Its so unfair why wont someone help?

Fran

Heddwen - How are things now? Have you been getting anywhere with anything?

Heddwen_2

Hi Fran (& everyone)

No we haven't exactly budged much. We have come to an agreement it may be best to keep holding onto our house rather than sell it if we can.

Are still trying to raise the £2,000 arrears before we can proceed to let it out. Although I am just about to re-explore the 'rent a room' link above again.

We have had some news this week which may help get us out of this hot water if we can convince the mortgage company to trust us and wait just a little longer (I know but all we can do is ask). It is looking as if my Nan-in-law (husbands Nan) will be going into a care home pretty soon and her house no longer has a mortgage on it (lucky thing, then again neither does my Husbands parents have a mortgage). It has been decided that they will sell her property not only to allow the funds to be used to keep her in a care home but there will be plenty left after to put into savings. In the meantime it has been granted that each remaining member of the family (there is only the imediate family left (Son, daughter-in-law, my husband and his brother) as Grandad passed away some years ago, he actually left the home to his Son!) be allowed a small portion to maintain their financial comfort.

I know this is like the golden egg and it still remains to be sold etc but it makes a positive outlook for us at least for today.

My gloomyness still comes and goes in waves, but I am trying to be positive and with all the more helpful posts from you all it keeps my mind active!

Thanks again.

Have a good weekend.

:-*

Heddwen_2

I am trying to find info on a company known as Debt Management Services. I have done a web search but got knowhere.

As some of you may be aware from another of my posts I have a meeting with these people on Monday 5 April PM they were sent by Bank Of Scotland my mortgage lender to try and negotiate arrears repayments.

However I am frightened this may be the start of the reposession stages even though arrears are £2,000. Do I have the right to refuse them entry or perhaps for us to have an unbiased witness present?

I have never come accross this type of company before who are they and what should we expect?

Heddwen_2

Here we are I have the letter here infront of me and its on headed paper which reads:

DMS
Repaining the link
Tel: 0870 458 4211
Facsimilie: 0870 458 4226
DX: 30837 - Newbury
e-mail: info@debtmanagement.co.uk


and after supplying acount nos and refs etc it carries on to say:

Debt Management Services have been instructed by your Lender to meet with you to discuss the difficulties you may be experiencing with your mortgage repayments.

One of our Counsellors will be contacting you in the next few days in order to make an apointment to discuss your mortgage arrears and establish, if possible, a repayment plan that will be both affordable to you and agreeable to the Lender.

Your co-operation with this matter is fully appreciated.

Yours sincerely Barry Culver
Director.

It was a bit off that the letter actually arrived the day after the bloke actually called around.

Still slightly unnerving to think he didnt apear to be the style of bloke to deal with such a thing. Old ish and not too smartly appearanced casual not in a suit. Big wad of papers in a brown flimsy folder. No id shown, no badge worn nothing. No name even come to think of it!

My husband will be here with me on Monday but I feel as if we should have someone else or its their word against ours and with a 'big company' on his side its a bit daunting.

Do we have the right to record or film this meeting as evidence?

Hope someone can shed light on this company soon perhaps I will be able to sleep then!

Thanks

???

Heddwen_2

:-[
I have just discovered the e-mail address is almost also the website address:

https://www.debtmanagement.co.uk

although having looked at this site it doesnt really tell me much and looks none too hopeful either, like I fear its the start of the repossession track.

Fran

Heddwen -

You could give one of the free debt advice lines a ring in the morning and ask their advice (?) -

Consumer Credit Counselling Service: https://www.cccs.co.uk 0800 138 1111
National Debtline: https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk 0808 808 4000

I'd better not sugget CAB again had I?! (But of course they are another possiblity for giving a quick ring to.) Have you asked your lender why (DMS) want to meet with you and at what stage it is at? It sounds good that you have this potential money just at the time you need it, I hope it works out ok.

Heddwen_2

Nan-in-law going back to her own home plus any hint of money from sources has dried up as cant access for 1 or 2 years as tied up.

Apointment moved to 5:30pm by the chap coming to see us.

Hubby just lost his evening job earlier today (no fault of his).

Will keep you posted!

I hate life!

Galstonian

I hate life!

So long as you still feel it beats the alternative...

Heddwen_2

Chap came and went. Didnt explain anything just took details of income and expenditure asked if wede been to see CAB and told us to try getting our local MP to wite to the mortgage company as they hate having letters from MP's!

Asked him how long we'd have to wait he said week after Easter so I confirmed that was next week and he said yes unconvincingly.

He just wrote TBC (to be confirmed) on the forms where it said agreement price proposed and said he would try his best at getting the BOS to allow us to rent it out without us having to find the arrears first. Then he left.

Were still not much the wiser.

Do you think it would be too late for us to bring in another debt help company like the CCCS?

Going to seek advice from CAB again tomorrow re my hubbys lost job, they 'sacked' him as the company who supplied the gusrds for the place he worked in lost the contract, but from what I gather its because they could never supply any guards???

Will we now lose our right to Working Tax Credit?

Should we go and 'sign on' again for JSA? Only probs with this is the hassles we get as we are self employed we have to fill out a declartion of work form every 2 weeks where we have to juggle the hours and amounts earnt around sometimes not entitling either of us to any benefit payments. Plus we get harrassed with job search and back to work interviews.

Got to get some paper tomorrow to print out more flyers to post.

Keep you all up to date, thanks for the support.

???

Fran

Do you think it would be too late for us to bring in another debt help company like the CCCS?

Going to seek advice from CAB again tomorrow re my hubbys lost job, they 'sacked' him as the company who supplied the gusrds for the place he worked in lost the contract, but from what I gather its because they could never supply any guards???

Will we now lose our right to Working Tax Credit?

Should we go and 'sign on' again for JSA? Only probs with this is the hassles we get as we are self employed we have to fill out a declartion of work form every 2 weeks where we have to juggle the hours and amounts earnt around sometimes not entitling either of us to any benefit payments. Plus we get harrassed with job search and back to work interviews.

Heddwen -

If you're going back to the CAB tomorrow, if you get the same person that you weren't happy with tell them you want to see someone else!!! They have all your details regarding your debts already from your previous visit, so rather than start again with another lot (like the CCCS which you suggest), why not try to get it sorted with them (otherwise you have to start everything from scratch explaining to someone else). Your Working Tax Credit entitlement is calculated to the end of the year, and as they are behind with everything like last year, it's unlikely you've filled in a renewal form (?). I believe (but it would need checking) that you only have to inform them if your income goes up or down more than £2,500. Otherwise it is re-calculated when you do your renewal. (There are other things you have to report too such as changes in circumstances.) CAB will be able to tell you WTC entitlement if you tell them your new income details. You can't be making much from the business if you are considering JSA which is peanuts anyway. Remember that if you are on JSA you will not get help with your mortgage. You can if you are on Income Support get help but only with the interest and then only after 6 months. If your business is going that badly, perhaps you should consider getting rid of it! As you say as well, JSA is such a hassle nowadays, people think you just pop in and sign on but far from it as you obviously know! As always, good luck. Fran