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Ask a CCCS counsellor a question
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many thanks for your quick reply fermi0
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Recieved letter today from this cALDER DEBT FINANCIAL RECOVERY, as previously said i have been sending Mercers £1 token payment each monh without fail, but they still harrasss for more which i dont have now i recieve a letter from this Calder Financial debt recovery regarding this debt of £540, i have spoke to the CCCS who have said now send them Calder Financial the payment not Mercers , with an updated form Financial expenditure summary which the CCCS are sending me out as the cccs said that they can continue to put £12 per month late payment fee onto the debt for as long as they want " it seems a bit unfair as i have sent this payment regular to mercers without fail but they keep putting the debt higher, still, never mind i can only do what i can which is o try , even though these people "Mecers and other debt collection companys dont care about anything exept harrassing you with letters, however i send them rcorded letters explaining that circustances havnt changed and i will continue to send the monthly payment they dont bother replying...
thanks
wELL I have continued doing as the CCCS advised i have been sending calder financial now the £1 token gesture who are trading as Mercers, so basically they are still the same people trading under a different name the adress is the same also, i send recorded delivery letters and expenditure updates last one on 3/1/09 they sent me a letter again today saying i have ignored there requests for paying this debt ????? and they said 48hr notice they will pass to another local debt collection who may call at your home, i have and are continuing to do as advised by CCCS , but they still put on £12 month late payment fee because i only send £1 so the debts just increasing What they exppect i dont know i have had this since May 08 1 letter a week from them , which i reply to each time .0 -
Hi
Following redundancy we took out a dmp with a company but they did nothing for us and took £25pm for the privillage. We now use stevenage CAB specialists even though not local. We have a £30,000 bank loan, a £12,000 finance agreement and credit cards. They have set up a plan where we pay £196 a month between the creditors. The bank loan and finance agreement have both been to court, both are ccj's and the bank loan keeps threatening for an order of sale but is currently accepting their portion of money on a 6 month review.
We also have a £5,500 credit card which is costing us £111 a month which we are struggling to pay. As our credit rating is poor we cannot change to any of the 0% offers and im not sure what to do. My husband's salary is £16,000per annum and i am a full time mum. I have considered a part time job but then would lose benefits and our CSA payment would increase.
Not sure what to do for the best.
Any suggestion greatly appreciated.
Not sure if this is the right place to post???0 -
Sorry, I think I've confused the issue.
My wife has her salary paid to her own account at Barclays.
I have a large overdrawn account at a branch where both my wife and I have a joint account with zero funds.
My question is, is the bank able to write to my wife asking for payment of an account that is not in her name because she is on another account at the same branch?
Sorry for making it sound so complicated..
As long as you don’t have a joint account at Barclays, your wife’s money will be fine.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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little_minx21 wrote: »Hi
I am self-employed and contacted the CCCS a few years ago and they said they couldn't help me so l went to a private company who l had to pay 17% off the monthly arrangement to manage my debit. This was a five year plan which has a year to go. I know have the funds available to clear this debit and they said they could try and get the companies involved to reduce the final settlement and save me up to 50%.
I asked for the balances which they gave me and then told me that they wanted the full balance before they would speak to my creditors and also keep 10% off what they have saved me. I rang my creditors myself and they told me the balances but where less than the third party had quoted me.
I have checked my terms and conditions and it says l just have to give 2 weeks notice to cancel my arrangement with this company. I just wanted to know if l am within my rights to re-pay me debit direct to my creditors.
They also said they would be able to get me a better deal on the final balances but how can l when they take so much of the money!
Best wishes
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your message.
We now have a specialised department that help self employed people. If you would like an appointment with them, they would be able to help you put a new budget together and talk about full and finals. We would also be able to send out sample letters for you to use.
You will be better offering the creditors full and finals yourself rather than paying another company for the privilege – that money is better in your pocket!
If you would like an appointment please call 0800 138 1111.
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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Hello all,
Could some please advise me, i am living in rented accomodation and i have accured rents arrears of £2085 (3months rent) and i have explained to letting agency that i am have difficulty paying the arrears and asked them that i can continue paying the rent every month from now on time and if i could pay a little extra and deduct that of my arrears on a monthly basis, and then over some months the arears will finish, they have refused this offer and said that they are going to persue a Statutory Demand. another now that the house i am living has many faults, like the combi boiler leaks water, there is no loft insulation, no energy certificate report, damp in the house and the list goes on, i have asked them to fix the problems but they keep saying they will fix the problems and dont turn up for the repairs at the agreed times, with all the problems with the house i am still willing to come to a arrangement but they will not agree, would someone be able to adise me as i am worried about the statutory demand.
many thanks
bob
Hi Bob,
It’s unusual for a letting agency to issue a Statutory Demand for rent arrears. Normally they would go for a County Court Judgment to recover the arrears, which is where the court would agree a fair arrangement to pay the arrears over a reasonable amount of time.
A Statutory Demand is the first step in petitioning for your bankruptcy. Do you have property elsewhere or any other sizeable assets? Assuming you don’t own property (hence you renting the property you are living in at the moment) I can’t see how this would benefit them, as they would end up with nothing.
I’m assuming from your post that they have not actually issued the papers for the Statutory Demand, so I would take it with a pinch of salt until they actually serve the papers. When it comes to rent arrears, our advice is to make an offer of repayment towards the arrears on top of your normal monthly payment, which is what you’ve already attempted to do. Can I ask how much you’ve offered on top of your normal payments, and how many months arrears you owe? If they’ve rejected your offer, have the suggested how much they would be willing to accept or have they refused any sort of arrangement?
I can’t offer any particular advice regarding they haven’t sorted any of the problems out other than to perhaps speak to someone like Shelter who offer specific housing advice, or Consumer Direct who can help discuss your consumer rights.
Regards,
CCCSI 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 ive just started dmp with you and went to post office on tues 30th dec to make 1st payment in cash of 104.00.i have been checking my online dmp all week for the payment but its never shown up,i rang you this morning and was told there was no sign of payment and to send my reciept in which i am going to do but im really worried as this will mean my creditors wont get paid wont it?will the stop the dmp because of this?i was glad to finally be on top of things and now this is a real set back!
Hi there,
Try not to worry! If you've attempted to make your payment and have got the reciept, I'm sure there will be a rational explanation to why it's not registered. If it sets the plan back by a month it shouldn't be too much of a problem, and once it's all up and running and continue to pay in the DMP you'll be fine.
Take care,
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 CCCS,
My friend has a £4,000 overdraft facility on her current a/c with HSBC. She sometimes goes over this limit & the bank charges are crippling her. Would she be able to, & would it be wise to, tranfer this debt onto a credit card offering 0% interest for 12 months, & use it only to pay off this amount monthly, or can you only transfer from credit card to credit card?
Hello,
Depends on your friends situation, if she has enough money to make the payments – 0% is a good idea as she will end up paying less interest over all. Some credit cards will allow you to transfer the balance into a bank account.
Another way of stopping the cycle of charges is to open a basic bank account where they have no debts. Your friend would then be able to set up a monthly standing order to clear the debt.
Either option, your friend will need to put together a budget to see if they are able to support there living cost and contractual payments, as if there is a shortfall this is where the problem lies and they should try and increase there income and seek help.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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callywally wrote: »Hello,
started a dmp with cccs a few months ago. Due to urgent and expensive car repair just before christmas and also having to tax the car I had to reduce my payment this month. I need car to get to work.
I am now really struggleing for money til the end of the month as I cant borrow any thing from family etc or take out any credit I dont know what to do.
I work full time and am not on benifits so dont think I would qualify for a crisis loan.
I really dont know what to do and would like some advice as to what other people have done in this situation.
thanks
Hi Callywally,
If you are struggling you need a review of your account as soon as possible to make sure the figures are the same as your expenditure.
Sometimes it does take a little time to adjust to the budget, but if you have tried then please do call us as soon as possible, we don’t want you struggling.
How do you currently budget? You might want to keep a spending diary so you can keep track of everything. Have you been on to the DMP mutual support thread? Post on there as well you will get some fab tips!
Let me know how you get onI 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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solaeclipsx wrote: »solaeclipsx wrote: »Hi iv spoken to you before about my credit problems with westcot i sent them a request for my Subject Access Request with payment by recorded delivry back in october november time but as of yet have not resived anyting but 3 letters 1 i got today saying that thay will not contact me as thay are looking in to my case and a photo copyd bank statment witch has all the wrong dats on it i got in the begining of december along with a nother letter saying thay are looking in to my case, im now at a stump as i dont know if i should leave it or get in contact with them as im not to shore how long im ment to wait for ?
i have also receved a letter from Equita saying that we need to pay £488.78 for unpaid council tax now we moved out of this propty bk in march last year and part of the contract with the landlord was that we did not have to pay council tax he is now saying that we need to pay it as its our problem he also took our depostet to pay 1 month rent we missd out on witch we where fine with we also left some stuff in our neighbour's care that he also took 1 thing beeing a new freezer my father gave us,now becuse of all this Equita have now sent us a letter saying that we are going to have the bailiffs round to remove our belongings to pay for this dose anyone know if there is anyway to start to sort this problem out? we can not talk to the old landlord as he refuses to speek to us,the letting place we went thru no longer have him on there books so not there problem and the council say it's not there problem ether i cant see y we have to pay when we no longer live there
Do you still have a copy of the contract which states that you were not liable for the council tax at your rented property? If you have proof, then you could seek legal advice on whether the landlord can now turn round and say it is your responsibility. You also need to find out if he was legally allowed to take the freezer that belonged to you .I do not know your full circumstances but this sounds most unusual.
I have attached a link to community legal advice which gives free legal advice.
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/
If you are liable for the council tax debt, then you must make an offer of payment, even though you no longer live at the property. It is still a priority. Make an offer of payment as soon as possible.
If the bailiffs do call, then negotiate a payment with them rather than offer nothing at all.
With regards to the Subject Access Request, the creditor has 40 days in which to deal with your request. This is a statutory requirement and so you should have received the information you requested by now if you sent it recorded delivery in November. You could make a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office. I have attached a link https://www.ico.gov.uk/Global/contact_us.aspx
Hope this helps
SueI am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS in the Debt Problems: What to do and where to get help article. If you find you're struggling with debt and you need further help try our online advice facility Debt Remedy0
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