Hello everyone. I have found myself to be in a predicament and urgently need your advice. Situation: I have 3 debts with Lowell totalling £410. I recently got an experian credit check to see what my score was. At this moment in time it is 640. After speaking to StepChange about sorting out my debt they advised me that I could either talk to them individually and make token payments till my situation changes (I am on JSA and receive £146 every fortnight/£293 a month) or apply for a debt relief order (My total debts including other creditors = £1100). The DRO was mentioned as the final last result since it stays on your credit file for 6 years (Would be there until 2021!). StepChange advised me to inform my creditors that I was in the process of talking to them, so that I would have 30 days without any action being taken against me. I spoke to Lowell about my situation and that I was talking advice from StepChange. The agent I spoke to mentioned that they had more than one debt in my name and that they had recently taken on another one. After mentioning that I was speaking to StepChange the agent told me my account would be placed on hold for 30 days (I called them on the 13th August). I received two letters from them dated the 14th August each for different bills, but I did not receive one for my £211 debt. Yesterday (21st August) I received a Claimform (Dated the 20th August) from Lowell and Bryan Carter Solicitors. The original debt was £211 and based on interest has risen to £218. Additionally, £25 court fee and £50 solicitor fee has been added making the total £293. What would you recommend? Firstly if I was to pay the Claimform within 30 days (So that it doesn't stay on record for 6 years) would I have to pay the "Amount Claimed" which is £218 or would I have to pay the total cost of £293? This solution would leave me in an extremely bad position as I can barely afford things as it is. Furthermore, what is my position in that Lowell knew I was talking to StepChange and only put 2 out of 3 accounts on hold thus leading to the claimform being taken against me? They have put two accounts on hold which total £199 which they know I am struggling to pay, yet send a Claimform for the one that costs even more! (£218). I don't get why they wouldn't apply this hold on to all of my accounts that they hold for me