Really angry with CCCS

Stillsmiling

We have about a year or so left on DMP and are eagerly anticipating debt freedom. Unfortunately we just had a BIG car repair bill that was unexpected and it has left us short for our monthly CCCS payment. DH gets paid weekly so next week we would have the whole payment but just not this week. So I emailed them and explained the situation (their phones were not working yesterday - kept getting a BT fault message) and said I could pay 80 / 90% now and pay the other creditor direct next week or I could pay them all direct or was there another option. I got a rather abrupt response saying that as I'd missed two payments and paid one reduced one in the last 12 months and the creditors may take recovery action and the plan may be closed.

I've NOT missed two payments to the creditors - twice I missed payments to CCCS (because of issues getting money to CCCS - see below) but I paid each creidtor direct - CCCS know this as I discussed it with them at the time. The reduced payment was due to a family bereavement.
For reference the issues at the bank were due to a DD that was inadvertently cancelled. I cannot set up another one with CCCS (they won't change their DD reference and as a result my bank keep refusing it each time they try to take money - neither will work with us to resolve it) so I have to make a manual payment each month. Twice this went wrong and I hadn't realised until too late to make the payment to CCCS - hence me making manual payments direct.

Am I wrong to feel somewhat aggrieved about this? I have never missed a payment and in my email I offered possible solutions that were perfectly adequate and which I'm sure my creditors would be happy with as they'd still be getting their money. So why aren't CCCS being supportive and helpful? Feeling like I should dump the DMP plan and go it alone for this last year.

owen_money

In short, with only a year left to go, just go it alone and ditch the CCCS. CCCS are always a month behind from when you pay to them and they pay it to you creditors so you should be ok. Your creditors have already accepted your payment amounts so carry on and pay them direct

StepChange_Pavan

Stillsmiling wrote: »

We have about a year or so left on DMP and are eagerly anticipating debt freedom. Unfortunately we just had a BIG car repair bill that was unexpected and it has left us short for our monthly CCCS payment. DH gets paid weekly so next week we would have the whole payment but just not this week. So I emailed them and explained the situation (their phones were not working yesterday - kept getting a BT fault message) and said I could pay 80 / 90% now and pay the other creditor direct next week or I could pay them all direct or was there another option. I got a rather abrupt response saying that as I'd missed two payments and paid one reduced one in the last 12 months and the creditors may take recovery action and the plan may be closed.

I've NOT missed two payments to the creditors - twice I missed payments to CCCS (because of issues getting money to CCCS - see below) but I paid each creidtor direct - CCCS know this as I discussed it with them at the time. The reduced payment was due to a family bereavement.
For reference the issues at the bank were due to a DD that was inadvertently cancelled. I cannot set up another one with CCCS (they won't change their DD reference and as a result my bank keep refusing it each time they try to take money - neither will work with us to resolve it) so I have to make a manual payment each month. Twice this went wrong and I hadn't realised until too late to make the payment to CCCS - hence me making manual payments direct.

Am I wrong to feel somewhat aggrieved about this? I have never missed a payment and in my email I offered possible solutions that were perfectly adequate and which I'm sure my creditors would be happy with as they'd still be getting their money. So why aren't CCCS being supportive and helpful? Feeling like I should dump the DMP plan and go it alone for this last year.

Hi Stillsmiling,

I’m sorry to hear about your situation. If you’d be happy to, we’d like to look into this further to make sure you’ve been given the right advice.

If you could send me your client reference number by private message (CCCS Private Messages) I will get someone to contact you.

Kind regards,
Pavan

incorrect_2

I would go it alone, my sister was with cccs for 3 years when suddenly they decided that she would not be able to pay her debts off at a higher rate (they knew this when they helped her) as her husband is disabled and she is his carer so they would always be living on benefits from now on. She posted on here and someone from cccs offered to help by looking into it but it didnt change anything they still said that the debt was too much for the payments she was able to make each month. These had been agreed with cccs and the creditors and never missed. She went on her own after that and the creditors were fine about it.

Depth_Charge

Hi

Familiar story, big bills for repairs etc and other unexpected costs

In these difficult times there has to be sensible flexibility in DMPs / payment arrangements etc for unexpected essential bills etc

Amongst others the CAB have a new fast growing award winning online system that includes an Assisted Self Help Debt Management Plan tool for those that feel confident enough to go it alone.

http://mymoney.nedcab.org.uk/moneyadvice/dmptour.asp

http://mymoney.nedcab.org.uk/moneyadvice/index.asp

Cashflow is another award winning system

http://www.cashflow.uk.net/