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Advice on next steps having been advised to go BR
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As far as submitting the actual application goes - that's really going to have to wait until the new year I think. I need to be able to sit down with him again; doing this sort of thing over the phone isn't the best. I won't now see him until sometime in January and then I really want to get this sorted once and for all. He's not been paying anything towards his debts since last Sept19 and although I've been keeping his creditors updated (pretty much on a monthly basis) I'm mindful they are not going to wait much longer before they expect some sort of resolution.
I'm still unsure as to whether a DMP or BR is the right course and so I've just put his I&E details into the SC online debt remedy tool and whilst they recommend a DMP, they also offer BR or IVA as a possible solution. So not really definitive either way.
I understand to get more direct help with this I need to post up his SOA (formatted for MSE) so people can advise, but I'm unsure what information to put in regarding income and outgoings. To explain, he lives with his partner and they obviously share housing costs, she is on an IVA. She'll be okay with him disclosing her income, but she won't be part of his debt solution and has her own personal outgoings.
I've worked out that his income equates to 60% of the total household income, so when filling in info for rent, utilities etc (effectively the shared household bills) should I put the equivalent value e.g 60% of rent, etc and so forth. Then enter the full cost of his personal outgoings such as mobile phone, car insurance, car tax etc. to get a more accurate picture - is this how the OR would look at it?
Stepchange are governed by FCA requirements which are oddly unhelpful and mean that all strategies have to be mentioned/discussed so it's hard to see the wood from the trees, so to speak. It does sound like a dmp is their preferred solution from what you say. We'll be able to give better guidance when we see an soa.
I'm just checking on some details so that I have the up to date costs of their utility bills and rent etc., then I'll post the SOA in the next day or so, apportioning the joint priority bills to match his contribution.
In the meantime can anyone advise what information the OR will ask for in terms of evidencing income and bills. Do they want copies of x number of months of bank statements as well?