Reason for DMP??

skintandscared_2

I posted this on another thread but wondered if anyone had any advice on how I word this on my CCCS form....

My CCCS paperwork arrived yesterday morning (I completed the whole thing online and haven't spoken to anyone yet). I also received my new debit card and account details for my new Lloyds account. I will ask HR to change my salary account on Monday so no more money goes into my current account with the overdraft... Then I just have to switch all my direct debits. I presume I should do all this myself, and not use the forms for my new bank to do it for me? I need to know it will all happen ASAP and nobody will try and take direct debits from my old account!!

I'll collect together all my credit card statements as they come in this month and send them off to CSSS all together.

One thing I'm stuck on is what to write in the "reason for change of circumstances" bit of the CSSS form. My reason sounds so long-winded and pathetic...

My partner is schizophrenic and has increasingly become less stable and able to continue working. His employment and NI history is erratic and insufficient to be eligible for benefits. I have tried to manage and very stupidly not acknowledged his decreasing contribution to household bills. Basically I have now taken my head out of the sand and realise I can no longer manage the bills AND debt repayments alone and have to dramatically adjust our lifestyle and expenses to be within my sole salary, without using credit anymore. The pressure of having to earn is just making life unbearable for my poor partner. And him having more and more episodes of erratic behaviour is obviously pretty hard for me to deal with too....

I also don't know if I should mention that we expected a £21k compensation payment for a personal injury award to my partner, which we fully planned to use against debts (and why we weren't too worried about running up the cards because we thought we had this coming to pay them off!!) but the defendant has gone bankrupt and we're advised by solicitors it is very unlikely the payment will ever be received. Maybe I should phone CSSS and see what they recommend I put on the form.

Right now I just want to fast forward 2 months and for all this to be in place and started!!! I'm planning on sending the CSSS creditors letters out at the end of October, with token payments to each creditor of roughly what I think CSSS will send them. Then I will send all the paperwork to CSSS and arrange a standing order to them in time for a 1 December start....

It might actually be a merry Christmas after all this year (a quiet one, without pressies, but with food on the table and no stress or panic of massive bills in January!!!!)

sarriep

Don't worry too much about what you write for your reason. You could just put change in circumstances. We just put 'overstretched on credit'. Nobody will hassle you for too much info. If you haven't got the money you just haven't!
I wouldn't mention the possible money you might get. If you do manage to get it then you could use it to reduce your debts - I think CCCS will help arrange you to make bigger payments pro rata if you get any kind of 'windfall'.
Sx

halight

Hi,
I dont know if this will help but you could say that its due you your parnters illness that he can no longer work which meens that you can not meet all your payments on your debt AS for the 21k if you dont think that you are going to get it then dont put it down. I can not see how it will help.
Good luck

sarriep

I wouldn't try and give your creditors what you think CCCS will. Just £1 should suffice for this month. If you pay them more than CCCS calculate they may well be awkward and think you can pay more than you eventually will be. Pay £1 and save what you would have paid for 'a rainy day' (or whatever! That's what we did and we have a little pot started already

sarriep

Yes, switch the DD yourself then you have full control! We cancelled all of ours and VERY QUICKLY received letters from all those involved!!

skintandscared_2

Thanks for your replies. Someone else mentioned only making payments of £1 and I hadn't thought of the angle of CCCS maybe making smaller payments that I expect, so that is a very good idea, thanks.

The only direct debits I have are for essential bills like rent, gas/elec, water, TV licence, council tax, etc, but I will change those myself just so I know they are done!

I always paid my credit cards by internet banking so they won't expect their payments until about the 3rd of the month. The only direct debit which will probably produce a letter is the loan.

I wanted to mention the schizophrenia in the reason because it is what I am having to deal with on top of the debt problems and I'm hoping that creditors may be a little more sympathetic towards my reasons for running up these huge debts. It has not been frivilous things ... it's been food and general living stuff that's got me in this mess.

I agree I shouldn't mention the £21k. There is very little hope of ever seeing a penny of it and if by some miracle we did get it, it would be useful to have for any F&F settlements offered...