Cab do not stop making payments to creditors

Padstow

Home was being repossessed. Council referred me to CAB as part of their rehoming strategy and that's when problems satisfying my creditors started.

I had made arrangements with barclaycard, barclays and hmrc, who apart from Barclays were very reasonable.

B/c a small payment each month to suit my pension credit payment, and hmrc would give me six months grace.
I was paying £20pm to Barclays, while the debt due to interest was £29pm, that was the toughie but only that they wouldn't freeze interest.

The CAB counsellor said to stop all payments as she felt they were too high, whilst she sorted them. That took weeks after a number of calls to her from me. Weeks when no payments were being made.

The result? B/C and barclays rejected her offers and I have now been passed to debt collectors who are a pain in the neck. HMRC have reduced the six months grace to one month.

If you can come to an arrangement with your creditors, stick to it and don't involve others unless you are really struggling. Even then, tell your creditors first and they will be fair, I found.

The biggest problem with CAB, was telling me to stop all payments.
Please never do this. If you want them, or any outside agency to handle your financial affairs, keep making the payments you agreed until they sort things.

I rue the day, I went to CAB, although sent by my local authority. My life has been made so much worse.

Only good news is, I will pay everyone next month and will start anew.