Do you have to use CCCS?

wonkyconk

We have found ourselves in the position where we cannot pay all our credit card bills every month. When we contacted one of our lenders they said that we couldn't arrange a payment plan with them direct and had to go through CCCS to do this.
Is this correct? Why can't we set up a payment plan with our lenders directly? Or doesn't it make a difference?

plum44_2

Why not let CCCS help you?- they can take some of the stress away by dealing with the CC companies for you. It costs nothing and you can see where you are on one account online.

dancingfairy

No,you don't have to use CCCS. You can get help from National Debtline or your local CAB.
Why they prefer CCCS I don't know:
1) perhaps they were worried you'd go with a fee charging provider and they'd get less than they would otherwise?
2) Perhaps they find it easier to deal with a big, recognised company with set procedures and who have rules for how any 'spare' money is divided up rather than deal with individuals all the time?
3) Perhaps as they are part of the industry, they probably contribute in part to the running costs of the charity so they would rather you make use of the services of something they helped fund and it is a nown entity to them?

Anyway you can use who you like/ Do it yourself. There are of course pros and cons to each method. Many people find the backing of CCCS helpful, at least to start with, although it does of course depend on your levels of confidence to deal with your creditor(s) and how many creditors you have.
Best of Luck
df

Silly_people_debt

Wonkyconk!!!

I am a debt collector, no names of lendor mentioned for various reasons, however - we are not bad people :-( customer service is my main focus making sure my customers are happy and the agreement is comfortable for them.

You do NOT have to deal with the CCCS! Directly is much much better! Debt management company's end up doing you over anyway.

Speak to your creditors and offer them a reduced payment plan, legally they have to accept a minimum of £1 per month, providing you can justify why. The cant refuse payments!

Hope that helps


Xx

Silly_people_debt

dancingfairy wrote: »

No,you don't have to use CCCS. You can get help from National Debtline or your local CAB.
Why they prefer CCCS I don't know:
1) perhaps they were worried you'd go with a fee charging provider and they'd get less than they would otherwise?
2) Perhaps they find it easier to deal with a big, recognised company with set procedures and who have rules for how any 'spare' money is divided up rather than deal with individuals all the time?
3) Perhaps as they are part of the industry, they probably contribute in part to the running costs of the charity so they would rather you make use of the services of something they helped fund and it is a nown entity to them?

Anyway you can use who you like/ Do it yourself. There are of course pros and cons to each method. Many people find the backing of CCCS helpful, at least to start with, although it does of course depend on your levels of confidence to deal with your creditor(s) and how many creditors you have.
Best of Luck
df

I don't tell my customers to use the CCCS for any of the above reasons. It's because they are a great company! CAB's have no idea what they are talking about half the time they are volunteers and
None of them have been trained. I on the other hand went through an intense 4 month training program before coming a collector.

Why on earth would someone who was in financial hardship choose to go with a company that will charge you for something another company could do for free??? It's mind boggling!!

Just deal with it yourself, 3rd parties get in the way ! Oh and when debt management company's tell their clients not to speak to their creditors!!!! THE WORST ADVICE POSSIBlE!!! Always communicate with your creditors, just because your going through a 3rd party, you would always be contacted directly, not the 3rd party.


It's better not to bury your head in the sand, confront it.

plum44_2

Not true of CCCS who are impartial and a charity. They are not judgemental unlike dealing with some creditors and they don't charge a penny for their services.
I hated dealing with my creditors. Havent had to do that in 18 months- When one of my CC's started interest again CCCS wrote to them and got it stopped again. I have paid off half my debt in 18 months and I will have cleared all my debt within a year from now.

Mrs_Arcanum

wonkyconk wrote: »

We have found ourselves in the position where we cannot pay all our credit card bills every month. When we contacted one of our lenders they said that we couldn't arrange a payment plan with them direct and had to go through CCCS to do this.
Is this correct? Why can't we set up a payment plan with our lenders directly? Or doesn't it make a difference?

DH is dealing directly with his creditors where I went through CCCS via National Debtline. So no rules, just obvious preferences for some debtors.

dancing fairy has probably given the best reasons why they wish you to use CCCS.

Please ignore Silly people debt. CCCS do not charge anything. They make funds by paying your creditors 3 weeks or so after you pay them. ALL the money you pay comes off your debt. You are still responsible for writing letters & suchlike to get interest stopped & start the debt management ball rolling but the monthly payments are sent by CCCS and they will do an annual review to make sure you are managing.

antonic

I have been using Payplan for the last 7 years with no problems at all.