Anyone ever experienced Harrington Brooks

Legacy_user

My boyfriend used Harrington Brooks to pay off his debts in 2010, 5 years on and the amount owed is still about 5K (I'm pretty sure it was 10k to start with) and I'm sure he was told he'd be debt free after that amount of time. I'm sure he'd be better off breaking free from HB and paying these amounts off directly? Will they cause him a lot of grief if he tells them he doesn't want to use them anymore? It's just a DMP not an IVA. He's rubbish at this stuff and would rather take the easy road than do something different so I'm trying to make sense of it. I want his debts paid ASAP so we can buy a house sometime this century!

Deep_In_Debt

Hiya and welcome

Definitely ditch HB - they will be charging a monthly fee and that fee could be going towards paying his debts and making him debt free sooner and not lining their pockets. HB will probably throw their toys around as they will be losing money; but it's not a legally binding agreement so he can leave at any time.

Contact Stepchange - they are a charity and will act in his interests and not in theirs. They do not charge a fee for DMPs and will advise him the best way forward. He could try their debt remedy on line first to get an idea of his options. HB will probably say that SC won't do anything but don't believe their hot air as they just want his money.
http://www.stepchange.org/

He could also manage his debts alone - National Debtline website has some good advice and template letters he could use. https://www.nationaldebtline.org/

Good luck.

National_Debtline

Hi MissSJL

I think you should trust your instincts here. There is no real value in paying a third party to handle an informal debt-management plan, not when charities exist who offer the same service free of charge.

It's possible that HB may try to claim some sort of "exit fee" from your partner but he shouldn't let this delay him in pursuing alternative options, starting with some independent, free advice.

Dennis
@natdebtline

fatbelly

Anther good resource is NEDCAB's CABMONEY

A lot of CABs have it - here's one

https://cornwall.cabmoney.org.uk/

I haven't noticed HB charging an exit fee before - shouldn't be a problem

sourcrates

Harrington brooks average monthly fee is in the region of £35.00, that's approx £2000 in fees he will of paid, hard earned money that could of been going to his debts !!!!

Ditch them ASAP, and as advised above, contact stepchange.