CAB just heard on radio... is this right?

[Michael Peoples]

NEDCAB.
Just because they are a registered charity does not mean they are free or independent!!

The fact is you are advising people on your site to go to the CCCS and you say they are free. That is just not true. It does not say do not go to them if you are self employed because they do not know how to deal with such cases.

If you are going to publish things on your site you owe it to your prospective clients to at least try and tell them the truth. They can then make up their own minds with the full facts but stop referring to the CCCS as some sort of avenging debt angel.

They are a business.

[Declan at DebtFreeDirect]

There is a lot of very valid points been raised here and I fully acknowledge the good work the CAB do - not just on debt matters but for everything.
However, I do need to raise a point relating to referring people to the CCCS as effectively the "default" position. I suspect this is largely due to its charitable status but also because of the widespread and very biased media driven focus on them. To clearly state the facts, whilst the CCCS offer DMPs free to the client, in effect they charge the creditor. The IVAs they offer are not free and in no-way should the terms CCCS, IVA and Free be used in the same context because it is materially false.

With that said, I would like to ask NED CAB how they deal with individuals who are clearly distressed and worried, when they are told by the CCCS that they will have to wait a number of weeks to get an appointment to speak to a CCCS advisor?

Thanks

[Adam Davies]

Hi

Does each CAB have their own policy on IVA referrals ?

You do have to wonder if funds are passed from the commercial sector to the various CABs for these referrals.

Regards

[North East Derbyshire CAB]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Michael Peoples

NEDCAB.
Just because they are a registered charity does not mean they are free or independent!!

The fact is you are advising people on your site to go to the CCCS and you say they are free. That is just not true. It does not say do not go to them if you are self employed because they do not know how to deal with such cases.

If you are going to publish things on your site you owe it to your prospective clients to at least try and tell them the truth. They can then make up their own minds with the full facts but stop referring to the CCCS as some sort of avenging debt angel.

They are a business.

Hi Michael

There are fees to pay with any IVA provider if that is what you are saying Michael, both the in house CCCS provider and external companies that CCCS may refer to and that would be up to CCCS to explain to clients who contact them.

We cannot really comment on what you have put with regard to CCCS do not knowing how to deal with self employed cases, maybe you could elaborate?

Our advisers always make our clients aware that there are fees to pay with any IVA provider be it self employed or otherwise and we would also refer you to our previous posts on NEDCABs policy on IVA referrals.

As to your comment as to CCCS being a business, we respect your opinions but would again point you to them being a registered charity.

Maybe you could elaborate further with regard to what you have put about CCCS being a business.

PS - could you please show us where we have actually referred to CCCS as 'some sort of avenging debt angel'

NED-CAB

[MelanieGiles]

I think it does depend upon the local bureau to be honest Andy. A long time ago I was persuaded to pay some money to become one of the local CAB's preferred IP's - hasten to add the money was not paid directlyto the CAB but to the advertising agent who presented the opportunity and printed 2,000 or so CAB/us related business cards.

We did not receive one referral, and gave it up as a bad job.

[North East Derbyshire CAB]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by MelanieGiles

Not sure what point you are coming back to me on about up front fees NEDCAB? Can you clarify please?

Hi Melanie

Are there not or can there not (depending on the provider or feeder company involved) on occasions be fees / payments involved in an IVA other the normal procedure Melanie - for example work done if the IVA proposals are not approved for one reason or another or before the client actually gets to IP / IVA provider?

We would be interested in and value your input / opinions and any experience on this subject

NED-CAB

[North East Derbyshire CAB]

Hi again

Well, we seem to have a lively one here (not a surprise really though:)

Great debate guys and we will carry on when and where we can time permiiting, no problem there.

However a lot of the questions fired at us seem to stem from a link to CCCS on our website, that as we have pointed out now on numerous occasions CCCS are a registed charity.

We cannot really speak for CCCS on a lot of what has been asked to date and understand that a representitive of CCCS has posted on here before so if they are looking in maybe they would come and join the debate.

We will be back later when we can, interesting times ahead.

PS - does anybody have any information yet on the radio show mentioned by the opening poster?

[Declan at DebtFreeDirect]

Your input is valued NED CAB and I think this is a wholesome and worthwhile debate but I would like to ask the question again - how do you deal with a distressed individual who has been told by CCCS that they will have to wait a number of weeks before getting a full appointment with an advisor?

Thanks

[North East Derbyshire CAB]

font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:<hr height="1" noshade>Originally posted by Declan at DebtFreeDirect

Your input is valued NED CAB and I think this is a wholesome and worthwhile debate but I would like to ask the question again - how do you deal with a distressed individual who has been told by CCCS that they will have to wait a number of weeks before getting a full appointment with an advisor?

Thanks

Hi Declan

Thank you

We dont really understand the question to be honest as the situation you raise does not really arise at NEDCAB, as we are independent of CCCS and do not officially refer to them, this is a link on our website only.

However we do see a number of distressed clients who come in to see us with proplems with IVAs after going to fee charging companies and then basically being left to themselves.

Also we get people who have already contacted fee charging companies only to told they cannot really help or take on their case, best try the CAB or another free agency.

We would be interested in your views on the above and if you have any ideas on how we can cope with the increased demand on our services.

We have to go for the day now, back later

NEDCAB

[Claire.37]

"My friend was listening to something on the radio recently about NOT using these debt people as they can make life very difficult for you"

Have contacted my friend to see if she remembers which radio station she heard it on.

[size5]

"However we do see a number of distressed clients who come in to see us with proplems with IVAs after going to fee charging companies and then basically being left to themselves."

As the CCCS and Payplan jointly must hold a very large proportion of IVA's due to their sheer size, does it not therefore follow that those organisations are responsible for a very large proportion of those distressed people enquiries as they charge fees for IVA's?

Just a thought.

Regards.

[Declan at DebtFreeDirect]

An interesting point Mike. I guess my question was more towards a scenario whereby an individual is recommended to speak to the CCCS as the CAB feels that they may qualify for either a DMP / IVA and subsequently that individual is left waiting for an appointment that could take a number of weeks to arrange In the meantime, should that individual, who will clearly be quite stressed and worried, re-visit the CAB - what do they do then, recommend them making another appointment with the CCS or go elsewhere?

Thanks

[Michael Peoples]

Declan/Mike.
Good to see back up on here and as usual your points are more than valid. I would also question what they do about someone who is self employed and has to wait weeks for an appointment only to be told that they would now pass their details to Grant Thornton.

We are all in the non charity sector but give out untold free and impartial advice. It is annoying to somehow be cast as inferior to the 'charities' as we do not have our web links posted on CAB websites. Also I am sure that your organisations like our own do not leave people waiting weeks for advice but deal with the cases swiftly.

Maybe if we were being bunged millions of pounds by banks to collect their debts we could be more blase about our clients.

[Claire.37]

Just got email from my friend who heard it....

BBC Radio Sussex - they had someone on discussing it - it was the woman's afternoon show

[kallis3]

Thanks Claire - hopefully we can help now.