DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 5)

cocker100

Kudox wrote: »

Interesting, the time limit is almost up on the first letter so I guess they haven't got it. I'm going to fight them all the way, the debt is actually OH's and they are charging a truly outrageous amount in interest each month, it's time we fought back.:mad:

If they had it, they would send it back within the time limits.;)

Remember if they default on the request, then they are not allowed to add any interest to the account. If they keep adding it, report them and claim it all back at a later date as it is unlawful.

When you think about it, if you want them to stop interest, then the best possible outcome is that they default on the request and dont reply. This way they cant continue adding interest lawfully.

Cocker:)

sunshine38_2

Hi Everyone

Thank you so much for your help with this issue so far. I'm afraid I need some more support/advice

Hopefully, here's the link to my earlier thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1595405

The latest update is that HSBC have got hubby to sign a form indicating which branch he wishes to collect the data relating to the SAR request made. Hopefully, we should get all that paperwork soon then.

This evening we are met with a threatening letter from Metropolitan stating:

"... If you do not contact us we intend to instruct DG Solicitors to issue legal proceedings and apply for an attachment of earnings order.

... You can prevent this action if you contact us now on ... blah blah"

Do I try and get hubby to ring them? I know he will not remain calm on the phone. He's already wound up just with receiving this letter. I'm trying to convince him that it is more "scare tactics" but, to be honest, I'm really worried that this is going to go to court.

HSBC refuse to deal with CCCS.

We're trying to establish where the alleged total debt comes from as there are several discrepancies in previous paperwork.

It's all becoming a bit of a mess.

I know that lately (over the last month) I've taken my eye off the ball. I've found it very hard to cope and have to hold my hands up and say that I just havent been able to face all of this. I'm a couple of months into taking antidepressants and thought I was doing ok in dealing with everything. I havent been logging on to MSE very often because I've just not been able to face things/been unable to try and help others - everything just seems pretty pointless and a never ending struggle.

Whilst I'm "in confession" you may as well know that I "broke" into the last "arrears" payment due for the council tax (because I wanted my kids to have new clothes for Easter and because it was then short to pay the remainder of the bill, the rest just "disappeared" - my fault, I know) and, I've had my first ever letter wherein the council have immediately passed it for bailiff collection ... part of me wanted to laugh with hysteria the other part of me wants to die of shame. I knew I had to pay it ... but thought I would get another fortnight's grace in time ... nope, not for me. The council already had their liability order in place so they just passed it straight over. I've contacted Equita (via email) and offered to pay it (plus the now added stupid "costs") at the end of this month.

And, finally, just for good measure ... we still havent been able to find the money to pay the phone bill (with the additional added charges) so I think that's being disconnected shortly. Not the end of the world, I know, but just more shame to be added to my already mounting misery.

Sorry for the outburst folks ... if you've read this far along ... you deserve a medal!

Can anyone pick me up and dust me off a little, please?! I'm already "virtually" black and blue having beaten myself with my own stick!

Thanks, as always ...

Sx

telboy99

Hi Sunshine38,
Hey,come on,chin up,i am sure you will get this sorted shortly.
If you don't want to telephone Metropolitan,then put your response/proposals in WRITING and tell them in your letter that you will only deal with them in WRITING.
If your phone is being cut off,that is certainly not the end of the world and if you do get cut off then Metropolitan can,t ring you and will have to deal with you in writing only.
Your council tax arrears situation is a PRIORITY debt and you need to address this issue ASAP.
If you are registered with CCCS or Payplan i suggest you discuss your issues with them.
I have found CCCS to be wonderfully helpful and i am sure they will give you some good advice to overcome your concerns and advise you what to do about the council tax arrears.
Chin up and hold your head up high and be strong..Remember you are addressing your debts not running away from them.
Good luck,
telboy99:j

ianmak

I'm glad someone else is still up to help!

Same as above, speak to CCCS. I know these threads are great, but it's always good to speak to a real person!

sunshine38_2

Morning Folks

Thank you Telboy99 and ianmak. I went off to bed wondering whether everyone on this thread had won the lottery and sneaked off somewhere without telling me :rotfl:(wishful thinking for everyone, I know!).

I feel a bit brighter this morning and am so glad to see some much needed support.

We will be able to pay the remaining balance of the council tax next Thursday and yes, it will be a chunk out of next month's budget, but serves me right :rolleyes: Must try harder to stick within the budget. Sometimes it just gets me down because there's not much "give" in the budget to just do "stuff"! I'm a bit weary - we've been on the plan with CCCS for 10 months now and it's hard going. I have to try and keep thinking on the brighter side, in that the majority of our creditors have happilly gone along with the plan and stopped interest. I guess there will always be the couple that refuse and cause more upset. Debts eh? who'd have 'em :rotfl:

As for the phone ... again, will try and look at what's left in the budget. We do need it. It's happened before and they stop our outgoing calls but still allow incoming ... which is pretty naff if you are trying to avoid Metropolitan, ha ha!

I keep thinking about dlb's posts where it seems that they are still able to have a social life/go on holiday and just do "stuff" (there's that word again!) and wonder why we are still feeling so restricted. Again though, on the brighter side, one of our debts will finish next month (hurray :T) on our plan and it's been one of the higher payments out so that extra money can then be thrown at the rest of the creditors and help get those totals down sooner - that's good news, aint it?

I'll see how we get on over the next month and if it's all still too much to juggle, I will speak to CCCS and ask for another review. I cant ring them from work so it always ends up being email discussions. When I have a review they are always good and ring me after I've gotten home from work.

Thanks again - it's soooo good to know that you are still here with me

Sunshine x

ald65

Morning Sunshine38

we have found that the longer we are into the DMP it does become easier. We are not at the stage of holidays yet, however eighteen months in and we have managed to have a bit of a life which we havent done for several years.
good luck and hang in there

Kudox

Hi Sunshine38, don't get on here as much lately, life getting in the way and all that, but just wanted to add my few words of encouragement to you for what its worth.
Is it worth you asking cccs to rejig the budget for you at least for a little while, you sound as if you're really struggling with it, and to me the point of being on a dmp is to allow you have a life as well as paying your debts.
I would contact them and get yourself a bit of breathing space while you sort out your council tax and phone bill, then start afresh.
It is really easy for everything to get on top of you, just sorting everything out makes you feel weary.
It's great that one of your debts will be finished soon, you have done amazing there:j
Keep your chin up, I hope you feel better soon. X

sunshine38_2

ald65 wrote: »

Morning Sunshine38

we have found that the longer we are into the DMP it does become easier. We are not at the stage of holidays yet, however eighteen months in and we have managed to have a bit of a life which we havent done for several years.
good luck and hang in there

Hi, thanks for sharing, it is good to know how other people are coping. I know that initially there is lots of activity/questions on here when starting out so it's good to get feedback from those who have been on their plans for a while.

I can only compare my feelings to the initial rush of running off into the sea ... scared, nervous but excited to be getting in there ... at the moment I'm bobbing about in a not too choppy ocean (just a scare here and there!) and I'm currently searching for dry land on the other side! :rotfl:

I'm wondering how long this "bobbing" is going to continue for

Sunshine x

sunshine38_2

Kudox wrote: »

Hi Sunshine38, don't get on here as much lately, life getting in the way and all that, but just wanted to add my few words of encouragement to you for what its worth.
Is it worth you asking cccs to rejig the budget for you at least for a little while, you sound as if you're really struggling with it, and to me the point of being on a dmp is to allow you have a life as well as paying your debts.
I would contact them and get yourself a bit of breathing space while you sort out your council tax and phone bill, then start afresh.
It is really easy for everything to get on top of you, just sorting everything out makes you feel weary.
It's great that one of your debts will be finished soon, you have done amazing there:j
Keep your chin up, I hope you feel better soon. X

Hey Kudox

Thanks for popping in ... it's good to see some familiar names still "bobbing about" with me

I'm too ashamed to tell CCCS that I was stupid re council tax but if we get into May and find that we really, really cant make the budget stretch then I will speak to them to try and get a reprieve/reduction on June's payment - gosh, the 12 month mark! When I think of it like that, it has gone pretty quickly.

I know that as the creditors drop off the list everything will gather more momentum in being settled sooner than 2015!! I'm sure that we are due a review next month. I've kept telling myself over the last couple of months that after June, we will start to see the wood for the trees ... It has been the thought of just one of the creditors dropping off the list that has kept me going! I'm waiting on a result back from Abbey (under the hardship criteria) as to whether they will refund the bank charges because that would effectively wipe out what I owe them, I'm keeping everything crossed because that would be a major result off the overall debt total.

Hope you are having a good weekend. Thanks for your support, much appreciated - as is everyone's help on here

Sunshine x

Toffee_Penny

Taa dah! :beer::j I would love to report that I have been sunning myself on some foreign beach after winning a few million on the lottery but sadly no, still fighting the creditors although they seem a bit scared of me now and don't seem to write to me as much! 1-0

Sunshine, I really wish I knew where you lived to come round and give you a big hug xxx Sorry I haven't been around so much lately, I think after being on here morning, noon and night for days on end it kind of took its toll and I had to step back. I'm not a mad woman (ahem honest ) but when you first start your DMP you panic, your feel sick to the stomach worrying over possible creditor actions, OH must have thought he was single him being in bed and me being in the living room til late at night tapping away researching MBNA, Barclaycard and co.

But now DMP has been running for nearly a year it has settled down alot. I got into trouble with my rent I was always a month behind when I got paid as I would get my wages and think sod it let's go shopping and go out and treat someone in the family (a new top for the kids etc) then when the letter started coming OH asked why rent wasn't being paid. I told him I was struggling to budget, I wanted to go out and spend a little of my wages each month, I worked for it etc so why not? I had to set up a direct debit for rent starting next month as I know I wasn't to be trusted with paying it on time. I'm still struggling to budget even after being on a DMP for this long, I don't think that mad urge to spend ever leaves us if we have the funds (or rent money) to do it!

I tried to look on the money style boards to see if we could cut down on shopping, I think some have taken it to the extreme cutting right back to the bare basics in order to save a few quid more. Fair play to them for doing so but OH kept telling me despite being in debt we deserve a life too. Now this doesn't mean we can go on big shopping trips anymore like we used to on credit but if we can buy good quality food (not necessarily the dearest brand) then so be it. I tried buying the lowest brands on things; toilet roll for one and with a week of sore bums we decided it just wasn't worth it.

Don't kick yourself too much about having a 'mad one'. I have done it too maybe if I come on here more often I won't have time to spend my rent money. But if you are finding it too tight every month to just fund the basics then CCCS needs to be told, sod the creditors they'll get what they get. You need a life too and don't beat yourself too much.

take care all of you xxx