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Ask a CCCS counsellor a question

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  • CCCS_Matthew
    CCCS_Matthew Posts: 922 Organisation Representative
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    callywally wrote: »
    Hello,
    Im on a dmp with cccs and emailed them on fri with some questions how long will it take to get a reply. thanks

    Hi Callywally,

    I know this a little belated, but just wanted to check you had a response now?

    Cheers,
    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.
  • No still not had a reply
    sonnyboy
  • CCCS_Matthew
    CCCS_Matthew Posts: 922 Organisation Representative
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    callywally wrote: »
    No still not had a reply

    Sorry about that, we are extremely busy at the moment but I would have expected a reponse by now.

    Can you just PM me the email address you sent it to and your client ref number (if you have one) and I'll chase this up for you.

    Cheers,
    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.
  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    mumjules wrote: »
    Hi

    I need some advice with regards to bailiffs for council tax arrears please. A few months ago i recd a liability order from the council which i completed the back and returned it with my offer of payment. It wasn't much, but i am on a suspended repossesion order with my mortgage and it was the best i could do. I didn't hear back and a week before xmas the bailiffs knocked on my door. I didn't let them in, but i told them it wasn't a good time. He said he would call back the next day for money. I said i didn't have any the next day to give him. He didn't call back. The next i heard was a notice of attendance and a distress liabilty order through my letter box at 6.30am Saturday morning. It was just half in the letterbox and not in an envelope. The distress order had the details of my car on the back and the section of repayment crossed out. I have phoned the Council and they said it is with the bailiffs and there is nothing they can do. The bailiffs haven't even given me a chance to repay in installments. Please can you help - i am worried out of my mind they will just come and clamp my car or something. The form also said "constructive seizure" which i don't understand

    Thanks

    Hi mumjules and thank you for your message.

    Council Tax is usually collected by private firms of bailiffs on behalf of your local council. They try to take your goods away and sell them, usually at auction, to raise money to pay the debt. The process they have to follow is called 'distraining' or 'levying'.

    If bailiffs are collecting unpaid council tax it is often difficult to negotiate instalment payments with the bailiff or the local authority until the warrant is returned or withdrawn from the bailiff. However, you should try to negotiate instalment payments with the local authority and encourage them to withdraw the warrant from the bailiff. It is important to make clear that you are willing to make instalment payments at a rate that you can afford.

    You say that the bailiffs called but you did not make any offer of payment as it wasn’t a good time.
    It is good you did not let them, in but it sounds as though they have seen your car parked outside and put a levy on that.
    I presume that the “constructive seizure” applies to this as they have not actually entered your property and so have levied the goods outside your property.
    If the car is on HP or belongs to someone else then they would be unable to take the car, but you would need proof of this.

    If the bailiffs have already been,you are committing an offence if you remove goods that they have said they will take. If you hide them on your premises the bailiffs can search for them.

    I would suggest you made an appointment to speak to one of our debt counsellors about your situation as it sounds as though there are other issues that need looking at also.
    If you would like an appointment please ring our free helpline on 0800 138 1111.

    Regards
    Sue
    I 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 Remedy
  • CCCS_Matthew
    CCCS_Matthew Posts: 922 Organisation Representative
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    techtitch wrote: »
    Dear CCCS counsellors and other readers,

    Thanks hugely for your time. I have a debt of around £15,000 with three credit cards which I first defaulted on about 3 years ago. I regretably ignored their communications ever since. Now, two have stopped bothering to write to me at all. Do I risk anything by getting back in touch? Or should I wait until I have advice from a solicitor?

    My income is job-seeker's allowance (£60.50 a week) and housing benefit, which pays all but £50 of my monthly rent. I have no savings, no equity/house/etc, one current account in £300 debt with fees (which I am reclaiming) and one current account with around £50 credit. My outgoings marginally exceed my income.

    I'd also REALLY appreciate anyone's hunch on how this will probably progress. I realise there is not much info here and things may turn out differently, but any info would be reassuring - at least I'd know what I'm worrying about.

    Thanks again for any time spent, and any advice or thoughts,
    Chris

    Hi there.

    Rather than contacting the creditors directly, I would suggest getting a copy of your credit file from either of the credit reference agencies:

    www.experian.co.uk
    www.callcredit.co.uk
    www.equifax.co.uk

    By doing this you will get confirmation of all your debts, who they are with and how much is outstanding. Once you've gort this information together you may want to give us a call to discuss your options with one of our debt counsellors on 0800 138 1111 (lines are open mon-fri 08:00-20:00).

    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.
  • CCCS_Matthew
    CCCS_Matthew Posts: 922 Organisation Representative
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    chancer63 wrote: »
    Hi completed the CCCS debt remedy and suggests a joint DMP which is what we had hoped for. My husband has some debts from the closure of his buiness which cant be included in the DMP as they are lease agreements. my biggest fear is losing my house - this really scares me. Does anyone know if anyone is likely to pursue my o/h for Bankruptcy? and if they do can they take the house as it is half mine? No equity either, in negative.
    Thankyou! in anticipation! hope for a reply on my return from work later so i can stop worrying : (

    Hi there,

    As the debts in question relate to your husbands business, you would be better speaking to an organisation called Business Debt Line. They can provide you with advice in relation to what the business related creditors are likely to do in order to chase him for the debt.

    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.
  • CCCS_Matthew
    CCCS_Matthew Posts: 922 Organisation Representative
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    techtitch wrote: »
    PS. I have completed the CCCS debt remedy and it tells me there's nothing it can advise as my living expenses exceed my income. Surely I should act ASAP?

    Hi there,

    If your living expenses exceed your income you definitely need to look at making changes. The advice booklet will give you a few ways in which to improve the situation, but it's also worth looking at whether you can make cutbacks or increase income to get things to balance out.

    The amount that is overspent each month is money that simply isn't there so something will have to give within the budget in order to make ends meet. If your budget is very tight already then you might need to consider other options. If you want to discuss your budget with one of our counsellors, there should be a number on the paperwork you have recieved.

    It might also be worth starting a thread on this forum, as the folk on here offer good advice in ways to improve your situation to make things easier. Once you're balance out, you then start to open up more options in relation to clear your debts.

    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.
  • Hi
    We have managed to get our selves into debt of arount 30k, we own our own house priced at arount 150k. The debts are unsecured loans.
    My husband had a Stroke at the age of 38 and has been on Incapacity Benefit since.
    I have just lost my job and am now on JSA
    The loans cost us £340 per month and we are now in the position of not being able to pay. with the interest rates being so low we thought we could get a small mortgage to cover the debt but have been unable to.
    What do we do?
  • Trig
    Trig Posts: 15 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I have been in contact with CCCS about a DMP a while ago, but I would like to confirm / know how it affects your credit rating and in particular the points below.

    1. When you come to the end of say a fixed rate mortgage and you wanted to move to another rate - are there any issues with this if under a DMP?

    2. Would you be able to remortgage at some point in the future if still under a DMP? If house prices went up again, it would maybe allow additional borrowing to reduce/remove the debt.

    3. Are you able to get any credit under a DMP e.g. a small credit card limit for emergencies?

    4. I need to make a final payment on my car in about 18 months of about 5K? How would that work?

    I would appreciate some advice ASAP, as I have been offered a loan to clear all debts but that would last 15 years and probably costs more than the payments to DMP.

    Thanks
  • I have unsecured debts of 51k spread among three bank loans, three credit card companies and a hire purchase agreement. I'm self employed and married with two children and live in rented accommodation. All the debt is in my name only.

    I'm currently paying £1000 per month to service this debt with another £500 per month for outgoings paid by with standing orders. This does not include food, petrol and day to day living expenses.

    I work in construction and contracts have been non existent for the last eight weeks. I have enough to service this debt and to live with for another two months. I know that after that I will begin to start defaulting on these loans so I'm beginning to get worried now that this will happen.

    In your opinion what would be the best option for me. I'm inclined to declare my self bankrupt because this debt has been building up for the last eight years or so with taking out loan after loan to consolidate existing loans.

    Many thanks for any advice you could give me...
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