We'd like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum... Read More »
We're aware that some users are experiencing technical issues which the team are working to resolve. See the Community Noticeboard for more info. Thank you for your patience.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
Struggling with debt? Ask a debt advisor a question
Options
Comments
-
Hi
I am currently repaying a credit card debt to Lowell Portfolio (originally M&S) I have been making consistent monthly payments since 2009 and have four more to go before the debt is cleared. I recently looked at my credit file and there is nothing recorded on this account except the default which was recorded in 2007. There is nothing to reflect that I have been making payments to the account. Can I ask the creditor to update the status of my account? I am aware that the default will stay on for 6 years.
Thanks for your advice.
Hi greenback and thanks for your post.
There is nothing wrong in asking them to update the status of the account.
This link on improving your credit score should give you more information.
I hope this helps
Kind regards
MatThis is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
Hi,
Can anyone tell me if it's legal for a CCJ to be sold to a third party company who are now asking for more money, hassling me at work and generally being very forceful? If the CCJ - which was for £1 per month has been sold to another company and I haven't signed with the other company how do I stand legally? Does anyone have any info on this?
Much appreciated.......
Hi Carrie273 and thanks for your post.
If you do have a CCJ the amount that you need to repay and the instalments have been set by the court.
As long as you maintain the payments there is nothing the debt collection company can do or complain about.
I’d recommend that you speak to the court about the debt collection company.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
MatThis is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
Hi, I'm starting a DMP with CCCS and have just sent off copies of the template letter they provided to credit card and loans companies but I'm not sure what to write to my bank. It is overdrawn - I have cancelled all my direct debits and stopped using it but I'm not sure what to write. Is there a template letter I could use? And should I offer a token payment to clear it?
Hi rubyjam and thanks for your message.
You overdraft should be included in your DMP and treated the same as your credit card and loans. It sounds like this is the case as you have stopped using the account.
You can use the same template letter provided as the overdraft is just another form of unsecured credit. You should also offer a payment in the same way.
If you’re unsure about any of this give us a ring.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
MatThis is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
I divorced my husband in 2003 and since then he has applied for credit using my address (he now lives in America) We have a council tax debt still outstanding from the time we were together of £2233 I am currently paying £26/month towards this.
Can a negotiate a reduced settlement figure or is that unacceptable as it is a statutory debt?
How can I stop him applying for credit at my current address with my 2nd husband?0 -
Hi
Feel very awkward talking about my debt problem but here goes
When i was 18 i took out a loan for £5000 from a high street bank to fund the purchase of a motorbike. Over the next year or so i also got a credit card and racked up over £900 overdraft on my bank account. Anyway i roughly calculate i was at least 8k in debt. I did briefly go with a debt clear company Harrington brooks if i remember correctly but i couldnt afford the repayments so i stopped paying altogether. Around 7 years has now passed since i paid or spoke to anyone concerning any of my debts in that time i have moved house several times with the odd letter from cowboy debt collectors still following me. I have messed around 2 of the biggest high street banks i havn't had or attempted to get a bank account (apart from the outstanding £900 overdraft 1) for 7 years and had my wages paid into my girlfriends account
But now im 28 im settled down with 2 kids working 30 hours a week for minimum wage and im looking to sort this mess out once and for all and i dont know where to start any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks0 -
I am starting a DMP with CCCS in August. With this running can I still make extra payments to creditors myself? Or should I save up the extra money I am trying to make with eBay etc for future use?Total Debt: £0 [STRIKE]£33,043[/STRIKE]
Official DFW Nerd No. 763:jDMP start date Aug 2011~DFD Aug 2013 :j0 -
lilchikadi wrote: »I divorced my husband in 2003 and since then he has applied for credit using my address (he now lives in America) We have a council tax debt still outstanding from the time we were together of £2233 I am currently paying £26/month towards this.
Can a negotiate a reduced settlement figure or is that unacceptable as it is a statutory debt?
How can I stop him applying for credit at my current address with my 2nd husband?
Hi lilchikadi and welcome to the forum.
You’re right that you can’t negotiate with a council tax bill because it’s a priority. I’d just recommend that you keep paying the amount you’ve agreed and try to offer more whenever you can to get the balance down quicker.
With regards to your ex husband applying for credit at your address; this is fraud and you could consider reporting him to the police.
I’d also recommend that you check that the electoral roll is up to date. You could send any correspondence that you receive back to the sender explaining the situation and take it from there.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
PavanI work as a debt advisor for StepChange Debt Charity (formerly CCCS) and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on StepChange Debt Charity 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 -
I just wanted to say a massive massive thank you, I've asked questions galore, wrote out the statement of account (your version), must have tried 100 different versions as I there was a risk I was going to lose £420 per month and that would have been a ngtmare, was literally looking at bankruptcy, the good news is, i have just had a letter to say that I won't be losing the money, a biggest sigh of relief, I will still need to go through CCCS as I know presently I'm paying 80% of income on bills, and commitments, but with not losing money its certainly going to give me a dmp rather than bankruptcy, so I know that I will have to take the plunge rather than a toe dip. But again, without the help you have given on the thread, not just to my questions, but to others whose circumstances, I think that bit that applies to me. Thank you.xx rip dad... we had our ups and downs but we’re always be family xx0
-
Hi
Feel very awkward talking about my debt problem but here goes
When i was 18 i took out a loan for £5000 from a high street bank to fund the purchase of a motorbike. Over the next year or so i also got a credit card and racked up over £900 overdraft on my bank account. Anyway i roughly calculate i was at least 8k in debt. I did briefly go with a debt clear company Harrington brooks if i remember correctly but i couldnt afford the repayments so i stopped paying altogether. Around 7 years has now passed since i paid or spoke to anyone concerning any of my debts in that time i have moved house several times with the odd letter from cowboy debt collectors still following me. I have messed around 2 of the biggest high street banks i havn't had or attempted to get a bank account (apart from the outstanding £900 overdraft 1) for 7 years and had my wages paid into my girlfriends account
But now im 28 im settled down with 2 kids working 30 hours a week for minimum wage and im looking to sort this mess out once and for all and i dont know where to start any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Hi JamieB333 and thanks for your post.
It’s good that you are tackling the situation now.
The first step would be to get access to your credit file; it is possible that some or all of these debts are now statute barred.
Creditors are unable to legally pursue you for the debt if, after six years;- The creditor has not already obtained a county court judgment (CCJ)
- You or any one else owing the money (on a debt in joint names) have not made a payment
- You have not written to the creditor admitting you owe the debt
Creditors can argue that the debt is not statute barred if you have wilfully avoided paying them by not updating them with new addresses etc.
If you believe that the creditor is timed out to collect the debt, you may wish to use the template letter below.Example letter – limitations act
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Date:
CCCS Client No:
To:
Creditor’s Name:
Account/Agreement No:Without Prejudice
Ref
I do not admit any liability for your claim and will not be making any payment towards it, as it is now more than six-years since any cause of action may have accrued. Any claim would, therefore, appear to be statute barred under section 5 of The Limitations Act 1980 and any court claim will be defended on that basis.
In addition section 2.14 of The Office of Fair Trading Collection guidance states that it is unfair to pursue such claims where, as here, the creditor has made no contact during the relevant limitation period.
If, however, you have substantive evidence that your claim is not statute barred then please supply it to me within 21 days. If you are unable to provide such evidence please confirm that no further action will be taken against me.
Yours faithfully
(Signature)
(Print name)
If the creditors have secured CCJs against any of the debts you may want to call our free Helpline on 0800 138 1111 for further advice.
The situation should be clearer once you have accessed you credit report.
I hope this helps
Kind regards
MatThis is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0 -
southernbelle wrote: »I am starting a DMP with CCCS in August. With this running can I still make extra payments to creditors myself? Or should I save up the extra money I am trying to make with eBay etc for future use?
Hi southernbelle and thanks for your post.
You can’t make extra payments to your creditors outside of your DMP.
I’d recommend that you save up the money into a lump sum to pay off smaller creditors.
You would need to keep us updated in regards to this, and when you wanted to make a lump sum payment you should contact us first.
I hope this helps
Kind regards
MatThis is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply

Categories
- All Categories
- 351K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.1K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 453.6K Spending & Discounts
- 244K Work, Benefits & Business
- 598.9K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 176.9K Life & Family
- 257.3K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards