DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 7

Twit_Head

ianmak wrote: »

Have you tried the snowball thing on here? Or the demotivator?

Actually, I think they're both the same thing!
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/demotivator/

Confused.com? Have you been getting high by smelling your socks again?
(The only way I can get free entertainment at the moment is by taking a pot shot at you now and again )
Thank you as ever for the very useful info. :T
I'm your Number One Fan and you'll miss me when I've gone!

'Twitty'

money_madness_2

It's my last weekend of freedom before the madness starts .... the calm before the storm ...
I will default my loan payments on Monday morning as I have closed my bank account. Payplan are arranging letters to creditors so this month is going to be interesting to say the least.

I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts. Most are helpful and informative thanks.

One thing i have done which I haven't heard anyone else mention is set up an alternative email address and mobile number. I set up a free hotmail account and informed my lenders of this last month so that their records were changed. I don't have a home number but most of the lenders have my mobile number, so I got a free SIM from 02 and have put it in an old cheap handset. Again I notified my lenders of this new number last month. This is to ensure that I am not bombarded with calls and emails all day long and can choose to look at them when i wish. No doubt all the creditors will chase me in writing which is the most important thing, but at least I have some control over the harrassment.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

money_madness wrote: »

It's my last weekend of freedom before the madness starts .... the calm before the storm ...
I will default my loan payments on Monday morning as I have closed my bank account. Payplan are arranging letters to creditors so this month is going to be interesting to say the least.

I have enjoyed reading everyone's posts. Most are helpful and informative thanks.

One thing i have done which I haven't heard anyone else mention is set up an alternative email address and mobile number. I set up a free hotmail account and informed my lenders of this last month so that their records were changed. I don't have a home number but most of the lenders have my mobile number, so I got a free SIM from 02 and have put it in an old cheap handset. Again I notified my lenders of this new number last month. This is to ensure that I am not bombarded with calls and emails all day long and can choose to look at them when i wish. No doubt all the creditors will chase me in writing which is the most important thing, but at least I have some control over the harrassment.

Welcome and good luck.


I hope the strategy works for you. I had altered the number but they managed to get my 'old' details!

You may find the powerful tool against harrassment is the harrassment letter template, that way if no action you can pass onto to ombudsman if they do not follow it.

Let us know how you get on

HHx

the_tooth_fairy

Twit_Head wrote: »

Bl**dy H*ll TF,
I've just spent 60p (swoon!) reserving a book from the library!
'The future is bright - the future is slippers?
Wishing a great weekend to you and all on a DMP.

'Twitty'

Hahaha!! My future is def. going in the 'slippers' direction - I can't afford to go out!:)
Hope the Sun's shining for you today, it's lovely here. I may even go into the shed for a wee potter...

ttfx

Flash-bang

Been busy today - wrote and posted the last of the letters to our creditors. It is now official. I'm now going to collect the statements to send off to CCCS.

I've told OH that he is not to discuss anything with anyone on the phone, just to ask them to put it in writing. I am waiting for the onslaught of post - but it should be a bit staggered as I sent them over 2 days and some went 1st class and some went 2nd (I had a pile of mixed stamps I got as the Post Office messed up our redirection).

It is a bit nerve wracking but also quite exciting.

debtfree2010

Me too!!
I had sent a couple last week and the other 8 are neatly waiting to be posted tomorrow.
My OH is still a bit nervous and not totally 100% about a DMP, even though I am managing it myself :T
I went to Santander last week to take my work number off there records as previously when i was late with a payment they would ring me at work and i dont want that, so i have given them my mobile number at least then i can take the call out of the office

I also had to go into lloyds last week to pay some money in as i was over my overdraft, and i could not believe my ears, when the cashier said, 'oh, a message popped up on your account, do you fancy a new car or kitchen' I replyed would love one...so she said 'your guaranteed a loan, would you like to speak to someone' i said no. and came out stunned, here i am over my £1800 overdraft, and in debt to the tune of 55K, and they are offering me more money !! Jokers !!

Anyway, have a fab day whatever your all doing

Flash-bang

I know it is totally mad. I had bought some trousers on sale on the internet, paid in full and yesterday they sent a letter offering me a credit account. I got rid of it so I wouldn't be tempted.

Hales82

Well we've had 5 acceptances so far. Great but none of the credit cards have stopped interest They've all reduced to either 3% or 6% and stopped charges, but no interest freezes.

I'm feeling really peed off about it all tonight. I've written them all (very nice) letters asking them to reconsider the interest rates. I don't understand why they're still charging me, the offer the CCCS made isn't much less than what they were getting anyway (our CCCS payment is just over £1k a month).

One credit card refused our offer and it was literally a couple of quid under the contractual payment :mad: and they're going to default us.

Sorry to rant on here. I've managed to stay upbeat so far but it's all getting me down tonight

sickasachip13

Hi Hales82,

Don't be too dispondent, it took a couple of months from acceptance of DMP payments to the % charges dropping completely (well, on all but one of the debts). It seems to take a while for things to churn through and it is hard at the start watching your debt growing. But now for the first month, we've seen our overall debt drop, which feels great (even if its only a few quid).

BTW, getting the default letter does mean that everything tends to move forward. I was actually relieved to get defaulted - it kind of took the ambiguity out of the situation.

Flash-Bang, I really liked getting all our letters off to the creditors too. Some responded pretty quickly, others we're still trying to get stuff in writing from. The phone calls, for us, all came from Barclaycard.

In that time I set up a spreadsheet, organised all the paperwork, got new files etc. Put a sheet next to the phone with our CCCS file number and their contact number, so we could pass people on quickly - my OH finds it difficult being sharp with people, so this was essential.

Flash-bang

Try not to let them get you down - from my lurking it seems to be par for the course. Some stop some don't and it seemd to be rather a rollercoaster.

I really enjoyed your blog - we have a similar DFD and are also in the early stages of a DMP. Best of luck and hope the postie brings something more positive tomorrow.