DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 7

Hopelessly_Hopeful

svenls wrote: »

I have been reading through post on here for quite some time and am greatly encouraged by sharing others experiences, so here goes...
I have found myself in my mid 30's living back at my parents, single and £28,000 in CC & OD debt, with little to show for it!! I lived beyond my means as a student (many years ago now!!) and subsequently had relatively poorly paid jobs so the debts slowly grew. I consolidated into loans twice, but kept the CC's and things spiralled. I have a decent job (£30,000+ but I work hard to earn it...) so I know that I am in a fortunate position but never faced up to the reality of my situation until last summer. I was still paying minimum payments and my wage, good as it was, only just covered this. I hid this from everyone and I am sure that it contributed to the break up of my relationship.
In September 2011 I set up a DMP with CCCS and have been successful in getting 5 of my 8 creditor to agree to 0%, with First Direct (£400 OD) on 5.9%, Lloyds CC (£1900) on 5.9% and Virgin CC (£1850) on 2.9%. This has been the best financial decision I have ever made (not difficult), although it seems like I have had a relatively easy ride from the creditors having read others' experiences. My only regret is not doing it years ago, but better late than never eh!!
It is not all plain sailing, but I have now shared my situation with my family and they have been fantastically supportive - and the questions about when I am going to move out and buy a house have stopped!! I finally feel that I have a control of my money, rather than it controlling my who life...
I currently have a DFD of July 2016, but I have been able to get a little savings pot going and am thinking about possibly making a offer of !!!!!! that might knock 2 years off this, but any advice about this would be gratefully accepted. It is a while off yet, but would a !!!!!! have a greater detrimental effect on my credit file than the fact that I am on a DMP anyway?? What is a figure that creditors will accept? 50%?

Welcome...... here is to a good future ..:T:money::T

HHx

BlushingRose

Mr BR took a call about 20 mins ago. I was in the kitchen and I heard him confirming our postcode...I rushed in and it was the Yorkshire Bank, ringing about the loan repayments. He gave them our CCCS reference number and the number on the DMP letter that we sent out for them to ring the CCCS themselves. Hopefully, that's the last of any phone calls (we can hope!)

BlushingRose

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

BR it will get better I promise. Ive lost count of the amount of days Mr Pinot and I have barely been able to be in the same room together and its all because of blasted money, or lack of it. I have come to the conclusion now ,that it is only money and as much as its stressful it really isnt worth getting upset with each other over. I really hope your day improves. I know it sounds silly but when things got / get too much, being stuck indoors because we had no money we take ourselves off for a long walk with a mug of hot chocolate and clear the cobwebs . Obviously I have no idea if there is anywhere nice to walk to where you are, but it always seems to help us.

The stupid thing was, the 'blue haze' between us started this morning when Mr BR announced that he'd resigned (or whatever you do) from his union as we can't afford the monthly fee. I was sure that we would be able to absorb it into our outgoings and I felt it was important to be a member of a union atm. I mentioned, however, that as it was his union and his membership, he'd obviously made a unilateral decision and that was an end to it. He then got upset as he'd promised that we'd discuss everything to do with money. We then had to go out and do some errands, and everything seems to have just gone wrong from there.
He says he got out of the wrong side of the bed this morning, and I'm more and more convinced that we're going to run out of money...

secretshopper75

BR...sending you both lots of hugs, it's hard but it does get easier once the CCCS are onboard

sickasachip13

tintingirl - we actually changed the call minder thing in the early days and set it to answer instantly and also (as we had caller id) we only answered when we knew the number.

It's probably worth it to save your stress. You could also, like you say, stick your mobile onto silent and then you can check in case anyone you want to speak to has rung.

It does calm down in a short period of time for most people.

secretshopper75

I can't believe how many times I used to get phone calls to both home and mobile...truly scary but since the DMP I thankfully have to say Ive not had more than a couple...even now if DH answers the phone I panic as it brings back such horrid times

Diamonds2010

Thanks for your advice. Went to the Co-op this morning spoke to a lovely lady there and opened up an account just waiting for the paperwork to come through now.

BlushingRose

secretshopper75 wrote: »

BR...sending you both lots of hugs, it's hard but it does get easier once the CCCS are onboard

Thanks chuck although the CCCS as already on board. They taken their first payment on the 10th which leaves us, as of today, £49 to last us until the 24th (pay day)

Bettingmad

BlushingRose wrote: »

Thanks chuck although the CCCS as already on board. They taken their first payment on the 10th which leaves us, as of today, £49 to last us until the 24th (pay day)

BR I cannot for the life of me understand the rationale paying your first payment to CCCS on the 10th and leaving yourself only £49 for the next two weeks. Starting as you are is enough stress to be getting on with without putting youself under unnecessary pressure with little money.
Ask yourself what difference will one or two months of token payments make in you 5-6yr DMP.
If you spoke to CCCS about your circs at this moment they would advise you to make a token payment this month.
Please don't put youself under unnecessary stress and pressure for the sake of your first DMP payment.
I've been there a short while ago and I can tell you that it has not made any difference on how I was treated by my creditors for making 3 token payments and having a small cushion behind me. By god it was just as well I did with the bad luck I had with repair bills at the start of my DMP.

PinotGrigio41

Bettingmad wrote: »

BR I cannot for the life of me understand the rationale paying your first payment to CCCS on the 10th and leaving yourself only £49 for the next two weeks. Starting as you are is enough stress to be getting on with without putting youself under unnecessary pressure with little money.
Ask yourself what difference will one or two months of token payments make in you 5-6yr DMP.
If you spoke to CCCS about your circs at this moment they would advise you to make a token payment this month.
Please don't put youself under unnecessary stress and pressure for the sake of your first DMP payment.
I've been there a short while ago and I can tell you that it has not made any difference on how I was treated by my creditors for making 3 token payments and having a small cushion behind me. By god it was just as well I did with the bad luck I had with repair bills at the start of my DMP.

BR I really have to agree with BettingMad, I am sure the CCCS will advise you to make token payments if they were aware of your circumstances. You are both under enough stress and pressure and I doubt that worrying about the lack of money you have left is helping. We made two months token payments before starting our DMP this month , and it is nice to know we have a small backup fund, just incase.

Pinot x