Struggling with debt? Ask a debt advisor a question

StepChange_Pavan

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Just wondering why I have not had a response to a question I sent via my CCCS account log in 5 days ago?

Hello Mrs Arcanum and thank you for your post.

It’s difficult for me to say without knowing your details.

If you could send us a message to CCCS Private Messages with your query and reference number I can forward it on to the appropriate department.

Kind regards,
Pavan

CCCS_Sue

hopefully1983happy wrote: »

Hi,

I wondered if you had any advice. I would like to start a DMP, however I am a trainee accountant with the association of chartered certified accountants (ACCA). I have tried to find out with them if having a DMP effects whether I can continue to train with them, however they couldnt answer me on the phone. I know there are some restrictions with the ICAEW but dont know about the ACCA. Do you know if there are any restrictions you have dealt with before?

Also, I am due to qualify in 2013 and my income should double (then I wouldnt be in this mess) - what happens when your income goes up, do you need to renegotiate the payments again?

Thank you

Hi and thank you for your message

I would recommend that you confirm this with the ACCA.

As far as I am aware,a DMP shouldn't affect your training, but you would need to confirm this.

If your income is likely to increase once you qualify, then this solution may only be temporary, as you may then be able to continue with the minimum payments.
You should avoid bankruptcy as this could mean you could lose your licence and earning capability.
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]A DMP is not always suitable for everyone, so I would recommend that you call us for an appointment to speak to one of our debt counsellors. Our help is completely free and confidential and the counsellor will explore all the options available for you.

To speak to a counsellor, you can call free on 0800 138 1111. Lines are open from 08.00 until 20.00 Monday until Friday

Kind Regards
Sue

ILOVECARP

Hi I am just starting a DMP with CCCS for £6000 of debts and today sent all my letters to creditors and all the info required to CCCS. My question is one of my debts is £1400 with barclaycard and i have had the card since 2002 and reckon there are unfair charges been charged in the last 9 years. Should I process a credit card charges claim against barclaycard to reclaim these charges or will it cause problems? As they are just about to find out about my DMP. I just feel the money potentially to be reclaimed could be used to clear my debt quicker. Your help is appreciated :-)

hopefully1983happy

Thank you CCCS Sue for your help, I will look in to it. I really appreciate your advice.

CCCS_Sue

puskas wrote: »

Hi,

My question relates to my late father, who died just before chistmas.

He was in some amount of debt and as a result had a bad credit rating. This resulted in me taking out a loan in my name, which he then used and payed the money to me monthly by direct debit for me to service the loan with. He didn't want me to be left with the loan should anything bad happen to him so he took out life insurance for the loan amount.

9 months after taking out the loan he died. Now I'm in the process of claiming the life insurance policy, however there's a large "but".

He also had several credit cards, owing more than the loan in total. He had no other money when he died, but did own the house jointly with my mother. I realise his half of the house passes to her but will the credit cards be expected to be paid out of that life insurance? Or can my mother as the executor of the estate decide that that money goes to paying off me as another creditor? She says that was what the money was meant for and that's what she intends to do, but is that wise? If she pays off my loan can the credit card companies (who she intends to come to an agreement with separately) then try to get that money back through the courts?

Thanks for all the great help you've been handing out btw, you're all stars!!

Hi puskas and thank you for your message

It can be difficult trying to sort out finances at such a sad time.

I have attached a link to the CAB website which has lots of information on financial affairs when someone dies which you may find helpful

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_family/family/dealing_with_the_financial_affairs_of_someone_who_has_died.htm
With regard to the loan you took out on his behalf, I would recommend that you get some legal advice regarding this.
I have attached a link to Community Legal Advice. They give free confidential legal help and may be able to advise you further.
http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/


Hope this helps
Kind Regards
Sue

CCCS_Sue

mpc3 wrote: »

Hi,
I have a bank loan with HSBC that has another 8 monthly payments on it - £1850 and then I'm free!
I have poor credit rating so took a Vanquis card a while back, now though the interest on that is so high I'm slipping back into debt problems. The bank wont give me a credit card to do a balance transfer nor will they increase my loan. HELP!:(

Hi mpc3 and thank you for your message

Unfortunately, there is no easy solution once you have signed for one of these high interest cards
It is always advisable where possible to try and pay the balance off in full each month. If you don’t, the outstanding debt can soon spiral, especially if you continue to use the card and only pay back the minimum each month.

If you have tried to apply for a 0% balance transfer, or a lower interest card and been refused, then all you can do is to continue to pay as much as you can each month to pay it off as quickly as possible.
Once you have cleared your loan with HSBC in eight months time, you will have some extra money you could use to pay off the card quicker.

If you are struggling to meet every day living costs just to make the repayments to your card, then you could contact us for further help and advice

In order for us to be able to provide you with advice on your financial situation you can either use our online advice facility Debt Remedy, or ring our free Helpline to book a telephone appointment with a counsellor.

Debt Remedy will assist you in completing a financial statement which includes information on your household, employment, income, expenditure and debts. All this information is used as a basis to determine the options available to you to deal with your situation.

Once you’ve followed the process through and completed all the required information you will immediately be presented with an advice booklet, which will provide tailored advice for you based on your current circumstances. It will also provide advice on ways you may be able to improve your situation.

Alternatively if you would prefer to talk to a debt counsellor about your situation, you can book a telephone based appointment by calling our helpline free on 0800 138 1111. Lines are open Monday to Friday 08:00-20:00.

Kind Regards
Sue

CCCS_Sue

JT87 wrote: »

Hi,

I sent off my DMP pack last Monday, and was just wondering when I would hear from CCCS, or what the next step is etc? As I have creditors chasing me and wanting written confirmation from CCCS to get the charges stopped.

Cheers

Hi JT87 and thank you for your message

As soon as we receive your pack, we will process your application. We need your signed authority before we can speak to your creditors. This should have been returned with your DMP pack.
Once we have all the details we need, we will contact you to explain the next steps.

You also need to write to all your creditors using our template letter to explain that you are going on a plan with us. You need to send this with a payment you can realistically afford for this month if you have not already done so.

Kind Regards
Sue

CCCS_Sue

RAHRAH700 wrote: »

I currently have a CCCS debt management plan in place with £23000 of debt on (debt was run up when my husband lost his eye and spent 6 months in hospital so we lived on credit cards throughout that time) that we have been plodding along and paying for the last couple of years, however over the weekend we had 2 bits of bad news one of which being that my husbands ex girlfriend has somehow managed to acquire a credit card in my husbands name and run up £4k of debt on it which can now be classed as fraud against us as we declared all our debts when we took out the debt management plan which has upset me slightly as now he ex has dissappeared (conveniently) also i was made redundant on Friday and there is no way we could continue with the plan, i know that we can reduce our payment and make a gratituary payment each month but that isnt really going to help reduce our debts.
I am considering bankrupcy at the moment as it seems like the only way out as we cannot survive on just my husbands wages alone. Is there any way we can declare ourselves bankrupt withot losing our house? Its all we have to show at the moment for our hard work and it would be heartbreaking to lose it!

Hi rahrah700 and thank you for your message

Sorry to hear of your current situation.

I am not able to say whether bankruptcy would be your best option without knowing your full situation

I would recommend you contact our client support team to let them know about your change in circumstances and they will be able to review your options.

Kind Regards
Sue

CCCS_Sue

ILOVECARP wrote: »

Hi I am just starting a DMP with CCCS for £6000 of debts and today sent all my letters to creditors and all the info required to CCCS. My question is one of my debts is £1400 with barclaycard and i have had the card since 2002 and reckon there are unfair charges been charged in the last 9 years. Should I process a credit card charges claim against barclaycard to reclaim these charges or will it cause problems? As they are just about to find out about my DMP. I just feel the money potentially to be reclaimed could be used to clear my debt quicker. Your help is appreciated :-)

Hi ILovecarp and thank you for your message

If you feel that these charges have been added unfairly, then you could try and claim them back. I would recommend that you contact our client support team before you go ahead so that they are aware
I have attached a link to the website which gives some good advice regarding how to proceed
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges

Kind Regards
Sue

scrummymummy2011

Thank you for your reply, I tryed quoting what you wrote so you could remember my problems but it wouldnt let me :-(

Anyways iphoned cccs but i dont have enough money left over to set up a dmp, Carrying on as we are isnt a option as £100 to live on isnt enough esp when a newborn is due (pram, cot, bottles, clothing etc!)

So ive decided to wait untill my baby born in april/may then ring up cccs and set up a dmp, as we will then have extra money from tax credits/child benifit and should have enough avaliable to set up a dmp...untill then i am going to send letters out explaining my situation, offering token payments of £1 and asking them to stop interest/charges..
This is all i can do, I am hoping in the 3/4 months maybe some of the debts will go over to debt collection agencies.

What are your views on this? Also how long does it usually take a crediter to either stop interest/charges or transfer it to debt collecters?
Thank you x