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DRO via StepChange

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  • DorisTrousers
    DorisTrousers Posts: 548 Forumite
    Hi, thanks for your reply...
    For me this wasn't helpful as I didn't feel they could understand that I couldn't fit their budget as my expenses vary month to month for my PIP and so they said to take it off this month's figures... I was then over the '£50 surplus income' and therefore have not been passed to a DRO adviser, just offered a DMP instead!
    To me it makes no sense if the people taking the information don't use the guidance - as it means some of these clients aren't then referred for further advice.

    I would say I am shocked, but I'm not. Seen it far too many times for it to be a one off or a coincidence. You only have to follow some very experienced free sector debt advisors on Twitter, who do not work for the above organisation, to find that I am not alone in this opinion. If you do not like the advice given you by any organisation then remember that you are free to take a second or third opinion.
  • wba31
    wba31 Posts: 2,189 Forumite
    Hi, thanks for your reply...
    For me this wasn't helpful as I didn't feel they could understand that I couldn't fit their budget as my expenses vary month to month for my PIP and so they said to take it off this month's figures... I was then over the '£50 surplus income' and therefore have not been passed to a DRO adviser, just offered a DMP instead!
    To me it makes no sense if the people taking the information don't use the guidance - as it means some of these clients aren't then referred for further advice.

    If your actual surplus is under £50 as you set aside the full amount of DLA/PIP each month for the sporadic and changing costs you face then i would firstly put in a complaint. I know their DRO team would treat it like that if you asked, so the rest of their advisors should.
    I would also take take DorisTrouser's advice and go elsewhere.
  • fatbelly
    fatbelly Posts: 22,979 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Cashback Cashier
    I agree with the above.

    I think I have posted elsewhere that I am seeing people on a regular basis now who have been turned down for a DRO by stepchange (and Payplan) but who are clearly suited to a DRO and whose applications are accepted without problem.

    Frankly I could do without the extra work at the moment, guys.
  • Incywincy21
    Incywincy21 Posts: 58 Forumite
    Third Anniversary
    Thanks to all three of you
    - Doris Trousers, many thanks for your reply. It's sad (but also good in another sense!) to know that i'm not the only one with this frustrating opinion of Step Change. I hadn't realised that after I'd been given advice and it had been processes and they'd recommended a DMP (I told them i needed time to think -
    I didn't agree to anything) that I'm still free to get advice from elsewhere. I think I may if it's likely a DRO would still be an option via another charity... the debt is consuming every thought, every minute of every day and when they mentioned years and years of a DMP I just felt horrific!

    - wba31, many thanks for replying. Yes if my DLA is set aside then I most definitely have under £50 surplus (although my money varies, most months i'm more likely to be slightly in the minus than have much surplus). I'm definitely going to get further advice... and I guess a complaint may be a possibility - but I'm quite pathetic in these situations. Saying that, if it stops someone else experiencing this (wishfull thinking maybe?!) then it would be worth it

    -Fatbelly, many thanks for replying. As I said above its sad to know this is happening to people. When I tried to question it, I think it was their attitude that made me really feel so down trodden. I think they need to change their system so that people taking your information know the 'guidance' for referral...

    Thanks everyone.
    SPC no. 462 TOTAL £48.11
    SPC11 No.462 Target: £250
    NSD May - Acheived: 7 NSDs (Started 21/05/17)
    NSD June (Target 15/30) - Achieved: 14/15
    NSD July (Target 18/31) - Achieved: 3/18
  • wba31
    wba31 Posts: 2,189 Forumite

    - wba31, many thanks for replying. Yes if my DLA is set aside then I most definitely have under £50 surplus (although my money varies, most months i'm more likely to be slightly in the minus than have much surplus). I'm definitely going to get further advice... and I guess a complaint may be a possibility - but I'm quite pathetic in these situations. Saying that, if it stops someone else experiencing this (wishfull thinking maybe?!) then it would be worth it

    In terms of complaining, I think a simple email stating what's happened, how it contradicts advice all of us on here have given (why not even link to this thread) and an explanation how actually you shouldnt have to explain to the penny what your DLA is spent on, i imagine for MANY people that may be a little personal.

    Or if you're struggling, ask us on here, we might draft something for you! as you can tell, we advisors are simply wanting to see people get the right advice and support into the options they are eligible for, and it gets frustrating for us when we see people not getting that, through "certain individuals mis-interpreting the rules, or an endemic within the company" - to quote sourcrates' correct thinking from another post...
  • Incywincy21
    Incywincy21 Posts: 58 Forumite
    Third Anniversary
    Wba31, I have constructed a letter today and will re read before sending Monday... Yes it was quite personal and at one stage when they were asking about 'other spending' I even said "do I have to tell you what that's for as it's quite personal?" they said I did so that they could justify it as a legitimately high expense as their budget sheet was telling them it was too high :(

    I really appreciate the advice given from you all - it has stopped me from feeling so hopeless. I feel there may still be a way out of this dark tunnel for me yet!
    SPC no. 462 TOTAL £48.11
    SPC11 No.462 Target: £250
    NSD May - Acheived: 7 NSDs (Started 21/05/17)
    NSD June (Target 15/30) - Achieved: 14/15
    NSD July (Target 18/31) - Achieved: 3/18
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