Reality check

Honky_tonk

Hello Jacks,

Believe me, I am ruling nothing out! I think it safest for me to not mention the idea at all and simply facilitate in helping OH to stumble upon it! Then I remain fairly safe....until she reads this! DOH!

I have tried that there benefits calculator and I saw a 0% increase. Could be I did it wrong of course.

I am yet to gather interest rates as well and add them to my SOA to see what difference it makes to my options. I may be wrong but the DMP seems like an almost comfy way of getting myself back on track and out of the smelly stuff! I know there will be grief initially but I have grief now so no change there.

Hope your brekkie was better than my lunch!

HT

Honky_tonk

Morning,

In a nut shell OH and I decided to go for DMP (Some may frown but appears best for us) We have chosen to go with CCCS as they are very highly regarded on this site. Have received the pack with template letter etc, all very good, although I did wake with a question so thought I'd see if I could get an answer or pointer. CCCS say that barclays offer an account to people on the DMP who already bank with them, am I right in assuming that they'll still be happy for me to have this new account even though they will form part of my DMP through the overdraft I already have with them? I know I could wander in and ask, but I'm shy:o

Thanks

HHH_2

usually it's recommended you have a bank account which has nothing to do with any of your creditors because they can and WILL raid it. I found th eco op basic account really good, they take people on dmps they give you an electron card and no overdraft or cheque book. keeps me in line with my spending because I cant overspend, brilliant!.

Honky_tonk

Hi HHH,
thanks, I shall have a crack at the co-op me thinks.
It seemed a little odd to tell my bank "hey I'm going to have to do this but keep me anyway!"

HT

tyllwyd

Am I right in thinking that you are paying about £40 per day for the nursery for your little boy? That's pretty heavy going. I'm sorry to hear that he has been poorly - has his health settled down? If things still aren't sorted (as a mum who pays childcare herself!) I would think really carefully about whether it is worth your wife working until he is better - there is nothing worse than paying nursery fees, especially in a baby unit, when they don't go.

(edited to say whoops, I didn't read the second page of the thread and I think this has already been covered, sorry!)

Honky_tonk

No worries T (thought I shorten)
Thankfully mini me has only been hospitalised once (pneumonia) which was horrific. Its apparently quite normal for little uns to be ill like this (or so I'm told by medical pros) Its just been really hard going and pretty tough on OH work wise. I know other folks out there have it far worse and I am thankful that my little guy isn't seriously ill.
OH loves to work, mini me loves his nursery. Catch 22 I guess. Add that to being worse off if she stops work makes it what...catch 33?

Still, we soldier on!

Thanks
HT

Jacks_xxx

Nobody will frown honey! It's yours and your OH's decision to make - we just give our opinions and share our experiences.

CCCS are fab so big thumbs up there. have they told you how long you'll be paying it for?

I don't know anything about Barclays account for DMP-ers but I do know that you never keep a bank account from the same company as you have a debt with.

This list may help show you who's in bed with who - although Coop is the usual choice for most people I think.

http://www.payplan.com/debt-library/linked-banks-and-creditors.php

Good luck honey!

Love Jacks xxx

Honky_tonk

Thanks Jacks,
to be honest we are looking forward to a (slightly) simpler state of affairs and a little breathing space. Although I must admit I'm still confused by certain aspects of all this and mildly nervous about the coming weeks/months. Easily done though in my case:D
Still, plan in hand things look slightly more organised.
I just got of the phone to a nice lady at CCCS who said that Barclays are quite happy to keep folks in my situation, even though I have an OD with them that'll be a part of my DMP. I am in two minds now with regards to bank accounts. Should I stay or should I go! (see, easily confused!)

Anyhoo,
This work wont do itself.
HT

Jacks_xxx

:wave: Well I would say you can trust what CCCS tell you - but I wouldn't necessarily trust Barclays (or any blimmin' bank for that matter!)

To reduce hassles over the coming weeks whilst everyone gets used to the new regime the "Only contact me in writing not by phone" letter might be worth sending out. if you search for letter template on here it'll come up pretty quickly I think.

If there's anything else you're confused about just ask away my lovely!

(Either us or the CCCS - or both!)

Love Jacks xxx

Honky_tonk

I will search for that! Thanks very much. Nice person!