Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

CCCS_Matthew

razer12121 wrote: »

can i ask someone in the know to look at this....

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r175/razer12121/img019.jpg

now i of course want to pay this of but only the £300 that i owe, argos im guessing has sold the debt on the moorcroft, to cut a long story short i was in getting little amounts of pennys from my wages due to teh CSA and could not pay any of my debts, instead of telling them this i ignored letters and so on, but now im able to pay it i want to just £75 on top is abit stupid and there must be somthing i can do about it? ive read also alot about how moorcroft will mess me about when i make the repayments, i can just about afford 40 a month but not untill next month.....also im very rubbish at writing up letters so any help on what to put there would be great, im at a real loss here at the mo thanks guys!

Hi there.

I'm afraid we don't have access to the site you've posted your link to so I can't see what you've attached.

From what you've written though, I'm assuming you are contesting the additional charges that Moorcroft have added up what you originally owed? If I'm honest there isn't a great deal you can do to contest the extra fees that have been added on. If you broke the original agreement and missed payments, the extra fees will be due to added interest and late payment charges which would have been part of the agreement.

That aside, you can't give them what you've not got - so pay them what you feel you can afford. The best thing to do is set up a standing order for the £40. If you want to write to them, you just need to advise this is all you're prepared to offer and that the offer will clear the debt within 10 months.

Alternatively, you could look at asking them for a settlement. If you owe £375 they may be willing to settle the debt for a lesser amount if you can find a lump sum. If you know someone who could help you out, you might find that Moorcroft would settle the debt for £150 for example. That way you could then pay the £40 back to the person you borrowed the money from, and clear the debt for less.

Regards,
Matthew.

CCCS_Matthew

edwin36 wrote: »

A few years ago, I lost my job through no fault of my own, and was getting deeper and deeper into trouble, at one stage i thought i was going to loose my house. Someone gave me the number for the CCCS, I rang them not expecting much, and i am not emarrised to say, was very upset and even in tears and feeling sick.
Well after talking to someone at the CCCS, that had been through the same thing, even after the first time talking to them, I felt like i had a massive weight off my shoulders. After a few weeks, all the letters stopped coming though the door, and the phone calls stopped for all the creditors. If I rang the CCCS after having a letter the were so helpful, and stopped me worrying. All my creditors exepted a lower monthly payment.
Now nearly three years latter 2 out of my seven creditors are paid off, three not much left, and two that will take a bit longer, but I am NOT worried.
Thanks CCCS, i know it sounds cheese but i dont know what I would of done. I even ring now just for a bit of advise, which they are always happy to give x x

Good to hear Edwin, always nice to hear positive feedback!

Matthew.

CCCS_Matthew

scouselad1974 wrote: »

Hi CCCS

Just a quick question regarding creditor acceptance on a CCCS DMP, most accept the plan for 6/12 months then expect an up to date budget, which is fair enough.

My question is, will CCCS automatically send my creditors an update every 12 months or is it best that I update my creditors about a month before my plan expires, so that they can renew for a further year without the hassle of starting collection procedures again, as Is what has just happened when my 6 month agreement expired with Halifax. It has been lovely to have no one telephone me for the past 6 months but now they ring until all hours even after 11pm, even after CCCS sent them my budget and creditor list.

Hi there.

You'll get a review of your situation every 12 months. If the situation means you have to reduced your DMP payment, we'll send out an update budget. If the situation is still the same, or has improved then another budget wouldn't be sent you your creditors.

Matthew.

CCCS_Matthew

skintoflinto wrote: »

Thanks sooo much scouselad & tez. I was starting to panic because I really need the car for work. I'm defo going ahead now.

If the car is HP or a PCP agreement it would be treated as a priority cost and you would have to continue paying it, as paying less could result in losing the car.

If the car finance is a personal loan then it would go on the list of creditors, as a lower payment would not result in you losing the car.

Hope that clears things up.
Matthew.

CCCS_Matthew

ducatifrog996 wrote: »

hi,
i currently have 36000 worth of debt with various companys loans, overdraft etc...
my total outgoings are 2400 a month but my wages are less than this but get topped up with dividends.
all the debt is in my personal name, not the business.
i am an owner of a ltd company which i get a wage each week. i also get dividends each month which very on the companies profits.
when setting up a agreement with cccs will they take in account my dividends or just my wages?
can i still run a business as a director with a iva, debt management or bankruptcy?
thanks

Hi there.

A DMP would take into account whatever money you pay yourself to cover your living costs. Anything that's used to go back into the business would not be looked at. You can do a DMP or IVA as a director of a limited company, but bankruptcy you cannot.

Hope that helps,
Matthew.

razer12121

CCCS_Matthew wrote: »

Hi there.

I'm afraid we don't have access to the site you've posted your link to so I can't see what you've attached.

From what you've written though, I'm assuming you are contesting the additional charges that Moorcroft have added up what you originally owed? If I'm honest there isn't a great deal you can do to contest the extra fees that have been added on. If you broke the original agreement and missed payments, the extra fees will be due to added interest and late payment charges which would have been part of the agreement.

That aside, you can't give them what you've not got - so pay them what you feel you can afford. The best thing to do is set up a standing order for the £40. If you want to write to them, you just need to advise this is all you're prepared to offer and that the offer will clear the debt within 10 months.

Alternatively, you could look at asking them for a settlement. If you owe £375 they may be willing to settle the debt for a lesser amount if you can find a lump sum. If you know someone who could help you out, you might find that Moorcroft would settle the debt for £150 for example. That way you could then pay the £40 back to the person you borrowed the money from, and clear the debt for less.

Regards,
Matthew.

ah i see, well this is what the letter says,

"you have not contacted us to discuss repayment for this debt. we require immediate full payment or an acceptable offer of repayment to prevent any further action.
in order to stop our recommending that our client undertake further action such as the instruction of solicitors to issue court proceedings we are prepared to accept payments of £40.00 per month. if you wish to take advantage of this repayment opportunity you must make a payment using the payment slip attached. on receipt of the first payment we will forward slips to you.
unless a payment is received by 10.00am on 08/03/10 we may recommend court proceedings to be commenced agaisnt you without further notice.
such action could incur you in further cost and may also affect your future credit rating. it is therefor in your best interests to give this matter your immediate attention."

im pretty stuck on how i should word a letter back, i mean i could get £150 but i dont think they would settle it with that, and apart from that im still stuck on how to word the letter lol , please hurry ive onyl got a little while longer thanks!

North1234

Hi, I was working in a self employed position contracted to a firm and have left due to lack of work. I have signed on and am waiting to see what if anything i am due re JSA. I have two credit cards and one loan which i have paid last month but will be unable to pay at the end of this month. Am I able to ask them for a break in payments? I am hoping to be back in work within the next two months.
Help please..... many thanks.
North1234

CCCS_Matthew

razer12121 wrote: »

ah i see, well this is what the letter says,

"you have not contacted us to discuss repayment for this debt. we require immediate full payment or an acceptable offer of repayment to prevent any further action.
in order to stop our recommending that our client undertake further action such as the instruction of solicitors to issue court proceedings we are prepared to accept payments of £40.00 per month. if you wish to take advantage of this repayment opportunity you must make a payment using the payment slip attached. on receipt of the first payment we will forward slips to you.
unless a payment is received by 10.00am on 08/03/10 we may recommend court proceedings to be commenced agaisnt you without further notice.
such action could incur you in further cost and may also affect your future credit rating. it is therefor in your best interests to give this matter your immediate attention."

im pretty stuck on how i should word a letter back, i mean i could get £150 but i dont think they would settle it with that, and apart from that im still stuck on how to word the letter lol , please hurry ive onyl got a little while longer thanks!

razer12121 wrote: »

ah i see, well this is what the letter says,

"you have not contacted us to discuss repayment for this debt. we require immediate full payment or an acceptable offer of repayment to prevent any further action.
in order to stop our recommending that our client undertake further action such as the instruction of solicitors to issue court proceedings we are prepared to accept payments of £40.00 per month. if you wish to take advantage of this repayment opportunity you must make a payment using the payment slip attached. on receipt of the first payment we will forward slips to you.
unless a payment is received by 10.00am on 08/03/10 we may recommend court proceedings to be commenced agaisnt you without further notice.
such action could incur you in further cost and may also affect your future credit rating. it is therefor in your best interests to give this matter your immediate attention."

im pretty stuck on how i should word a letter back, i mean i could get £150 but i dont think they would settle it with that, and apart from that im still stuck on how to word the letter lol , please hurry ive onyl got a little while longer thanks!

If you are wanting to take up the offer of £40 a month, you don't really need to write to them as they've advised within the letter that all you need to do is use the slip they have sent you. If you really want to write to them you could say something such as:

Account/Agreement No:

Dear sir/madam

After receiving your letter dated xx/xx/xx I can confirm that I will pay £40.00 each month to clear the balance. I will make this agreement on the basis that you add no further interest or charges to the balance. I will make the £40.00 payment on xx/xx/xx and continue to do so until the debt is cleared.

Yours faithfully
(Signature)
(Print name)

If you wanted to make an offer of settlement, then you could send a letter like this:

Account/Agreement No:

Dear sir/madam

I am now in a position to offer a full and final settlement amount to clear my outstanding unsecured debt:

Current Balance £ (amount)

Settlement Offer £ (amount you want to offer)

This offer is made on the understanding that if accepted neither you nor any associate company will take any other action to enforce or pursue this debt in any way and that I will be released from any liability. Please note that should this offer be rejected the lump sum will not be available.

I also request that if accepted, you will make an entry on my credit reference agency file relating to the above account as ‘settled in full’. Payment can be made
within xxx days of receiving your written acceptance of this offer.

Yours faithfully
(Signature)
(Print name)

Hope that helps and good luck,
Matthew.

CCCS_Matthew

North1234 wrote: »

Hi, I was working in a self employed position contracted to a firm and have left due to lack of work. I have signed on and am waiting to see what if anything i am due re JSA. I have two credit cards and one loan which i have paid last month but will be unable to pay at the end of this month. Am I able to ask them for a break in payments? I am hoping to be back in work within the next two months.
Help please..... many thanks.
North1234

Hi there.

You can certainly ask them for a payment break until you're back on your feet. If they decline then you may have to revert to offering what you can afford, even if it's as little as £1 until things improve. Don't try and pay them if you don't have the money, you don't want to fall behind with paying more important costs such as rent/mortgage.

Regards,
Matthew.

CCCS_Matthew

tedsd wrote: »

Hi, just a quick question, is the review every 12 months if you are self employed, which I may be soon... or is it done more regularly to reflect the different incomings/ouitgoings each month?

Thanks

12 months is standard for everyone. If you are self employed your income would be based on an average over the last 12 months. So in theory once an average is taken, you would get into the habit of putting so much aside on a good month to cover the months when you get paid less, to even things out better. Ideally, you don't want to have to change your DMP payment every month as this may confuse your creditors.

If you become self employed you may need request a review sooner if your find your income is sporadic (which is to be expected). 12 months is when we will contact you for a review, but you're always welcome to have one sooner should you feel the need to.

Regards,
Matthew.