That's at the discretion of your trustee Pinkveggie.

In these circumstances some fail trust deeds, others allow them to continue with zero contributions if they become unaffordable through no fault of your own.

A good outcome for you if this is what happens?

Depends on which TD firm you're with as they will take different views. Some will suspend your payments so that you can pick them up again once your fortunes change for the better. Others may take the view that if you cannot meet your obligations through no fault of your own that the TD will end and you will be free of debt. Others again may say the TD has failed and discharge themselves leaving you back at square one with your debts. Best to call your trustee and clarify things and get their intentions in writing.

Looks like we were typing at the same time TDA....

Thank you well my relationship manager said one thing and when I phoned today and spoke to someone else I got a completely different story, hence why i asked but apparently i cannot speak to the trustee (is that common?) so I am back at square one

Thank you TDA and upstream

Hi upstream.

The same time, and pretty much the same message!

Hi Pinkveggie.

That's unfortunate, but you could write directly to them for clarification if their staff have given you conflicting information.

Thanks TDA, I will try again, is there anywhere where definitive rules are written down so I can check for myself, it appears to be a bit of a lottery depending on the firm? and is it in their rules which they make up themselves?

I was made redundant in September 2012, payments to my trust deed were suspended while I was unemployed. When I got a new job about 4-5 months later the salary was around £5000 a year less than my previous job. Initially it was said that I would be discharged from my TD but it was then decided that my payments would remain zero for the remaining time of my trust deed in case my circumstances improved (which they haven't)and I could resume payments, or in case I had a windfall (which I haven't) which could be paid for the benefit of my creditors.

I am now counting days until my 3 years is up and all being well I will be discharged soon.

As for a definitive answer, I can only tell you my experience.

You have been given different stories from different people. I would go with what your relationship manager says, I assume that was one of the people you spoke to? Maybe the other person was giving generic information rather than information specific to your case

Hi Pinkveggie. I can understand your desire for definitive answers here. Unfortunately, whilst the legislation is specific in lots of respects, there is also a lot of room for interpretation. As others have said, different trustees do view these things differently.

I think you will find that most will be somewhere in the middle - ie a balanced approach. So whilst they should be sensitive and flexible to changes in circumstances, they will often also seek to take creditors interests into account to some degree by extending the period for example.