Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

Marthasdad

Hi - after a really positive counselling session with CCCS, I wrote to all 5 of my creditors and (on advise of CCCS) offered pro rata payments to them all, based on what percentage of my overall debt I owed to each creditor (all DCAs). I included my SOA and list of creditors.

I did this 2 weeks ago and had responses from 3 of the 5 creditors within a week, all agreeing to my proposed pro rata payments - I have heard nothing from the remaining 2 creditors!

I have made the payments I proposed anyway - how long should I leave it before following up (or should I just assume they've accepted the proposal)?

Thanks.

CCCS_Sarah

londonfraggle wrote: »

Shameless bump of the above question! I hope I'm doing this right! I know that the CCCS is super busy now - have just spent an hour trying to call them. CCCS lovely people - would any of you mind if I pm'd you some of my questions to see if you can perhaps help me?

Thank you all v much in advance.

Fraggle x

Fire away

CCCS_Sarah

karjam wrote: »

I'm having problems with Calder Financial. About a year ago my husband lost his job and the new one he got didn't pay as much so we reduced all our payments with credit card companies etc. They were all accepted apart from our Barclaycard (via Calder Financial). We kept paying the amount we said we could afford but they continued to send us letters saying it wasn't enough. This has been going on for about a year.

About 7 weeks ago my husband lost his job again (he works in the construction industry!) and has only been receiving jobseeker's allowance. I am working part-time but we're only gettign about £100 per week between us. I've written to all our creditors again explaining the situation and asking them to put it on hold. Even our mortgage company has accepted no payemnts until 1 October 09.

All apart from Calder Financial. They've been ringing me up to three times per day for the last 6 weeks on my mobile phone. I usually don't answer but I answered it two weeks ago. I asked the agent if they had record on their computer of the letter I'd sent them, he said they did. I again explained the situation saying if I couldn't pay my mortgage I certainly couldn't pay them anything. He said he understood but unless I made a payment that day they would take legal actoin. I said fine, you'll have to do that. I asked if he could put a note of that on his computer and stop the calls. He said he couldn't stop the calls because I hadn't made a payment arrangment so it would just go back into the automatic dialling system.

The calls stopped for about a week then last week they started again. Again I ignored them until today. I explained the whole situation again and asked what they wanted. She said to make a payment arrangment. I explained I couldn't and said I'd already stated in writing and verbally that I don't want them ringing me, I only want to correspond in wirting. She said unfortunately becuase I wouldn't make an arrangemnt to pay they couldn't do that.

I'm at my wits end with them, it's really getting me down - I don't know what else to do! Can you give me any advice on how I can stop them ringing? I feel this is harrassment as I've explained the situation in wriiting and verbally twice.

Thanks
Karjam

Hi Karjam,

You could try using this letter, if the calls don’t stop keep a log of dates, times peoples names and then look at making a complaint to the OFT.


To whom it may concern


Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to ask that you no longer contact me by telephone as your calls are causing me considerable stress due to the frequency, and that they are being made at inappropriate times. Please remove my telephone number from your database and send all future communication in writing to my home address.

I have provided the most recent copy of my income and expenditure to make you aware of my current financial situation. I will continue to make my payment of x on the x of every month and will keep you informed of any changes in my circumstances as I am keen to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

I understand that following this request if you continue to call I can contact the Office of Fair Trading to make a formal complaint.

Please confirm in writing that your records have been amended.

Yours sincerely

CCCS_Sarah

Rainbowlou wrote: »

I have today rung Lloyds to see updated totals of my debt. Despite me paying approx £5600 since 2005 my total debt to them-mainly because payments are not even covering interest charges - is approx £12000, (original debt was approx £12 000).
I am with Payplan and pay £120 a month distributed to the 4 debts. Even this is a squeeze for me and life is often hard. My question is will I remain on a DMP forever? Is this what happens when people come to Payplan? They complete the original plan and then go onto another and another but never really clearing their debts..?
What are my options..?
I can't pay enough for an IVA nor do I owe that much. I don't want to declare myself bankrupt. I owe too much for an admin order. Is there anything else that can free me within 5 years because I DO NOT WANT THIS STRESS AND DEBT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
TIA!
Louise

Hi Louise,

As a DMP is an informal arrangement, the creditors are under no obligation to stop your interest and charges as this is done at their discretion. Have you spoken to payplan about your situation? They may have a letter that they can send to the creditors on your behalf. If after that you still have no luck, I would ask payplan to see if there are any other options available to you.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

bisselljk1986 wrote: »

Hi all,

I am currently on a DMP and it hasnt been for very long. Have already had to have it amended once as my OH pay was reduced as well as my debts needed to be added on. We got a letter saying that this cannot happen again. Since then I have had a legal letter from Buchanan Clarks & Wells on behalf of N Power about a debt that relates to our previous address (over 2 years ago).

We were paying N Power all fine until one day they didnt take DD from my bank account. I rang, queried it and they had never heard of me, couldnt find my account or even my address (strange set up where I used to live). This went on for months and months, I spoke to several customer service agents, sent letters, had calls back saying it would be looked into yet nothing materialised.

I advised my landlord of the mess when we left. Now 12 months later I have this letter saying I owe almost £1500 and I can't put it on mhy DMP or it will be cancelled and I can't afford to pay it...

I never had a bill for this amount (ive never even had a bill from N Power), yet BC&W want to charge me £10 just to send a COPY! Help!!

Thank you in advance!

Bisselljk1986,

You may want to write a letter to BC&W and tell them that you want the account to put on hold as it’s in dispute. If an account is in dispute, they are unable to take any legal action.

You may want to contact an organisation called Consumer Direct who are part of the OFT. They have taken over the role they energy watch had. Depending on what they advise you, they maybe able to add more wait to your case and advise you on to how approach BC&W.

Consumer Direct can be contacted 08454 04 05 06.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

KingMartin wrote: »

Hi there everyone. I am new to this. I have been having no luck finding help with regards to my spiraling debt.

I am about 12 - 13k in debt an i want to be debt free in 2 - 3 years.

I need help. I don't know what options are safe IE bankruptcy, IVA.

i Have obtained my debt report from Experian and i am beginning to feel swamped with demands, CCJ's etc.

Any help or advice would be gratefully appreciated.

M

Hello,

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

dunnzer1979 wrote: »

Hello everyone,

I wondered if I could get some advice.
I am about to start a claim for reclaiming payment protection on my credit card as I have been paying since 2001 and assumed it was just part of the minimum payment each month and mandatory. It now appears not.

The problem is that I also have my mortgage, and current account with the same company, if I make a claim for the mis sold PPI can they for example reduce / remove my overdraft on my current account / change the promotional rate on my balance transfer on my credit card etc.

I don't want to send of the first letter making a claim when i'm nervous that the bank will make things difficult in the future.

Any advice would be appreciated

MD

Hello,

If you are re claiming mis sold payment protection this should not affect any other accounts you hold with them.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

Marthasdad wrote: »

Hi - after a really positive counselling session with CCCS, I wrote to all 5 of my creditors and (on advise of CCCS) offered pro rata payments to them all, based on what percentage of my overall debt I owed to each creditor (all DCAs). I included my SOA and list of creditors.

I did this 2 weeks ago and had responses from 3 of the 5 creditors within a week, all agreeing to my proposed pro rata payments - I have heard nothing from the remaining 2 creditors!

I have made the payments I proposed anyway - how long should I leave it before following up (or should I just assume they've accepted the proposal)?

Thanks.

Hello,

That’s good news with your offers; I would just make the payments as you have calculated them, as even if they were to reject the offers that’s all you would pay them anyway!

Sarah

Hugomac

Hi i have a question to ask please.

I am on a DMP with CCCS just over 1 year into it,

I have 8 creditors, 1 of my creditors is Santander, CCCS pay them 18.60 per month, other companys are getting £50-£70 per month.

Santander is killing me with interest they are the only creditor not o freeze charges or interest it is on a credit card, it has actually gone up by £900 in the last year where everyone else has come downb due to the payments.

what should i do? Should i write a letter to them and ask to freeze interest. can i get CCCS to pay them more but take money from a different creditor? as i can't free up any more money.

Also i thought about trying to get money together from family to pay them some extra but loads of people have told me not to, as i have to distribute any extra money evenly.

any advice

thanks
HM

CCCS_Amanda

Hugomac wrote: »

Hi i have a question to ask please.

I am on a DMP with CCCS just over 1 year into it,

I have 8 creditors, 1 of my creditors is Santander, CCCS pay them 18.60 per month, other companys are getting £50-£70 per month.

Santander is killing me with interest they are the only creditor not o freeze charges or interest it is on a credit card, it has actually gone up by £900 in the last year where everyone else has come downb due to the payments.

what should i do? Should i write a letter to them and ask to freeze interest. can i get CCCS to pay them more but take money from a different creditor? as i can't free up any more money.

Also i thought about trying to get money together from family to pay them some extra but loads of people have told me not to, as i have to distribute any extra money evenly.

any advice

thanks
HM

Hi HM,

Thanks for your post.

You could contact our client support helpline and ask them to check that the payment going to Santander is the correct payment. We pro rate your deposit to us on a pro-rata basis and maybe this was done incorrectly.

If the payment is correct then you could ask the client support team to contact Santander and request that they stop the interest and charges on the account.

If you start paying more to Santander on the side then they will keep pressuring you for more money. If you pay them an extra £10 this month then they will come back to you for another £20 next month. Also, the point of a DMP is that your creditors are treated fairly and equally and if you pay extra to this creditor then it undermines what you are trying to achieve.

Try giving us a call – we will see what we can do.

Regards,
Amanda