[B]Whats your experience been of CCCS DMPs[/B]

mikon

I have been doing some research on this forum as I am about to opt for a DMP.

However after reading replies and feedback from other users on this forum there seems to be a mixture of views on CCCS ability to handle and negotiate clients DMPs. Some comments have been that CCCS have negotiated for interest charges to be frozen only for the creditor to reinstate the charges some months later, others say that CCCS do not push to freeze interest charges whilst others say they have had an excellent service. Others have removed the DMP from CCCS and self managed or handed them to CBA or PayPlan

Can you tell me how CCCS have handled your DMPs.

Thank you in anticipation.

Faye449

Just received my 'pack' from CCCS yesterday and they have been fab. I think maybe where you are getting confused is that they will advise you, they don't do it for you ie they send you template letters and you write and post them out to your creditors asking for interest to be frozen etc etc.

Why don't you go on the 'ask CCCS advisor a question' thread if you have specific questions about what they will do?

good luck whatever you decide!

Deep_In_Debt

i'Oh rubbish! Typed a long post in response and my crusty old PC crashed!

Anyway, what I was trying to say is....

I'm with CCCS and have been for the last 2 years and made some serious headway into my debts. My largest creditors froze interestimmediately and still have.

JES_F1

I've answered this question really on your other thread about which DMP company to go with but thought I'd add a note here too.

For me, the CCCS have been brilliant. They did what I call all the 'hard work' at the beginning, contacting my creditors, etc, a time when I was probably my most vulnerable.

The first couple of months are a bit rocky but once it all settled down, I hardly hear a thing from creditors now. All have now frozen interest and fees (some quicker than others).

Though it's fantastic having them as support/backup, I've never assumed that the CCCS will do everything for me. I've always kept them notified of any correspondence from creditors, and where necessary, they've responded on my behalf - but I've always backed that up with a letter of my own, even if it's only to say something along the lines of, "You already know I've hit financial difficulties ... I'm trying to resolve this through a DMP with the CCCS ... I have to treat all creditors fairly and can't favour one over the other ..." etc, etc.

As I said in your other thread, the Nationwide were my most awkward creditor. On one occasion when I called them - I soon learnt this was a stupid thing to do - they threatened a charging order (though I realise now this was wrapped in a sentence that used 'could' or 'may'). After that, I refused to talk to them on the phone, responded to every single letter they sent with my own standard letter - and 18 months later, they stopped interest and finally accepted my DMP. (All other creditors had accepted long ago.)

While the CCCS are fantastic - and they get my wholehearted vote every time - don't assume they'll do everything for you. I took the view that it's my debt so I need to deal with it ... with the CCCS' support (and MSE of course!).

miss_lisalou

The CCCS have been marvellous for me, they are very organised and the staff are always helpful and supportive if you need to phone them.

In relation to freezing interest etc, some of my creditors have and others haven't, but I don't see that it's down to the CCCS to push this matter - it's my debt so I've contacted the creditors concerned where interest has not been frozen. That said however, the CCCS did offer useful advice to me as to what to say to creditors in relation to this.

It was very daunting at first, opening up to how much debt you have and giving a stranger all your financial details, but it's well worth it. I can't praise them enough to date :j

Echezeaux7

Im a newby just started my DMP with the CCCS and they have been great, I probably felt the same as the rest of you when a first contacted them but they put you at ease dont judge and give sound advice. I am still in the PANIC mode fairly regularly, what if, what shall I do etc but hopefully with a bit support I can get through it.

mikon

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the long post but I need to put down how I feel and need answers to some further questions.

Don't know how you all felt before embarking on a DMP but i keep wakening up in the morning think about my debts and throughout the day having panic attacks and thinking yes i will undertake a DMP then I think it will give me a bad credit rating what if i need a car (which I will eventually), then I think well if i don't undertake a DMP and I can't pay the monthly repayments i will eventually default and then I will have a bad credit rating in any case. Then I have a panic attack. How did I get into this mess i just do not know but i am here now.

Then I read an article in the News of the World today about a lady that had a debt and the credit agency appointed Bailiffs and they entered the property and took goods to the value. Did not state she was on a DMP.

Question

1 Will my creditors appoint bailiffs to reposses goods to the value of their debts?, even though I am attempting to make repayments albeit no on their terms.

2. I have 2 cars my wife has one and i the other will my creditors make me sell one of these cars as they will be classed as assets if I undertake a DMP. My wife and I both need a car to get to work and collect the children from school.

So for the past 4 hrs I have been worried that if i go on a DMP and my creditors do not accept what CCCS offer as a monthly payment i will have bailiffs at my door.

This is an absolute nightmare and I just cannot see an end to it. On top of this 2 close members of my family died yesterday and as bad as it seems I thought to myself "well they don't have any worries anymore" I know that is terrible but that is how i feel at the moment.

What i want to make clear is that i do want to pay my debts but to do this i need to reduce the payments and ensure i have enough money to feed and house my family that why i think a DMP is the option but then the panic sets in.

The support i have received from all of you has been excellent thank you.

Did anyone else feel like this and if anyone can answer the question above that would be great

I guess I am damned if I don't and I am damned if I don't but I suppose if I do embark on a DMP it shows the creditors I am trying to pay my debt off rather than ignoring them. Not sure how the creditors view it though.

Faye449

take a deeeeeep breath hun, you're going to be fine.

IF your creditors appoint bailiffs then the bailiffs just have to take whatever you were going to give your creditors on the DMP. News of the World wouldn't have had a good story if they had told it how it really is and as I am dealing with bailiffs myself at the mo (council tax arrears- nothing to do with my DMP) I can tell you that they can't just waltz in and help themselves, they have to enter peacefully ie you have to let them in. And the golden rule with bailiffs is NEVER let them in!

Nobody can 'make' you sell your car.

yes it's a nightmare but you will get through it, everyone on here has been in the same boat. My 'usual' time for a panic attack was 4am and then I couldn't get back to sleep. lovely. Since contacting CCCS I don't have them anymore.

I think you need to ring them and ask them all these things. remember just because you have called them you don't HAVE to take their advice, its entirely up to you but I think you will be pleasantly suprised with what they say.

Crystaltipps_2

I have been with the CCCS for 3 years now and could not have made the headway I have without them.

Setting up the DMP was made easy and simple to understand. They sent me letters to send to all of my creditors. They advised me on my SOA and ultimately let me chose which solution to follow.

I have a car which I need for work. It is worth about £2k and there has never been any question of me giving me up. Petrol, tax etc are shown on my I&E.

I have found them easy to contact and quick to reply to any contact. The website they use is also user friendly with records of your current debts, statement of payments etc.

Regarding freezing interest, most of my creditors have frozen. Barclaycard did originally, but then changed their policy (look around other posts).

I can't compare to any other company, but I know there is no way that I could have reduced my debts as much as I have without them. (£60k to £38k and counting)

mikon

Thank you all

andyD_2

Hi, Mikon,

I am at your stage too just trying to get the courage to go through with my DMP, am feeling very very scared and keep thinking whats going to happen in the future, like you i too am concerned about when i need a new car what will i do??????

I feel sick!!!!!!! but dont really have a choice cant keep going the way i am its only going to get worse.