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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long will I be on the plan, when will I be debt free?

Our aim is to get you debt free in as short a time as possible, we are reliant upon you (the client) and the creditors getting back to us with any information requested, so it is difficult to put a time on the process, it could be as little as 12 months or up to 36 months, depending on your situation.  Please be assured that First Step Finance will complete your file in the shortest time possible.

Will I continue to be contacted by my creditors?

The creditors have an absolute right to contact you regarding the alleged debt, however the number of times they call and what they say could mean their action is classed as harassment, (which is illegal) if any form of correspondence you receive is bothering you, take action by monitoring the times and how many calls, advise ourselves and we will issue an harassment letter.

What do I say to creditors when they call me?

As creditors are aware of what we as a debt elimination company do, they will stoop to very severe tactics over the phone to unnerve you but please do not worry just advise them, we are now dealing with that debt and they should contact us, should anything arrive in the post you need to call and advise us of exactly what it says.  If they are asking you specific questions, you can ask that they put the query/question in writing then when you receive it, you can then put in a prepaid envelope and pass to us to deal with it.

What if a creditor refuses to deal with First Step Finance?

The Office of Fair Trading guidelines state that they should.  If the creditor continues to say that they will not deal with us, then ask them to put it in writing, pass the correspondence to us and then we can deal with it.

Can I Have a Statement?

Yes you can, but initially the information on the statement will not show the work we have carried out.  If you would prefer that we give you the information over the phone, it is much more beneficial to you, because within the monthly call we make to you, we can give you all the details of what is happening with your debts.

Who’s dealing with my plan, and why do i have to speak to other people instead of them?

You have your own Caseworker, but if they are away from their desk, either for lunch, holiday or sickness, we feel that your needs are always important, so your call is passed to another Caseworker, who will be able to assist you.  If your call is not urgent, you can choose to leave a message and it will be passed to your Caseworker to deal with on their return to their desk.  But if you feel that your query is urgent, then another Caseworker can help you.
 
Why are we not paying creditors?


We do not pay the creditors because we are disputing the debt on your behalf, the creditors do not like this obviously, as they are aware of what we as a debt elimination company do.  They will stoop to very severe tactics over the phone to unnerve you but please do not worry, just advise them that we are now dealing with that debt and they should contact us, should anything arrive in the post you need to call and advise us of exactly what it says.

Which creditors are we paying?

Any creditors that we are paying will be those that after investigation we have found no disputable flaws in the agreement or the debt is secured or a debt we feel is better managed for a period of time, until the opportunity arises to offer them an amount in full and final settlement of that debt.

Can the creditor refuse to refund charges and PPI?

All creditors initially refuse to refund the charges and PPI, but there are only a few that continue to be obstructive and argumentative.  The legal teams that work for the creditors are aware that our arguments are correct, but we find that some like to try and argue minor points in order to drag out the process of refunding.  We have an experienced legal team who dedicate their time to assisting all our clients with their debts, and they are fully aware of the tactics the creditors/collectors are currently trying.  If the creditor persists in not cooperating, or flatly refusing to refund the penalty charges or PPI, then WE would threaten court action, which the creditor would not want to pursue, as it is a costly process.

Your Right to cancel
All our clients have a 14-day cooling off period after the date of signing the agreement. Should you wish to withdraw from the agreement simply call the office within the period and also provide written notification stating the reasons for your withdrawal in order that your details may be removed from our systems
 
What if I want to cancel after the fourteen day period ?

Should you wish to withdraw from the arrangement with FSF after the inception of your plan, again you are required to both call the office and write to confirm your withdrawal as we will need to inform your creditors that we will no longer be representing yourself in respect of your debts, work completed on your behalf will be charged, see your agreement for details.

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