DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 6)

rachaelfleur

DevonGirl wrote: »

Hi Rach

Don't worry about this - yes, it's bad timing and a complete pain - but CCCS are fine with this. They'd rather alter your plan than have you take on more credit.

I speak from experience as I had to reduce my month 3 payment to CCCS to pay for my boiler which (fortunately for me) only broke down - didn't need replacing. I rang them up to explain and, like you, said I could take out credit, or borrow from a family member. The advice was that to borrow money on my DMP would be like shooting myself in the foot as all my money is budgeted for and trying to claw back money to pay for a new debt would endanger my plan.

They were quite happy for me to go to a £1 token payment for a month before getting back on track, but I preferred to spend all my 'emergency fund', which I'd proudly built up to £150, plus reduce my payment by half, which covered the amount for the repairs. They wrote to my creditors and advised me to ring them myself to explain this month's payment would be less, but I was a woss and didn't want to phone them. Anyway, I got a letter from CCCS later to say that one of my creditors (Citibank) wouldn't accept the reduced payment, but they would pay them the amount offered and I didn't have to do anything. That month's payment came and went and, as they predicted, Citibank accepted the reduced payment and I haven't heard anything from them directly.

Sorry, it's so long winded but just to say that these things do happen and shouldn't cause a problem with the help of CCCS. A boiler is an essential item, not an option, and you have no other access to credit so please don't worry. I kept my service receipt in case any of my creditors demanded to see it, but nobody did. I think as long as they're receiving something they leave you alone.

Hope this helps - please don't worry!!
Best wishes
DG

Edit - incidentally, the creditor who said they wouldn't accept reduced payment, Citibank, are only owed £800. I owe other creditors £££££s! Like Saskia says, there's no rhyme or reason to how each creditor acts.

Thanks, I feel a bit better now. it's just one thing after another :rolleyes:

I'll get right on to the CCCS and see what they can do. I'm sure I can look forward to a few nasty letters for my creditors but hey, what's new??

St0lli

Toffee_Penny wrote: »

Good luck

Hi TP! Long time no see! I've already claimed my CC charges back from Halifax and yet they have started again adding the £12 late payment fee and adding interest. I did send off £10 to them but only asked for a copy of all my fees so I'll have to pay another £10 to get EVERYTHING from them I guess.

It had slipped my mind about the National Debt Line but I've just been on to their website and there are standard letters to send when creditors keep adding interest charges. Unfortunately adobe isn't working at the mo (IT are looking into it :rolleyes:) but I'll get one of those letters sent off.

If that fails I'll ask for a copy of my CCA by requesting a SAR as I know that the card was taken out many years ago and I'm sure they won't have a valid agreement.

Not really the way I wanted to do things as I'm happy to pay off what I owe but when they keep adding interest charges when they know I'm struggling so much it makes me :mad:

Same applies for Lloyds TSB CC :mad:

rachaelfleur

Toffee_Penny wrote: »

Scouse lad try this....



Harassment by telephone



Quote:

Your Street
Town
City
Postcode
DATE HERE

Company Name
Road
Town
City / County
Postcode


Dear Sirs,

Harassment by telephone

Account Number: XXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.

I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls. (Delete if necessary)

I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.

I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.

Please treat this also as a formal complaint, and send me a copy of your company complaints procedure.

Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company will be recorded. (**Even if you don‘t yet have recording equipment!!**)

Yours faithfully,


(type don't sign)


AND GET YOUR PPI RECLAIM SORTED OUT MR! :rotfl:

On a similar matter that I posted last week. Lloyds TSB have 'obtained' my new mobile number and new house number. I have absolutely no idea how they managed this as both are not listed and I certainly didn't give it to them. Although when I asked how they got these numbers they reckon I supplied them. I asked them to remove these numbers, as my number change was a police matter (which it actually is) and they said they couldn't do that. Do you think I could write a similar letter as above requesting that they remove my numbers from file? I do actually have a crime number, should I use this to my advantage? Not sure what to do, I'm really angry, and would like to know how they managed to get them in the first place!

DevonGirl

Hi Rachael

If you have a Samsung you can use their 'block number' facility to stop LTSB getting through. Unfortunately I have a sony phone as I went PAYG as part of my DMP and (with Orange at least) I'm told that they don't have this function.... Sure other posters will correct me if other networks/phone types have different rules. Ring customer services to find out if you can do this.

There's a new 'mobile phone directory' being set up that you can opt out of, but obviously a bit late for the cheery team at LTSB!

Daffykjs

Kudox wrote: »

Just a quick response to whoever mentioned that being on a DMP was no guarantee of getting bank charges repaid under financial hardship rules, I can vouch for that as we've just been refused, on the basis that we seem to "have enough income to meet all our outgoings".
Yes thats because we're on a DMP:rolleyes::rolleyes:

Eeek!! This is I think what will happen to us!! Worth a try tho i guess!

Daffykjs

rachaelfleur wrote: »

On a similar matter that I posted last week. Lloyds TSB have 'obtained' my new mobile number and new house number. I have absolutely no idea how they managed this as both are not listed and I certainly didn't give it to them. Although when I asked how they got these numbers they reckon I supplied them. I asked them to remove these numbers, as my number change was a police matter (which it actually is) and they said they couldn't do that. Do you think I could write a similar letter as above requesting that they remove my numbers from file? I do actually have a crime number, should I use this to my advantage? Not sure what to do, I'm really angry, and would like to know how they managed to get them in the first place!

definitely send a letter!! is this the same one as the harrassment one? if not there's that too you could try as well. the police number can only help i would have thought!

Daffykjs

Paolo_H_UK wrote: »

Hi all,

I'm about to start my DMP with CCCS on 1 August.

A payment to one of my creditors (Virgin Credit Card) is about £40 per month more than their minimum charge.

How will this affect the DMP with them? Are they less likely to reduce interest?

All my other creditors will be paid less than the minimum charge.

Many thanks,

Paolo

ps: Please can I have a number

Surely they can't argue if your payment is over can they?? Bet they do tho!!! What have your CCCS said about it? maybe you should just not send the letters to them about the DMP and just let that amount be paid. it's not like you need them to accept a lower payment like normal? probably too late for this tho i assume! and just a thought! best to ask CCCS I'd say!

Daffykjs

frankfish wrote: »

Hi,

Another newbie hear, I am about to start a DMP with CCCS and would appreciate any advice.

Current situation is that I have 3 loans:-
Halifax - Balance is 7K pay £221 pm paid 10K so far
Northern Rock, Bal 17k pay £229pm, paid 10K so far
Hitatchi (was LV) Bal 17K pay £300pm, paid 8K so far

Due to having to change job, redundancy, my income has dropped by over £1000 per months.

Budget agreed with CCCS gives me £250 pm for payments, which will take 14 years assuming they freeze interest etc.

Ideally I would like to go onto a DAS, but I have been told this would not be possible, as the repayment period should be under 10 years. I am lump sum as part of the redundancy and using this could help get the term down, or do I hold onto it for a while and use it to offer F&F settlements, if so how long do I wait ?

I am about to start the ball rolling, and send the letters out, I can make the payments in August but come Sept the DMP will have to kick in.

No arrears at the moment, what can I expect when I send off the letter informing my creditors, using the CCCS template ?

What has been peoples experinece of the 3 companies above when it comes to DMPs?

I have about 20K equity in my house, my OH has the other £20K,

Lots of questions, any advice appreciated

FF

What's DAS? And how much is your redundancy money? If it can pay off a whole loan I think I'd be tempted to do that to be honest! If not I'd keep it as emergency fund!!

Oh and the only one I have the same is Northern Rock and they were suprisingly good. they accepted for 6 months (altho that is up and I have so far heard nothing! that may not last obviously tho!)

I know someone else on here has had problems with Hitatchi tho! however there doesn't seem patterns really! different creditors seem to have different rules for different people! there seems no rhyme or reason sometimes!

thewad

What's a SAR.
I've had 3 of my cc's for over 20 years.

John

MRSG2B_2

Anyone see Dragon's Den last night.....did have a chuckle when the little phone gizmo came on that screened the calls "Please hang up, I don't want to talk to you.....do not call again.Goodbye" Think these should be given out free with every DMP!

Can just see HSBC faces now....