Struggling with debt? Ask a stepchange debt adviser a question

StepChange_Patience

Abbafan1972 said:

I am slightly annoyed - spoke to someone in activations last night before they closed and he was very helpful.  I called to check on the progress of the setting up of my plan.  My email with all of my paperwork attached had been sitting in the "activate" inbox since the 1st March and nothing done with it.  

Person I spoke to said he would process it first thing tomorrow and I should hear something soon.  It was a good job I called. 

Hi there

Please accept our apologies for any delays getting things processed for you, we have quite a few staff working from home at the moment so this may explain the delay.

If you'd like to make a complaint you can find out further information here: https://www.stepchange.org/legal/complaints-process.aspx 

We'll look to get it sorted for you as soon as we can, if we need anything else we'll be in touch.

Take care.

Patience

Abbafan1972

StepChange_Patience said:

Abbafan1972 said:

I am slightly annoyed - spoke to someone in activations last night before they closed and he was very helpful.  I called to check on the progress of the setting up of my plan.  My email with all of my paperwork attached had been sitting in the "activate" inbox since the 1st March and nothing done with it.  

Person I spoke to said he would process it first thing tomorrow and I should hear something soon.  It was a good job I called. 

Hi there

Please accept our apologies for any delays getting things processed for you, we have quite a few staff working from home at the moment so this may explain the delay.

If you'd like to make a complaint you can find out further information here: https://www.stepchange.org/legal/complaints-process.aspx 

We'll look to get it sorted for you as soon as we can, if we need anything else we'll be in touch.

Take care.

Patience

Hi Patience,

Many thanks for your reply.

No, it's fine I don't want to complain.  The guy I spoke to did keep his word and I've had a text through, plus my confirmation by email.  My first payment is 1st April.  I will have a read through the documents over the weekend. 

If I have any questions, I will shout up. 

Jo401981

Hi there, I have been dealing with 3 different credit cards in persistent debt for over 3 years. I have been keeping up with payments the minimum. I have now saved enough to pay off one credit card. What is the advice?,  to pay off some off all credit cards? Just the high interest one first? If can pay off one how can I reduce the interest and put the other credit cards on one? Thanks 

StepChange_Patience

Abbafan1972 said:

StepChange_Patience said:

Abbafan1972 said:

I am slightly annoyed - spoke to someone in activations last night before they closed and he was very helpful.  I called to check on the progress of the setting up of my plan.  My email with all of my paperwork attached had been sitting in the "activate" inbox since the 1st March and nothing done with it.  

Person I spoke to said he would process it first thing tomorrow and I should hear something soon.  It was a good job I called. 

Hi there

Please accept our apologies for any delays getting things processed for you, we have quite a few staff working from home at the moment so this may explain the delay.

If you'd like to make a complaint you can find out further information here: https://www.stepchange.org/legal/complaints-process.aspx 

We'll look to get it sorted for you as soon as we can, if we need anything else we'll be in touch.

Take care.

Patience

Hi Patience,

Many thanks for your reply.

No, it's fine I don't want to complain.  The guy I spoke to did keep his word and I've had a text through, plus my confirmation by email.  My first payment is 1st April.  I will have a read through the documents over the weekend. 

If I have any questions, I will shout up. 

Hi there.

Thank you for letting us know that you've had the confirmation email, it's great to hear things have been set up for you.

Don't hesitate to get in touch if you need anything else.

All the best with your plan.

Patience

Nm85

Hi, 

New member here so I do hope I’m posting in the right place. I’m in a real predicament with council tax. I owe about £2000, it’s been sent to a bailiff who have said they will only accept the full amount and will not accept why kind of payment plan. The council have ignored all correspondence from me and refuse to help, the debt company are not willing to accept a payment plan. I’m a single mum on a low income already struggling with mental health issues and I don’t understand how I’m supposed to find £2000 plus bailiff fees instantly. I’ve offered £100 a month and even citizens advice have tried to talk to them and negotiate on my behalf but they won’t accept anything but the full amount. I just don’t have that kind of money. I feel like there’s no way out for me. I don’t know why I’m posting as I don’t think there’s any solution, just hoping someone can suggest anything that could help I guess. Thank you 

Michaelhutch17788

I have a few debts that have went to a debt collection agency I pay them £10 a month. One of my debts was with cabbot and it says on my credit report it defaulted in March 2016. Am I correct in saying this debt will fall of of my credit report and won’t be seen by any one next year?

StepChange_Allen

Nm85 said:

Hi, 

New member here so I do hope I’m posting in the right place. I’m in a real predicament with council tax. I owe about £2000, it’s been sent to a bailiff who have said they will only accept the full amount and will not accept why kind of payment plan. The council have ignored all correspondence from me and refuse to help, the debt company are not willing to accept a payment plan. I’m a single mum on a low income already struggling with mental health issues and I don’t understand how I’m supposed to find £2000 plus bailiff fees instantly. I’ve offered £100 a month and even citizens advice have tried to talk to them and negotiate on my behalf but they won’t accept anything but the full amount. I just don’t have that kind of money. I feel like there’s no way out for me. I don’t know why I’m posting as I don’t think there’s any solution, just hoping someone can suggest anything that could help I guess. Thank you 

Hi there

Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.

I'm sorry to hear that you're having problems in getting this council tax debt sorted out and can appreciate it's difficult. I'd definitely recommend registering with us in order to get some in depth and tailored advice for your overall situation, you can start by visiting www.stepchange.org and doing a budget online or giving us a call.

However, I will happily talk through the specifics of what you've written on here as well. Once a council has obtained a liability order and passed the debt to an enforcement agent (bailiff), they are unlikely to deal with you directly and will ask you to contact the bailiffs to arrange a plan.

In regards to the bailiffs, they will be under instruction to try and get the full balance in one go, but the reality is that very few people can afford this. I would expect that they would eventually agree an instalment with you, but what may help is to provide a budget to them to show what you can afford; we can put this together with you and send you a copy.

Please make sure that you don't let the bailiffs into your property, keep doors locked and make sure any valuable items can't be seen through the window. If they enter the property freely, or see items that would be allowed to be sold at auction, through the window, this weakens your position. If they don't gain peaceful entry (you let them in, or they walk in through an unlocked door), at no point can they force entry to the property.

I hope this helpful, and that we can speak with you soon.

Allen

StepChange_Allen

Michaelhutch17788 said:

I have a few debts that have went to a debt collection agency I pay them £10 a month. One of my debts was with cabbot and it says on my credit report it defaulted in March 2016. Am I correct in saying this debt will fall of of my credit report and won’t be seen by any one next year?

Hi Michael

Thanks for posting.

Yes, defaults should drop off your credit file after 6 years, so this Cabot debt should drop off there sometime in March 2022 or shortly thereafter.

I hope this helps.

Allen

StepChange_Aidan

Jo401981 said:

Hi there, I have been dealing with 3 different credit cards in persistent debt for over 3 years. I have been keeping up with payments the minimum. I have now saved enough to pay off one credit card. What is the advice?,  to pay off some off all credit cards? Just the high interest one first? If can pay off one how can I reduce the interest and put the other credit cards on one? Thanks 

Hi Jo,

Thanks for your post.

Generally speaking, would be best to try to clear debts with the highest interest first, but I’d need more information about the credit cards and your financial situation to be able to give any detailed advice.  

If you’d like some help from StepChange you could use our online advice tool, or call our specialist Persistent Debt team who’ll be able to review the credit cards with you and discuss your repayment options.

Kind regards,

Aidan 

Db33

I have issues with paying my council tax arrears incurred as a result of Coronavirus.
I missed some payments last year and am having to pay £50 extra a month as a result. I am a very low earner and its a struggle.
My income is £1170 per month consisting of £1020 wages and £150 board payment from my son who receives universal credit.
My outgoings: £400 rent, £200 council tax, £160 gas/electric, £250 food, £27 broadband, £42 mobile phone, £13 tv licence, £23 loan payment, £10 work lunches, £104 tobacco, £100 credit card, £15 trade union.
this makes me -£174.
The council has passed the council tax debt to a sheriff officer who has added an extra £86 to the debt. I have been a council tenant since the age of 17 and am now 39 and have never been in arrears with rent or council tax until now.
my brother was in arrears and was able to pay it at £10 per month.  my neighbour has never paid council tax and is not being pursued.  My work colleague didnt pay council tax for 10 years.
It is a struggle and i feel i am being treated unfairly in comparison to others i have spoken to