Debt Relief Orders, debts inflated by charges ... 22 May 2009 at 4:40PM in IVA & DRO 21 replies 1.8K views

Merlinexcalibur

How would this work? Your debts, without late payments fees/charges were dramatically lower than they were before those things. Are these ignored ie they weren't part of the original debt but added in the months afterwards? Or are they included. Because, if so, it's going to take a lot of people's debts when added (without those fees) over the £15000. Leaving them in a difficult situation if they can't afford to bring those down below if this is the case. So, how are these considered within a DRO? Debt with or without added fees?

Also, can you leave ANY debts out that will take it over that limit or do you have to include ALL.

fatou256

very trued merlin considering that one of my creditor continuing to charge late payment fee even though they knew i was BR and they had the cheek to ask me to pay it back !

Lost2

I had the same problem with all my credit cards they knew I was BR but keepd on sending statements with £12 for late payment and also £12 for over limit whats that all about :eek:

Merlinexcalibur

Well, what I meant was: if (unlawful BTW) charges are included then, clearly, it is going to make those debts that would have been under £15000 without those added a waste of time to those it is targeted at. In other words your card debt was initially under £500, with all the late charges etc it gets pushed up to over £1000 over the months before a DRO came into being. As will all the other debts that get charges that could be included. Is there anything in this process that is taking that into consideration at all? Or do many lose before they have even started and left with the severe strain of knowing that they will only face potential BR in the end anyway.

elfieb

The OR has the right to "ignore" any charges which they feel as unfairly pushed the debts over the £15k limit.
When having the interview with the intermediary, they asked you to state your "last available" statement, well aware of companies putting on late charges, defaults etc on accounts without knowledge.

Merlinexcalibur

So, basically, if they don't think they are 'fair' then I am just screwed whatever. Will any of this ever stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Because by doing either BR or DRO I am paying, taking responsibility for something I am NOT responsible for. But I can't do a bloody thing about it. It's just wrong. I will never allow myself to be used by anyone ever again.

elfieb

Merlinexcalibur wrote: »

So, basically, if they don't think they are 'fair' then I am just screwed whatever. Will any of this ever stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thats why its important to get on with DRO's asap.
One of the reasons why I went with Baines and Ernst, rather than waiting 6 weeks for an interview with NDL

Godiva500

Merlin, as with ElfieB thats why I went with Baines and ersnt as well. My debts were 14,600 - I couldn't wait. I went for it and got it straight away.

charlie12345_2

Hiya Merlin
As far as I'm aware unfortunately you need to come under the £15,000 limit including all the charges on on the day you send through the DRO but as
Elfieb advised if they suddenly pile on a load when they realise what you're trying to do the OR can take a view.

Merlinexcalibur

Sorry for how I am sounding but it's begun to rip me to shreds pretty seriously. And because I am a very very stupid human being who knows why they are in this mess. Justice is something that is forbidden for someone like myself it has turned out. And now it seems I cannot even rid myself of this situation that was created by someone I helped. So it just makes the whole vicious circle even worse. It is so damn wrong I cannot even begin to describe how it makes me feel. Always I have done the right thing, where does it get you in life? Someone took something that was so good and they broke it, destroyed it. Yes, it is all behind me but what is to come from all of it is a reminder which won't ever go away because they are linked. And right when I am trying to start again. Should I even bother trying to. If I am out on the streets, maybe that is where I was headed for all along anyway. After all I deserve it for getting into this mess. Because if it does come to that I know exactly where I will go, which place I will go to. It's a long way to travel but I will get there somehow or other. It's a place I like. Then I will just vanish. Because I don't want anymore of this.

charlie12345_2

Merlin, Please don't be so hard on yourself, we're all in the same boat, it will be ok. You sound seriously down, please look after yourself. If a DRO doesn't do the trick go for bankruptcy then start again with a clean sheet.
Take care.