thanks for the previous advice ...now looking for stories of success

uphill-struggle

Hi

I messaged here in the early hoursof the morning the other day (once again I couldnt sleep worrying about debts etc!!) I had been put in touch with kensington Finance and put on a debt management plan. They had already had a few hundred out of me in initial payments and their set up fees etc. Not all my creditors had agreed to the terms etc and I was worried sick as my friend had told me that companies that charge are bad news...and she recommended this site....

So that is how I arrived and I got some good advice from people about FREE dmp and companies like ccs (? not sure I got that right) and payplan. My husband rang them yesterday and I spoke tot hem today. The lady couldnt believe that I was still intending to try and pay Kensington while my husband was trying to set up a dmp with them. I got upset (something I seem to do a lot these days...currently off sick with stress and depression due to all the worry) but the lady seemed lovely. She said she would review our case as urgent and rang back in the next 15 mins to say they could help me. So we now are awaiting the authority form and hopefully we can be up and running.

And as for Kensington, I have read and re-read their paperwork - and it says 4 weeks notice to cancel in writing! The payplan lady said i didnt have to do this - but I said that I was now scared of getting some kind of bill from Kensington and couldnt take anymore debt! So she advised me to write to them (done!!) and send it special delivery so I have proof it got there! I also sent a copy of the letter to them in their free post envelopes just t make sure! I asked them to cancel and NOT contact me again! I hope this will be the end of it with them...I feel like a fool for the £300 odd pounds that I have paid them already and money that I badly need and could have paid debts ... but i just thought i was doing the right thing.

SO PLEASE can i have some good news stories about peoples dealing with Payplan!! ?? I just want something positive to cling on to - stories of how people really did get out of debt with them. They are cutting my debt outgoings to less than half and say it should take 5 years approx. Please can someone tell me this is true (and possible) - but also if anyone has any warnings I want to know too! I have read many great reviews on them - but there was also a few negative ones and people saying the bank thing they use is a pain etc.

thanks guys - and I hope that this is the final part of my journey - the part where I finally get out of debt! i cant believe how many years I have been drowning in my own stupid debt and trying to cope miserably. This website may just have saved my life with the advice I got from others and the info that you dont have to pay for DMPs.

thanks

RAS

Hi

If you did not sign anything with kensington, you should also ask for your money back, in writing.

Loads of folks here use CCCS and Payplan and most are happy with them. Like anything, sometimes a creditor sells on a debt and neither the old or new creditor tells CCCS and it takes time to sort out.

There is a DMP supporters thread http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1735087. You might want to join?

uphill-struggle

thanks - i just want to see light at the end of the tunnel...

uphill-struggle

AND YES - i did sign paperwork with Kensington. No chance of getting that money back. one of my creditors rang me about my debt and put me straight through to them....i had never heard of this site, DMP or had any idea that there are fee paying companies AND free ones! I have learnt a valuable lesson - but will be greateful for this site and the advice I was given!

charlie2517

Hey! I'm not on a DMP so cant help with that sorry! I just wanted to say that if you want to be debt free (which you do) it may be a long road (often a rollercoaster) but you do get there and it does get easier. You just have to stick at it and be determined. Atleast you and your OH are fighting the debt together so many ppl dont have their OH half on board. You hang in there, it WILL all be sorted. The money to Kensington has gone now, so all you can do is chalk it up to experience now and look forward. It is possible, I am almost there and I can tell you honestly (even without a DMP) there were nights I've cried, calculated and recalculated to the penny what I do and dont have and said No to things that I really wanted to do or have so I could pay another 2p or £20 off debt. EVERY PENNY MAKES A DIFFERENCE. And one day it becomes a bit easier to deal with and you see the light (at the end of the tunnel) getting closer.

Big hugs to you xx

poorandindenial

Hi hun

Another non DMPer here, but I saw your post and wanted to say hello :wave:

Although not on a DMP I have been knocking round here for a bit and seen lots of people that are. My summary of the gazillions of DMP posts that I have read (apart from don't pay for it) is:

At first it is a bit pants, it can take a little while for creditors to get the hint and leave off calling, but then it all calms down and you can get back on with your life again

the key thing for me for debtbusting was to get a handle on my budget. I have eased off quite a bit now but for the first year or so I really watched my budget and learned to live again (for me it was from a frivolous world to one where money does have a value and I know what that is... - although I fully appreciate that isn't the same for everyone)

Once you can see progress agiants your debts it is hugely motivating and for m that was the boost to keep on going with the budget until I was in a place where I could ease off a bit.

All the best and I have every faith in you to get this sorted. Hang on in there through the bumpy bit and everything will soon be 'normal'

Deep_In_Debt

I'm 2 years into my dmp now and at first things were a bit nasty - took a while for creditors to accept and they played all sorts of games but after a while I got wise to them and ignored their phone calls. Since October 2008 I've hardly heard a peep out of my creditors and my dmp is ticking along nicely and my debts are also reducing nicely. I still get the very occasional call which gets ignored and the occasional letter which also gets ignored.

Well done for facing up to your debts. It does get easier - just have to ride the storm for a while.

Good luck.

bluebag

Hi!
I've never had a DMP as my darkest deep debt days was some time ago, so can't offer any help there. I didn't want to read and run though as your post hit a nerve with me, I've shed those tears and felt that awful gut wrenching dread.
Just wanted to give you a little moral support and a bit of a cheer. You've made some mistakes and we all do that, don't beat yourself up for it. You are taking a huge forward leap now to get yourself out of debt, you deserve a pat on the back for doing that, it'aint easy!
Wishing you all the best and hoping the payplan thing works for you. Be gentle with yourself!
bb

tealady

Hi Uphill. Please don't beat yourself up over the Kensington business.
As my dear old Dad used to say "He who has never made a mistake never made anything"
Good luck.

dib-dab

I don't have any experience of Payplan but just wanted to say well done for starting on the right track to getting sorted.
Similar to what tealady has said - there is no point now in thinking 'why did I do that' about Kensington - what you did was with all good intention. So forget about the £300 as you don't need to be worrying about what it would have been better spent on. I know it is a lot of money but it is gone now. Focus on the future instead because it will get better for you. You will be fine, I see Payplan mentioned and recommended on here a lot so there must be people who are being helped by them.
Good luck!