CCCS Training
Case Study

After attending debt training run by CCCS, a council tax recovery officer was able to identify a couple who were not only struggling to pay their council tax but also finding it difficult to meet other financial commitments. They gave them immediate advice on the differences between priority and non priority debts and recommended they call us. Terry and Janet were behind with their credit cards and a personal loan and were unable to meet the monthly repayments, owing a total of £7200. They also had £300 of gas arrears as well as three months of missed council tax payments totalling £270.

Terry and Janet contacted our helpline and were offered an appointment with one of our debt counsellors. By discussing the situation with their counsellor in a free telephone counselling appointment they have been able to organise their debts and decide on a solution. Their debt counsellor compiled a financial statement for them based on their monthly income and expenditure, offering them budgeting advice along the way. From that the counsellor was able to work out a realistic figure to offer the council to clear the council tax arrears within the current tax year and also offer an amount to the gas company to repay the arrears within 12 months as well as paying the usual monthly amount.

The remaining surplus is then being used to offer their credit cards and personal loan a monthly repayment through one of our Debt Management Plans which should see them debt free by 2010.

(N.B Names and personal references are fictitious. Circumstances are a reflection of everyday occurrences).