Getting out of an arrangement with a debt management agency

LooBee2262

Can anyone help.

Faced with £1,900 bailiff debt (council tax from previous borough) and two payday loans for £1300 I approache a lender for a loan and they put me though to a debt management person.

So far I have paid £500 and they have written 3 letters and not paid any money over. The bailiff is refusing the offer made and I feel I could do better myself - as they have not kept up their side of the bargain would I be better to cancel this and take control myself?

Any chance I can get my £500 back?

dancingfairy

Have you got a written contract? if there is nothing to say how much notice to give I would write to them and say due to your poor service and you have not kept up with your promises I want my money back - or words to that effect.
Yes you do need to take back control. As you probably know council tax is a priorty debt and should be the first thing to tackle. The payday loans will have to wait for a while.
Have you got any other priorty debts - ie water, gas/electric, rent etc?
df

SwipernoSwiping

In your place I would write down all the times/dates you have contacted these people - what happened along with any written correspondence to your local Citizens Advice Bureau, or Community Legal Advice Network - they will help you deal with the problem, know if it's possible to get your money back, and if you want, show you how to write to those that you owe to sort out the debts without you paying anyone to do it for you.

They have qualified, trained staff and volunteers that do this day to day.

With these things it's a mountain that makes you feel like you don't know where to start, CAB make it into a molehill, and take a heck of alot of the stress and pressure off for you.

Good Luck.

RAS

LooBee

You simply cannot put unpaid CT into an debt managment plan. It is a priority debt that need paying off before you dealwith the other debts.

have you ever allowed the bailiffs into the house?

LooBee2262

Am trying to re-take control. Baliff's are asking for more than I can reasonably afford. They want money back over 6 month and I want to pay ovr 8 is there any way I can make them agree?

dancingfairy

They want it cleared before the end of the Council tax year as the council have to do reports on much council tax they've collected (I'm not sure if it affects how much money they get in in grants) but they will push this through to the bailiffs as well - if you can't afford it then you can afford it but you may have a tough time getting them to accept. As council tax is a priority debt if you have to pay 1 pound per month to you other creditors to get the council tax sorted then that's what you must do.
Things you may find useful - getting in touch with the head of council tax recovery at the council.
The other thing is to get in contact with a local councillor and explain the situation as they can often intervene as they know they are voted for and accountable to the general public.
Good luck getting it sorted
df

dancingfairy

They also don't want it dragging in to next year as you will then have next years bill to pay as well and they will need to be convinced that you can afford to pay the installments for next year as well as any extra from this year as they don't want to be taking you to court again next year. It is possible the council may agree to let you go into next year but I think it will very much depend on the council.
df