Need Help with CCJ (I think that's what it is)

suwoongiejae

I got handed a letter the other day from my neighbor that seems to be a CCJ the date has gone past the payment date and I never got any claim forms to my address It says I have to pay £50 per month and I can't afford that on benefits. The letter has told me to pay to lowell so I have tried to contact them. I'm very confused and scared, the debt is in my name and I believe I owe it. I don't want bailiffs coming around how can I fix this? Please help.

fatbelly

Don't worry that you can't read it but a ccj should like like this



You could try to get this set aside and if you are on means-tested benefits you could get remission from the court fee.

https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/howtosetasideacountycourtjudgment/settingasideaccj.aspx

But all this does is push it back to the point where you could lodge a defence and if you don't have one then the exercise is a bit pointless and the court may well not do it.

Was there ever a period of six years when you did not pay this?

Could this be for something (like a catalogue maybe) where you never were sent an agreement to sign?

To take a wider view, how much is this debt and do you have any others? If so, how much do you owe in total?

Don't rush to contact Lowell unless you know why you are doing it. At present it appears they do not know where you live and think you live at your neighbour's address. That gives us a bit of time.

suwoongiejae

I'm on ESA.

I don't remember when it was last paid I think the debt was from 2014 and believe it was from Vanquis credit card and it was electronic. I was in a bad place mentally and wasn't managing my own money and it looks like family forgot to pay the card. As far as I remember this is my only debt.

They know my address this was just posted to my neighbor by mistake and she has parkinsons and forgot she even had it and only gave it to me this morning.

sourcrates

Hi,

You can apply to the court to change the monthly payment amount.

You need to fill in court form N245, available here :

https://www.gov.uk/county-court-judgments-ccj-for-debt/if-you-do-owe-the-money-pay-the-judgment

suwoongiejae

It says I have to pay a fee for this. I don't have any money for a fee. Can I get help filling this form out and is it too late to send it? It says I had to pay by 24th or 26th of November and it says there would be some kind of reply form or something and I never got that either. This is confusing me so much.

sourcrates

suwoongiejae wrote: »

It says I have to pay a fee for this. I don't have any money for a fee. Can I get help filling this form out and is it too late to send it? It says I had to pay by 24th or 26th of November and it says there would be some kind of reply form or something and I never got that either. This is confusing me so much.

Ok, deep breath,

You apply for fee remission at the same time.

The courts will let you know how much you have to pay, if your not working, the full amount of remission should apply to you.

https://www.gov.uk/get-help-with-court-fees

This is the only avenue you can take to lower your monthly payment, so this just became a priority matter.

It's a pretty self explanatory form, name, address, income, expenditure, just fill in each section, as it applies to you, in turn.

Nothing will happen this week as everywhere will be shut down for Christmas, so don't panic.

If you need help filling in the forms give National Debtline a ring on 3rd of January (that's when they reopen) explain what's happened, and they will help you out.

suwoongiejae

I'm confused about where to send it to. I'll do this as soon as I can and have a family member post it. First I have to find a printer.

sourcrates

suwoongiejae wrote: »

I'm confused about where to send it to. I'll do this as soon as I can and have a family member post it. First I have to find a printer.

There should be a phone number on the form.

You ring the issuing court, most likely Northampton bulk centre.

suwoongiejae

Okay I can do that when they open again.

suwoongiejae

Also what happens if the court tells me to pay more than I can afford again? I checked the budget calculator and I'm left with £12.50 per month to spare. I haven't put any personal expenses on at all.

sourcrates

suwoongiejae wrote: »

Also what happens if the court tells me to pay more than I can afford again? I checked the budget calculator and I'm left with £12.50 per month to spare. I haven't put any personal expenses on at all.

Just make sure you present your budget correctly.

Normally you will not be asked to pay more than what's affordable.