Couple of annoying DRO questions

Three7six

Hi, I've had a DRO and come through the other side, but mine was really quite simple. I'm trying to help a friend, we've been through her budget etc etc but the bits I'm stuck on are:
She's used her credit until literally yesterday. Does she need to wait 3 months before she applies, or start the process now? She's going to supply for Covid payment breaks as she's been paying them up until now.
She's got a bank account, but no debt, with First Direct, but I've heard they're quite likely to still close her account, is this true?
She's just got a washing machine on buy now pay February, should she still pay for it, or leave it and include it as a debt? 

Sorry, thank you so much for your time.

sourcrates

There is no waiting period necessary, don’t know where you get the three months from ?

First direct may or may not chooses to close her account, get a new basic one just in case, with a bank she has no debt with.
All her debts must be included.

fatbelly

Three7six said:

She's got a bank account, but no debt, with First Direct, but I've heard they're quite likely to still close her account, is this true?


Sorry, thank you so much for your time.

I don't know where you heard that but I'd say it's very unlikely if you have no other debts with the HSBC group

Three7six

Thank you @sourcrates for some reason i thought you had to wait 3 months from when you last used credit before you could apply. The fact that she's just ordered a washing machine, would that not look a bit dodgy if she then applied straightaway? 

Thank you too @fatbelly that was actually from other people who'd had an account with them prior to their DRO. It's an account she pays for rather than a free one. 

MalMonroe

Hi, I've also had a DRO and survived.

What your friend really needs to do is try not to take on any more debt just now and contact, as soon as possible, one of the debt help agencies. I used StepChange, which was CCCS when I first started, so you can tell it was a while ago. They are very helpful and will give all the help and information your friend needs and will also help her submit her application.  In fact, as you'll probably remember, you can't just apply for a DRO yourself, it has to be through one of the approved agencies, which StepChange is.

Click on this link for more info:   https://www.stepchange.org/

When I first contacted them, I was advised to close my current account because part of my debt was the overdraft on the bank account I had then. Every case is different though and your friend will be appointed her own personal adviser. 

fatbelly

There's no fixed rule on the 3-month thing. Usually intermediaries are a bit twitchy about it  so they make up the figure.

On the bank account thing, there's no harm in  opening another one now but as far as I know the only company that trawls  the insolvency register (and then only to downgrade customers to a basic account) is Nat West

Three7six

Thank you guys, as helpful as always:)

liggerz87

Ye i had that 3 month thing aswel with step change its to do with preferred payment thing