Without a paddle... support for anyone starting a DMP in 2010 (part2)

mikon

Bengal128 wrote: »

Hi I have just authorised CCCS to go ahead with my DMP and waiting the form to do my DD details for first payment. Unfortunately I got a letter from Mercer debt agency on behalf of Barclaycard saying that I was 3 months in arrears and they would send a debt collector around. So after they said that they wouldn't listen to CCCS DMP proposals, I agree to pay £65 a month until I CCCS get in touch with Barclaycard. I am now worried I've messed it up as I've heard that once you're in an agreement with them CCCS won't help. I haven't sent any money off. Does anyone have any experience with this? Thanks for reading, I'm in such a state about it all.

Bengal128

Not sure if you are aware of this but Mercers are Barclaycards in house debt Recovery Team. As others have said previously you need to make a token payment of £1 and inform Mercers that CCCS are dealing with your financial situation.

Here is a copy of the letter I sent.



Dear Sir/Madam

Account Number: ******************

Since making the above mentioned agreement with you my circumstances have changed.

I do want to repay my debts but at the present time I am not in the position to pay the minimum monthly payments. I have recently contacted the Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) who offer a non fee-charging Debt Management Plan, which I hope to start on June 1st.

In the interim month or so I shall make a token monthly payment(s) of £1.00 as a sign of good faith see enclosed postal order for the May 2010 payment. As soon as I have updated my situation and the Debt Management Plan is fully set up CCCS will contact you again.

My CCCS ref number is ******** and I have enclosed for your attention a Notification of Debt Management Plan which CCCS have advised me to provide you with.

During this period, could you please freeze interest and/or any other charges accruing on the above account.

As other people answer the telephone who are not aware of my financial situation, ie, my children. I would ask that all correspondence between us should be in writing. CCCS have advised me that I request that my telephone numbers be removed from my account/records.

I hope this is acceptable on a temporary basis.

Yours faithfully


I hope this is of some help.

candypop

tedsd wrote: »

Well Candypop, after a marathon run on token payments due to changes at work, I only started my DMP on July 1st!!!! Reckon my review will be just before Xmas, Nice!

Get what you are saying, it's the things that crop up out of the blue which make it feel like it's one step forward, two steps back? It is good to pay cash/debit card though....:)

Sounds like you start to get on with your life then a letter drops through the door and Ugh, the anxiety kicks in again..... remember there's always one of us around if you need some support and there's a lot of very experienced people on the DFW board to help out if we can't. You can always pm me if you need to.

Good luck with the saving up for the boiler, how's that for a change in mind set, no CCs! :T

Thanks for your kind words. Forgot to mention as well as the boiler the car service reported I will need 2 new front tyres shortly as well. No post this morning feel a bit better today at least I've eaten something. May go to doctors and see if they can give me anything for the worry. On a good point tv seems to working again.

candypop

tedsd wrote: »

Candypop, :eek: re the 2 tyres... but glad you feel a bit better today.:)

Re the GP, you could ask for counselling to support you rather than pills if you prefer.?

Glad the telly is working again...

Ted x

ps I know you had no post today but one of my golden rules is never to open creditor post at the weekend...wait until CCCS are open on a Monday....

thanks I dont think I could leave the post till a Monday I practically have a panic attack on the way home from work wondering what is lying on the mat. will think about the doctor for a while maybe I'm just fretting about my review not sure why tho. May just try some chocolate instead:)

candypop

tedsd wrote: »

Guess we all have different ways of managing the letters etc. I'm with you on the chocolate!![/QUOT

Yeh and I'm supposed to be dieting as well I only start to relax and enjoy the weekend once postie has been on a sat morning. I'm such an old worry wart

andyD_2

Evening all,

So so sorry its been so long since i've been around as with true life has got in the way, school finished here on 30th June so have been trying to entertain kids (as cheaply as possible), so far we've been swimming, lots of trips to forest parks we have 2 right on our doorstep and the kids just love it, its like letting them off a leash and they can run free! just back from a couple of nights camping in the mountains, first time we've ever done it, we really did slum it, such a change for me but guess what I loved it was so relaxing I done absolutley nothing it was great! plan to go a bit further afield in August.

On the Dmp front things still going slow, trying to get it set up for September, starting to get referred to DCA now but Im just looking at it as a good thing as they should just accept the DMP straight away.

Hope all is well with you guys and welcome to all the newbies you are stepping in the right direction.

I'll not tell lies I'll probably not manage to get caught up with all the posts, i've missed so much, but I will try harder to keep up to date.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend:beer:

mikon

tedsd wrote: »

Hi Bengal, I agree with the others and would add that debt collectors have no more rights than creditors. There is a letter on here if you need it, telling them something along the lines of they are not invited round and that legally only the postman and someone asking for directions can call on you uninvited.

Ted

BENGAL

Here is the template letter which tells the DCA not to attend your property (Door Step Visit). DCA have to operate by the same guidelines as the main street Banks and CC companies.

Letter Template


Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

Please be advised that I will only communicate with you in writing. I have noted your repeated attempts to contact me over the past few weeks and these have been duly logged by time and date. Should it be your intention to arrange a doorstep visit, please be advised that under OFT rules, you can only visit me at my home if you make an appointment and I have no wish to make such an appointment with you.

There is an implied license under English Common Law for people to be able to visit me on my property without express permission; the postman and people asking for directions etc (Armstrong v Sheppard & Short Ltd [1959] 2 QB 384. per Lord Evershed M.R.). Therefore take note that I revoke license under Common Law for you, or your representatives to visit me at my property and, if you do so, you will be liable to damages for a tort of trespass and action will be taken, including but not limited to, police attendance.

Yours faithfully




Sign digitally



Bengal remember to Digitally sign all correspondence.

I hope this helps you and anyone else that may have been threatened with an illegal door step visit from a DCA.

Remember "Power is Knowledge and the more knowledge we have the more power we have to fight these preditors."

Regards

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Morning Folks

Hope you all had a good weekend.

Update on my Preditors. DMP started 2/3 months ago. Just on the verge of my 3rd payment to CCCs and them making 2nd payment to Preditors tomorrow.

12 in total.

John Lewis and Marks and Spencer & Tesco CCs accepted DMP for one year and froze interest
First Direct Loan accepted DMP (they get higher amount as amount worked out on % of contractual amount- my dmps are -33% of what I was paying)
MBNA reduced interest to 9.9%
M&S reserve, First Direct, RBS, Egg, Hallifax, Mint and Barclaycard CCs are still charging interest at rates upto 32% and applying late charges.

I've just written letters to all the non responders to ask them to reconsider decisions re not stopping interest.

Bought a bagain slow cooker in Aldi for £14. Been cooking pot meals over the weekend. Hoping to cut down on grocery bill. Did U switch a few weeks ago and am now with same suppliers I was but saved £200 per year through 15 mins work. Will need it as car has been a nightmare and my wages are going to be going down £30 over next year (tax code issues) Not having emergency fund is very scary. Trying to keep in there.

Hope everyone managing to keep the DMP gremlins at bay and a huge thanks for all the support.

HHx

newbeginning_2

Morning, hope everyones all well, where has everyone gone these days? Suppose it's a good sign and everything's quiet for everyone.

I've nothing DMP related to report, it's all still very quiet, no calls, no letters, nothing, suppose I should enjoy it but I'm getting nervous now. Need to write a couple of letters, Lloyds and Barclaycard still insisting on charging crazy amounts of interest and fee's.

Feeling a bit down in the dumps today , our income varies massively from one month to the next but I still can't manage to stash anything away on the good months, kids break up this week and I'm soooo skint, what am I going to do with them for 6 weeks?

Well done on the slow cooker HH, got any meal tips for me????? I bought one yonks ago, used it once then shoved it to the back of the cupboard, not really to sure what to put in it, I even went over to the OS board looking for inspiration but just ended up confusing myself, cooking is not my strongest point

Hope everyone's well x

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Keep in there NB. Are you keeping a spending diary? That may be helpful when you come to setting averages for your DMP budget review especially as your income varies. As I'm stocking the freezer and at times need more store cupboard ingredients grocery outlay will be fairly unbalanced from month to month.

There are a number of slow cooker threads on here. Here's one that has a lot of recipes in. I expect it will really come into its own in the autumn winter. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4273 I have the 3.5 litre on and that's done 6 chilli portions for the freezer. Done a fabulous curry and I'm looking forward to doing a whole chicken next. Going to then use bones to make stock and in turn chicken soup. I'm hoping to reduce my food and fuel bill and be able to eat well. Apparently they only use the cost of an electric lightbulb in consumption so that cheaper than putting the oven on. Go on try it, be good to hear how you get on.

HHx

newbeginning_2

Thanks HH, I'm hanging on in there, it's just hard with kids that want everything. But I do know I'm doing the right thing in the long run.

Re the slow cooker, never knew you could put full chickens in!!! See how much I know? How long does that take do you know?

Off to have a look at the other thread now.