DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 7

Hopelessly_Hopeful

BlushingRose wrote: »

Mr BR & I have had a chat (and a bit of a cry, although that was me) and he says he'll ring th CCCS in the morning, and, hopefully, we'll be able to defer the start of the DMP for a couple of months. Then we can take out the money that should be going to the CCCS and put it elsewhere to pay for the MOT, repairs and Tax (hopefully). I just hope that the CCCS will let us do this as they have already had paperwork from us saying that they can take monies out on the 10th Jan.
Mr BR is scared - he's scared of the creditors, he doesn't want to have to speak with them or deal with them really and just wants the DMP to start as he'd feel better & that he's paying off the debts. He doesn't feel that way about making token payments.
He's a lovely man, just terrified, like me.

Well done, that sounds like a positive step forward. Lots of us had those feelings at the start. No one appears to be treated differently for having token payments at the start. You don't have to speak to anyone, you do have to keep in touch. So when you feel brave tell them your DMP number and ask them to put communications in writting. Take the name of who you spoke to. Write to them and ask that they do not contact you by phone or in person and that you want communications in writting. There is a letter template for this. If they call again report them for harrassment to the ombudsman. I couldn't face calls at the start and this worked for me.

Information is power so do try to get some of the back pages read here. Things will soon settle down. When you are having a wobble it can be helpful to channel the energy, read OS board and menu plan etc. Planning and being organised will get you through. Think about the things you have achieved already, you know there is an issue, you both know and are together, you are onboard with CCCS, we have this place. You are already rebuilding your future.

HHx

PinotGrigio41

BlushingRose wrote: »

Reassurance for me, yes. It's persuading Mr BR however.
I have read the posts to him, though, and he's said he'll ring the CCCs tomorrow - although he wants to just defer it for a month rather than two.

Hi BR, I'm so sorry you are feeling so low. We are at a similar stage as you are with setting up our DMP and all the feelings you have have struck a chord with me. I do though totally agree with everything the other posters have said. We have actually made token payments for a couple of months now just to get that little bit of emergency cash behind us, and knowing that we have that has been a weight off of my mind. I still have good days, where I am full of the joys of spring and feel I could take on the whole world and everyone elses debt problems as well as my own, then other ( Boxing Day for example) when I come crashing down to earth with a very big bump and cry and cry . Ultimately though I know that what we have done is for the best.Mentally it is is stressful and exhausting. My children have told me I am constantly stressy ( Something I must sort out as this is unfairon them ) But I do know that we also couldnt have carried on treading water and Robbing Peter to pay Paul as we were. If they default on us, so what. We dont want credit anymore, thats what got us into this mess in the first place. If our credit rating is affected, so be it. Your health and happiness must come first, but as is mentioned so often on here, this is going to be one hell of a bumpy ride, but I really feel that we are all here to help one another. I for one would never had had the courage to even take these first steps if it wasnt for this forum.

Anyone enough of my ramblings, I have my DFDiary for that ! Maybe you should think about setting up a diary,then you can pour all of your feelings out to your hearts content. It really does make you feel better.

Keep your chin up BR, things will get better xxx

BlushingRose

Thanks so much (and the diary is a brilliant idea, I'll investigate others and see what they're like)

Mr BR rang the CCCS this morning and they've asked when the MOT etc was. We explained and they've said to pay this month, as it's the first month, and then if we need some extra money for any MOT repairs, to ring them back and they'll not take as much (or any) of the next month's payment.
Mr BR is happy with this as it sorts out the start of the DMP, however, I'm not so happy as it means no emergency fund/spare money to get us to the end of the month.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

BlushingRose wrote: »

Thanks so much (and the diary is a brilliant idea, I'll investigate others and see what they're like)

Mr BR rang the CCCS this morning and they've asked when the MOT etc was. We explained and they've said to pay this month, as it's the first month, and then if we need some extra money for any MOT repairs, to ring them back and they'll not take as much (or any) of the next month's payment.
Mr BR is happy with this as it sorts out the start of the DMP, however, I'm not so happy as it means no emergency fund/spare money to get us to the end of the month.

Well done on an outcome you are comfortable with. Have you done a budget for this month. Will you make it through?

HHx

BlushingRose

I'm really not sure - although I know we'll manage somehow!
We spent about £30 on a grocery shop today, and we have a few (yes, three!) roasts in the freezer from the Chrostmas hamper we got from the butcher. I'm sure we'll be fine, providing nothing big happens!

Re: Budgets - I've never done a budget before, so I'm learning on the hoof really.
I'm keeping a spending diary, and counting down the money we have with each spend, but next payday I'll have to do things differently I think, although I'm not totally sure how.

Em586

hiya from a newbie, just starting down the DMP road, I had our email pack from CCCS back today. We have just over 16k across 2 cards and 2 overdrafts, and have been stuck in the overdraft charge/card interest cycle for too long. It feels really good to be doing something about getting out of it. Will be back with questions at some point I'm sure- this board has been a real help in the past weeks so thank you!! x

BlushingRose

Oh, had some good news today though, one of our credit cards, the MBNA (?) has sent us a letter saying they're now aware of our SOA, know that we can only give them the CCCS's amount each month, asked u to cut it up (which we'd already done) and they've frozen interest and will not be charging any fees. That's a great letter to get, isn't it?

PinotGrigio41

Em586 wrote: »

hiya from a newbie, just starting down the DMP road, I had our email pack from CCCS back today. We have just over 16k across 2 cards and 2 overdrafts, and have been stuck in the overdraft charge/card interest cycle for too long. It feels really good to be doing something about getting out of it. Will be back with questions at some point I'm sure- this board has been a real help in the past weeks so thank you!! x

Welcome Em, just wanted to say hi and well done with taking those really hard first steps !

PinotGrigio41

BlushingRose wrote: »

Oh, had some good news today though, one of our credit cards, the MBNA (?) has sent us a letter saying they're now aware of our SOA, know that we can only give them the CCCS's amount each month, asked u to cut it up (which we'd already done) and they've frozen interest and will not be charging any fees. That's a great letter to get, isn't it?

Thats excellent news ! Hope that made you feel better

Hopelessly_Hopeful

BlushingRose wrote: »

Oh, had some good news today though, one of our credit cards, the MBNA (?) has sent us a letter saying they're now aware of our SOA, know that we can only give them the CCCS's amount each month, asked u to cut it up (which we'd already done) and they've frozen interest and will not be charging any fees. That's a great letter to get, isn't it?

Brilliant news

HHx