Articles by Joseph Harris, Debt Control Man on ArticleSnatch.com

Lending Code secrecy 'is a disgrace'

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:57:22 -0400

The new Lending Code, which replaces the credit and financial difficulties sections of the defunct Banking Code, is due to come into effect on November 1. Some nineteen short days away. There is to be no public sight of these changes, nor any consultation process before these changes come into effect. Specialist author Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man - has been trying to get sight of these changes since June. He has been told they will not be released until they are in effect on November 1 by Paul Ross, the man who is writing the new document for the British Bankers Association, in an email. “This is a clear case of dictatorial behaviour,” declares Mr Harris. “It is a disgrace that no one concerned with the field, nor any debtor - whether defaulting or not - has any idea how the changes will affect them. “Vince Cable was wrong when he said Gordon Brown had changed from Stalin to Mr Bean. On the basis of this secrecy and undemocratic behaviour he remains Stalin. **End Summary** Topics: debt]]> intermediary]]> creditor]]> negotiate]]> default]]> debt charities]]> debt management]]> debtor]]> rules]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms blog: site: wiki: ezine: debtcrisisnews-subscribe@lists.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk Â© Joseph Harris You may copy this only if this signature is kept with the article

Debt Crisis 7 - DIY or Intermediary

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:59:57 -0400

Whatever route you take to controlling your debt the task is going to seem daunting. There is little you and there is this giant clever company filled to the brim with people out to get the money from you. Sort of! Anyway you feel the need to hide behind some sort of protection. So you cast about for someone, anyone, who will take on the task of defending youâ€”little Davidâ€”from these big bad giants. But there is my clue: little David. Remember the Biblical story of him slaying the giant, Goliath? And cutting off his head just to make sure. I am not sure I recommend the latter, but if you do go DIY you are not undefended. So, when you make that choice think rather of whether you have qualities which make you able to resist pressure and compose letters. And even if you donâ€™t at the starting point, whether you would like to give it a go. You can always change later to using an intermediary if you find it too muchâ€”though in my experience it gets easier as you understand the companies. **End Summary** Topics: debt]]> intermediary]]> creditor]]> negotiate]]> default]]> debt charities]]> debt management]]> debtor]]> rules]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms blog: site: wiki: ezine: debtcrisisnews-subscribe@lists.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk ÃÂ© Joseph Harris You may copy this only if this signature is kept with the article

Debt Crisis - 6 Is Debt Negotiation Bad?

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:33:43 -0400

This is an actual search question, and clearly concerns people who face debt problems. The short answer is most certainly â€˜noâ€™; debt negotiation should be quite a regular thing. Though few of us really want to do much of it. But it is the best way of managing problems and resolving them, as well as limiting them in the first place. First letâ€™s consider what we actually mean. The idea of negotiation itself is fairly clear; it means talking towards an agreement. Perhaps dialogue is a better word than talking, since there needs to be another party to talk to. Really you might be said to be in negotiation from the moment you seek a loan, a credit card or a mortgage. Often one feels powerless to influence events, since all the cards are with the lender! Or, at least, that is how the lender likes you to think. In fact, certainly in England and Wales, you have some powerful forces on your side and this beefs up your strength in negotiation. It is worth understanding a little of those supports. **End Summary** Topics: debt]]> debtor]]> creditor]]> debt negotiation]]> resolving problems]]> agreement]]> loan]]> credit card]]> mortgage]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms blog: site: wiki: ezine: debtcrisisnews-subscribe@lists.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk ÃÂ© Joseph Harris You may copy this only if this signature is kept with the article

Debt Crisis - 5 Preparing your first letter

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:58:19 -0400

I hope you have decided that approaching your creditor(s) by letter is the best way forward. For perhaps the most important thing in your dealings with companies is making sure there is a record of what has passed between you. While there is but one of you, there are a host of agents within the majority of creditor companies, and even where this is not so memories are unreliable and summaries may be inaccurate. Remember also that companies are bought and sold frequently, and may even go bankrupt. You may also need that written support if you have to deal with any third party. And in third parties I include the courts should the matter ever go that far. It is open to either the company or you to involve a third party. The written word in the form of a signed formal letter is far and away the most acceptable and reliable evidence of what has been discussed and stated. There is a lot of very excellent advice on the net, but it does not all say the same thing. There are many good reasons for this. First there are two main sources; personal experience and professional expertise. **End Summary** Topics: debt crisis]]> letter]]> first letter]]> creditors]]> bankrupt]]> courts]]> advice]]> debtor]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk debt dictionary: http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk/debtwiki/ ÃÂ© Joseph Harris You may use this only if the signature is kept with the article

Debt Crisis - 4 Avoiding Sharks

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 12:27:09 -0400

My slang dictionary [Jonathon Green, Cassell] shows a lot of â€˜sharkâ€™ and â€˜sharksâ€™ and there are two basic concepts - the trickster and the specialised â€˜supplier of private loans at maximum interestâ€™. I will put aside my general view of the whole credit industry - including mail order - where I believe interest rates are generally far higher than good business practice requires [often up to 40% p.a. from 'respectable' organisations!] - because I am here writing about the problems to be recognised when you are in crisis and desperate for a solution. But I want to both soften the interpretation of the term for this article, and extend it. In trying to sort out your problems you should be seeking advice and help from professionals and advisory organisations or individuals. Even within any organisation you are going to deal with an individual. Let us assume that all of them are trying to do the best job they know how. I have no reason to doubt this. But the questions that are important are what is the job they believe they are doing, how good are they at it. **End Summary** Topics: sharks]]> credit industry]]> mail order]]> interest rates]]> training]]> charities]]> debt]]> street corner loans]]> family loans]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk debt dictionary: http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk/debtwiki/ ÃÂ© Joseph Harris You may use this only if the signature is kept with the article

Debt Crisis 2 - Will I Go To Prison?

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 06:24:06 -0400

In a word - in England and Wales certainly - no. There are two exceptions, neither of which should worry you. The first is a relic from the past. And even then there is a long process. This is for non-payment of council tax [what we used to know as rates]. Occasionally you will hear of someone who wants to make a point about council tax who deliberately refuses to pay and accepts prison as the price of publicising their complaint. Personally I think there are better ways, but that is their choice. If you are ever in a position where the council tax collection department threatens you you should find your way quickly to the Citizenâ€™s Advice Bureau or Law Centre, or maybe both. The first is very experienced in these matters; you should get sound advice. The second, if there is any question of a case being heard, will be able to mount your defence. If you cannot pay it is almost certain that you are entitled to help through housing and council tax benefits. The process has all the usual grace of official documents to fill, but should otherwise be painless. **End Summary** Topics: Debt]]> debtor]]> debtor's prison]]> prison]]> Citizen's Advice Bureaux]]> Law Centre]]> council tax]]> fraud]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk debt dictionary: http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk/debtwiki/ ÃÂ© Joseph Harris You may use this only if the signature is kept with the article

Debt Crisis 1 - The Moment of Panic

Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:52:35 -0400

There is a moment - as the full realisation of debt out of control hits - when, at least metaphorically, the knees buckle, the head swims, and the urge for flight swells to an almost irresistible force. This is the 'Moment of Panic'. More accurately this is the start of a very long moment of panic. And for quite a while it will return in short bursts. And there is every reason to have such a Moment and such moments. For you have no idea what lies before you, and no idea what mess you are in. You have, after all, never been there before, and probably don't know anyone else who has either. I say enjoy the Moment! Savour it, milk it, stroke yourself with it! Soon enough you are going to come to your full shaken senses. Then you will have to handle matters coolly, calmly and thoughtfully. While in The Moment: 1/ Make no decisions; 2/ Sign no papers; and 3/ Don't try to make sense of anything. To do any of these you must be as clear and as rational as you can manage. During your Moment you are not going to be that. **End Summary** Topics: debt]]> default]]> panic]]> out of control]]> Moment of Panic]]> Debt Control Man]]> Joseph Harris]]> England]]> Wales. negotiation]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Joseph Harris - Debt Control Man author: Control Your Debt Crisis on Your Own Terms http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk debt dictionary: http://www.controlyourdebtcrisis.co.uk/debtwiki/ ÃÂ© Joseph Harris You may use this only if the signature is kept with the article