pass the debt onto a debt agency!!
Is this correct for one missed payment that I am offering to pay back?
I am hoping Lloyds allow me to repay an additional amount but I am scared to phone them till Ive dealt with Egg
Hi Ronnie,
Thank you for your post.
They can’t have what you can not afford to give them, so pay them what you can to catch up and just make the overpayments.
If the debt does get passed to a collection agency, they don’t have anymore power than the original creditor so it’s nothing to be worried about.
It may help if you put it all in writing to them rather than speaking to them on the phone, and if possible back your offer up with a copy of your budget.
Hope this helps
SarahI am a Debt Counsellor that works for the CCCS and have specific permission from Martin, to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on the CCCS and what it does in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article.
CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for any of 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. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
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londonfraggle wrote: »Hi - I hope someone can help me!!
I need, for obvious reasons, to set up a basic bank account before I can start any DMP or other debt solution (as some of my creditors form part of the same group as my bank - who I have an overdraft with anyway!).
I called co-op and was "convinced" to apply for a current account, which surprise surprise I was refused for! I then reiterated that I just wanted a basic cashminder account, he then said it had been referred for a decision. He did say this was quite common and that I should hear in a couple of days, but I'm now having a big panic as if I can't even get a basic bank account I don't know how I'll even start on this road!!
Does anyone have any advice or ideas on a) what this means and b) if I can't even get a cashminder account with Co-Op are there any other accounts out there that would touch me or am I scuppered.
I don't really know what to do now as I know that without opening a new bank account I can't move my salary etc to another account to pay priority bills etc.
Help anyone??!
A very worried Fraggle x
PS - will also post this on a few other threads as am really quite hoping for some advice so apologies any of you seeing this more than once!
Hello,
Have you heard anything back yet? I have attached a link to a booklet that lists basic bank accounts. If you do get refused an account you could choose one off the list. As you are not asking for any lending facility, I can’t see it been a problem as everybody is entitled to an account.
http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdfI am a Debt Counsellor that works for the CCCS and have specific permission from Martin, to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on the CCCS and what it does in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article.
CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for any of 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. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
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INTEREST CONTINUES TO BE CHARGED _ HELP!!
New to this so will someone please point in wrong direction.
I have a DMP with CCCS- they are fantastic by the way! There is light at end of tunnel folks. Had debt of £34K remaining balance is £13k approx since 1995.
Can you please help though. I have a creditor that is still charging interest, they took myself and my hubby to Court but were turned down fror the charging order as I had continued to pay at least half of the original loan repayment. Do you know of a way to stop interest on this loan as the existing loan was approx £4K and I am going to end up paying in the region of £15K plus!
Thank you in advance!
Unfortunately there is no way of making the creditors stop the interest and charges, it is their decision. You could write to them and explain that all your other creditors have agreed to stop the interest and charges. As other debts are cleared, the money will then be split between the remaining debts so this would also reduce the debt much quicker.I am a Debt Counsellor that works for the CCCS and have specific permission from Martin, to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on the CCCS and what it does in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article.
CCCS is a registered charity, and there is no charge whatsoever for any of 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. We want to help you understand these choices and their possible implications but not make them for you.
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Hi
I really need some advice.
Iv'e been unemployed fo over a year now and I'm really struggling with money.
I have an overdraft with Natwest for 1600, which I'm always maxed on.
I recive just under £65 a week in jsa
Every month I'm paying either £20 or £26 and have been for years.
I can't take a loan to pay it off as I wouldn't be able to meet the repayments and I doubt the bank would offer me one anyway as I'm unemployed.
It's a vicous circle I'm stuck in
Any advice would be really appreciated
Thank you
Chris0
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