My articles on How to ask for refunds looks at how to make affordability complaints about different sorts of debt - overdafts, loans, credit cards, catalogues, even car finance. It also applies if you have repaid the credit already or if you are still repaying a balance. But what do you do about this month's repayments if you can't manage them? You can't put in a complaint and then carry on … [Read more...]
Getting out of debt
Practical articles about the different debt options, which might work for you and different ways of dealing with creditors
Calculate the 8% extra interest on refunds – not easy
When the Financial Ombudsman upholds a complaint about an affordability complaint, the typical award is a refund of interest and charges on the unaffordable credit plus 8% simple interest. This interest can add up to a lot of money if the loans were repaid a few years ago. If you want to find out more about affordability refunds, and how people are winning these cases even when they never … [Read more...]
Misleading & aggressive debt recovery
A reader asked: My previous electrician has hired a debt collector, Guardian Recovery, to chase me for money for additional works never carried out. He refuses to engage with any meaningful discussion. I have now received an email from Guard Rec saying a notice of default may now be applied to my credit file. Can I actually receive a NOTICE OF DEFAULT on my credit report via a private dispute … [Read more...]
“Can I use the Right to Buy my council house when I have debts?”
A reader asked: I moved in with my parents into their council house several years ago and we are looking into the right to buy scheme. We received the paperwork and it stated that you are not entitled to the right to buy if you owe money to creditors. Five years ago I lost my job and had a relationship breakup and unfortunately got into debt. Two accounts were defaulted and I went into a payment … [Read more...]
How to complete the online bankruptcy application
In 2016, an online Bankruptcy Application was introduced in England and Wales. When you submit the online Application it is checked by the Insolvency Service Adjudicator who makes the Bankruptcy Order. The online application is a huge improvement on the old court forms! As a result, more people are now choosing bankruptcy, see Court-free clickable bankruptcy 'removes stigma'. The online … [Read more...]
How to pay your bankruptcy fees
You can pay your bankruptcy application by debit card or cash. If you are paying by card, you can do this in instalments. The payment methods are all explained in the new online application. I'm going through it in detail here as you might like to understand how this will work but don't yet want to start a bankruptcy application. If you want to know more about the rest of the bankruptcy … [Read more...]
Choosing a debt management company – free or pay fees?
If you want a debt management plan (DMP), where your creditors are asked to freeze interest and accept a lower monthly payment, which debt management firm should you use? This article looks at the things to consider. It is a big decision as you are going to have to deal with this company - including discussing the details of your personal expenses and income - for several years. Pick the right … [Read more...]
Must I tell Official Receiver what I spent money on
A reader asked if he has to give the Official Receiver details of his expenditure. If the expenditure is before he went bankrupt, the answer is "Yes, definitely - but this probably won't be in a huge amount of detail". But if he is worried about whether he has to report to the Official Receiver about his spending while he is bankrupt, the answer is "No, not normally". Expenditure before you … [Read more...]
One of the early payday loan affordability complaints in 2015
This is the story of one of the very early payday loan affordability complaints, made in September 2015. Since then there have been literally tens of thousands of affordability complaints made. All the UK payday lenders have been receiving them. four years later, in October 2019, the cost of paying refunds on these affordability complaints had forced the "Big Three" lenders tp go out of … [Read more...]
Unknown debts on your credit file
A reader asked: I have recently signed up to Experian and Equifax. Experian's is what I was expecting to see but Equifax's has debts that I have no recollection of. I have taken this up with Equifax and all but two of the companies have responded by saying that the debt stands, please get in touch to discuss. Equifax say that they can’t remove anything from my report unless these companies give … [Read more...]