DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 6)

ianmak

Helz1980 wrote: »

Hi Everyone

I feel as though I know everyone because I have been reading the posts on here for a couple of months now.

Story begins a few years back when i left uni - had NO debt as paid everything off even managed to pay for a 5 week trip to the US/Canada whilst in uni! anyway got a decent job with the government and me and OH bought a house before the house market went sky high back in 2002 (i was 22 at the time) anyhoo many years later having a great credit score, being accepted for credit cards etc and even so much as 2 years ago we were managing ok. Then since about last xmas its got worse and worse we were basically struggling to pay everything and had zilch at the end of the month or sometimes having to take money out on our CC's to get us by!

Arguments prevailed in our house so one day we said right lets sit down and be honest with each other and our spending - tough for the pair of us as we are both good at spending! We did that over a few nights, and came up with our total EEK it was 42k built up from

• 2 Lloyds CC's
• 1 Lloyds Overdraft @ 3500
• 2 Virgin Cards
• 1 Post office card
• 1 NR loan
• 1 store card with dorothy perkins

Estimated DFD is November 2015
However i actually felt relieved for talking about it.

We were paying the min payments but nothing was ever decreasing and cos we were doing that then we had no money in the account to live!

We (the we part hadnt happened for a while as it was normally me who was doing it!) visited the bank 1st to see what they could do and they said 'we can help OH but not you', fantastic eh! he was a right clever t****r lol.

So we decided to go through the DMP route.

I have had so many emotions, fears, depressed, worried etc and OH kept saying look they robbing bar stewards (as he refers to Lloyds) have been making an fortune out of us!

I have changed bank accounts, my wage went into Lloyds to cover those DD's that wont change over until mid nov and OH's went into the other, so by the end of November everything will be in the right place (hopefully).

We both stopped smoking 9 weeks ago which made us think 'how did we afford to smoke!?' cos we used to out them on CC's!.

I had been more savvy with food shopping, before i would just dive into the supermarket and spend, whereas now i may visit one or 2 or even 3 places to shop and have managed to stick to a budget. Also been paying more attention to where i get my petrol from as i drive 400miles a week to work!

I have caller ID on the landline so we dont answer the phone to those numbers you dont recognise - or take the number and dial it back to see who it is.

Only thing is that am worried about is getting a new mortgage, our fixed rate ended in July so on Halifax svr at the mo. BUT i have a good mortgage broker who knows that we have embarked on a DMP (sounds like a journey!, which it is i suppose!) so he will help

Another reason for doing this is I will be 30 in January and we have decided to start a family so we wanted to be more financially viable.

i havent told my parents as they would be devastated, they are wealthy due to working hard for years and years and i was always taught to save etc. I think i would be too proud to tell them. Told my sister, she has her own debts but always goes to the bank of mam and dad. My boss at work knows and is very understanding and so does a couple of my work friends. OH's parents dont know as they have the similar mindset to mine, and his mam works in Lloyds!!

I know its going to be tough but am ready for it as is OH.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has posted the advice i have read as its been really helpful and i know that i am going to need everyone when the calls start and i receive letters through the post that i dont understand etc

Helz
PS: am a bit of a golf nut hence the signature!

Well it sounds like you've got it all under control, so just wanted to say we're all here for you, if and when you need any help or advice. We're a fairly friendly bunch, as I'm sure you already know...

Totallybroke41

I have just had a phone call at work from HMRC. They are chasing our unpaid tax credit which I was told by CCCS should be put on our DMP. I did set up a DD for it to be paid back monthly but was told by CCCS to cancel it. I have been ignoring all 0800 and 0870 numbers on my mobile and have changed our home phone number so the only way to get hold of me was obviously at work. I had a letter from them on Monday and I was really brave and spoke to someone at the Collections Office who didnt really seem to know what I was on about and was really vague but said could I ask CCCS to contact them as soon as possible. When I answered the phone at work and she asked for me and said they were from the HMRC I panicked and said I wasnt in today (what an idiot!). Can't believe I did that but I don't want to talk about the DMP in front of everyone at work and our office is really small and they can hear everything you say. I feel really sick now and don't know what to say to them when they call back tomorrow as I dont want to discuss it in front of everyone. Help!

sunnydais

Totallybroke41 wrote: »

I have just had a phone call at work from HMRC. They are chasing our unpaid tax credit which I was told by CCCS should be put on our DMP. I did set up a DD for it to be paid back monthly but was told by CCCS to cancel it. I have been ignoring all 0800 and 0870 numbers on my mobile and have changed our home phone number so the only way to get hold of me was obviously at work. I had a letter from them on Monday and I was really brave and spoke to someone at the Collections Office who didnt really seem to know what I was on about and was really vague but said could I ask CCCS to contact them as soon as possible. When I answered the phone at work and she asked for me and said they were from the HMRC I panicked and said I wasnt in today (what an idiot!). Can't believe I did that but I don't want to talk about the DMP in front of everyone at work and our office is really small and they can hear everything you say. I feel really sick now and don't know what to say to them when they call back tomorrow as I dont want to discuss it in front of everyone. Help!

I have the same problem at work as well at least 10 people can hear me if I'm on the phone why the hell don't they realise we don't want to discuss our debt problems in front of half the office!!! I can see on my phone if its not a business related call and don't answer it. Otherwise when they call and I get caught I tell them I cannot discuss private matters at work please don't call ...then they ask when they can call and I tell them another time as they usually have my home number anyway

bailey59

Afternoon everyone,

Well I sent my DMP pack off yesterday to CCCS and sent all my creditors their notification letters. My blood pressure must have been sky high yesterday at the post office. I just wanted the letters gone.

So far I have:
Opened a new bank account
Sent off my DMP pack
Informed creditors of my DMP
Cancelled all my dd's at my old banks
Started to let everyone know my new bank details

My things to do list is getting smaller, when I have crossed everyhting out, I can then start a new things to do list for PPI, bank charges, CCA's, council tax banding etc. Anything to get money off the debts.

Off to check the post office website to see who has received my letters in a mo. Before I go I hope that Northstar's mum is ok and LMS's daughter is ok. Thinking of you both x

LittleMissSkint

Hi Bailey,

I remember that feeling when I sent all my things off! It was so nerve wracking and such a relief at the same time! That was two weeks ago for me now and I watch the post every day now praying for acceptance letters! :rotfl:So far I have 2/6. It's a start. I finally got my new bank account details too, but with the wee one being ill I haven't had a chance to change the DDs and wages etc yet. Will try this evening if time allows. OH gets paid on the 13th and Mortgage due on 17th, so I really need to get everything changed over ASAP - or Nationwide will take all our money. _pale_ He's going away to the states on Tuesday (my little girls 4th birthday) with work, so I need to get it done before then.

Thanks, my little girl is much the same as yesterday really. She's having a sleep at the mo so I thought I'd pop on here for 10 mins and have a cuppa - the little ones are glued to the TV munching burgers, so the're happy. :T

Thinking of you too Northstar, our thoughts are with you and your mum xx

sunnydais

bailey59 wrote: »

Afternoon everyone,

Well I sent my DMP pack off yesterday to CCCS and sent all my creditors their notification letters. My blood pressure must have been sky high yesterday at the post office. I just wanted the letters gone.

So far I have:
Opened a new bank account
Sent off my DMP pack
Informed creditors of my DMP
Cancelled all my dd's at my old banks
Started to let everyone know my new bank details

My things to do list is getting smaller, when I have crossed everyhting out, I can then start a new things to do list for PPI, bank charges, CCA's, council tax banding etc. Anything to get money off the debts.

Off to check the post office website to see who has received my letters in a mo. Before I go I hope that Northstar's mum is ok and LMS's daughter is ok. Thinking of you both x

Hi Bailley I am about the same stage as you with a few lose ends...starting to get nervous when I do my great escape from the bank soon...haven't told them yet argh!

bailey59

He he sunnydais, I havent told my bank yet either. I am waiting to make sure my hubby's wage doesnt go in there tomorrow before I send the letter to my bank. That is the last letter I have to send

Helz1980

Hi everyone

off work at the moment with laryngitus!

Anyway am after some advice, i want to send token payments to my creditors. Is it better to either;

• pay via another bank account (not linked to creditors)
• pay via postal order (never used these in my life so not sure where to start!)
• pay by cheque from other bank account
• is there a standardised letter to send if i use PO or Cheque?
• Finally - how much does everyone recommend? i thought about £5 each?

Ta muchly, about to cook homemade curry for OH's tea and also making homemade soup! very domesticated...........pity about the housework that needs done!

Cheers

Northstar68

bailey59 wrote: »

Afternoon everyone,

Well I sent my DMP pack off yesterday to CCCS and sent all my creditors their notification letters. My blood pressure must have been sky high yesterday at the post office. I just wanted the letters gone.

So far I have:
Opened a new bank account
Sent off my DMP pack
Informed creditors of my DMP
Cancelled all my dd's at my old banks
Started to let everyone know my new bank details

My things to do list is getting smaller, when I have crossed everyhting out, I can then start a new things to do list for PPI, bank charges, CCA's, council tax banding etc. Anything to get money off the debts.

Off to check the post office website to see who has received my letters in a mo. Before I go I hope that Northstar's mum is ok and LMS's daughter is ok. Thinking of you both x

Hi Bailey59,

Thankyou so much for your thoughts, got mum to the hospital at 6.30am, they took her down late.....at 10.15 then a nerve wracking 3 1/2 hours later we finally had news that she was in recovery. The tumour has all been removed, that's all I know, I hope to get some more info when I go back, the first hurdle is over. I just came back to sort my girls out then I'm going back to the hospital. Couldnt resist checking back here.....I was obviously suffering withdrawal symptoms!
:rotfl:

Anyway Bailey, we are in exactly the same position!
This is where I am :

1. Sent off my DMP pack to CCCS, received end of last week.
2. Sent off my 13 notification of DMP letters to 13 creditors, 7 out of 13 have been received so far.
3. New bank account open and active.......empty mind you! Waiting and hoping my pay goes in on the 24th.
4. All direct debits cancelled.
5. Given new bank details to 2 out of 6 direct debits.

Pretty much exactly the same eh! I am sure all will be fine for the 1st.We just need to find the money to make that first payment!!
I'm off to make some pasta before I go back to the hospital, nice and cheap

Once I have finished number 5 then I also will start the charges reclaiming, we can help each other through that one ok.
A friend gave me a small bottle of that Rescue Remedy stuff, I have been running on adrenalin pretty much these last few weeks, I am so drained from it all. Apparently a few drops on the tongue and it's meant to calm me down LOL havent tried it yet in case it knocks me out, I need to get to the hospital in 1 piece!

LMS - thank you too for remembering my mum, you are all so sweet, hope your daughter gets better soon.

Speak to you all later
xxxxxx

Twit_Head

the_tooth_fairy wrote: »

74 boxes of party food from Asda.

Party at Twitty's!!!

Sadly, it's BYO drink.

Hi Tooth Fairy

All would be welcome but would be a bit of a squash - it's only a two bed bungalow! Perhaps we'd better leave the idea in the virtual world. And can you imagine the hangovers on the dodgy booze most of our happy band seem to imbibe?