CCCS - Should I make that step?

dottyanne

Hi everyone!! Well DD time is nearly upon us again and i just dont think i will have the money tbh.....am thinking of ringing CCCS and asking them to set me up a DMP.... I originally spoke to them in Septemner 05 but didnt go through with it as my hubby and I thought we could just muddle through as we were worried or the repercussions of this.....ive dug out my old stuff and about 3 of the old debts have gone altogether and another 3 are a lot less than they originally were - do you think this should be a good option for me a a DMP will give me money to live on again and i wont be robbing peter to pay Paul??? Please, please give me your thoughts and i would love to herar from anyone on a CCCS DMP????


Dotty xx

lukemed1

Hi dottyanne!

I've been on a DMP with CCCS for 2 months now and so far they've been great, I havn't even had any calls or letters from my creditors!!!

can definately recommend it as it feels like a lot of weight lifted from my shoulders!

good luck in what you decide to do

Best Wishes

Luke:D

spud30

Morning Dotty,

I spoke to CCCS last week, and have an hour long interview with a debt counsellor booked next week.

I came off the phone from our initial chat feeling relieved that I had put the wheels in motion.

lynzpower

I know how much you both wanted to manage this on your own.

I cant really tell you what to do , but I did think your ideas of one of you bringing in an extra income was a brilliant one.

the thing is I thought with DMPs you couldnt "clear" debts one by one as you had the money, the amount is spread between your creditors.

I can only say what Id do, which is to get a job and let OH remain doing the shop. And then look at it agian.

Is this for your personal DDs or your business DDs?

Wonder_Girl

You should defiantly give them a call on 0800 138 1111, even if you decide you don't want then to run your DMP and you want to manage it yourself they will still offer you support and advice.

Also there is noting in your DMP agreement that says you can't clear off your debts one by one, in fact they want you to be debt free as soon as possible. all it means is that all your creditors get some money each month which will hopefully relieve some of the pressure they put on you whilst you are saving up to pay off the next debt.

dottyanne

So say we get a windfall of sorts or gt left some money or get birthday, xmas money - how do we go about paying any extra if on a DMP? or can u only pay them what is initially agreed?

kar

I think the idea is that you have to spread the windfall in proportion between all the creditors rather than pay off one with it. Basically one company may be affiliated with the one you pay off (or find out about it somehow) and may get a bit upset about not getting any of the 'windfall' when they are stopping interest etc. They then may refuse to continue witholding interest as they feel they are not being treated fairly.

That's what i think happens anyway. Hope that makes sense.

ozzyfan_2

lynzpower wrote:

the thing is I thought with DMPs you couldnt "clear" debts one by one as you had the money, the amount is spread between your creditors.

Hi dottyanne
I'm with CCCS & thought the same as Lynz. I'd like to know this too so I have e-mailed them to ask if I can pay off my smallest debt as I have the funds available or will I be breaking the terms of the dmp. I'll let you know what they say.

Wonder_Girl

dottyanne wrote:

So say we get a windfall of sorts or gt left some money or get birthday, xmas money - how do we go about paying any extra if on a DMP? or can u only pay them what is initially agreed?

You CAN pay off 1 debt at a time, say your smallest debt is £500 and you win £500 at bingo, CCCS would rather you pay off the smallest debt and reduce the amount of creditors rather than give all your creditors say £50 and still have 10 creditors, our aim is to get you debt free ASAP.

sanfrancisco

Wonder_Girl wrote:

You CAN pay off 1 debt at a time, say your smallest debt is £500 and you win £500 at bingo, CCCS would rather you pay off the smallest debt and reduce the amount of creditors rather than give all your creditors say £50 and still have 10 creditors, our aim is to get you debt free ASAP.

I am pretty sure this is incorrect. I would not want people to get the wrong advice. The whole point of CCCS and the reason they are so successful is because the Banks etc trust them, and trust that they will all get a fair share. Why should Barclays get more money just because you owe less, than Lloyds? If anything any extra should go to the largest debt (this does not happen I am just conjecturing). I don't mind being wrong, but I am almost sure I'm not. Can anyone absolutely confirm the situation?

southernscouser

Wonder_Girl wrote:

our aim is to get you debt free ASAP.

Wonder Girl, do you work for the CCCS?