professional debt advice from citizens advice bureau wrong??

hayleyjacobno2

Hi there,
I have had an appointment with a debt case worker at CAB to sort out my catologue/credit card/over draft debts of £4000. because of my situation, they have put me through for a debt relief order.

As i am currently paying minimum payments on all of the creditors but the catologues,he has advised me to stop paying all creditors. the only things i am to pay while the debt relief order is being processed is gas,electric,water,rent and tv licence.
He ordered me to go straight to my bank and cancel any direct debit to companys as he said that they will get funny at the fact that i am paying some and not others.

Is this right advice???
I have been told to answer the phone to creditors and say that i am in the process of some help from CAB and have been advised not to pay you... but they are not taking it very well!

Also as he said that I am only to pay gas,electric,water,rent and tv licence.. i have virgin media and an orange contract.. am i not to pay them too? i need some sort of way of contacting family.

please somebody help me. I am only 22 years old and am finding this all so hard to cope with.
Thanks!

Ames

Yes he's right to stop the DD's.

Keep paying things that are 'normal' living costs, so yes if your Virgin Media is for phone/internet (if it's for TV then really you need to cancel it or cut the package down, but it depends how much you're paying). Orange, if it's your only phone then yes keep paying that.

Well done for getting help, and feel free to ask on here if there's anything you need to ask.

hayleyjacobno2

Ames wrote: »

Yes he's right to stop the DD's.

Keep paying things that are 'normal' living costs, so yes if your Virgin Media is for phone/internet (if it's for TV then really you need to cancel it or cut the package down, but it depends how much you're paying). Orange, if it's your only phone then yes keep paying that.

Well done for getting help, and feel free to ask on here if there's anything you need to ask.

Ok thats great thanks. So i just keep telling the companys that I have been told not to pay you as am getting help with my debts ? Brighthouse are the worst.. they arent taking the news very well at all and are saying that they are sending people round to take my possesions from my house.

Ames

Yes just tell them that, but do it in writing. If you phone they'll just try and bully you so that they can squeeze as much out of you.

What as your CAB person said about Brighthouse? I don't know much about HP stuff, but someone will be along soon who does. They could have the right to take back the goods you've bought from them but it depends on the contract and things.

hayleyjacobno2

Ames wrote: »

Yes just tell them that, but do it in writing. If you phone they'll just try and bully you so that they can squeeze as much out of you.

What as your CAB person said about Brighthouse? I don't know much about HP stuff, but someone will be along soon who does. They could have the right to take back the goods you've bought from them but it depends on the contract and things.

he hasnt said much to be honest. he just said not to worry they cant do anything. i have payed off over half of my 52 week contract with them so i really dont think they have a leg to stand on

hayleyjacobno2

can anybody else helpme at all ???

RAS

hayleyjacobno2 wrote: »

Brighthouse are the worst.. they arent taking the news very well at all and are saying that they are sending people round to take my possesions from my house.

Have you explained to CAb that your debts include brighthouse?

As a rule Brighthouse operate costly hire purchase schemes, not consumer credit, and therefore the debt is secured on the goods and they will be taken.

You cannot include secured debt in a DRO as far as I know,; you certainly cannot in BR. Please get back onto the CAB worker urgently and make sure they know about this.

Frankie231

hayleyjacobno2 wrote: »

he hasnt said much to be honest. he just said not to worry they cant do anything. i have payed off over half of my 52 week contract with them so i really dont think they have a leg to stand on

Well, if you have paid more than half of your contract they cannot take back possesion of the goods without attending court first to get permission. However, when I was gathering information from CCCS I was told you could not have HP included in a DRO as it is secured so the goods would have to be returned (they don't include HP in your outgoings as it is non-essential so you would still have to be under the £50 mark without paying your HP to qualify).

If I were you I would contact CAB and find out exactly what to do about the HP, although thats what I was advised with from CCCS I know that a couple of people on the bankruptcy boards managed to keep their HP and include the remaining debt in their DRO. It might be an idea to have a look through the DRO thread on those boards, it's quite long but well worth the time!

hayleyjacobno2

RAS wrote: »

Have you explained to CAb that your debts include brighthouse?

As a rule Brighthouse operate costly hire purchase schemes, not consumer credit, and therefore the debt is secured on the goods and they will be taken.

You cannot include secured debt in a DRO as far as I know,; you certainly cannot in BR. Please get back onto the CAB worker urgently and make sure they know about this.

yes i have told CAB about brighthouse but they have said not to pay it,as with everything else. I am just a bit confused as bright house are telling me the opposite and that i have to keep paying them because its a hire purchase, which sort of makes sense because there are no credit checks with bright house when you sign up.

beanielou

What was in your contract with BrightHouse re the amount you have to have paid to be able to keep the goods?

hayleyjacobno2

beanielou wrote: »

What was in your contract with BrightHouse re the amount you have to have paid to be able to keep the goods?

it states that a third of the conrtract has to have been payed. i have payed exactly half. 26 weeks out of the 52.