StepChange changing their DebtRemedy advice?

wba31

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

But does not the Stepchange tool make recommendations as to the debt solution and if the person using then does not contact them as a result and follows the recommendations, then what?

I am informed by my friend who works there that for every option they suggest to a client there is a team to support clients in that option, but on first contact they will ensure that the option offered is the best option for the client.
So if someone is offered bankruptcy, and they ring the bankruptcy team, the bankruptcy team will run through it and if debt is under £15k with no assets, they will look at why DRO has not been offered, and if they can make adjustments to make it fit the client will then be advised as to the correct way forward.
I think that may, in part, answer your query on the other thread, but it relies on a client saying "I chose to do the online remedy thing, i will follow it through and call them as advised to do so to get full advice."

Depth_Charge

wba31 wrote: »

I am informed by my friend who works there that for every option they suggest to a client there is a team to support clients in that option, but on first contact they will ensure that the option offered is the best option for the client.
So if someone is offered bankruptcy, and they ring the bankruptcy team, the bankruptcy team will run through it and if debt is under £15k with no assets, they will look at why DRO has not been offered, and if they can make adjustments to make it fit the client will then be advised as to the correct way forward.
I think that may, in part, answer your query on the other thread, but it relies on a client saying "I chose to do the online remedy thing, i will follow it through and call them as advised to do so to get full advice."

Hi

Thanks for the reply

No, it does not really answer my questions or fully address the points raised, I am talking about the Debt Remedy Tool recommendations depending on the debtors circumstances and input of course.

Does the remedy tool clearly tell people to contact Stepchange after they have their input results and solution recommendations?

I really think Stepchange need to comment here, perhaps they may have to sooner or later either way.

My opinions

DC

wba31

Depth_Charge wrote: »

Hi

Thanks for the reply

No, it does not really answer my questions or fully address the points raised, I am talking about the Debt Remedy Tool recommendations depending on the debtors circumstances and input of course.

Does the remedy tool clearly tell people to contact Stepchange after they have their input results and solution recommendations?

I really think Stepchange need to comment here, perhaps they may have to sooner or later either way.

My opinions

DC

It gives contact numbers for their web support team during the process, their advice booklets give the phone numbers for the support teams the client can talk to, and they have an advice line should there be a change in circumstances, or should the client wish to amend their income/expenditure summary.
Like I've said I've helped a number of people use this tool, when it's needed human intervention for special circumstances we have used their various advice teams, and not had any problems.

Depth_Charge

wba31 wrote: »

It gives contact numbers for their web support team during the process, their advice booklets give the phone numbers for the support teams the client can talk to, and they have an advice line should there be a change in circumstances, or should the client wish to amend their income/expenditure summary.
Like I've said I've helped a number of people use this tool, when it's needed human intervention for special circumstances we have used their various advice teams, and not had any problems.

Hi

Thanks for the reply

I have read through a couple of examples including the ones I have quoted and could probably put up the actual details.

They recommend bankruptcy or a debt management plan - but could an IVA or a Debt Relief Order also be possible based on the fgures and if so then why are these not also mentioned?

Remembering that people who use the remedy tool are not usually going to be advisers.

Does ithe debt remedy tool actually tell people to contact them before proceeding with any of the recommended solutions? If so (and I cannot see this anywhere but will stand corrected) what is the point in giving the solutions on the first place based on input figures and could this mean people actually follow the solution recommended without knowing that there may be other solutions that perhaps may even be more suitable? My opinion and others I know is YES this may be possible based on what we have read.

It does say the following though.

Your next step?
Just follow our advice
By contacting StepChange Debt Charity,
you’ve already taken the first important step
in your financial recovery. Your next step is to
follow the advice that we have provided in
this pack.
This guide gives you general advice and tips
on dealing with debt problems and managing
your money. But the personal action plan that
we’ve enclosed gives you specific advice
that’s tailored to your situation. It gives you a
complete summary of your financial position
now and the actions you need to take to
improve things.
Please take time to read your personal action
plan carefully, and, where we have outlined
actions to take, try to take them.


PS - Do you think that Stepchange should comment themselves given the points and questions raised and asked and given what you have said in this and other posts?

I think that Stepchange DO need to comment and will have to sooner or later.

For the record I also think that maybe it is difficult to give accurate advice on specific solutions based on someone putting in expenditure figures etc in an online remedy tool especially if such a tool has its own expenditure figure recomendations and suggested amounts that may be different to other sets of accepted trigger figures - other online debt remedy tools & resources dont really do the same thing going on the ones I have seen and used.


Its turning into a tricky one wba with clarification needed, the sooner the better me thinks!

My opinions again

wba31

Personally I don't think they do need to comment. What they do and how they operate, I'm sure, follows similar quality check and codes of practices that we all do. If people like NDL are willing to work with them, and Citizens Advice, and with that Bureau too, they are obviously hitting the ball in the right direction.
That's all I have to say on the matter as they are one of the biggest providers or FREE debt advice in this country, without them I dread to think how many clients would end up stuck in bad IVA's or unrealistic repayment plans with fee chargers and profit makers (of which Payplan are a profit maker I hasten to add). If you are desperate for an answer then I suggest you contact them and ask someone who deals with their website for other advisors from other debt agencies. Im sure they open to constructive feedback from users of their systems.
Arguing these pointe doesn't help the majority of people on here who simply need a bit of help... Martin Lewis himself believes in promoting CAB, Step Change and NDL in the same light, and we as advisors should follow suit, as there are too any debt cases than one organisation could cope with.

So I'm done with that matter. I hope you get to speak to someone from Step Change who is able to answer your query, and I look forward to giving good advice alongside you in these forums moving forward.

Depth_Charge

wba31 wrote: »

Personally I don't think they do need to comment. What they do and how they operate, I'm sure, follows similar quality check and codes of practices that we all do. If people like NDL are willing to work with them, and Citizens Advice, and with that Bureau too, they are obviously hitting the ball in the right direction.
That's all I have to say on the matter as they are one of the biggest providers or FREE debt advice in this country, without them I dread to think how many clients would end up stuck in bad IVA's or unrealistic repayment plans with fee chargers and profit makers (of which Payplan are a profit maker I hasten to add). If you are desperate for an answer then I suggest you contact them and ask someone who deals with their website for other advisors from other debt agencies. Im sure they open to constructive feedback from users of their systems.
Arguing these pointe doesn't help the majority of people on here genuinely who simply need a bit of help... Martin Lewis himself believes in promoting CAB, Step Change and NDL in the same light, and we as advisors should follow suit, as there are too any debt cases than one organisation could cope with.

So I'm done with that matter. I hope you get to speak to someone from Step Change who is able to answer your query, and I look forward to giving good advice alongside you in these forums moving forward.

Hi

I do agree with much of what you say and if you have read my posts on here then you will see that, especially where IVAs are concerned it could be argued.

I have to put however that an IVA can be the right & sensible solution, given appropriate advice and depending on circumstances of course and given that people must always have the right to choose.

There is also now a move or tendency (if these are the right words) towards low cost IVAs with potential monthly payments set considerably lower than the £200'ish levels we often hear about and for total debts under the much mentioned £15000.

I do believe in genuine independent impartial advice and choice

Its nothing to do with promoting CAB, National Debtline or Stepchange it is to do with potential important issues where people seeking debt advice are concerned.

I often do actually refer to Stepchange in many of my posts and believe in choice, I dont however see many occasions where Stepchange refer to other debt advice agencies & charities unless I have missed this (maybe I have)

The points and questions I have raised are very valid in my opinion and lets not forget there are many people out there who are vulnerable and may not find it as easy as others to follow advice especially where an online resource is concerned etc.

Many low income and vulnerable people arguably are likely to be eligible for a Debt Relief Order and that this solution would be the best and most appropriate for them as a quick and affordable way (cheap some might say) of getting out of the despair & misery of debt that it one of the reasons why Debt Relief Orders were commissioned and introduced.

Many vulnerable people on low incomes could not and cannot afford the fees for bankruptcy and struggle with low and token offers often having to administer things themselves or they continue to go back and forth to the face to face agencies such as CAB due to being bombarded by collection agency letters, telephone calls and in some cases visits by doorstep callers.

I dont fully agree with your comment about arguing the points on here at all, this is an open forum and Stepchange also have regular official posters on here who often have their say on other issues, it works both ways and surely these issues at least need addressing (have you read my post on bankruptcy on the other thread?)

You cant pick and choose what issues you raise and there does seem to be a number of posters asking related questions

On the subject of the the CAB it is worth remembering that they independently operate a social policy system which basically means highlighting issues on a local and national basis etc.

You mention constructive feedback on their website - well here it is and maybe a bit more than that - so where is Stepchanges reponse?

Like I have said before these issues will likely not be going away in a hurry and it would be wrong to not comment and highlight issues or we would be all be left wide open by the fee chargers and who could blame them.

I respect your posts wba and accept what you have put here and thank you for debating and discussing with me and ditto I look forward to your future posts and good advice along side you.

As far as Stepchange are concerned, the invitation most definitely still stands as these are very important points and questions in my opinion.

My honest and genuine opinions based on a fair bit of experience too.

DC