Christians Against Poverty UK Reviews 133

Brilliant people slow to start with but once they handled my case my debt has reduced and l should be debt free on 3 months
Thanks to them and their support

It took CAP nearly 2 months to set me up on their system, fair enough I thought as they were contacting creditors and requesting up to date figures. As advised by CAP I sent all letters to them as soon as I got them but was very concerned to arrive home one day to see the council bailiffs had turned up and I'd been charged £235 for the privilege! I sent CAP letters and the liability order - I trusted CAP to deal with my creditors and they just sat on it. I was on anti depressants at the time as I suffer from anxiety but the worry of debt was really getting to me. I had several small issues with CAP and lost faith in them and feel I couldn't trust them. They took too much money from me so that I was struggling to pay for food in the days before payday. I mentioned this to them in a phone call and was told they can't change the amount I pay as there won't be enough to pay creditors and suggested I go on one of their money managing course - this is no way to run a DMP. I don't live over the top but live simply there is nothing to cut back on.
They offer to put money into savings pot - great idea, which I did but not nice asking them every month to pay back into my account to buy food.
I have an unsecured debt of which I was paying a token amount of £1 per month. CAP didn't pay them until recently, this is against all advice I've read. Better to make a small payment instead of zero payment.
initially CAP said I'd be debt free in about 18 months, well surprise surprise I've been told by Step Change its going to take me another 18 months to get debt free, I've paid into scheme for nearly 12 months so by my maths it will take 2 1/2 years to pay not 1 1/2 that CAP said.
Something wrong somewhere with these guys.
Anyways I've changed to Step Change - had enough of CAP and intend to file a complaint.

What an absolute shower of s**t these people are. I thought it was just me but Looking at the comments it seems that both other people have had the same issues as me. They budgeted me monthly but I am paid 4 weekly which left me short of funds each month so I couldn't make the agreed payments. However, they said they couldn't change it so despite me constantly advising that I was struggling. I also suffer with depression & anxiety and their conduct has made it so much worse, especially as they've now closed my case leaving me in the lurch.
I always wondered what their angle was, apart from the obvious religious bits (when their rep came they insisted on praying despite me telling them that I'm an Atheist!) I can only assume they are earning but interest on your monthly payments in so if you don't pay you aren't earning anything for them.
So they have now left me in a much worse position than before I used them and now I'm suicidal so let's hope we don't have them cause any Jeremy Kyle style issues!! My advice is to keep well clear

I have spoken to David Pearson of CAP Bradford this morning and have to honestly say that he has dealt with my case brilliantly achieving a positive result with my debtors. He is at ALL times professional, kind, non judgemental and patient with a view always to removing stress and burdens from his clients.

Sadly, not everyone is like David but we can all agree, that's just how life is. That said, I would highly recommend David Pearson of The Scotland Team to help anyone considering CAP as their "rescuer" as I cannot fault his way of dealing with people at any level.

Sincerely

👍

Me and my partner went to Christians against poverty for help we was struggling to keep there monthly payments and we also found out that they was over charging us with are council tax arrears and after the third time of struggling to pay the £268.87 and they stop there service without out any care

A waste of time and effort. They don't appear to know what they're doing which isn't fair when dealing with vulnerable people.

Unbelievable how great everyone I've at CAP!
They have truly helped myself and my family.
If you are struggling please call them.
You don't have to be a Christian, they help anyone
Truly amazing

Things fine to start with, then multiple mistakes, agreeimg plans that were unaffordable with lenders then not paying amounts meaning charges applied. inability to add up or understand varying income. complaining led to constant pressure for me to leave programme rather than address issue. confusion from operators as to weekly and monthly disoosable income and confusion over inclusion if debt payments with spare income. complaints are 'handled' by manager ofthe team being criticised and serious issues raised are not addresses in favour of blaming the client. poor maths, getting behind on payments and incorrect creditor names on statements. if you mention this and show inredulity someome will call you and try to pray for you and ask you to accept jesus. if you dont, they end support. awful vulnerablity mill..
oh and i was told 'if you complain you are going up against God and God will win' during a discussion inwhich they said they would'help' me to sell my house... at Christmas.. they get 10‰ kickback from most problem lenders which makes them. more. debt collectors than counsellors

I have been with CAP since Aug 2016 (15 months) whilst I have had ups and downs income wise my debt has decreased from £3000 to £2400 (only because I have paid £300 out of my own pocket).

They have always been very slow to answer e-mails and phone calls often go unanswered or a cut off.

They do not offer benefit advice.

They advised me to go bankrupt (my debt is too small and I would never work in finance again)

They advised me to sell my home for £233 of mortgage arrears.

They no longer allow people paid fortnightly to pay them fortnightly, causing further stress to clients.

They would not let me make over payments as "it's not in the plan"

My mortgage was consistently paid late, despite funds being transferred to them on time.

They then gave up paying both mortgage and council tax arrears saying it would be easier if i did it myself.

Finally they came up with a debt plan that meant I was paying out more than was available. I asked them to rectify it but they just couldn't grasp the maths! - I can only hope they have not promised creditors unrealistic amounts in my name!

I notified them i would no longer work with them on Friday (5 days ago) and they have not responded.

I was £27000 .00 in dept in 2010 ,and getting nowhere with all the intrest payments , Cap set a prepayment program, contracted all my creaditers , stop or cut interest and was able to pay it all off , its be along hard road and not easy , i am now dept free as of this month paying my last crediter off... Cap where a God send for me , I now live within my means , never again will I walk down the road of dept and disrepair , I would recommend 100 percent Chritians against poverty, they were brilliant.

My son and daughter in law were clients just at signing for budget stage,we had spent fortune ringing creditors and sending the letter saying they were going to be represented by CAP..my son however just secured employment with a gym which although employed by gym he will have to register as self empliyed...so when CAP visited they were told their case was closed and CAP couldnt support them even tho they had been taken on ,all they got were a couple phone numbers...oh and the stress and worry of all creditors again. There wasnt anything offered by way of a transition or support to contact creditors they have basically been abandoned .....

In less than a year I am £42000 debt free! Something I did not consider possible when I contacted them in April 2016.
It has not been trouble free but their help and guidance has been invaluable. They have been a buffer and an ally against my creditors and have enabled me to truly get on with my life and regain control of my finances. I strongly recommend anyone with any degree of financial difficulty to contact CAP.