DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 7

samlovescomps

Hello.

I have just started a DMP with CCCS. It is all starting to go through and first payment goes out on 1st Sept. I had a call today from
K and Co at Shop Direct Group saying that I was in arrears and they needed payment today. I explained about the DMP and they say they have not heard anything about it. I have sent them a letter and CCCS have contacted them so I doubt this is true. She asked me about my circumstances and why I was in debt, I sort of brushed this off saying that it was a multitude of things and I kept saying that CCCS would contact them if they ahd not already with an offer. She then went on to say that this would be alengthy process and she kept asking if I could make a gesture payment there and then on the phone. I said no and eventually she said she had put a note on the file so nobody else would call. (I have sent gesture payments today to each creditor)

My worry now is that they will think I am not co-opperating. Do I have to tell them why/how I got into debt? She was quite forceful and I am worried this call will be held against me.

Also, do people on here make a log of calls with creditors?

Thanks

Sam xxxx

DevonGirl

Hi Sam

Firstly, yes, keep a note of all calls with creditors - I have all DMP debts filed in a lever arch folder, and at the start of each creditor section have a piece of A4 on which I noted all calls (haven't received calls for well over a year now that my DMP has been accepted and is running fairly smoothly). Sorry - I sound quite anal - just helps me a lot to be organised, that's all!

Further down the line you may prefer to ask for all correspondence to be made my letter only, which is within your rights. (There is a template letter for this somewhere on this site). At the start I was more than happy to speak to creditors but after 3 months of constantly repeating my details and DMP story to call centre people, who never seemed to make a note of our conversation and so I'd have to start from the beginning again, I decided not to be so 'nice' about it! So changed my landline number and asked for letters only which worked a treat. .

Regretably at the start of a DMP you may get a fair amount of calls from creditors. In some ways it is natural - they want their money after all - but some creditors really did overstep the mark (i.e. HSBC calling 6 times a day - and I've heard worse stories on this site).

I think there's a sense of 'shaking the tree to see what falls out' so to speak. If they ring 100 customers who haven't paid the minimum amount that month demanding money, chances are at least some of them will come up with the cash there and then. However, we are a smarter bunch than that on this site . No matter how insistent they are or how stroppy they get, just give them your CCCS client number and ask them to speak to CCCS. You are doing all the right things - a payment gesture in the run up to your monthly DMP payment - so please don't worry. Easier said than done I know but keep your chin up!

Regarding how you got into debt, it's kind of irrelevant really, unless you went out and brought a fleet of sports cars. The standard reply if you feel you need to explain is that you became overcomitted on credit i.e. ended up not being able to meet minimum payments and have enough spare to be able to support yourself.

Oh and keep posting on here if you need support.
DG

DizzyDizzy

Hi Sam,

Don't worry, I think you have done the right thing. The first couple of months on a DMP is always a bit rough as some creditors take a while to get the DMp letter into their system and acknowledge it. The best thing to do is to carry on as you are - just explain you have started a DMP and give them the name of the company and the plan number.

We still get the occasional call even now, over a year later. I don't even bother getting into a converation, I just tell them I can't make any payments direct as that would invalidate the DMP and just given them the plan number.

Once you have paid a few months into your plan it should all settle down.

detailista

I've just started with Payplan, they didn't send out the offers to creditors until after they'd taken my first DMP payment at the start of this month. I give creditors the payplan phone number and my referrence number. They send offers electronically and I'm told get acceptances that way too, it took less than 8 days for all my creditors to be sent offers and to accept!

Best wishes to everyone else going through this. I've been very impressed by payplan.

detailista

ampafc wrote: »

Hi all - posted this in the wrong place earlier.

I have finally decided to put a concrete plan in place to deal with my debts. I know I want to set up a DMP - but should I do this by myself, or go with CCCS?

My debts are as follows:

Virgin Credit Card £2200
Halifax Credit Card £4200
Clydesdale Bank Credit card £2500

Natwest overdraft £900
Alliance and Leicester £300
Clydesdale bank Current Account £900

I also have a joint current account and mortgage with my partner with Clydesdale bank. Neither of these are in arrears.

Will going into a DMP have a big effect on my partner's credit rating, given that we are linked with the joint account and mortgage? Neither will be included in the DMP. Also, will going into a DMP affect my relationship with the Clydesdale Bank, and in particular have any negative effects on our mortgage, which we have paid every month without fail?

As for going with my own DMP vs CCCS - does anyone have advice here? My wage per month is about £1600, so I can afford to make payments without the DMP, but I doubt any of the interest will be frozen if I go it alone.

Finally, what will going on a DMP with CCCS do to my credit rating? I accept that my rating is currently very low. But will it get much worse? I hope that in the long term my rating can actually improve.

Thanks for looking.

There's also Payplan as well as CCCS- also free. I can't imagine how much work it would have taken to get this together myself, even preparing for Payplan took plenty of hours- if you can get help and a free service I would say go for it, then you've got someone experienced to argue your corner and advise you if you have any hicups.

I'm very pleased I got help with Payplan, I've found them fast, efficient and kept me in the loop at all stages, lots of email and phone contact, plus there's the online management tool so you can see exactly what's going on with your plan - who's accepted, how much you've paid, balances etc and can email your case manager direct there. Had everything sorted in about 8 days after they submittted my offers. I now pay just under half what my repayments were and most have frozen interest and charges.

If you're about to do this it will help if you can get together all your account numbers, balance amounts, and work out all your bills and expenditure in preparation for them drawing up a financial statement.

The DMP will be on your record for 6 years after it finishes AFIK, but you can work on improving your rating in that six years of course, or add note to your file etc.


Good luck.

Twit_Head

detailista wrote: »

The DMP will be on your record for 6 years after it finishes AFIK, but you can work on improving your rating in that six years of course, or add note to your file etc.


Good luck.

It's not that you've been on a DMP that lingers, but if you have received an actual default from your creditors.
These will show on your credit record for six years from the time of issue.(So, better sooner than in the last stages on your DMP.)
A default in simple terms means, you have not kept paying the agreed amout (your 'contractual payment' as discussed recently.)
Most people who have been on a DMP won't touch credit again with a very long bargepole.
Life is a struggle at times but there is a HUGE satisfaction in knowing that everything is paid up front, in your new 'cash only' life.
All the best to you and al new starters.

'Twitty'

Twit_Head

Growurown wrote: »

Hi fellow DMPers
thank you Twitty for cheering me up. You really should be on the stage you know.

On the plus side our new bank account with First Direct has given us the £100 joining incentive so I'm just wondering what to do with it. Put it towards the new car I guess?

Sweeping it ??? (the old 'un's are still the best you know! )

Hope it was just the car that got battered and you are still all in one piece?
Would personally tuck the £100 away in your 'rainy day' fund. A bit of security behind you is invaluble.

'Twitty'

Twit_Head

I'm just about to start my full and final campaign. Shaking like a leaf at the moment.
Wish me luck!

'Twitty'

the_tooth_fairy

Twit_Head wrote: »

I'm just about to start my full and final campaign. Shaking like a leaf at the moment.
Wish me luck!

'Twitty'

Attagirl! Let us know how you get on. Good Luck.:T

ttfx

DevonGirl

Twit_Head wrote: »

I'm just about to start my full and final campaign. Shaking like a leaf at the moment.
Wish me luck!

'Twitty'

Good luck Twitty!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
DG