Sounds to me like he just wants to check that what you say you are paying you pay - shouldn't be an issue if you have been honest, the only issue it sounds like you may have is keeping the paperwork to give to him.

Simple solution - nip down to Asda or Tesco and buy a folder and keep it under your bed... Put every bill in it as they arrive and note on the individual bills the date you went to pay them and you're sorted.

Hi gresgow.

It's really up to you how you manage your money.

However your Trustee has responsibilities to review major areas of expense and a bank statement is a handy way to do that (for most people).

As you're paying in cash it leaves your Trustee without a way to check these expenditure items so it's understdable that they'd like to have sight of the bills so that they have an audit trail of having done what they should.

If you've thrown away the bills I'd suggest you make them aware and offer to send in copies of the new bills as and when they arrive.

Thanks for the responses - I have no problems with submitting copies of bills, etc. What I do mind is that this was not explained that I would have to do this when I first signed up for the TD. It is not just this issue but my IP has been rather aggro about other things too. Wish I had gone down another route/provider. My own fault really, too eager to get things in place without doing my homework.

Sorry to hear you feel that way but as TDA says - they have a job to do.

They are responsible to the creditors so they have to make sure they do a good job - for your benefit as well as the creditors.

I understand what you are saying Scotslad and TDA. With regards to doing a good job for my benefit as well as the creditors, only one party (me) is paying a fee for the job that they are doing and I sometimes feel that my IP is forgetting that this is a business transaction as well.

To turn that on its head, I think your creditors will disagree that they are not paying for this - you will only be paying a small part of what you actually owe to them so this is costing them too.

Not in the 'business' sense I agree, but they are losing out in this arrangement as well.

Don't want to turn this into a blame game - but irresponsible lending practices and ridiculous interest rates on the part of the lenders are partly to blame for the situation that I found myself in. Initially I felt a little guilty about entering a TD and not paying my debts in full but now I feel that my creditors brought some of this on themselves. Some of the frustration that I used to have with my creditors I am now having with my IP.

Go on Gresgow, well put and you are 100% correct, nice one. I do think it's a bit harsh what your trustee is asking. You are paying what they have agreed you to pay so what's the problem?

I agree that in most cases lenders have been irresponsible i.e. one of my credit cards every time I was near the limit, would increase it automatically. I however, could have chosen not to use the extra credit offered to me. My situation arose out of the blue due to a change in circumstances, that is not however the fault of my creditors.

I chose for a long time to live outwith my means. Then when things changed I couldn't meet my commitments. I struggled on for a year or so, savings completely gone on repayments, reality hit and I looked for advice.

I didn't have a face to face meeting. I haven't produced any proof of income or bank statements. I haven't produced any statements for all my creditors. I wasn't asked for them. When I asked if I should send them, I was told no. My worry is that not everyone has been included.

I was more than just a little shocked when I realised how little my creditors would get and how much my Trustee would.

I have made 1 payment, 2nd due in a couple of days. 3 years from now I will be debt free. I feel bad for my creditors, because whatever was offered, I could have refused.

The blame for my situation, and I'm sure for most people lies firmly with ourselves. We have been given a second chance, and I hope when my 3 years comes to an end, a very valuable lesson will have been learned.

Wise words, Saabrina, wise words.

Hi gresgow.

I take your point that it's you who is paying the fees of your trust deed company.

However, part of what you are paying them to do is to verify to your creditors that you're paying a fair amount in line with your income and expenditure.

The fact that you're paying your Trustee to do that is a major reason why the creditors will have agreed to your trust deed; they know that a professional is reviewing your circumstances so that they get a reasonable return based upon your circumstances.

I also take your point that this method of reviewing your expenditure wasn't explained to you in advance. I suspect however that this is just down to the fact that most people pay most major bills in a way that will be evident on their bank statements. It isn't possible for any trust deed provider to cover every single eventuality or possibility in their pre-communication.

Hopefully this situation fits into the category of being a "frustration" rather than a "problem" though?

Saabrina - I couldn't agree more, they may have offered me the money but I was the one who put my own hand out and took it.