Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

garthomas

Hi,

I've got a session booked in for a counsellor this coming Thursday - I’m just wondering what information I need to prepare before hand - if someone could give me a full list that would be great

I know I obviously need to include outstanding balance on debts - but is there anything else?

Thanks

CCCS_Sarah

Gettingontopofdebts wrote: »

Hi
Please can you advise me what to do. I have been on a DMP with CCCS for the past 3 years having payed back about £33,000 to various creditors. 18 months ago my monthly payment was reduced from £920 to £820 therefore all the creditors have been receiving slightly less payments. All have been fine apart from Barclaycard. They keep on telling me that they are not receiving my annual review and proposals from the CCCS, and in turn CCCS keep on electronically sending them on my request. In the meantime Barclaycard have started adding interest on my monthly balance.
Because I was becoming quite distressed on the phone last month (I am also recovering from cancer) a lovely lady from Barclaycard told me she would reset the monthly payment whilst I was actually on the phone with her (she could see my faultless payment record over the 3 years). But on receiving my monthly statement this morning I could see that this has not been the case.
I phoned Barclaycard and they asked me to ask CCCS to phone them regarding the problem.
I phoned CCCS ask but the lady on the other end of the phone said CCCS could not do that.
I am at my wits end regarding this. Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

Hello,

Thank you for your email.

Could you send me an email to [EMAIL="contactus@cccs.co.uk"]contactus@cccs.co.uk[/EMAIL] FAO Sarah and I will see what I can sort out for you. When you send the email could you include a copy this message let me have your client reference number as well.

Sarah

CCCS_Sue

Northstar68 wrote: »

Hi CCCS,

First of all, just a big thankyou for you help and support.

We are in month 2 of our DMP and I just wanted to check it was ok to still go ahead and reclaim the unfair charges from the credit cards only? I just wanted to be sure that we are still allowed to do that even though we have officially started our DMP?

Many thanks!

Hi northstar and thank you for your message


Yes, you can still try and claim if you are on a DMP


Regards

Sue

CCCS_Sarah

Ethereal_Gaz wrote: »

I recently returned to work after 4 months and have been paying token payments to Capital One and MBNA. I downloaded a balance sheet template and sent one to each of them. MBNA called me up, talked me through the balance sheet accepted my pro rata offer and arranged for me to start making payment in a couple of weeks.

Capital One, unsurprisingly (they've been harassing me through Debitas for 2 months), sent me a letter asking me for proof of income, letters proving incoming benefits and 3 months bank statements.

I don't want to send my bank statements as I'm self employed and I've recently been withdrawing as much as possible from my business account to put into my halifax account which was 3k overdrawn and being charged £1 a day + interest. Last year's accounts (08-09) show me earning a lot more than I will this year also as I'm now on a lower rate and was unemployed for a third of the year.

Do I have to send the documents they've requested or should I just tell them they should accept my pro rata offer??

Hello,

No you don’t have to supply this information; as long as you have sent them a copy of your budget you are doing the right thing.

Is your business also struggling with debts? If so you may wish to contact an organisation called Business Debtline … This link will take you to their website http://www.bdl.org.uk/

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

HTML200 wrote: »

Hi.

Could I please draw your attention to the 'is a default notice as damaging as a DRO?' thread in this same section of the forum? Perhaps I should have posted here instead, apologies if so.

Really, any input is appreciated.

Edit: Sorry, this would probably be better suited to the BR forum. Though any comment on the general situation would still be most welcome.

Hello,

Would you be able to post the link on here for me so I can have a read through for you?

Thanks
Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

1616french wrote: »

I need some advice please.

I took out a DMP with your company in December last year,payments are more managable and i have`nt got The Halifax on the phone every day now.
But...i was told by CCCS that these debts would be paid off in approx 5 years.
What is puzzling me is the fact that my wife and i recieved statements from the Halifax and we are still paying interest,my wife pays £43 a month...£38 of that is interest (she owes £3850).
I pay £11.50 per month,,£9 of that is interest (i owe £1000).
My maths is very poor but i reckon that will take over 100 years to pay off,why was i told approx 5 years?
CCCS never told me about this,should they not have?
And one more thing when speaking to one of your advisors about an IVA i was told i would lose my house,but that is`nt necessarily true is it?
My main moan is when i first got in touch with your company they could not do enough to help me,but now the DMP is in place i feel as though your advisors can`t be bothered with me as i was told there is nothing that can be done and basically just grin and bare it,not much to grin about to be honest!!
Can i cancel with your company at any time and do a DMP with a different company??
I`m sorry if i`m moaning on a bit but this is not as straight forward as explained to me by CCCS and i`m worried because my wife has just had our 3rd child and basically we can`t look to the future knowing we will be paying off our debts for god knows how many years.
Regards

Hello,

Thank you for your post.

Whilst you are on a debt management plan the creditors are under no obligation to stop the interest and charges, this is at their discretion. I have attached a link to the CCCS website as there is a section that relates to this that you can have a read through

http://www.cccs.co.uk/InfoCentre/EnglandandWales/Creditoraction/Chargesandinterest.aspx

If you are on a DMP then you are not in a contract so this can be cancelled at anytime. If you wished to switch DMP providers, then the chances are you would be in the same situation as no DMP provider can guarantee the interest and charges to be stopped for you as this would be an informal arrangement. If you did look to change then consider using one of the other free organisations such as CAB or National Debtline as the money is better going towards your debts rather than to another company.

You may want to have a read through the DMP mutual support thread and see how other people are getting on, I know that it can be very difficult but you need to try and stick to your guns and give it time as its early days yet.

If you are interested in an IVA then you can call our client support department and they could review your account and see if this is an option for you as an IVA is not always the best advice for everyone.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions I will be more than happy to help.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

mommmy3 wrote: »

Hi,
Just wanted some advice please.
My hubby has been in a debt plan for the last 3 years paying £141.00 a month. (He owes about 50k) Obviously we know that its not the most cost effective way of getting rid of debt but it helped when we needed it. Due to some life changes I have now occurred some debt (about 5k) and was wondering if we could do some joint so we pay one monthly figure? Also we were looking an IVAs as we want to be debt free quicker, only we dont know what company is best. Hubby is currently with R&R Financial solutions, so should we approach them first?

Thankyou in advance

Hello mommmy3

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.

Sarah

pixiechick_2

Just wondering if you could give me some advice.
I have total debts of approximately £28,000 and rent my home from a housing association. I work as a supply teacher but have made the mistake of borrowing on my credit cards when work has been slow. I have also deposited credit card cheques in my bank account over the summer holidays, just so that I would have enough to pay my credit cards etc while there was no work available and couldn't afford to pay while claiming JSA.
I have been lucky enough to have long term work from September to Easter, bringing home around £320 per week. My total income for the last tax year (including JSA) is around £14,000. However, from experience last year, I know that there will be very little supply work in the summer term, so I will be claiming JSA from April. I don't want to borrow yet more money so that I can survive the summer. What can I do? I am looking for permanent work but the job situation is dire (don't believe the adverts on tv about teacher recruitment!) I am divorced and my children have flown the nest. I am not behind with any payments (in fact I have a very good credit rating!!) but will be after Easter.

bluepanda

Hi

I'd be very grateful for any advice. I am living in constant fear that my bank account is going to be frozen. I owe several credit card companies and have no idea what their powers are to seize my bank account. I rush once a month to withdraw my salary as soon as it hits my account.

I was horrified to read that bank account details are included in your credit report, is this true? I couldn't believe it and hope it's false. Also, if your bank account details are included, surely your balance information is not there as well.

Can you tell me if credit card companies pursuing creditors regularly freeze bank accounts please, and if they do, how do they know which bank accounts you hold?

I should add i don't bank with any of the companies i owe money to.

Thanks

Blue

Wotsitfingers

Hi sorry if im posting in the wrong area!!

I just finished talking to CCCS and they went through a DMP with me which is all fine.

I am a little worried as I have only just purchased my new car (£5,500 paid for by a government grant, 2,000 on scrappage) but the other £2,100 was set up on a Toyota Finance agreement. I haven't made the first payment yet (due mid March) can Toyota take my car away as all this is happening so soon after purchasing?

Thanks for your help in advance!! :-)