DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 5)

Tigert

newlywed wrote: »

Well done msc. Each time I ring CL Finance with a query they ask are you calling from your mobile? Do you have a mobile number for our records? - No. Do you have a work number for our records? No. Now can I ask the question that I rang up for?

LOL - CL Finance do that to me aswell. I withheld my number today and they still asked, but on saying Yes, I asked what good it had done and could they confirm it was witheld and they said, yes it was witheld, no they couldn't see it and they had to ask as it was part of their opening script.

Always found them very reasonable once past the initial interrogation though.

msc1977

billybobberyl wrote: »

hi al, i have just finished the debt remedy with cccs and have to say before i even do anything i feel better! am actually shaking at the prospect of not struggling to pay rent on time etc. We have a debt free date of approx 6 yrs 9 months time, but cccs aim is to reduce our contractual payments from £605 we attempting to pay now to £298 so no wonder we never pay the rent. just bit nervous about getting it all organised though, sending out the letters to creditorsetc. Also planning to open new bank account this week and change dd's over then am scared bout cancelling creditors paayments, and worried how i can pay token payments til cccs set up. sorry for the waffle just bit overwhelmed

Welcome to the forum - i posted very similar to this a couple of weeks back and i am still apprehensive, we are looking to start our DMP through CCCS on 1st April so we can build up a bit of an emergency fund. The guys on here have been fantastic and are the best support we could have hoped for ...dont be afraid to ask anything. We're only at the start of our journey but we are back in control!!!

marfan_not_martian

billybobberyl wrote: »

hi al, i have just finished the debt remedy with cccs and have to say before i even do anything i feel better! am actually shaking at the prospect of not struggling to pay rent on time etc. We have a debt free date of approx 6 yrs 9 months time, but cccs aim is to reduce our contractual payments from £605 we attempting to pay now to £298 so no wonder we never pay the rent. just bit nervous about getting it all organised though, sending out the letters to creditorsetc. Also planning to open new bank account this week and change dd's over then am scared bout cancelling creditors paayments, and worried how i can pay token payments til cccs set up. sorry for the waffle just bit overwhelmed

Well Done Billybobbery

CCCS are wonderful and so helpful you are Defo doing the right thing.
I paid all my token payments for January via postal order for £1 each - and sent them to my creditors with the copy letter that CCCS will send you to forward onto each of your creditors.

With regards to the bank account I opened a Coop Cash minder account and just cancelled all my DDr's with my existing bank and then set them up again with the Coop.

Please dont be worried about your creditors -you are facing your debts head on and should be proud of that - after all you could probarbly have just gone bankrupt and then they wouldnt have got a penny.

Good luck - if you have any questions or queries please feel free to ask - everyone on here is wonderful

:beer: MSM

Just to let you know how my DMP progressed from completeing the debt remedy on line:-

I completed the debt remedy online with CCCS on about the 5th January - on the 9th February I received a letter from CCCS which had a creditor letter that I had to photocopy and fill in my details and forward to each of my creditors and also an agreement form instructing CCCS to act on my behalf. The creditor letter basically gives them your CCCS reference number and informs them that you are about to start a DMP.

When I signed up for the DMP I planned to start it 1st February but after discussing various things on this forum I decided to postpone it until 1st March and I also contact CCCS and increased my shopping budget by £20 per week.

After sending all my creditors a copy of the letter and token payments of £1 by postal order for the january payments I then sent statements of my debts to CCCS along with the signed agreement asking for them to deal with this on my behalf. This I forward to CCCS on 14th January with a covering letter asking them if I could start the DMP from 1st March 2009.

27th Jan received a welcome pack from CCCS - with details of plan and copy of income and expenditure. I was then able to log into my plan online.

Good Luck

billybobberyl

so would the cccs allow us to wait until april, and just pay token payments for feb and march to build up an emergency fund, with an 18 month old son always needing something and a car about to die its probably necessary!

newlywed

marfan_not_martian wrote: »

Thanks newlywed - do you think I need to advise CCCS of the increase in income when I actually start getting it - but say I will be using it to get someone to help me with my shopping etc so in effect in one hand out the other - and use some of it for help and some of it to save an emergency fund or for F&F - or do you think they will say no.

Dont want to be coming across as trying to diddle my creditors but at the end of the day it has been awarded to help me with the care I need - so do you think it would be fair of me to do this. and not say anthing to CCCS until my review (dont know when that will be ) ?

Since you've not actually started your DMP payments yet, and there is possibly something you've missed or misjudged in your expenditure and since CCCS do a review after you've been on the DMP for a few months, and since you haven't actually seen any cash yet I would be inclined to leave it till you've been on the DMP a few months and then decide. You can either request a review or wait for your first review. Work it out though, if it's about £20 a week and you don't add it into your plan until a couple of months after starting your DMP - how much difference will that make to your debt free date?

I really wouldn't add it in, until I had actually received it though, as red tape and admin stuff often seems to be plagued with delays.

marfan_not_martian

billybobberyl wrote: »

so would the cccs allow us to wait until april, and just pay token payments for feb and march to build up an emergency fund, with an 18 month old son always needing something and a car about to die its probably necessary!

I dont see why not - I completed my debt remedy in January and my first payment is 1 march- when you get the letter from CCCS which you have to sign and return to CCCS just put a note on it saying you want to make first payment 1st April and make sure on the credtors letter that CCCS also send to you which you need to copy and forward to your creditors, make sure you put April in the relevant box to state when DMP will start.

Then after sending copy letter to all your creditors with £1 token payment for feb - in march send them all a further token payment. Just keep a record of everything you have done. It may take you a while to get together copy statements for your creditors to send to CCCS so dont worry about starting the DMP in April - you may get a few phone calls but whether you start it in March or April your creditors may contact you and by starting it in April you can put a bit aside to help with emergency fund.

If CCCS ask why you want to start in April - just say you are expecting large electric/gas bill any day and you would like to make sure thats paid fully as its a priority debt.

Hope this helps

Seasiders_2

Hi All
New member just joined today
I have completed my Debt Remedy after reading on this site that CCCS were a good debt management company to work with and am waiting for their response. Tried opening a new bank account yesterday but got refused by Lloyds TSB - any one any tips on who to try next? Would like a switch card if possible?
And finally - can I keep any credit in a DMP? I would like to keep one Credit Card for use in emergency if possible?

newlywed

Seasiders wrote: »

Tried opening a new bank account yesterday but got refused by Lloyds TSB - any one any tips on who to try next? Would like a switch card if possible?
And finally - can I keep any credit in a DMP? I would like to keep one Credit Card for use in emergency if possible?

Hi and welcome... with regard to the credit - I believe some have - but when you sign the CCCS agreement that gets sent to you, you are actually agreeing NOT to take on any more credit at all during your DMP

Personally I got into my whole mess by keeping one credit card "for emergency" - like holiday, meal out, new shoes.... :rolleyes: I'm not nearly disciplined enough to risk it.

As for the bank account - I'm not too sure about a switch card but Co-op do a cashminder account with no overdraft but they also send me a visa electron card. I also have an A&L premier account but specifically requested no overdraft at all and that has a visa debit card.

If your credit rating is already not on the good side then any account that offers an overdraft is likely to refuse you - so go for any account without an overdraft. And by the same token, if you don't have good credit rating and apply for a credit card you are likely to have extortionate interest rates (Capital one just put up OH's interest by 8% APR to make it 33%!!!) - He's not on a DMP, it's just me by the way

marfan_not_martian

Seasiders wrote: »

Hi All
New member just joined today
I have completed my Debt Remedy after reading on this site that CCCS were a good debt management company to work with and am waiting for their response. Tried opening a new bank account yesterday but got refused by Lloyds TSB - any one any tips on who to try next? Would like a switch card if possible?
And finally - can I keep any credit in a DMP? I would like to keep one Credit Card for use in emergency if possible?

Welcome seasiders and congratulations on dealing with your debts.

Try the coop they have a cashminder account which is ideal for anyone going on a DMP or being made bankrupt. You will get an electron card which is accepted by most outlets - I think only the pay at pump petrol stations dont like electron cards.
Not sure about having a credit card for emergencies though but I am sure someone will be along to give you more advice in a bit - everyone on here is wonderful.

Good luck with your DMP and once again - Well done :T on facing up to yoru debts

MNM xx

Seasiders_2

Thanks newlywed - just want a card I can use to purchase things over the phone or internet or in shops really so the Visa Electron card should be fine.
I agree about the credit card but if its locked in a drawer and not with me - then it might work??? and if I already had it I am not breaching the terms with CCCS agreeing not to take on any MORE credit??