WELL DONE CCCS - not! HELP PLEASE WHAT DO I DO NOW?

Ames

You need to send it to the address on your latest statements or letters. If it takes ages to get to the right place then that's their problem not yours. And don't phone them! If you want to pay through internet banking then set up a standing order (not a direct debit whatever you do), don't give them your card details as they'll be able to take what they want when they want.

eyeopener2

You will have a rental agreement with your tenants so that would show an agreed amount being paid and when its due. You will have a tax return (unless its a brand new venture). That would do as proof of income.
Anything that you would have for your tax return would do, cos you must have something, receipts or a rent book or whatever.

Trollfever

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2340401

Tsia

ok.. capital one sent me a letter of acknowledgemet back today, the first out of all creditors I am in debt to.
they ask me which I would like.. a short term or long term.
From what I can make out, the long term agrees installments over a length of time until ALL the balance is paid off. They will issue a default against my name if I want this option. . .and set up an arragemnet with me. I mustnt falter on the agreement.

The short term is a 6 month term agreeing to clear all outstanding payments that are on the card account.. not the entire balance and after this the card will be active again.. no default notices against name. (not ideal.. I dont really want the card active to be fair) Is the short term the carrot they dangle so they can possible still make money from you in the future??

neither plan states freeze of intrest. In fact they havent addressed a few points I stated in the letter so I am thinking this letter of response seems generic.

What do I pick? how do I make sure they are freezing the intrest?
in the letter it asks me to call.. but prefer it all to be in writing so I have to reply to them but havent a clue what to say or even if I have grounds to negotiate the terms at this point..
my ideal is no default against my name, the frozen intrest and charges and an arragement that I will keep to til the blalance is paid off entirely.
but how can I get that?

saltnvinegar

Hi Tsia

Thats a good start! They are already opening negotiations so thats promising.

The simple answer to your question of 'What do I pick' is this:

What can you afford?

The important thing here is you have to be realistic on what you can afford to repay. The reason being is that any informal agreement that you make with a creditor is purely at their discretion. If you are not realistic with what you can afford, and then consequently break that agreement, it makes things much more difficult to make them deal with you sympathetically (and makes it more difficult for you to appear the reasonable one).

So if you don't want either choice?

Simply write back and thank them for their letter and being understanding. State that you appreciate their initial proposals, however neither proposal is a viable long term solution in the context of your current financial situation.

State that you can afford to pay £x per month and you would appreciate their understanding and assistance in helping you reduce your debt with them by agreeing to freeze interest and charges.

State that you will inform them immediately of any change in circumstances where you would be in a position to change your monthly payment. (Do not say that change would increase your monthly payment!! You are stating that it may change because it could also go down of course!).

I'm afraid though, that your ideal of a long term arrangement, without a default is a little unreasonable. Any long term arrangement is likely to get a default. Its not impossible (I would never say that!) but a default on your credit file is the price you typicall pay in return for your creditors agreeing to a payment plan.

Good luck and keep us posted.

btw - yes keep everything in writing and ensure you file every letter somewhere safe.

SnV

Tsia

thanks SnV.. I have sent a letter off stating bits what you said and hope to see their reply. however a day late (probably crossed in post) I got a letter for another debt dept of theirs saying they wanna see proof of my income.. the same proof I couldnt provide CCCS! So I dunno shall I just wait til they come back to me? None of the other three creditors are asking for proof!




I have had another acknowledgement from Vanquis too..

but their letter is printed sig.. and states the term they offered me over the phone.. £22.00 per month.. stating my initial £20.14 was not enough for them.
If I want to go ahead I am to pay the first installment of £22 within 14 days otherwise they will refer the account back to the collections debt and bayliffs etc. They also are scaremongering me into this by mentioning possible charges extra fees and court fees if I dont make this initial payment of £22.
Again - no mention to my question about if they will freeze intrest and charges or not!!

:mad:

what do I do? just make the payment and hope they'll freeze it all? or send them a letter too? trouble is the deadline is soon as I have been away. If I make the initial payment of £22. I can afford that each month.. but can I still negotiate terms on the intrest and charges beeing frozen eventhough I have enetered into a payment plan already in their eyes by paying the £22??

sorry if I am not making sense. x

Tsia

On behalf of Vanquis bank.. Impact solutions have been onto me.. saying dealine is over and the minimum is £23 now. Its only a temp arrangement for three months and the intrest is halved. This arragengement will not decrease my debt balance only cover charges for three months. They said they WILL NOT offer intrest to be frozen unless the letter has come from a debt management company!
How can I get this myself? I see someone else was to do it.. why cant I?

please someone respond.

saltnvinegar

Hi Tsia

The reaction from Impact Solutions is quite typical bullying behaviour and is to be expected.

You have to keep plugging away to get these companies to listen to you, and in the cases of some, it can take dozens of letters before they start to take notice. I'm afraid it is a long haul game but keep at it and you'll get there.

Best

SnV

Thrifty_Pixie

Hi Tsia

You haven't answered some of the questions that people have asked you to try and help here.

Firstly, if you are receiving rent as your income then you must have some sort of written agreement with your tenant/s stating the period of the rental and the amount of rent to be paid to you and when. If you haven't got this then I would probably advise that you get one in place soon as there is no protection there for either you or your tenant if the relationship goes 'bad'. And this could count as your proof of income.

Also, you must be sending your bank statements or receipts to the tax office when you fill out your self-assessment tax return each year for this income, so can't you use this proof that you're sending the tax office to send to the CCCS?

Unless you aren't declaring this income? I'm no expert, but I suspect that if you're not declaring it you might have more problems ahead than outstanding debtors (especially if you happen to be claiming any benefits at the same time..)

Tsia

Thrifty_Pixie wrote: »

Hi Tsia

You haven't answered some of the questions that people have asked you to try and help here.

Firstly, if you are receiving rent as your income then you must have some sort of written agreement with your tenant/s stating the period of the rental and the amount of rent to be paid to you and when. If you haven't got this then I would probably advise that you get one in place soon as there is no protection there for either you or your tenant if the relationship goes 'bad'. And this could count as your proof of income.

Also, you must be sending your bank statements or receipts to the tax office when you fill out your self-assessment tax return each year for this income, so can't you use this proof that you're sending the tax office to send to the CCCS?

Unless you aren't declaring this income? I'm no expert, but I suspect that if you're not declaring it you might have more problems ahead than outstanding debtors (especially if you happen to be claiming any benefits at the same time..)

thanks..
no I have no proofs to use but no I dont claim benefits either.
The tenants I have pay cash by the room. per week.
it goes into my bank.. apparently my bank statements to prove this are not enough in itself.. even with a letter off me.

I am gonna have to start lying and say I am employed in the family business and get a few fake wage slips to match the rent I get. Then someone will help me.

I am going to be worse off if I do anything else it seems.