Considering setting up my own DMP.

milliejon

all_hours wrote:

Sorry, I've read this back and it sounds like a right old whinge.

Not at all. You're worried! You really sound like you can't see the wood for the trees.

I would base your income and expenditure form to the creditors on the worst case, ie the lowest your income has been lately.

If you get a back payment from anywhere you could always pay this off your debts.

I understand what you're saying about the school now. You could contact the creditors with a freeze letter (a template is on the website). Mine said:

I am writing to inform you that I am seeking advice and assistance from the National Debtline regarding my current financial difficulties.

To this end, I would appreciate if you could hold any action on the above account for a period of at least 28 days.

Also, during this period, could you please freeze interest and any other charges accruing on the account?

I would be grateful if you could forward details of the amount I owe you so that I can complete a personal payment plan.

This will start the ball rolling and give you time to organise things. They will nearly all write back to you with the amount you owe. Some will agree to freeze, others won't but there are templates for these circumstances.

If you contact Debtline they'll send the whole pack through to you. I always find things much easier to refer to when it's in print.

PS - when you contact your creditors, send the Nat Debtline headed income and expenditure form so they can see that you're using their advice.

Please don't worry! It all seems very daunting at the moment, but it will get better.

all_hours

Hi,

I've made a list of things I need to do this week.

• Phone tomorrow for an information pack.
• Dig out + update CV.
• More time on the job sites.
• Dig out something to wear for interviews.
• Go through income and outgoings - at the moment worst case leaves me with just £40 a month.
• Look at some of the propery sites.(not urgent)
• Get a new current account. (I started applying for one last week + can't remember why I didn't finish)
• Get more organised with shopping I can see I've spent money I didn't need to this week.
• If the school details come through, work out some rough ideas for childcare costs. (This could end up on next week's list)
• If I get time - start the big clear out by going through old books + clothes and list them on amazon or ebay.

This will keep me busy enough.

Thanks.

Broken_hearted

john_kent wrote:

I found that a lot of creditors didnt accept my offer. yet as soon as I registered with CCCS , i got a pack and forms , sent off forms with same offers and all accepted apart from one. SO yes , it can be done , but always keep all creditors up to date.

strange I found they agreed pretty much straight away. Halifax were ok for 4 years then they went weird. I love the freedom of setting up my own payments and the flexability to change them at will.

milliejon

All hours - you're going to be busy. Sometimes you just need to take the bull by the horns and get stuck in. Don't forget to have a break though - sorting through your stuff to sell will be a good stress breaker! I love sorting through my old stuff. I get sentimental over some stuff and laught at other stuff I've bought.

Broken_hearted wrote:

strange I found they agreed pretty much straight away. Halifax were ok for 4 years then they went weird. I love the freedom of setting up my own payments and the flexability to change them at will.

Nearly all of mine agreed straight away. One or two of the credit/store cards didn't agree because I'd used the card recently, but I just stopped using it. I then just paid my minimum that I'd promised and kept writing to them and they eventually agreed. One of my creditors still hasn't ever contacted me. I keep paying each month, but they have never agreed or not to any of my suggestions!

All hours - best of luck and don't forget to come back and let us know how you're getting on.

Tr@cker

All of which makes me wonder why anybody pays about 3 grand for an IVA.

milliejon

I don't really understand the difference, only that if you have a substantial amount spare each month to pay off your creditors. I don't understand this though because presumably you wouldn't be in problems if you could pay the minimum.

It confuses me and I steer clear anyway, because I could lose my job if I went down this route.