Ever been to a function where you are one of 1500 people invited to a posh hotel and you don’t know a soul as you go through the doors? Well that’s exactly what happened to me the other night when I attended the ‘Credit Today National Awards 11’ at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London.

I was there because I had been fortunate enough to be shortlisted for the final of the UK Debt Counsellor of the Year award. Being a tad apprehensive I ambled my way through hoards of people in their DJs and posh frocks, looking for the drinks reception. I was sure I’d read somewhere that there was one, there should be at the price my ticket cost me. Yep, for the privilege of being there I had to pay the sum of £316!

Then bingo, my eye caught a waiter to the left, about 50 metres away with a tray full of glasses of red wine. Only problem was there were about 200 bods in the way, so off I went, ducking, diving, twisting, eventually climbing over a small rope barrier and very soon found myself eagerly stretching out my right hand for a glass of wine. Mission accomplished I thought, time to inspect the other suspects up for the title.

My gaze was then interrupted by an attractive blonde haired young lady, who was moving in quite fast making a bee line for moi. This looks good I chuckled, haven’t lost it yet I thought. Then things took a left turn and the conversation went something like this,

Me, “Hello”,

Young lady, “Hello, who are you, do I know you?”

“I’ve not had the pleasure” I responded, “I’m Mike Thomas, known as the DebtWizard”.

Young lady, “Thought I didn’t know you, I’m with Experian, we are having a private party with employees and invited guests and you have just got through our security and blagged a glass of our wine. I must congratulate you on your manoeuvre.”

Oops I thought, good move but how could I have made such an error.  After a pause of a second or two, I trumped up, ‘”Experian you say, you are the guys behind Credit Expert, am I right?”

“Yes, that’s us”, she replied.

Me, “I run a debt help website and forum, I don’t invite advertisers or sponsors so that I can remain in control of what I want to say and do with the website, however I have made one exception, I have one advert only because I see this particular firm as the best for my visitors to the website, that’s you guys, Credit Expert. Here’s my card, it’s on most of the pages of the site”.

With that her demeanour improved, I gave a cheeky boys grin and in a much more friendly tone she then said “Well in that case you had better come and join us and meet my sales director Stuart Surridge, oh  and have another glass of wine”.,

Then I was away, more wine, photos with her and Stuart and I had made two new friends.

(Those that are unsure about whether I was telling the truth about the advert can find out by visiting www.debtwizard.com.) Good blag or not?

Moving on to the awards, there were 24 in total on the evening. Heaven knows why but they had just one for my category of debt counsellor of the year which seemed sort of alien when all the others were for the commercial firms such as Credit Risk Team of the year, Asset Finance Firm of the year and Commercial Credit Team of the year to name a few, plus a host debt collectors. Still, I should be thankful that my sector does actually get some form of recognition for what it does.

I was up against four commercial debt management firms and the Church. Clearly you can’t beat the power of the Almighty and heaven clearly knows why ‘cos Helen Baines from Christians Against Poverty won it, so congratulations to Helen and the Church.

Later in the evening I did find  someone I knew vaguely, another blonde lady strangely enough, who didn’t really remember me but I soon put that right.

So even though I went as Billy No Mates I did make new friends, even though I had to sit on a table of debt collectors, an interesting experience as they are usually public enemy number one!

Credit Today Awards 2011, Roll of Honour