DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 7

Twit_Head

Was going to start composing the 'final chapter of my DMP' message tonight but as usual time and my gob have run away with me
('Gob' - always the lady )
And hey SAAC I'm advertising for you! Want a marketing manager for a totally unrealistic salary with lots of noughts on the end? :rotfl:
Sleep well all you newbies - forget the horrible, gut-churning emotions for tonight. Tomorrow will be another day, you'll go forward stronger and more in control.

'Twitty'

ianmak

Hi to everyone posting today. Nothing to add, just listen to what Auntie Twitty says. All good advice.

Good luck!

Bugjam

Hi Everyone,

Posted earlier about the issues we were having with Lloyds TSB, we have since received a letter from the CCCS saying that Lloyds were refusing to accept out repayment offer as they wanted a larger sum (they are the creditors to whom we owe the least).
Well today we have received a letter saying that we have broken the agreement as we haven't paid the amount they requested, they have given a deadline of 7th December to repay the 112 pounds.

The letter goes on to say that if we do not pay that amount then they will refer the account to their solicitors and claim what we owe through the courts!!!

Any advice as to what to do or is likely to happen?

Are we likely to be taken to court by our smallest creditor?

Thanks

FredFlinstone

Hi all!

Bugjam - Sorry i cant give you any advice on this but didnt want to ignor your post. We owe lloyds approx 3300 and im dreading cccs dealing with them as from what i have read on here they are the ones that are the most notoriously difficult.

AS for me im sooo frustrated. DMP all set upp had a letter from cccs to say that they had sent off all the offers. Then on the door mat today there is a lovely letter from HMRC Tax credits saying that we have been over paid and that our tax credits may be taken off of us.BRILLIANT!!! that £200 a month gone. Not sure what to do about it with regards the dmp. I will obiously tell cccs and i assume they will just adjsut our payments accordingley but that is alomost half of what we would have been paying them meaning that it will take us doubley longer to pay this debt off. If its not one thing its another. Chocolates calling today!!!

Twit_Head

Bugjam wrote: »

Hi Everyone,

Posted earlier about the issues we were having with Lloyds TSB, we have since received a letter from the CCCS saying that Lloyds were refusing to accept out repayment offer as they wanted a larger sum (they are the creditors to whom we owe the least).
Well today we have received a letter saying that we have broken the agreement as we haven't paid the amount they requested, they have given a deadline of 7th December to repay the 112 pounds.

The letter goes on to say that if we do not pay that amount then they will refer the account to their solicitors and claim what we owe through the courts!!!

Any advice as to what to do or is likely to happen?

Are we likely to be taken to court by our smallest creditor?

Thanks

Hi Bugjam
Try not to worry too much (easy huh? )
This sounds a bit like big bully boy tactics! They want to put the frighteners on you, so you cough up the amount (searched your money box for spare change have you? )
Just keep paying CCCS - they will send your calculated repayment to Lloyds, whatever.
And if the worst should come to the worst (unlikely for 112 quid) and you have to go to court, any sane judgement would fall in your favour, as you have taken financial advice, are on a DMP and already repaying the maximum you are able.

'Twitty'

Twit_Head

FredFlinstone wrote: »

Hi all!

If its not one thing its another. Chocolates calling today!!!

Sometimes life just likes to kick you when you are down, and the only answer is chocolate.
You are doing the best you can, you can do no more - in a wee while it will settle, and you'll see balances come down.

'Twitty'

sickasachip13

Twit_Head wrote: »

Was going to start composing the 'final chapter of my DMP' message tonight but as usual time and my gob have run away with me
('Gob' - always the lady )
And hey SAAC I'm advertising for you! Want a marketing manager for a totally unrealistic salary with lots of noughts on the end? :rotfl:
Sleep well all you newbies - forget the horrible, gut-churning emotions for tonight. Tomorrow will be another day, you'll go forward stronger and more in control.

'Twitty'

Hey Twitty, I see you've been doing some PR for me - yeah, I'll hire you. Will you work for meals made out of whatever-is-lurking-at-the-back-of-the-cupboard rather than the salary with lots of noughts at the end (although the noughts, I could manage).

Anyhow, whatdoya mean the 'final chapter' have you completed the dance with the devils....?!

Twit_Head

sickasachip13 wrote: »

Hey Twitty,
Anyhow, whatdoya mean the 'final chapter' have you completed the dance with the devils....?!

See my signature kiddo!

Twit_Head

Well the time has finally come. It seems totally surreal still; after all the ups and downs of my DMP I’m able to post this final (??? – no promises!!!) message.
To those who have been with me all along – thank you: to those new to this thread sit down, and I’ll tell you a story!
I’m not a youngster and was always careful with money. But unfortunately, life, circumstances and my own folly tripped me up. Always on a low income, I never spent recklessly but used credit sometimes as a ‘treat.’ After a while the numbers mounted; a drain but controllable (so I thought, but in hindsight, I realise it was not.) And then I had to support an unwaged person, on a salary that would barely support one. Went through the all-too-familiar routine of moving Peter to Paul to cover expenses but basically I had fallen into the debt spiral. Paying for food, petrol etc with the credit card. Yeah – you’ve been there also? And after a while, the figures were meaningless – thousands? What’s that? Do I know you?
And so in April 2009 the poop hit my personal fan. :eek:The money I was relying on to pay my credit cards/loan dried up. There followed that dark time so familiar to all with financial problems - can’t sleep, can’t eat, can’t concentrate. Shall I sell the house? Get a lodger? Earn more? (!) And so, it finally dawned on me there was no way out this time.
I did the CCCS on-line budget forecast and lived on that budget for several months whilst still paying the full amounts from savings etc to my creditors. Looking back, I wished I had made token payments for those months – then I would have been able to put some money away in a pot for emergencies.
It was in August 2009 my DMP finally became formalised. I had three creditors and owed initially something in the region of £16,000. This might not sound a lot to some of you but it’s all relative – I earn far, far less than the national average despite having a responsible, accountable role in the NHS.
I can’t quite get my head round my original debt free date but I think it was somewhere around 26 years (which would have made me in my 80’s!) I was on a low-start DMP with CCCS (who have been brilliant right through) but to be honest it was never going to get much higher. (Monthly payment went from £70-00 to £85-00 at highest) This brought me DFD closer but still a frighteningly long time away.
Living on the budget has been tough. I never over-egged it at the start. So no frills whatsoever – just bare, basic living costs. Did some E-baying to pay for Christmas presents, birthday cards etc.
And so to bring you up to date. My Mum died this year, and left me a small legacy. In early August I was able to make full and final offers to my three creditors. I started at around 22-23%. My creditors and amounts owed (at July) were:
NRAM - £6,413
Capital One - £6,259
Barclaycard - £803
Total Owed - £13,475
Of these creditors Barclaycard have been the best – monthly statements, 0% interest, NRAM sent regular statements, also 0%. CP1 defaulted me early on, but I never received any further communication from then on (I think if I had pursued it, this account would have been unenforceable-the original agreement was very flaky.)
And so began the wrangling – I knew my original offers would not be accepted but you have to start somewhere! My phone/postage costs went through the roof! I was also surprised at how stressful I found it all - bit like start-up in reverse! I scrutinised the post every day, just waiting for those replies. I've found most of the business has been done on the phone. VERY frustrating, as normally you have to start at the beginning and go through the whole rigmarole again (sound familiar?) I’ve kept up my DMP payment whilst keeping on keeping on!
All three have now finally settled around the 50% mark. My credit file has been marked ‘partially settled.’ (Bit like school – could have done better! But I DID borrow this money and default on my agreement after all.)
(Sorry this post is probably going to win the prize for the longest in DMP history ) And so - thank you to all who helped and supported me :T, from being a frightened, trembling newbie until now. If my answers/messages have helped any one else I’m glad.
I’m grateful to all for your warmth, friendship and humour. Believe it or not I shall miss being here on a regular basis!
Will probably hang around for a while (like the restaurant customer who doesn’t know when to go home ) but will try and pop back in the future to update you on life from the other side!
Keep strong, keep paying and help each other.

‘Twitty’ xxx

SomewhereOverTheRainbow

WOW Twit Head, from one at the very start of this great journey I SALUTE YOU!!