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  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    Bengal128 wrote: »
    Hi

    I am in process of doing a CCCS, I have just given them the go ahead to authorise it. I have £453 to pay to them a month for 5 creditors and total sum is £46000(without interest). I stupidly rang Mercers today as they threaten a debt collector. So they told me that Barclaycards don't always listen to CCCS and that they would let me pay £65 a month until CCCS are in touch to stop debt collector coming around. I havent sent any money off as I have just read that CCCS won't help if I've gone into an agreement with them. So should I do, I just want to pay my debts and I feel I've been duped. Am I ok? What should I do? Please please please reply as CCCS arn't open over the weekend and I desperately need advice. Thanks for reading.

    Hi bengal 128 and thank you for your message

    Mercers sound as though they may be trying to pressure you into paying more than you can afford.
    A one off payment to your creditors before your plan starts is fine, as long as the payment is affordable and not going to leave you short for your priority bills.
    Once the plan is up and running, then you are advised not to offer any more than you are offering on your plan, as this could leave you short for your priority payments.
    Sometimes they use the threat of sending a collector to your home to try and get more money.
    If they do call to your home, a debt collector has no special powers.
    They are not bailiffs. You do not have to let them into your property.
    The money you have surplus after paying all your bills will be distributed on a pro rata basis amongst your creditors, so they all get a fair share whilst you are on a DMP.
    If you are unsure or anxious about anything concerning your DMP, then please do not hesitate to call our client support team. They will be able to advise you further.

    Regards
    Sue
    I am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS 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 Remedy
  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    manicmiz wrote: »
    Hi,
    Sorry if this has been asked before, but there are lots of pages to read through! I am in the process of setting up a DMP through CCCS. I get paid in less than two weeks and it will go straight into my bank account. I am setting up a new bank account, just waiting for the paperwork to come through, so it won't be set up in time to have my salary paid into it, I expect. So should I go ahead and send the notification to creditor letter to my existing bank (who I also have a cc, overdraft and loan with!) or should I wait in case they offset my salary against the debt and I have no money for the next month? Hope that question makes sense! Thank you.

    Hi manicmiz and thank you for message

    To safeguard your money, it may be better to wait for the new account to be opened, have your money transferred, and then send the notification.

    Regards
    Sue
    I am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS 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 Remedy
  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    LolaCola wrote: »
    Hi,
    My Husband and I are nearly 1 year into a DMP with CCCS. Thank you for all the help you've given us so far :-) Everything has been going very well. However we've hit a strange problem. My husband made a online purchase with Paypal the other day. The problem was he had registered our new bank account card with paypal but forgot to delete the old card which is linked to one of our creditors.The result was that Paypal defaulted to the "old" card which we didn't realise was still active. This was a genuine mistake & it was only a matter of a few pounds, but this has resulted in us going just pence over our original agreed overdraught with our creditor (the amount which we were paying off on our DMP). When we got our statement and realised our mistake we immediately put back the exact same total of the transactions from our correct bank account. But then the bank in question hit us with a £25 overdraft charge. We are unsure what to do now as the amount we are paying each month will not cover this £25 and subsequently we will be paying more and more charges each month the longer we are outwith the original agreed overdraught as a result of my husbands stupid mistake (i am so not happy with him for this :mad:). We were considering borrowing the £25 to cover the charge as we don't want the debt to spiral with charges. What advice would you give us.
    Many thanks

    Hi lolacola and thank you for your message.

    You really need to call our client support team and explain what has happened.

    They will be able to advise you further regarding this.

    Regards
    Sue
    I am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS 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 Remedy
  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    cgw wrote: »
    My dyslexic friend has got himself into a tangle which I'm trying to help him unravel.

    He is the leaseholder of a flat where he, a series of tenants and his daughter have lived over the past 5 years. His life has been a bit chaotic during this time.

    He lived in his flat when he was unemployed and in receipt of benefits.

    During most of this time he has been living with a girlfriend, in her house, in another local authority area than the one in which his flat is and at times staying with friends.
    A month ago, he split from his girlfriend and moved back into his flat.

    In the process of informing the local authority that he was moving back in, he discovered that neither his tenants or daughter had been paying council tax.

    The local authority have now sent demands for most of the missing payments plus court costs.

    I have sat down with him and worked out a detailed table of who was living in the flat and when, which I sent to the local authority.

    The local authority have replied and want:

    copies of original, signed tenancy agreements
    and proof of where he was living and registered for council tax

    He has discovered that his ex girlfriend had not included him in her council tax payments and was instead claiming a single person discount. Despite paying her monthly more than enough money to cover this, he does not feel able to 'drop her in it' with her local authority, due to the acrimonious and distressing nature of their break up - she has a mental health history, too.

    Questions:

    If he supplies tenancy agreement copies for most of his tenants (apart from his daughter, who just had his permission to live there), does he HAVE to prove where he was living?

    If he was staying with friends - a married couple paying standard council tax, would they have had to listed him, to their local authority as living there in order to prove he was there? Would a letter from them serve as proof? Would they be liable to pay any more, if they were already paying the full amount for two people?

    Is he liable for court costs for bills he never saw?

    Is there anything else that can help him?

    After some disastrous years, he just managed to see a debt-free future in reach and the possibility of a bill for nearly £3000 is a major setback.

    Hi cwg

    CIS has already given you a very thorough and helpful reply to the above!
    If you do require further assistance, let us know.

    Regards
    Sue
    I am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS 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 Remedy
  • Hi,

    I signed up for a computer course in 2007. (That's another problem entirely!) Anyway, in 2009 I defaulted on one payment. I was paying Barclays Partner finance via Direct Debit every month.
    I receive a letter from Career Development Finance stating that BPF had passed them the account.

    I set up a payment plan with CDF amount paid via standing order from my bank on the 15th of every month. This started Oct 2009.
    I paid regularly. Fast forward to March 2010. Letters begin to arrive from Barclays Partner Finance. Stating I am in default & am being charged £22.50 every two weeks until the payments catch up. (Strange I thought I was paying CDF On time, Every month)

    Next the phone calls start from BPF, You are in default charges are being added to your account,
    I explain I am paying a 3rd party, it's passed to a supervisor, I'm told it's ok I am paying the 3rd party, BPF shouldn't even be looking to me for the payments as 3rd party are sending payments on.
    I call Career Development Finance Ltd. They inform me that I need to speak to BPF as the account should have been closed with themselves.

    After the 6th phone call from Barclays Partner Finance telling me the same thing I ask who I should be paying. They tell me BPF.
    Person on the end of the phone gives me all the account details to set up a standing order to pay them direct. I am due to pay 1st August. They send me out a statement showing all the default sums they have added & when the payments from CDF are being sent.

    Statement arrives. CDF are receiving my payments on 15th of each month. They are sending the payments to BPF 3 weeks sometimes up to a month AFTER they have received them. Therefore £22.50 is added to my account balance every 2 weeks.

    Fast forward to this morning. Letter in the post from CDF to tell me I have defaulted & they will take me to court blah blah blah Also they have added £15 late payment fee to the account!! Ring BPF I am told You should have been paying CDF.

    I am now at a complete loss as to who is liable for these "Late payment fees" Who I am meant to be paying. & where I stand legally.

    I am sorry this is so complicated as you can imagine I am getting more & more stressed out as it continues.

    I would appreciate any help you can give me on this matter.
    Joanna
  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    Hi everyone, apologies if this is the wrong bit to post on, I'm new and in a right quandry.

    In March we sought help from Payplan due to a change in circumstances making it impossible to meet our monthly debt repayments. Since then things have gone from bad to worse.

    In short we now have 28 days to pay £16,000 to Natwest's solicitors due to Payplan not sending our admossion slip in time in response to the first CCJ letter.

    To add to the confusion our justabank statement shows Natwests solicitors as having accepted our arrangement.

    We also see a seperate amount of £10,000 owed to said solicitors and marked as pending. We think this might be our £2000 o/d. Could this have gained £8,000 in 4 months?

    Massive mess. Please help.


    Hi Jonnybroke and thank you for your message

    If you have received a CCJ you are unable to pay, you can request a re-determination of the rate of pay, but you can only have a re-determination if the original rate of payment was determined without a hearing. You need to write within 14 days.
    Your letter should contain why you would like a re-determination of the rate of payment. You will need to include the parties, court reference, and your full name.
    Alternatively you can ask for a variation on a form N245. There is a charge of £35 for this. If you are on certain benefits/low income, you can apply to have all or part of the fee waived on a form EX160.
    I would recommend that you call us for an appointment to speak to one of our debt counsellors as soon as possible so that we can get all the details and give you further advice.
    Our free helpline number is 0800 138 1111. Lines are open 08.00 until 20.00 Monday to Friday.
    With regard to the £2000 overdraft, I would recommend that you contact the solicitor and ask them for more information regarding this. It would really help if you had this information when you rang for the appointment.

    Regards
    Sue
    I am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS 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 Remedy
  • MRS_A_3
    MRS_A_3 Posts: 113 Forumite
    Just a quick question that's been thrown up from another thread.

    Is it possible to ask CCCS to take a creditor off my DMP?

    I am going to ask the catalogues for a CCA but if they can't produce one can I take them out of my DMP until they do?
    DMP member no 390

    Start date August 2010 - End date June 2019 (but working on it) Now down to September 2018 - now August 2017:j
  • CCCS_Sue
    CCCS_Sue Posts: 966 Organisation Representative
    wendy99 wrote: »
    Hi, I am considering a Debt Relief Order and was wondering if you could help with a few questions I have. I know I will need to call to discuss fully but I live abroad and not easy with the time difference so I want to be prepared before I call.

    Here goes:

    1. Can I apply from outside the UK? I have been living in Canada since Jan this year.
    2. Can it all be done by email / phone?
    3. What paperwork will I need to provide for the DRO?
    4. I can get family to pay the £90 fee so can the paperwork for this be sent to someone else?


    5. I do temp work through an agency - how do I work out income for budget planner - do I do an average over last 6 months or do I do based on income from current job?
    6. Reason for looking at DRO is relationship breakdown. Our only joint debt is a bank account with overdraft. My ex-partner wants to keep this account and pay the overdraft as it is his only bank account. Can I leave it off the DRO?

    Thanks so much for any help you can give.

    Hi Wendy99,

    Thank you for your message.

    To do a DRO, you have to meet certain criteria. I have attached a link from our CCCS website which gives you information on this. http://www.cccs.co.uk/InfoCentre/EnglandandWales/Debtsolutions/Debtrelieforder.aspx

    I have answered each of your questions in the order you have asked them:

    1) If you do meet the DRO criteria, and this is recommended as your best option, you must show to the Court that your centre of main interest is in the UK.
    2) You can call +44 113 297 0126 for a telephone appointment. Lines are open 08.00 until 20.00, Monday to Friday.
    3) When you call for your appointment, the counsellor will put together a budget with you. They will explain all of the paperwork that you will need. You will also need to apply for a copy of your credit file as it’s important that we include all your outstanding debts.
    4) Your family can make a payment at any ‘Payzone’ outlet. A list of these and their opening hours can be found at www.payzone.co.uk
    5) You need to be aware that if your surplus income exceeds £50 per month, then the DRO could be revoked and any fee paid could be lost. So if your income fluctuates, then a DRO might not be your best option.
    6) As this is a joint debt, you are both joint and severally liable. Therefore, if you apply for a DRO you would need to include the overdraft but the bank would still pursue your ex partner for the money. Your ex partner would need to write to the bank to inform them of the situation. It would be up to the bank to decide whether he could keep the account open.

    Hope this helps.

    Regards,
    Sue
    I am a CCCS Debt Counsellor and have specific permission from Martin to post on these boards to try and help those in debt. Read more information on CCCS 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 Remedy
  • Hi!
    We have had a plan with cccs up and running for a few months now and all our creditors have seemed to be ok apart from Halifax. The debt was passed to their in house collections team, Albion and for the last few weeks we have has letters from them with ever increasing threats. The one that arrived today says -Our client has told us that you still have not paid the amount you owe on your account. This situation cannot continue. Unless you pay the full amount now, our client will either start legal action or arrange for debt collectors to visit your property to collect the debt.
    I am really worried about this now.
    I have not contacted cccs about the letters as I know Halifax have been getting their money as it shows on my statements.
    I am just wondering what I need to do.
    Please can you advise x
    You cant have everything; where would you put it? ;)
    Reclaimed: marbles c/card-£131.00,MBNA c/card-£385.00,Capital One c/card-£230.00,Natwest c/card-£248.68,Nationwide PPI-£1590.88,Nationwide c/card-£56.21,Barclays PPI-£2805.28
  • Hi,

    I have a reletively modest amount of debt but my work situation is currently shocking and seemingly not likely to change soon. I am currently in receipt of ESA but the amount I receive covers only my Direct Debits/min payments for the month meaning I have nothing to spend on food/petrol etc.

    My ESA claim is currently on suspend as I went on a paid course for 6 weeks though I'm told that the decision makers will pass it through and I will receive ESA once my claim is processed again. I have got by so far on the goodwill of family and managed to keep up to speed with payments for the main part but not having anything coming in, I am now starting to miss payments. So far it's just been my last two CC bills but they are starting to get onto me and I could do with some help advice on how to manage it.

    I have around 2500 of CC debt, a 2k overdraft and a bank loan on my car which is 65 pcm until March/April 2011.

    I posted this on 16/06 and was advised to send letters to both CC providers offering £1/month while I am not working. I did this around 3 weeks ago using a template I found online and have also used both my CC's online secure email facility to check whether they have been received.

    The only correspondence I have had so far has been a letter from one saying that i am owing them two months min payments and to pay or they would take action (legal proceedings/debt recovery etc) and a text from the other saying my credit will be affected if i do not pay and again threatening similar action.

    Is it possible they haven't received/processed my letter yet or is there some other reason? I still receive a number of calls (automated) on a daily basis.
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