My Budget for Financial Aid.

I used to work for them and found their system very good but then again I never paid to use it and had full access to it so could pretty much control my own money like internet banking and only really used it for budgeting. As soon as I resigned I closed my account because I couldn't justify the fees. Mine were all of a sudden going to be $145 a month but I had seen fees in excess of $300 a month. For something that is mainly used by people experiencing financial difficulties I think it's a bit steep. I know the staff who sign you up hide the fees from your view in your initial appointment so you don't see how MyBudget takes their fees whilst quite often putting your bills on hold and telling you they will arrange payments. This is first hand as I was trained to do this. The establishment fees can be anywhere from $1500 to in excess of $4000 and we were instructed to try and take the funds in the first 3 months of the budget and had to get approval to take it over 6 months. I've seen management go into budgets each month and take whatever available funds clients have towards paying the establishment fees off faster. Some budgets are ok and can handle it but others then end up in the red. Don't get me wrong I saw some amazing changes in my relatively short time there. I just don't think it's for everyone. I mean if you could pay anywhere around $4000 in establishment fees comfortably in such a short period plus your monthly fee which could be $300, you probably wouldn't be in such financial difficulties. Just be careful and make sure you ask to see your full budget including when fees are being taken and how much. If the arrangement works for you then go for it because it can help move your finances in a positive direction. I also know that anyone can call and ask a creditor for the arrangements they make as I do it for my friends and haven't found any problems. If you express to a company that you are in hardship they almost always have someone or a team of people set up to help you with arrangements. Using a fancy word like a moratorium when talking to clients when really it's just a hardship arrangement makes you feel like you cannot possibly get the same arrangement yourself. I worked for a bank prior to working at MyBudget and then after I went into an electricity provider and both places have the same staff reaction when MyBudget calls... Roll of eyes and not again because quite often the arrangements made are unrealistic and don't get paid. You call MyBudget to question where payment is and you either get told another future date or sorry the client has no money so call them. Isn't the purpose of MyBudget to not get those creditor calls? Well I'm still calling their clients based on MyBudget's instruction.