Struggling with debt? Ask a debt advisor a question

StepChange_Pavan

h3ndr1x wrote: »

Hi CCCS

Im new to this forum and very nieve when it comes to solving my financial situation. I've just got off the phone to a company called Churchwood who have offered me a consolidation program. I very stupidly gave them bank details so they could begin the process of contacting my lenders, now after reading some bad reviews and discovering that people like yourselves offer the same service for free and getting a little worried. They seemed nice enough and easy to get back in touch with regarding a follow up question, however i was wondering if you guys have heard much about them and how they work? I am waiting to for them to call me back (the advisor was out to lunch) as so i can cancel my account with them.

I have around 20k debts that Im trying to pay of including 2 credit cards a personal loan and a student loan. is this something CCCS can help me with?

Kind regards

Will.

Hi Will and welcome to the forum!

Unfortunately I’m unable to comment on other companies. However, you are right that there are other organisations, such as ourselves that offer debt advice for free. If you are paying them a fee, this money could be going towards clearing your debts quicker.

I would recommend that you call our free helpline to speak with one of our trained debt counsellors on 0800 138 1111. Alternatively, you could use our online debt advice facility called Debt Remedy which can be found on the CCCS website

Kind regards,
Pavan

StepChange_Pavan

winner12 wrote: »

Hi there
Im on my own DMP but struggling with Monument credit card im paying pro rata offers but they wont agree to the amount offered , weird thing is they are not charging interest or fees on my statements so have they accepted unofficially

Hi Winner12, and thank you for your message.

It’s hard to say whether or not they have accepted your offer. However, if you have already worked out how much you can afford and have supported this with a copy of your budget, I would keep sending them the payment anyway.

It’s important to remember that you can’t offer them money that you don’t have, so stick to your arrangement.

Kind regards,
Pavan

winner12

Thanks for your help I do have the same problems with capital one (previous posting)they want pay slips or proof of income none of which I have my partner is helping with pro rata offers I have small children but i am trying to find a job that fits in around them so i can pay my debts sooner but it falls on deaf ears with both of these companies can they do anything most of my other crediters have accepted my offers and I thought that providing SOA which was prepared with the help of National Debt Line means I dont have to provide anything else is this true

PinkPeach

Hi, my partner has about £2500 debt. He was on a DMP with Debt Line but as they were useless he cancelled his arrangement with them this weekend. He now wants to try and sort out his debts on his own, however I'm concerned that the banks won't make a reasonable agreement with him for monthly payments and that this will cause further problems. Is it possible to have been on one DMP and to then use the CCCS? I've advised him before that I feel this would be a better option but he gets so upset and stressed trying to sort it out that it then results in him doing nothing, which we both know is the worst thing to do - luckily I've always managed to chivvy him along when he gets like this so wanted to know if this is possible so that he has the possibilty of another option. Thanks.

girlscout666

Hi CCCS,

I recently entered into a DMP with Gregory Pennington, out of pure desperation! I didn't really do my research and have now reaslied how much more you guys can help (without charging fees!). I haven't started paying them anything yet, my first payment of £110 is due to go out to them on 16th or 17th of August, so fairly soon...

I would like to switch to you guys and not pay 15% fees each month as I dont trust that my creditors are going to get the money etc. Is this possible to do, and how simple would it be to switch everything over to you guys??

Also, do you offer a payment protection thing, incase I loose my job or something?

Kind regards,
Jess

makemedebtfreeplease

Hello,

Me and hubbie just setting up a dmp with cccs at moment, just got forms in post to send back with the proof of income etc..., has made me think though as sometimes we both get overtime/commission should we include this in our monthly budget, it isnt guaranteed but we usually get something extra? just want to make sure we are doing everything correctly, thanks

mintys1

Hi, I completed Debt Remedy about 10 days ago and was advised to go on a DMP and completed the application process online.
I still have not heard from the CCCS and in the meantime have had a letter from Retail Bank Collections representaing AA Finance stating that "Our representative will be calling to your home on the 11th August 2010" , Any advice on how I should deal with this please,
Thank You

helen83

Hi, I have accumlated quite alot of debt on my credit card since buying my first home last year and i also owe a member of my family a substantial amount of money. I am at the end of my maternity leave and only being paid smp, i have rang the credit card company to see if i can make reduced payments for 2 mths as i am going back to work in sept and can resume normal payment then. they said no as its against my credit agreement. I'm not sure what to do now, should i just miss the payment and risk it, or is there another way the only option they offered me was to take a bank loan from them on a buy now pay later scheme at a rate of 26% theis meant i was paying double and more back than the credit card debt. any advice would be appreciated!

CCCS_Sue

winner12 wrote: »

Thanks for your help I do have the same problems with capital one (previous posting)they want pay slips or proof of income none of which I have my partner is helping with pro rata offers I have small children but i am trying to find a job that fits in around them so i can pay my debts sooner but it falls on deaf ears with both of these companies can they do anything most of my other crediters have accepted my offers and I thought that providing SOA which was prepared with the help of National Debt Line means I dont have to provide anything else is this true

If you have sent them a copy of your income and expenditure, a list of other creditors, and a realistic offer, then you have done all you can! Just keep making regular payments whether they accept of not until your circumstances improve.

Regards
Sue

CCCS_Sue

PinkPeach wrote: »

Hi, my partner has about £2500 debt. He was on a DMP with Debt Line but as they were useless he cancelled his arrangement with them this weekend. He now wants to try and sort out his debts on his own, however I'm concerned that the banks won't make a reasonable agreement with him for monthly payments and that this will cause further problems. Is it possible to have been on one DMP and to then use the CCCS? I've advised him before that I feel this would be a better option but he gets so upset and stressed trying to sort it out that it then results in him doing nothing, which we both know is the worst thing to do - luckily I've always managed to chivvy him along when he gets like this so wanted to know if this is possible so that he has the possibilty of another option. Thanks.

Hi pinkpeach and thank you for your message.

Your partner is welcome to contact us to discuss his debt situation and to explore the options that are available for him.
If he does not want to contact us for an appointment on the phone, then he could use our online Debt Remedy facility. I have attached a link:-
www.cccs.co.uk/ref/drcu

Alternatively, he can call our helpline free on 0800 138 1111.

Regards
Sue