We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Ask a CCCS counsellor a question
Comments
-
Hi My daughter has just rang in tears about her and her fiance's debt. They have visas and loans and as she's been on maternity leave their income has gone down. Her fiance is doing some course and keeps saying he can't have a CCCS while doing it, I have just asked her why and she said it's because he wants to be a director when he is qualified! He keeps saying their finances will be sorted soon, but I am worried, they went over their overdraft again and as had been warned the bank have now cancelled their direct debits which means their rent/mortgage (they have shared equity house) won't be paid along with many other bills. She is going to the bank tomorrow to try and sort it but he is insistent he doesn't want a DMP with CCCS. If he was to do one would it affect him in the future becoming a director? I said that if they don't pay their debts they may well end up with CCJ's and I'm sure that wouldn't help him!! They are arguing about it tonight even though I said leave it and chat with the bank tomorrow, but can you offer any advice please? They have a 4 month old baby and I'm sure their stress is manifesting in her. Thanks in advance0
-
Hi, wondered if you could advise, I have a Virgin MBNA credit card on a preferential rate (they have recently tried to increase the rate and I had to 'opt out' of the increase by agreeing to not using the card again) and in error, sent a payment which was short of the minimum amount by £3.55. As a result, I have had the preferential rate withdrawn and have literally been hounded by Virgin and MBNA, both by phone and post, demanding payment of the shortfall. They keep referring to a 'missed' payment, which isn't the case, I just sent the wrong amount. I have now paid the shortfall and some extra, just to stop them from ringing me daily. Are they allowed to persue me like this and is it fair that I have now had the preferential rate withdrawn ? Thanks, Alison0
-
Hi
Hope you can help, i had a CCJ two years ago and it was settled within 1month, i was wondering if there is any posible way of getting this removed from my credit report ?
Thanks
Hi there.
To avoid having the CCJ registered against your credt file it must be paid within 14 days of recieving it. So unfortunately, there isn't much you can do.
If you haven't already done so it would be worth obtaining a 'certificate of satisfaction' from the court to prove the CCJ has been paid off. This will allow the credit reference agencies to update the CCJ as satisfied which will look more attractive on your credit file as opposed to a CCJ that is just outstanding.
Regards,
Matthew.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.0 -
Hi I have a DMP with cccs been running for a while now, I will be made redundant next year feb/march time and will receive some redundancy money. i have calculated that i will still owe by then about £5000 split between 4 creditors. My redundancy is unlikely to be enough to clear the debts, prob be about £2000. Do I have to use this money to pay my creditors with it? As obviously I will have to sign on and will have worries about how long it takes to get the claim and housing benefit sorted out and could possibly need some money as a buffer for my rent etc... are the creditors likely to accept this amount as full and final payment between them if they know i am made redundant and would therefore have to pay them considerably less whilst i remain unemployed? (which in the current climate could be a while..) I know this isnt happeneing till next year but i am already worrying bout it... thanks
Hi there, sorry to hear about your job.
You have a couple of options you could consider with your redundancy money.
1) Use it to offer settlements to your creditors. Ideally see whether collectively your creditors would be willing to accept a lump sum meaning you can clear all, or the majority of your debt off for £2k. This is something we could help you with if you wanted to look at this.
2) Keep the money to act as a buffer to cover your living costs until you’re back into to work again. Although you maybe entitled to some benefits, you may find it difficult ensuring all of your priorities are covered – so you may need to dip into the redundancy money to balance the budget. If this is something you want to do, you would be best to call us to discuss your options in relation to your DMP. You may need to consider reducing the payment, or putting the DMP on hold until you know how your finances are going to pan out when you’re back into work again.
You’re under no obligation to use the money to clear lump sums off your debts, it’s really up to you to decide what you feel would be better for you, and perhaps how confident you are in getting back into work again soon.
Hope this helps,
Matthew.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.0 -
olettaadams wrote: »Hello Sarah. I need advice. Over the years I've managed to pile up 27k on 3 credit cards and then I lost my job, split up from my husband and went onto benefits. I've buried my head in the sand. I did try to talk to these people but they call my mobile over 3 times a day and when I do talk to the likes of MBNA they push me till I put the phone down. All I want is the interest to be frozen and them let me pay £50 per month until I start a new job in November and maybe I can do more in January. Capital one sent mine to an external debt collection so the interest has been frozen. I don't care about my credit file. Should I let Egg and MBNA send me to debt collection. I am just ignoring at the mo as I don't know the process. All advice is appreciated. Many thanks.
Hi there.
Ultimately you cannot give anyone money you haven’t got. If MBNA are not willing to accept your offer then it’s more likely that they will pass the debt onto a collection agency. If they do pass it on, and the collection agency aren’t playing ball then just pay them what you can afford regardless.
If you’re a bit unsure of the process and what to expect, you may benefit from having an appointment with one of our debt counsellors. They can help you draw up a budget to illustrate your current financial situation and provide you with advice to deal with your creditors. If you would like to book an appointment, you can call our helpline on 0800 138 1111.
Hope this helps,
Matthew.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.0 -
Hi I am after some advice, I have sat on the phone too long to Lloyds and CCCS today that my bill will be massive this month.
I have been with the CCCS for 3 yrs, I am getting sick to death of Lloyds. I have a Credit card and overdraft with them.
This is how the credit card stands - Started at £4,500 Dec 06 - owe Oct 09 - £4,142, Paid to them £1523, So have wasted £1165
Over draft started at £200 Dec 06 Have paid them £170 it now stands at £460 and from today have started charging again allsorts of fees.
Please can you help me, CCCS said they will forward another expenditure form off today, But I know the CCCS dont like favourtism when paying off debts and I fully understand this.
But Lloyds are holding me back so much.
I would never be able to find the funds for the Credit card, but if I could get the over draft money off my sister would It be possible to pay the over draft off? Plus if I paid off the overdraft and made sure the whole account was closed and overdraft taken off, Would the credit card be able to claim anything?
I am so worried, But i just feel like im fighting a losing battle, My other 9 creditors have been excellent, its just lloyds.0 -
worried4daughter wrote: »Hi My daughter has just rang in tears about her and her fiance's debt. They have visas and loans and as she's been on maternity leave their income has gone down. Her fiance is doing some course and keeps saying he can't have a CCCS while doing it, I have just asked her why and she said it's because he wants to be a director when he is qualified! He keeps saying their finances will be sorted soon, but I am worried, they went over their overdraft again and as had been warned the bank have now cancelled their direct debits which means their rent/mortgage (they have shared equity house) won't be paid along with many other bills. She is going to the bank tomorrow to try and sort it but he is insistent he doesn't want a DMP with CCCS. If he was to do one would it affect him in the future becoming a director? I said that if they don't pay their debts they may well end up with CCJ's and I'm sure that wouldn't help him!! They are arguing about it tonight even though I said leave it and chat with the bank tomorrow, but can you offer any advice please? They have a 4 month old baby and I'm sure their stress is manifesting in her. Thanks in advance
Hi there, thanks for getting in touch.
Generally it’s only bankruptcy that would affect anyone’s ability to become a director of a limited company. What is it that he’s training to do?
At this stage I wouldn’t be able to do say whether a DMP would be suitable, but the repercussions of a DMP are the same as those when you don’t keep up to date with the payments yourself. If they don’t do anything about it then yes, in theory, they could end up with CCJ’s.
I would take the advice given by the bank with a pinch of salt. If they owe them money, they have vested interest and may well look at trying to solve their issue by offering them further credit which is rarely the best option.
It’s difficult to give them precise advice about their situation without knowing more about their finances. They’re more than welcome to have an appointment with one of our debt counsellors or to use our Debt Remedy facility which will provide them with some in-depth advice about what potential options they have to deal with the situation. Simply speaking to us won’t affect their credit rating, and they’re certainly not obliged to go ahead with anything we’ve suggested.
Our helpline can be contacted on 0800 138 1111 to book an appointment. Or click here to go directly to Debt Remedy.
Regards,
Matthew.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.0 -
i have today been forwarded to you by my local CAB. I originally set up a self administered DMP - but one of the creidtors has come back to say i actually £4000 less than i orignally stated on the DMP.
i have decided to scrap the DMP idea as i am now managing my money better and have manged to negotiate payments with two of my creditors but am having a problem with one of them.
can you give me any help or advice as to being able to negotiate with them. It si Welocme Finance that i am experienceing a problem with - they didn't engage with me in writing as requested when i sent the original DMP to them.
Can i ask them to look at the account from Head Office rather than the local branch?
any help would be welcome
regards
Katie0 -
italianjobscooters wrote: »Hi, wondered if you could advise, I have a Virgin MBNA credit card on a preferential rate (they have recently tried to increase the rate and I had to 'opt out' of the increase by agreeing to not using the card again) and in error, sent a payment which was short of the minimum amount by £3.55. As a result, I have had the preferential rate withdrawn and have literally been hounded by Virgin and MBNA, both by phone and post, demanding payment of the shortfall. They keep referring to a 'missed' payment, which isn't the case, I just sent the wrong amount. I have now paid the shortfall and some extra, just to stop them from ringing me daily. Are they allowed to persue me like this and is it fair that I have now had the preferential rate withdrawn ? Thanks, Alison
Hi Alison.
I think you should find now that the difference has been paid, that you’ll stop being hassled. You often tend to find when you’ve either missed a payment or not paid the full amount, that you’re account is passed to a team of people who chase you for the shortfall. Now that you’re back up to date I would have thought that your account is probably no longer on their ‘to chase’ database.
It does seem that for what seems like a genuine mistake that you’re preferential rate has been withdrawn. I would be inclined to perhaps write a letter of complaint explaining the situation in detail. If you also cut up the card and send it back to them, this may help them realise you have no intention of using the card anymore.
Matthew.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.0 -
Hi I am after some advice, I have sat on the phone too long to Lloyds and CCCS today that my bill will be massive this month.
I have been with the CCCS for 3 yrs, I am getting sick to death of Lloyds. I have a Credit card and overdraft with them.
This is how the credit card stands - Started at £4,500 Dec 06 - owe Oct 09 - £4,142, Paid to them £1523, So have wasted £1165
Over draft started at £200 Dec 06 Have paid them £170 it now stands at £460 and from today have started charging again allsorts of fees.
Please can you help me, CCCS said they will forward another expenditure form off today, But I know the CCCS dont like favourtism when paying off debts and I fully understand this.
But Lloyds are holding me back so much.
I would never be able to find the funds for the Credit card, but if I could get the over draft money off my sister would It be possible to pay the over draft off? Plus if I paid off the overdraft and made sure the whole account was closed and overdraft taken off, Would the credit card be able to claim anything?
I am so worried, But i just feel like im fighting a losing battle, My other 9 creditors have been excellent, its just lloyds.
Hi Beth,
Do you want to PM me your client reference number? I can arrange for somone to give you a call about this to talk you through your options
Matthew.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.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351.3K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.2K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.7K Spending & Discounts
- 244.2K Work, Benefits & Business
- 599.4K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.1K Life & Family
- 257.7K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards