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username1062

Hi everyone,
I’m hoping for some advice because this situation is becoming really overwhelming and I’m not sure what else I can do.

Background:
I have a debt that Drydens are dealing with on behalf of Natwest. There is no CCJ in place, and I haven’t agreed to any repayment plan yet because we’ve been going back and forth trying to reach something affordable. I fully acknowledge the debt and I’m trying to sort this out properly.

What I’ve offered so far:

• I provided a full financial statement.
• I offered £150 per month immediately.
• I have a contractually guaranteed pay rise in September 2027, and I’ve confirmed that I will increase payments from that date.
• In February, Drydens told me their client requires the balance to be repaid within 120 months to avoid legal action.
• I have confirmed in writing that I am willing and committed to repaying the balance within that 120‑month timeframe.

Drydens are now saying their client is “not prepared to hold the file until September 2027.”
But I’ve never asked them to hold anything until 2027 — I’ve said repeatedly that I can pay £150 per month starting now.

They’ve now put my file on a 14‑day hold and are threatening legal action, including a Charging Order. I’d really like to avoid a charging order.

I’m trying to do the right thing, but it feels like there’s no negotiation and they’re not listening to what I’m actually offering. It’s getting too much and I’m worried about what happens next.

• Can they still push for court action when I’m offering payments that meet their own 120‑month requirement?
• Is there anything else I should be saying or doing at this stage?
• Has anyone dealt with Drydens behaving like this before?

Thank you all

ManyWays

How large is this debt and was it a loan, credit card or overdraft?
Do you have other debts that you are repaying normally?

username1062

Hi manyways,

All accounts defaulted and paying via self managed DMP, with no issues from other creditors.

Its 2 x Natwest loans (which they have lumped together under one debt) totalling £30,000

sourcrates

"Its 2 x Natwest loans (which they have lumped together under one debt) totalling £30,000"

I don`t know why companies do this, two debts lumped together creates a hybrid that never existed previously, you never signed a credit agreement for this loan, you were never provided with terms and conditions for this loan, you were never provided with a cooling off period, you never received any paperwork for it.

So you should ask for the CCA, make a request under sec 77 CCA.

They won`t be able to provide it as that account never originally existed, so there will be no paperwork for it, which means if they cannot provide it, the debt will be unenforceable in court, and you won`t have to pay it!!

Info here:

Debts - why, how & when to ask for the CCA agreement · Debt Camel

username1062

Thanks, sourcrates. What you’re saying does make sense. The only thing I’m unsure about is that both of these NatWest loans were taken out fairly recently, so I assume they’ll still be able to produce the CCAs for each one. If that’s the case, then I imagine the debt would still be enforceable, even though Drydens have combined them into a single account on their system.

Every time I contact Drydens, they say they need to “refer back to their client,” so I’m assuming NatWest still actually own the debt rather than it being sold on.

I feel like I’ve ended up back in the same place I was last year — completely overwhelmed, helpless, and full of dread. I’m trying to deal with this properly, but it’s getting really hard to manage.

I’m fearful of a CCJ and even more so a CO, therefore trying to prevent but they just don’t seem to be playing ball.

The latest email from Drydens states “Our client has advised that whilst they are sympathetic to your current circumstances, they have instructed us to proceed with legal action, with the intention of applying for a Charging Order. This is due your current repayment proposals not being within our clients requested mandate. Your file has been placed on hold for a period of 14 days; we request that you contact our offices within this time if you wish to discuss the above further. Failure to contact our offices by 12 May 2026, may lead to further legal action being taken against you. We suggest seeking independent legal advice on the matter.”

Grumpelstiltskin

You still haven't changed your mindset, you are still being upset by your creditors.

You are in charge not your creditors, you call the tune not them.

Their aim is to frighten you into paying what they want but you should be paying what you can, you notice in their document they say MAY not we will do XYZ.

sourcrates

Its not a CCA for each individual debt, its the CCA for the combined debt they are asking you to pay, it won`t exist.

They are not asking you to pay the debts individually, they have combined them into an account that never existed previously, so there won`t be a CCA for it, as you never signed one.

Do a request for the combined debt they are asking you to pay, if nothing else it will give you 6/8 weeks or more to ascertain a strategy, as your account will be put on hold.

username1062

Thanks - that makes sense. I do wonder if it’s just an internal ledger type thing.

If they come back with the two separate agreements what do I do then? That’s what I think will likely happen…

ManyWays

If they come back with two separate agreements, I guess then can still issue a combined claim and produce both the CCAs.

How long ago were these loans and were they really affordable?

username1062

They were in 2022. I’ve already taken to FOS etc and not upheld! Several other loans with different companies were.