Need cder group advice, desperate

SusieT

Very well done for calling Stepchange, getting your budget together early is a good idea and with their help you can will be well prepared to get a good result. As EssexHebridean said, post it here if you need people to help as you may have a few things missed, or you may be able to allow a little bit more for some categories. 

If you have to go to the magistrate they are human, and are normally a lot nicer to deal with than the people chasing you, if you have a budget prepared properly, and are seen to be trying to pay they should put an end to all the chasing for you.  
Even if you are only able to pay them £1 a month or week until it is sorted then that is all you pay, ignore all their threats of doom and terrible things that will happen to you, these frightners will only mean that a court would tell them that you cannot afford what they want and they would need to accept that which is not as good for them as being able to scare the hell out of you and have you panicing whenever they call. You MUST have enough for the basics - rent, council tax, food, heat etc. If their demands do not allow that then they do not get their money. You have done really well to get this far, keep going and remamber their threats of court are very likely going to have a better result for you than for them.

newmrsf

Hi all, again. So cder group sent it back to court and I've just received a letter to arrange a hearing. I'm now in a major panic, anxiety is sky high. I'm petrified to go to court again, what happens if they imprison me?? I've asked if they can come to an arrangement on the phone, but I guess that's not going to happen

newmrsf

Further to your email below, we can arrange for the matter to go back before the Court for a means hearing where the Magistrates will review your outstanding fines. Your current means and any payment plan requests will be taken into consideration.

 

Means hearings are currently held in absence so you would need to complete the attached form or supply details of all your incomings and outgoings and any further information you would like the Magistrates to be aware of. If you can’t fill out the form, please provide all of the information on an email. Please send back all correspondence to this email address.

 

Once we have the completed means form, this information will be placed before Court for consideration. Please note we will not be able to arrange a date of hearing until this information has been received.

 

newmrsf

I have just received this email. Does this mean I don't have to physically attend court??? That they will deal with it once I send the form back? 

sourcrates

Please get out of panic mode, you will not go to prison, calm yourself down, it is what it says it is, simply a means hearing.

Your current payment is going to be reviewed, which is what you were asking for, you must fill in the form telling them why you cannot afford the current level of payment, what effect struggling to find this money has had on you, and any further information you would like the Magistrates to be aware of, Your mental health situation jumps immediately to mind.

You will most likely have to attend again yes, but this is solely to determine what you can afford to pay, just be honest, and don`t agree to anything your not sure of, is there someone who can go with you at all ?

newmrsf

No there isn't. Where it says meas hearings are currently held in absence am I right in assuming it will either be via zoom or il just get notified of the outcome without having to physically attend? 

sourcrates

newmrsf said:

No there isn't. Where it says means hearings are currently held in absence am I right in assuming it will either be via zoom or il just get notified of the outcome without having to physically attend? 

That may very well be the case yes, which is why its important to get your point across on the form they send you.

Add as much detail as possible, but stick to the facts, don`t waffle in other words lol, you`ll be fine.

newmrsf

Hi all. Just to update you.. 
I sent through my incomings/outgoings. My case was heard on Friday, I didn't have to attend. I received a letter today and the court has requested I pay £10 a week, starting the end of the month. Yes I know its going to take a hell of a long time to pay back, But it will be paid now and I can afford to pay for everything else too. Thank you All so much for your advice, for listening and helping me through the really dark times. For a bunch of strangers, you really did contribute in keeping me going, thanks again 

sourcrates

Glad common sense has prevailed, don`t ever let yourself be bullied.

Fines are usually set according to your ability to pay, but some companies like to try it on, glad its worked out for you.

EssexHebridean

newmrsf said:

Hi all. Just to update you.. 
I sent through my incomings/outgoings. My case was heard on Friday, I didn't have to attend. I received a letter today and the court has requested I pay £10 a week, starting the end of the month. Yes I know its going to take a hell of a long time to pay back, But it will be paid now and I can afford to pay for everything else too. Thank you All so much for your advice, for listening and helping me through the really dark times. For a bunch of strangers, you really did contribute in keeping me going, thanks again 

This is one of the best posts I've ever read on here - and I've read a few. I'm so pleased to hear that things are on the way to being sorted for you. Don't worry about how long it will take to pay back right now, just make sure you pay the agreed amount on time and without fail. 

If you need further help with budgeting etc, please don't hesitate to post again - we'll always try to help.  And remember - it IS just money at the end of the day. xx