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Debt-free wannabe

Mutual support and help for those on their journey to becoming debt-free.

Made contact to creditors to avoid DRO but no luck
I've got a fairly complex and long on off debt problems. I had in place about a decade ago some payments plans with reasonable rates, in the last 4 of so I've clear a CCJ, I was on the up for a good amount of time, but for for difficult reasons, I've slipped further into debt across multiple cards and a loan. I've filled…
Lowell?
How many times are they allowed to contact you before it becomes harassment? This week already I've had texts, calls letters and emails and it's only Wednesday. One form would be enough but 4 different ways of contact seems too much. I'll sort it when I'm actually free but their constant calling texting and opening letters…
Lowell Advice/Help
Hi MSE community. I received a Default from Lowell in Dec 2016 for a mobile phone contract with Vodafone. I have disputed this with Vodafone & Lowell, mainly due to concerns over fraud on the vodafone account, they're unable to provide bills for 5 months during which those 5 months the amount owed jumped dramatically and…
Paying debt collection fees?
Hi all, I got into some debt with SSE which meant I didn’t pay for two months. I then called up and paid off the entirety of the debt but discovered that a few days prior SSE had passed my debt onto Advantis, a debt collection agency. Advantis, therefore, now had ownership of the SSE balance plus a third party fee worth…
BPO text Sky
God I feel like every time I’m moving forward I get someone else trying to rinse money from me for something! I guess everyone wants their pay off atm. I’ve got a text from BPO to contact then re sky. No letter or otherwise. I presume they are trying their luck, I had a dispute about a payment sky took from my account by…
CCA Request
Hello, I am thinking of issuing a CCA request to my creditor, the debt was initially a credit card taken out with barclaycard in 2011, the account was opened over the phone and defaulted in 2016. The debt was then sold onto PRA group in 2018/19. I wanted to know if anyone has seen any success with accounts this age, as I…
Pay off 0% interest debt or increase savings?
Hello, As I'm sure you've read the title, I'll just go into a little more detail about my current circumstances. My current income, as it stands, is just Universal Credit on the standard individual allowance. I have accrued masses of debt totalling roughly £10k, however I am in the relatively lucky position where it's all…
Getting on top of it all
Hi I have been in a DMP with PayPlan since February 2019 with a number of accounts on there. Unfortunately at the time I entered into the DMP I didn't know I should stop all payments and build up a fund then start my plan with hindsight it would have been so much better if I had known this and not just followed PayPlans…
Default
My first default notice by email from Drafty giving me by the 26th November to contact them but just need the rest to do before starting my DMP, but what happens if I don't contact them?
DMP
Changed bank account and received a letter off Natwest to thank me for setting up a new direct debit for a loan I have, I cancelled the payment a month ago when my account was with them but the crafty so and so's have managed to obtain £118.18 even though I checked all my direct debits on my new account and it wasn't…
What Small Things Will You Do This Week? 31st October 2022
When we start out on the DFW trail we do loads of "big stuff" that makes quite a difference to our situation. These include having our lightbulb moment, cutting up the credit cards, and cancelling Sky and the gym. But once we have done the bigger stuff, we often feel that we are not making the same amount of progress, when…
Full and final settlement MBNA Advice please
Hi I wrote to MBNA using the template and I have received a letter back saying they accept my offer it says: “ thank you for your offer to make a payment as partial settlement of your outstanding balance. we are happy to accept your offer once we have received your payment we will write off the balance remaining. Please…
DMP help please
Hi... I am 75 years young and I live with my son and his family. I have the following debt: Tesco credit card = £5146 Barclaycard credit card = £4623 MBNA credit card = £787 Argos store card = £4658 Very retail account = £2373 So that's £17587 total... £15214 credit cards and £2373 online retail account. I am paying high…
PayPal Credit
Hello, I have a significant PayPal Credit debt (with high-interest rate) that I need to pay off, as well as an overdraft. I need to clear them both so that it looks better on mortgage applications. Are there any loans I could use to pay the PayPal Credit off in one go, as a balance transfer, or maybe a 0% credit card I…
IVA or DMP
Morning, I'm looking for some advice. We are intouch with Step Change and have been offered IVA and DMP and we aren't sure which to go with. We have debt of £30k, we have our own home and our mortgage is up for renewal in April. We don't want to risk losing the house and understand that the interest will be higher. Which…
Miserable Sunday
Having a bad day today, thinking about our debt mountain. I’ve been quite positive about it but I think that a quiet Sunday has given me too much thinking time. Feel overwhelmed by the amount we owe (over 70k) even though I know we can pay it off. It feels very lonely and as though we are the most indebted people in the…
Direct debit taken despite being cancelled
This is as per the title. I recently cancelled all my debt DD's as I'm getting onto a DMP but my DD for one of my creditors was still taken despite me cancelling it a week before it was due to be taken out. What's the best thing to do here? Speak to my bank? The creditor? Someone else? or a combination of the previous?
Rude debt collector at door for PREVIOUS tenant
Moved in 2 months ago, had a relative around who opened door to go to shop to find someone in doorway just standing there and gave a name, I recognised it as former tenants name who was in care for months before passing away, Person had no id, wore no identifying uniform and I came down and he asked about the Scottish…
Lowell being sneaky!
Hey folks, My partner received a letter from Lowell about a debt to Natwest. OH wasn't sure if it was statue barred so we wrote back and asked for proof he owed the debt. Lowell wrote back with an "account summary" for Capital one (Not from Capital one, its been typed on Lowell letter head) stating the last payment was in…
Big curve ball
Hi, So a couple of days ago I found out that my job is at risk - quite serious risk unfortunately. I won't know for definite for a while longer, but I am not hopeful due to a major restructure. If this happens then we are going to in a mess. I haven't worked there long enough to get a substantial redundancy package. rather…

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