Struggling with debt? Ask a debt advisor a question

CCCS_Sarah

livvie84 wrote: »

Hi,

I am just filling in the debt remedy form on the CCCS website and have a question. I am currently on maternity leave until October and was wondering if I need to put my maternity pay as my 'take home pay' or the salary I will receive in October.

Thanks,

Olivia

Hi Olivia,

Thank you for your message.

I would recommend that you give our debt remedy team a call so that they can help you put in the right figures. As you are also going to be having a change to your situation this may change the advice so would be better to talk to them.

Sarah

Triggles

Quote:
Originally Posted by Triggles
I'm a bit confused, so have a question. We got a letter from 1st credit regarding DH's debt with Santander. They sent 2 letters in one day, and are giving instructions to pay them instead of Santander. We haven't received anything from Santander saying they sold the debt. Do we continue paying Santander until they tell us otherwise? Or do we now start paying 1st credit... How do we know - we've been bombarded with so much post from Santander that it's just ridiculous, but never anything saying "ok pay 1st credit now as we've sold the debt to them"

Hello,

I would recommend that you contact Santander and let them know what has happened and make sure that the debt has been passed on to First Credit.

Sarah

Sarah,
Thanks. I have so far sent both an email (which they apparently aren't accepting as I didn't include our home phone number for them to call us) and a registered letter to 1st credit telling them that we are in the process of confirming with Santander that the debt has indeed been sold to them and that once we have it confirmed in writing by Santander then we will be happy to send our monthly payments to them instead, but that they will need to wait for us to get this information and also included the "don't send a doorstep collection person" letter as part of it as well. Hopefully that will allow us the time to get a response back from Santander, as I would like the information in writing.

music_maker

Hello!

A quick question re DMP.
If my debts have been passed to debt collection agencies is it too late to try and set a DMP?

Thanks
Dave

CCCS_Sarah

Firey668 wrote: »

Hi how exactly do I get the DRO from CCCS??


As i just did the debt-remedy online, and then did the 'Live-Chat' with an adviser,
but all he did was look at my income vs outgoings and debt from my debt remedy,
tell me that i wouldn't be able to offer any repayment for the debts as i have less income than i do expenditure...


But then he just sent me the link to download the PDF of CCCS's booklet about dealing with debt, what the banks can and cant do (all of which i already know),
but then just went without offering me the various solutions like DROs... ect


So didn't actually offer me any solutions at all, or say that he will do a DRO for me.



Do i need to tell them on the live chat that i want to do DRO, and ask to be sent a pack for it??

Hi Firey668,

I replied via PMs yesterday. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

Esoog wrote: »

Hello,

I would be thankful for any advice.

On behalf of my girlfriend I have made (she signed the letters) a full and final settlement offer to BLS collections (who are LLoyds inhouse collections dept).

I've sent two letters now by Recorded Deliv. neither of which have arrived (still showing as being progressed through the system for delivery)

now I'm assuming they've either got them but refused to sign for them, or just ignored them, either way it doesn't help me out much. Although I do have the proof of posting etc so when they say I've ignored their letters I can prove I haven't.

What do you think I should do? Im thinking about sending them both again via Special Delivery as the postman is unlikely to just let them have that without a signature.

I'm certainly not going to talk to these pirates via the phone.

Hello,

I would recommend that you initially check the address you are sending the letter too. If the address is correct contact Royal Mail and see what is happening at their end.

I have just looked on the royal mail website and it does require a signature on delivery, so you will need to check if the postman are allowing mail not to be signed for, or not delivering it. Either way sounds like its their process falling down.

I have attached a link to the Royal Mail website for you to look into this http://www.royalmail.com/portal/rm/jump2?mediaId=500201&catId=400028

Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

D2THEJ wrote: »

From all that i have read of peoples debt on this thread i feel bad because my debt is only £30, its not the amount, obviously, but the fact that a debt collector rang me to recover it.
The fact is i had signed up years ago with tiscali for a phone and internet package then talk talk took over.
When i moved house i phoned tt to tell them and give them notice that i was moving, it was agreed that i would pay the 'last direct debit' on the 3rd march then cancel the dd. We moved on the 1st of march but then i recieved a phone call for another £43 which after they explained i thought 'well ide better pay it' even though i wasnt that sure why i owed it, a short while after that another call and more cost £13, i specifically asked 'is that it, i dont owe you anymore' the woman said that was it.
I have had so many calls after this saying that i now owe them £30 odd for the the month after i had left that address.
I have told them that i really dont see how i owe them this but would gladly pay if they would prove it to me.
This morning i have had a phone call from somebody called c.a.r.s telling me that they are going to send a letter to my old address in regards to this debt. Duh! I dont live there anymore, they dont know my new address.
I know how pathetic this is compared the the bad situations of others but we never buy things we cant afford, all bills are payed on time and in full....do you see where im going with this, im angry that im accused of being in debt when im not, or at least i dont think i am.
I dont get it.
Should i just pay it to avoid a ccj or should i fight them.
Yours disheartened

Hello,

Sounds like you are having a nightmare! It’s not the point that it’s only £30, you should not have to pay for something that you don’t owe.

I have attached a letter below that you could use to send to the collection agency.


Send that and see how you get on.

Sarah

Example letter – request for creditor information

From:
Name:
Address:
Postcode:
Date:
To:
Creditor’s Name:
Account/Agreement No:

Without Prejudice

Dear Sirs
With reference to the above account
Please will you send me a true copy of the original signed agreement together with an up to date statement of the account showing all transactions, including interest and charges, and a copy of any other document referred to in the agreement.
I understand I am entitled to this information under ss77-79 of The Consumer Credit Act (CCA) 1974.
I also understand that this information should be sent to me within 12 working days of you receiving this letter. The CCA states that creditors are unable to enforce an agreement until this request is complied with.
I am enclosing the £1:00 fee, payable under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, for each account.
Yours faithfully
(Print name)

CCCS_Sarah

Triggles wrote: »

Sarah,
Thanks. I have so far sent both an email (which they apparently aren't accepting as I didn't include our home phone number for them to call us) and a registered letter to 1st credit telling them that we are in the process of confirming with Santander that the debt has indeed been sold to them and that once we have it confirmed in writing by Santander then we will be happy to send our monthly payments to them instead, but that they will need to wait for us to get this information and also included the "don't send a doorstep collection person" letter as part of it as well. Hopefully that will allow us the time to get a response back from Santander, as I would like the information in writing.

Hello,

I would recommend that you send a letter of complaint and tell them to put the account in dispute until the matter is resolved. As you are being chased by two companies for the same debt, this could be classed as a breach of the Debt Collection Guidelines (2.6b using more than one debt collection business at the same time resulting in repetitive and/or frequent contact by different parties)

If you would like to make a complaint about this you could seek advice from Consumer Direct, they are part of the OFT.

Hope this helps
Sarah

CCCS_Sarah

music_maker wrote: »

Hello!

A quick question re DMP.
If my debts have been passed to debt collection agencies is it too late to try and set a DMP?

Thanks
Dave

Hello,

Thank you for your message.

No its not, debts do tend to move about but there is a certain process that they follow. I have attached a link to the CCCS website for you so you can read through the debt collection process

http://www.cccs.co.uk/InfoCentre/EnglandandWales/Creditoraction/Debtcollectionprocess.aspx

If you would like an appointment, please call our helpline on 0800 138 1111.

Sarah

mommyof3

My partner and I have a joint account and we have a large overdraft limit of £5000. We have not gone over it but am close to it now since we have just moved house and our Housing Benefits have not come through yet.

I have received letters from Natwest Credit Review Team with regards to the overdraft and several telephone calls, often at work. I was not comfortable in discussing my financial affairs at work and told them so. Since it is a joint account, I don't really want to commit to a verbal agreement about monthly payments but the calls did not cease.

I was poorly today and received another call from Natwest. I stressed that I am discussing a payment plan with my partner, that I am heavily pregnant and poorly and getting increasingly distressed at their almost daily calls.

I even asked that this be noted down in their notes only to be fobbed off that they can't do that. I mentioned that we would come to a decision about the payment plan soon after working out our finance and the Natwest staff said they will keep calling me until a decision as been made.

I am very very distressed by this whole episode- I was getting more and more hysterical, having an asthma attack on the telephone and the Natwest staff, without apology, just said she will not speak and put down the telephone.

Please advise what I should do next.

CCCS_Sarah

mommyof3 wrote: »

My partner and I have a joint account and we have a large overdraft limit of £5000. We have not gone over it but am close to it now since we have just moved house and our Housing Benefits have not come through yet.

I have received letters from Natwest Credit Review Team with regards to the overdraft and several telephone calls, often at work. I was not comfortable in discussing my financial affairs at work and told them so. Since it is a joint account, I don't really want to commit to a verbal agreement about monthly payments but the calls did not cease.

I was poorly today and received another call from Natwest. I stressed that I am discussing a payment plan with my partner, that I am heavily pregnant and poorly and getting increasingly distressed at their almost daily calls.

I even asked that this be noted down in their notes only to be fobbed off that they can't do that. I mentioned that we would come to a decision about the payment plan soon after working out our finance and the Natwest staff said they will keep calling me until a decision as been made.

I am very very distressed by this whole episode- I was getting more and more hysterical, having an asthma attack on the telephone and the Natwest staff, without apology, just said she will not speak and put down the telephone.

Please advise what I should do next.

Hello,

I would recommend that you send them the following letter, and if they continue to call keep a diary and look at making a complaint to Consumer Direct who are part of the OFT.

In the debt collection guidelines it does say in section 2.2g ignoring or disregarding debtors' legitimate wishes in respect of when and where to contact them, for example, shift workers who ask not to be telephoned during certain times of the day.

Hope this helps
Regards
Sarah

To whom it may concern

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to ask that you no longer contact me by telephone as your calls are causing me considerable stress due to the frequency, and that they are being made at inappropriate times. Please remove my telephone number from your database and send all future communication in writing to my home address.

I have provided the most recent copy of my income and expenditure to make you aware of my current financial situation. I will continue to make my payment of x on the x of every month and will keep you informed of any changes in my circumstances as I am keen to resolve this issue as soon as possible.