Please Help With DRO

LisaMarieMMA

Where do i begin. My circumstances have changed drastically over the past few years. I’ve always had a really bad spending habit but hardly any income as i’ve been caring for my mum and nan full time for quite a few years. At first my only income was carers allowance so my family would help me out a lot by giving me money. I live with family btw. They would give me cash to pay my debt but i would spend it on other things. I know it’s bad. This year i was told to look into getting income support but i was told they changed it to Universal Credit. I applied for that and had my first payment in April. It’s a big help and i can pay for my own things without having to take huge sums of cash of family. But doing this has left me with nothing to pay debts so Step Change have advised a DRO. I paid the £90 Tuesday 10th of this month and still not heard anything. I have heard people hear back in a couple of days and i contacted Step Change where they say to leave it 10 days. I have even spoken to the Insolvency people and they have said they’re still looking into my application.

I have been questioned by NatWest where all the cash has come from that i’d been paying in from family. They said in 3 years i’ve paid over £20K. I told them the truth. My family have their own business which is a cash business and they have been helping me out. I haven’t paid cash like that in since i was awarded Universal Credit but for years i was paying in a lot of cash. All legit but they have contacted me twice about this and i’ve already answered their questions and it’s making me feel like they’re treating me like a criminal. Family members have transferred money to me as well which i’ve been questioned about. I went to the bank to ask why they are asking these questions and the lady said because of money laundering etc. How on earth can i prove to them that the money isn’t dodgy or anything? Could the DRO be taking this long to approve because of this? Can the insolvency people see my bank account and the activity on it? I have a terrible feeling they won’t grant it and i have 8 creditors who i’ve only paid £1 each in 2 months! Barclaycard are asking for over £300 and my Very account over £500 and my income is around £460 a month. I really don’t know what to do. I’m so stressed with it all

National_Debtline

Hi LisaMarie and welcome to MSE,


Hopefully you may have heard something by now, but if not, please don't panic. You can't really do anything until the Insolvency Service makes their decision. But you can keep your eye on the individual insolvency register to see if the approval has been made yet as they will normally add the details the same day - https://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/eiir/




Creditors do have an opportunity to object but they shouldn't be ringing you about this, they would need to contact the Insolvency Service. From now on, refuse to deal with them on the phone, don't send any payments and wait to hear off Step Change or the Insolvency Service. The creditors can only object if they feel you don't meet a part of the criteria and if that happens the Insolvency Service will be in touch and give you a chance to prove your side of things.


Laura
@natdebtline

LisaMarieMMA

Hi Laura,

I checked again this morning and my name was on the register so i called Step Change and they said it had been approved. Now I'm worried NatWest will close my account. I need it for my Carers and Universal Credit. What will happen?

fatbelly

Do you have any debts to Nat West?

I assume that if you had, stepchange would have advised you to open a new account. Nat west's normal policy is to downgrade your account to a basic one after you get a dro.

However, in your case there appears to be some ongoing investigation and it may be safest to get a new basic account with someone else, again not someone you have debts with. Then get your income transferred and wave goodbye to nat west.

LisaMarieMMA

I dont have any debt with NatWest fat belly. Ive told StepChange about all the debts i have. Just credit cards and a catalogue.

Im just concerned about my carers and universal credit.

sourcrates

LisaMarieMMA wrote: »

I dont have any debt with NatWest fat belly. Ive told StepChange about all the debts i have. Just credit cards and a catalogue.

Im just concerned about my carers and universal credit.

No need to be concerned.


You can open a new basic bank account, online, in under 5 minutes.


As long as they can identify you, you don`t normally need to visit a branch.

LisaMarieMMA

If they close my account is their anyway they’d give me my money? Or do they keep it?

sourcrates

LisaMarieMMA wrote: »

If they close my account is their anyway they!!!8217;d give me my money? Or do they keep it?

Err.....taking money without consent is called theft.

Dosen`t matter if your a pick pocket, a chancer, or a bank.

Lisa, you can transfer money between accounts in seconds.


No.....they cannot keep your money why would you ever think they could ?

LisaMarieMMA

Sorry i must sound like a right idiot but i’m under a lot of stress as many of you are. I feel like i’m losing the plot here.

I just thought if they close my account and my Carers Allowance goes in how will i get it out or transfer it etc. Getting into debt is my own fault by i’m really going crazy here!

sourcrates

LisaMarieMMA wrote: »

Sorry i must sound like a right idiot but i!!!8217;m under a lot of stress as many of you are. I feel like i!!!8217;m losing the plot here.

I just thought if they close my account and my Carers Allowance goes in how will i get it out or transfer it etc. Getting into debt is my own fault by i!!!8217;m really going crazy here!

Try not to panic, you may be better served here by pre-empting any action by your current bank, and getting a new account opened.


As i said, it can be done pretty quick online, with most banks, but pick one you have no debt with, once you have a new account number and sort code (which you get immediately in most cases) you can give the DWP your new details.

LisaMarieMMA

Thank you for your help. I don’t have any debt with my bank and never have just got into a lot of trouble with credit cards!