DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 6)

rachaelfleur

Hi folks, not been on here for a few weeks been really stressed out. I'm 1 month in to my DMP and my boiler decides to pack in! Anyway I've been without heating or hot water for almost a month now because I was too scared to call CCCS about it and obviously didn't want to take more credit. So I finally plucked up the courage to tell CCCS my situation and they were really helpful and kind about it. They've frozen my payments for 2 months so I can get my boiler replaced without taking more credit. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. Trouble is I now need to inform my creditors and send them token payments. I'm really scared about this, I just know I'll get threatening letters left, right and centre! And to be honest I really don't know how to tell them. Has anyone else had to do a similar thing? If so, do you have a template letter I could use. I tend to waffle alot in letters and don't want to come across as a babbling fool!

St0lli

Hi all - hope everyone is OK!

I had a very strange call from Halifax last night. I've been ignoring their calls for weeks now, its an 0845 number which calls most days at varying times. I decided that its stupid to keep ignoring them so finally decided to answer last night. I summoned up all my assertiveness only to have the following conversation:
Me: hello?
HB: Hello its Daniel from Halifax here. Is that St0lli?
Me: Yes,
HB: Oh I just realised you've spoken to someone earlier today, sorry for bothering you.
Me: No, I've not spoken to anyone.
HB: Oh, well it looks as though the matter has been resolved anyway. Thank you for your time, bye.
Me: Bye

Haven't a clue which Halifax debt they were referring to (overdraft, loan or CC) but they seemed happy enough!

God bless em!!

glitterlea

Evening all

Hoping someone can help me.. I just started my DMP with payplan this month. Last month, I sent a token payment to my Tesco CC, with a template letter explaining about the DMP and my Payplan ref number etc, I didn't sign the letter as per advice on here.

Today I have recieved a letter from tesco saying that they can't process my request as I didn't sign the letter (but they have payed my token payment in!), they are asking me to sign the box on the letter that they sent before they can process anything.
So, my question is should I sign it or just ignore it?

Thanks x

londonfraggle

Hello - I've been hanging around this wonderful site for a while now, and I'm not even sure if this is the right place to post this. I have so many questions and do hope someone out there can help me.

I have finally plucked up the courage to speak to the CCCS and have an appointment booked with them to go through everything to decide how best to deal with my (horrendous and terrifiying!) debt.

I'm obviously relieved that I'm making the first step, although I appreciate it will be a very long road ahead of me - my debt is just under £50,000 (unsecured) so I suspect I'll be using a zimmer frame before it's all paid off! But at least I might be able to sleep at night having been relying on (prescription) sleeping pills for the last few weeks. I also hope that taking this step might mean I can start controlling my awful mood swings - I know it's because I've been horribly stressed but I think if my poor boyfriend is subjected to one more drunken (yes the booze consumption has sky rocketed recently - another problem to try and fix soon) rant he'll have no choice but to leave me. God knows I would leave me the way I am these days!

I just wondered if someone might be able to help me with a few questions that I have. I know the CCCS will answer them all when we have the appointment, but as I can't stop thinking about this any advice now would be wonderful.

1) I have a number of payday loans and cheque cashing loans. Does anyone know if the CCCS can include these in a DMP? I am a company director and as such am aware that bankruptcy is not an option for me. Similarly, an IVA would be tricky, so I am really hoping that a DMP solution might work for me.

2) I have a question about my mobile phone. I'm not in arrears with this at all but can they (not even sure who I mean by they!) make me give my phone contract up in a DMP? I'm in contract with my 'phone provider until January 2010, and really really need my phone (blackberry) for my work. My company does pay any work related usage back to me as expenses. I haven't always been great at claiming it but of course will do now.

3) My partner doesn't know about any of this. We're not living together at the moment but we are talking about moving in together in the next 6 months or so. By then (I hope!) my DMP (or other process) will be moving on and in place. I know that we can't move in together without me telling him about all of this and I was just really hoping someone might have some advice. He is exceptionally good with money (maybe some of it will rub off on my eventually!) but also incredibly paranoid. I know he will not only not understand how I could have let myself get into this mess, but will also be terrified about how living together may impact his financial situation. Any advice please??

4) On a DMP are you still allowed to go on holiday? I know that sounds ridiculous given my situation and of course I am scrimping and saving and cutting back in every which way possible (and thanks to some wonderful money saving advice I've found on here!), but my partner and I are talking about going on a weeks holiday later this year (staying in the UK and probably just camping somewhere as clearly fancy holidays and big splurging is well and truly out). I am already planning on asking my lovely kind family for cash instead of presents for my imminent birthday to help fund this trip. Is that allowed, or will I have to give any extra cash I receive e.g. as birthday presents to the CCCS for my DMP?

5) On a DMP, am I legally obliged to tell anyone. e.g. my employers, my landlord etc.?

6) Anything else anyone thinks I should know before starting a DMP??

I know this post is bonkersly long but I hope I haven't bored you all to tears. I think this site is absolutely fantastic and has helped so many people. I just hope one day to be posting on here saying that I am now debt free!!

Thank you all in advance for your time and advice, it will be gratefully received!

Fraggle xx

St0lli

glitterlea wrote: »

Evening all

Hoping someone can help me.. I just started my DMP with payplan this month. Last month, I sent a token payment to my Tesco CC, with a template letter explaining about the DMP and my Payplan ref number etc, I didn't sign the letter as per advice on here.

Today I have recieved a letter from tesco saying that they can't process my request as I didn't sign the letter (but they have payed my token payment in!), they are asking me to sign the box on the letter that they sent before they can process anything.
So, my question is should I sign it or just ignore it?

Thanks x

This happened to me with one creditor.... I just used a different signature to my usual one. HTH!

cocker100

glitterlea wrote: »

Evening all

Hoping someone can help me.. I just started my DMP with payplan this month. Last month, I sent a token payment to my Tesco CC, with a template letter explaining about the DMP and my Payplan ref number etc, I didn't sign the letter as per advice on here.

Today I have recieved a letter from tesco saying that they can't process my request as I didn't sign the letter (but they have payed my token payment in!), they are asking me to sign the box on the letter that they sent before they can process anything.
So, my question is should I sign it or just ignore it?

Thanks x

Hiya,

It maybe a ploy to get a specimin signature from you to apply it to a credit agreement, in case you do a CCA request.

They dont need a signature to process a token payment. Just like they dont need a signature to process a full payment!;)

Tesco CC are one of my creditors and at first wouldn't accept my DMP payments. They eventually played ball!:D

Personally I would just inform Payplan and let them deal with it.

Hope this helps,

Cocker:)

trying_to_stay_positive_2

glitterlea wrote: »

Evening all

Hoping someone can help me.. I just started my DMP with payplan this month. Last month, I sent a token payment to my Tesco CC, with a template letter explaining about the DMP and my Payplan ref number etc, I didn't sign the letter as per advice on here.

Today I have recieved a letter from tesco saying that they can't process my request as I didn't sign the letter (but they have payed my token payment in!), they are asking me to sign the box on the letter that they sent before they can process anything.
So, my question is should I sign it or just ignore it?

Thanks x

I had exactly the same letter from Tesco and thought the same as you.. that they were after my signature, I rang them about the letter and they said it was fine they didnt need my signature, just verbal confirmation from me that it was me that had sent the letter and token payment was fine, and then they could proceed. To be honest they have been one of my best creditors... defaulted my straight away and stopped interst and charges 28 days later, no phone calls or anything. hope this helps

bigmommamuppet

londonfraggle wrote: »

1) I have a number of payday loans and cheque cashing loans. Does anyone know if the CCCS can include these in a DMP? I am a company director and as such am aware that bankruptcy is not an option for me. Similarly, an IVA would be tricky, so I am really hoping that a DMP solution might work for me.

- Yes payday loans etc can be added to your DMP.

2) I have a question about my mobile phone. I'm not in arrears with this at all but can they (not even sure who I mean by they!) make me give my phone contract up in a DMP? I'm in contract with my 'phone provider until January 2010, and really really need my phone (blackberry) for my work. My company does pay any work related usage back to me as expenses. I haven't always been great at claiming it but of course will do now.

- Mobile phones on contract are fine. Not quite sure how much you can budget for calls. CCCS will give you an acceptable allowance for example I have budgeted £45 for two with no problems from our creditors.

3) My partner doesn't know about any of this. We're not living together at the moment but we are talking about moving in together in the next 6 months or so. By then (I hope!) my DMP (or other process) will be moving on and in place. I know that we can't move in together without me telling him about all of this and I was just really hoping someone might have some advice. He is exceptionally good with money (maybe some of it will rub off on my eventually!) but also incredibly paranoid. I know he will not only not understand how I could have let myself get into this mess, but will also be terrified about how living together may impact his financial situation. Any advice please??

- As long as you don't have any financial links i.e joint mortgage etc then your DMP should have no impact on his financial situation. Hopefully by the time you move in together your DMP will have settled down and creditors etc will stop calling and writing every other day. Obviously you'll need to let him know the situtation but apart from sticking to a strict budget it shouldn;t have too much impact on your day to day life.

4) On a DMP are you still allowed to go on holiday? I know that sounds ridiculous given my situation and of course I am scrimping and saving and cutting back in every which way possible (and thanks to some wonderful money saving advice I've found on here!), but my partner and I are talking about going on a weeks holiday later this year (staying in the UK and probably just camping somewhere as clearly fancy holidays and big splurging is well and truly out). I am already planning on asking my lovely kind family for cash instead of presents for my imminent birthday to help fund this trip. Is that allowed, or will I have to give any extra cash I receive e.g. as birthday presents to the CCCS for my DMP?

- Of course you can go on holiday whilst on a DMP, luxury hotels maybe on hold for a few years but a cheap night in a B&B or campsite is more than acceptable. Extra cash recieved as gifts is fine to be used for whatever you wish plus any savings that you can make with your 'living allowance' can be used for treats. For example CCCS say that £400 is the standard for feeding a family of four but I rarely spend over £300 therefore I've managed to squirrel away £100 a month for a rainy day or treats.

5) On a DMP, am I legally obliged to tell anyone. e.g. my employers, my landlord etc.?

- Nope, don't need to tell a sole. Only myself and DH knows about our plan not even my parents, and so far they haven't noticed.

6) Anything else anyone thinks I should know before starting a DMP??

- Can't think of anything else at the moment, but just wanted to add it was the best decision I've ever made and don't regret it a bit.

Fraggle xx

Welcome Fraggle, hopefully I've answered your questions above.

Becks

rachaelfleur

First of all I would like to say you're definately on the correct thread for answers. I'v just started a DMP myself and it's the best thing I ever did. I've answered below (in pink of course) your questions to the best of my knowledge, hope it helps you.

londonfraggle wrote: »

Hello - I've been hanging around this wonderful site for a while now, and I'm not even sure if this is the right place to post this. I have so many questions and do hope someone out there can help me.

I have finally plucked up the courage to speak to the CCCS and have an appointment booked with them to go through everything to decide how best to deal with my (horrendous and terrifiying!) debt.

I'm obviously relieved that I'm making the first step, although I appreciate it will be a very long road ahead of me - my debt is just under £50,000 (unsecured) so I suspect I'll be using a zimmer frame before it's all paid off! But at least I might be able to sleep at night having been relying on (prescription) sleeping pills for the last few weeks. I also hope that taking this step might mean I can start controlling my awful mood swings - I know it's because I've been horribly stressed but I think if my poor boyfriend is subjected to one more drunken (yes the booze consumption has sky rocketed recently - another problem to try and fix soon) rant he'll have no choice but to leave me. God knows I would leave me the way I am these days!

I just wondered if someone might be able to help me with a few questions that I have. I know the CCCS will answer them all when we have the appointment, but as I can't stop thinking about this any advice now would be wonderful.

1) I have a number of payday loans and cheque cashing loans. Does anyone know if the CCCS can include these in a DMP? I am a company director and as such am aware that bankruptcy is not an option for me. Similarly, an IVA would be tricky, so I am really hoping that a DMP solution might work for me. I have a payday loan with PaydayUK which is on my DMP, so yes you can include these.

2) I have a question about my mobile phone. I'm not in arrears with this at all but can they (not even sure who I mean by they!) make me give my phone contract up in a DMP? I'm in contract with my 'phone provider until January 2010, and really really need my phone (blackberry) for my work. My company does pay any work related usage back to me as expenses. I haven't always been great at claiming it but of course will do now. Your mobile phone is not included as a creditor but when they do a SOA with you, you will be asked to include your mobile cost so they can give you the correct budget to work with. I renewed my mobile contract whilst on my DMP so I don't think you'll have any problems at all.

3) My partner doesn't know about any of this. We're not living together at the moment but we are talking about moving in together in the next 6 months or so. By then (I hope!) my DMP (or other process) will be moving on and in place. I know that we can't move in together without me telling him about all of this and I was just really hoping someone might have some advice. He is exceptionally good with money (maybe some of it will rub off on my eventually!) but also incredibly paranoid. I know he will not only not understand how I could have let myself get into this mess, but will also be terrified about how living together may impact his financial situation. Any advice please?? I'm in a very similar position. My boyfriend doesn't know anything, although I do think I'll tell him sometime in the future. We don't live together either but we do want to buy a house in the next few years or so. The only thing that worries me is being able to get a mortgage with my name on it due to my credit rating. I guess I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it.

4) On a DMP are you still allowed to go on holiday? I know that sounds ridiculous given my situation and of course I am scrimping and saving and cutting back in every which way possible (and thanks to some wonderful money saving advice I've found on here!), but my partner and I are talking about going on a weeks holiday later this year (staying in the UK and probably just camping somewhere as clearly fancy holidays and big splurging is well and truly out). I am already planning on asking my lovely kind family for cash instead of presents for my imminent birthday to help fund this trip. Is that allowed, or will I have to give any extra cash I receive e.g. as birthday presents to the CCCS for my DMP? I love my holidays (probably the reason I'm in so much debt) so what I've done is bought myself a couple of terramundi jars which I'm slowly filling for a holiday fund. You could do the same for gifts too.

5) On a DMP, am I legally obliged to tell anyone. e.g. my employers, my landlord etc.? You don't have to tell anyone, except your creditors of course.

6) Anything else anyone thinks I should know before starting a DMP?? You really need to set up a 'safe' bank account which has no connection to your creditors at all. I have debts with RBS and Lloyds so I now bank with the Halifax. And get your wages paid into it as soon as you can.

I know this post is bonkersly long but I hope I haven't bored you all to tears. I think this site is absolutely fantastic and has helped so many people. I just hope one day to be posting on here saying that I am now debt free!!

Thank you all in advance for your time and advice, it will be gratefully received!

Fraggle xx

I hope I've been of some help to you. Goodluck!

londonfraggle

Thank you so much for all of your advice and help. I feel loads better now - might actually get some sleep tonight. I guess I just have to wait and see whether all my creditors will accept a DMP. Does anyone have any advice on this? Do most companies tend to accept them?

Thank you all again - I will keep you all posted with how it is going and I'm sure I'll be bugging all of you for more help and nuggets of knowledge!

Fraggle xx