Some advice for newbie please?

Jay_Cee

Since I'm new here, I'll apologise in advance if I get things wrong!

Bit of back ground first. Things were going fine until about a year ago when a combination of things, including, firstly, reduced wages, then reduced hours, loss of second part time income etc etc, pushed us really close to the edge of our already strained budget. The recession didn't help and, having to make up arrears of Council Tax for last year and this (totalling nearly £500 per month) has finally tipped us over the edge. Having struggled for the last six months, robbing peter etc, we've finally had to admit defeat and try to get some help sort things out.

Having done a budget planner with CCCS, we're about £300 per month short to meet the priority debts, living costs etc, let alone pay anything toward the debts. Things should improve a bit toward the end of the year when the arrears in Council Tax, electricity etc will have been paid off. IN the meantime, they have suggested we try for a short term arrangement and make the creditors an offer of a token payment in the first place.

We've now written to the various companies. Most have completely ignored us, a couple have written to say that they will need more inform (maybe my shoe size) but we received two letters today from Littlewoods (Choice & Very) advising that they could not accept the offer as it didn't meet their "criteria".

This is where the advice bit is needed - what do we do next? Also, do we ignore the constant phone calls? We've already asked them not to phone, particularly as our son works night shift and is constantly being disturbed.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

bottleofred

Hi Jaycee and welcome to the forum,

They will try to bully, harass, threaten and do whatever they can to get the money. However, I can't ever remember seeing anyone getting blood out of a stone! Pay what you can afford, even if it's only a £1 per month. When I say afford, this is what's left after you've paid for all the necessities. They'll say we're not accepting this, but send the payments anyway! I've put the letter below for the harassment regarding telephone calls. When they call again tell them you only wish to be contacted in writing and put the phone down.

Good luck
Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing. I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls and I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only. I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine. Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company may be recorded and used in evidence and I expect this harassment to cease immediately.

Yours faithfully

saltnvinegar

I would also bolster Reds telephone harrassment letter by informing them your son works shifts and quoting OFT guidelines on fair business practice on debt collection which includes:

"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"

Should they ignore this go straight to the OFT and register a complaint.

SnV