Really Had Enough

sarah1111

If you have ever read any of my other posts you will know that in March/April time I had my LBM. I decided to seek advice through a Money Advisor(MA), got everything sorted with an SOA and decided to go down the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) route, (a Scottish binding DMP where all charges/interest are frozen and you work out what you can afford to pay, then work out the term).

Two months later I spoke to my MA to find out how things were progressing. In short, there weren't my MA was so busy as they are with the CAB (free service) that it was looking like it would all be progressed at the end of June. All the while I am getting harassed by creditors understandably wanting their money back. But it was all very stressful.

My Intimation for a DAS went through to prevent further action but then I got the blow that the DAS website was closed due to planned changes :mad:

It seemed to take forever, I was making token payments and having to make excuses for the Scottish scheme but there wasn't much I could do. Then eventually (4months after my initial meeting with MA) my application went through. After 21 days I was waiting to hear whether it had been accepted or rejected, again so stressful but nothing....thinking no news was good news (RIGHT??).....Wrong...

The farce continues, as it happens if after 21days no-one has rejected your claim it is accepted, more than 21 days passed so I asssumed it was accepted...Great...I just wanted to get started paying back my debts and getting my life on track.
However

Delay 1 - Unfortunately the AiB wrote to the wrong creditor, so they rejected it on grounds I didn't owe them anything and so had to write to correct creditor, starting the 21 day process again

NB all other creditors agreed

Delay 2 - They wrote to the correct creditor but submitted the incorrect level of debt (their error not mine) and so it got rejected on these grounds again understandably

NB all other creditors still waiting for their payment, I am not allowed to pay them as it would be in breach of the DAS (MADNESS)

Delay 3 - AiB have only taken on a handful of staff to cope with the new system...who many of which have no clue whats happening, I was told it would still get accepted as a variation would be put in to the amount.

Got phone call my DAS has been rejected and NONE OF THIS HAS BEEN MY FAULT.

Delay 4 - all creditors, even ones who accepted have been contacted to say it has been rejected, which means they can start applying interest and charges again and back date them so effectively my debt has soared:mad:

Delay 5 - I have to start the whole process again from scratch, however it now turns out my MA has gone off sick....devastated!!! So god only knows when this will be fixed.

I feel awful right now, I know things will come good eventually and this will be sorted out, but the phone calls have started again, I am once again stressed and not sleeping and to top it all off my mum is in hospital and I don't want to add to her worries by telling her.

So, sorry to moan on, I just needed to unload.xxx

MiaowMiaow

Hi Sarah,
I havent really got any experience with this route but just wanted to post my support and I really hope everything sorts itself out soon for you. Don't give up, unfortunately set backs make us want to do that but you will get there. I hope you get some good advice on here.
**hugs**

xx

bottleofred

Hi Sarah,

Although the delays really have not been your fault, the creditors are quite happy to contact you in writing or by telephone. Could you send them the letter about only being contacted in writing? I understand the stress that the phone calls and threatening letters can bring, as I ended up changing my phone number to escape the endless threats! Hopefully things will get sorted out soon though and will settle down.

Good luck

Red

pure_dead_dopey

Have you complained Sarah, your MA and the AiB have a duty to do their jobs correctly, and here they clearly haven't. In doing their jobs, they shouldn't cost you money and here they plainly have. You cannot sit back and allow this to go back to square one you have to complain. The DAS system seemed to be working well and the government started to tinker with it and this is what seems to have caused the problems. the AiB must have a complaint system, they can't offer this as a solution to debt and not know how to work it!!!!!

sarah1111

Thanks all,
Red, I will get round to asking contact to be made via letter, hoping they will lay off me for a bit!!!
PDD....I will complain to AiB after its all sorted, so don't want to rock the boat till everything is sorted, cant take the chance it will all go pear shaped, especially if it has to go back to the fair and reasonable test, I know it shouldn't make any difference, but not prepared to take the chance.....Rock/hard place at the mo.

Going in to CAB on Tuesday to see if my presence will make a difference.

pure_dead_dopey

think about it the other way round, if you complain now, they might take a bit of extra care making sure they sort out the problems. Not a bad idea to involve your MSP as well, this is a government "great idea" and they have kind of messed up.