DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 5)

mcrfan

bigmommamuppet wrote: »

Well we survived!!!!

For all of you thinking about starting a DMP then I thought I'd share my experience with you.

Our 1st month of no credit has now been completed. (Payday is the 20th so tomorrow is a new month for us).

LBM moment was the 20th Jan. Contacted CCCS to start a DMP that week and cancelled all DDs etc. 1st real month of budgeting etc. was from the 20th Feb, hence this post.

For the 1st time ever in a long time. I'm not scared to open the mail, I've never had so few letters, the postie must be wondering what's going on. I can answer the phone without dread (no caller ID). And above all DH & I can talk about money without it descending into an argument.

This month we had a proper night out, 2 takeaways (1 as a result of H/O from night out ). I've paid for DS birthday pressies and small party (which is tomorrow). Spent too much money on food - must improve on this. Paid all our bills on time without the worry of trying to find the money. And we still have £40 in the bank. Not much I know but I've never had a surplus at the end of the month before.

We all say starting a DMP was one of the best things we ever did and I truly agree with this. The lack of stress and worry has been a huge relief over the last 8 weeks and I can see a good & happy future for my family.

Becks

That's fab, so good to read. I am really panicking about starting dmp in May, nice to read a positive story.
Have you had a lot of hassle in your first month??

mcrfan

I am going to start my dmp in May, I have my forms ready to send to CCCS tomorrow and am going to send letters and token payments at the end of this month for April. But I am really panicking! I'm so worried about being hassled and what happens if they don't accept your payments and what happens if it gets passed to a dca?

Have had a good experience with Next directory - I made a reduced payment this month so they have called a few times. I sent a letter stating that I was making arrangements with CCCS and asking them to communicate in writing. I got a letter asking me to call them so I did and explained, they asked me a few qs but I just explained it is not setup yet, they said if they hear within 14 days they will setup a plan. So this was ok....or was this just to lull me into a false sense of security!!??

How badly do people get hassled? I know everyone is different but my creditors include Barclaycard, MBNA, Aqua, Next, Nationwide....any thoughts on these are they quite cooperative with CCCS? If I request they correspond in writing will they do this?

cocker100

mcrfan wrote: »

How badly do people get hassled? I know everyone is different but my creditors include Barclaycard, MBNA, Aqua, Next, Nationwide....any thoughts on these are they quite cooperative with CCCS? If I request they correspond in writing will they do this?

Hiya,

If you request that all communications are in writing only, then they MUST comply with your request otherwise they are breaking Office of Fair Trading guidelines in debt collection.

If they keep on calling you. Report them for it.

Cocker:)

St0lli

Morning all! What a beautiful day it looks as well :j

Just got round to opening Thurs/Fri post. All the same things...Had a statement from M&S and although they don't appear to have charged any interest, there is a £12 default charge on it? I'm just going to send my £1 token payment anyway and let CCCS take it over when my DMP starts on 1st April.

I may try some gardening today to try and occupy my time :T

2009timeforchange

Good morning everyone,

It does indeed look a beautiful day, we shall take our daughter to the park later for some fun 'free' time!!!

My husband and I havent told anyone we are on a DMP and are not planning to either - we are embarrassed about the debt.

I was just curious if its possible we would get away with not telling anyone, there have been a few things such as meals out which normally we would have gone to and paid with the plastic but now we say no and I know a couple of friends have raised eye brows as if to ask why. I have said things like 'oh we need to be careful this month cos we have the MOT etc but Im wondering if I can really keep this up till 2024 our DFD?!

massivedebts

Morning:j
We've told my mum and dad, but haven't told any friends. I just keep telling everyone we're skint and trying not to waste any unnecessary money. I find that it's the people who keep saying they're poor are really the one's with the money, reverse phsycology really;) ............our friend prob think we're loaded!!:cool:
Enjoy the park:D
MD xx

Quillion

Hi All
I posted a few weeks ago and have been waiting for my information from PayPlan where i have an informal arrangement due to not having enough money coming in.
I have just got off the phone from Egg and they have said a token gesture payment is not enough and have isseud me with a default notice. If i send them a ref number from payplan they said that will be fine but i can't have one of these as we do not earn enough (we are on a three day week).
What do i do?
Thanks

emmylou3219

Hi Quillion,

That sounds odd, not heard of them not giving a ref no. before!

Do you not have something that shows the agreement (informal or not) that you could send them? Or would payplan not send a letter for you to pass along?

Not a lot of help, but I am with CCCS, Hope someone will be along who can help you soon,

Don't worry though, default notices are not as scary as they seem, and eventually they normally come round to your way of thinking!

Em x

moneybuster

been advised to join by RAS as my DMP could give way to stormy waters ie CCJ'S and Charging orders so looking for support any any expearance of these two evils


regards Moneybuster

ad1jnl

First creditor contact - suprisingly by letter from HSBC - Helen Packwood, Senior Collections Manager.

They thanked me for my contact concerning repayment of the account but now want me to filll out a "Personal Assesment Form"??? But surely I have already done this with my DMP budget with the CCCS.

It then tells me I can contact the CAB or CCCS if I need any help - well I've already done that haven't I. So I'm going to ring CCCS on Monday to ask what I should do. I may call HSBC on the numbered provided just to re-iterate that I am going on a DMP with CCCS from the first of May. Something tells me they may be trying to offer me one of their products - anybody have any advice??

Jon

PS the token payment has been cashed as well