Stop being a Wimp!... DMP Journey

mom23

Hi Ellie
Having woke at silly o clock this morning i manged to read through all your diary.
And it has made for a very interesting read ,it's encouraging to know that you still feel the DMP was the way to go and how you have coped with all the up's and down's.
We are prob in similiar situations age wise etc ,and the fact that my OH is being a real "moron" about it:mad:

I think i am ready to post off all paperwork to CCCS now(am going to wait untill tomorrow as OH has day off and he can have the embarassing task of handing the big brown envelope to PO where i am well known:D he prob won't know what it is anyway as he hasn't really taken a blind bit of notice what i am doing!!!)

Will keep an eye on your diary to see how you are doing as compared to me you are an old timer at this lol!
Take care x

Eager_Elephant

Re: Mercers

I think you need to play them at their own game.

When they ring just repeat the offer over and over again until they get fed up or alternatively when they ask for Mrs X, say I'll just get her and then contnue with what you were doing - making a cup of tea, watching a programme and they won't stay on the line much after 5 minutes or if they are there tell them that she will be there shortly!!

Very childish but not costing you any money!!

EE

Ellieseleven

Good Idea, Eager Elephant! There is a link on here "having fun with Debitas" which uses a similar theme, it's an hilarious read, especially when you are feeling down, some of the dialogue had me in stitches:rotfl:

Ellieseleven

mom23 wrote: »

Hi Ellie
Having woke at silly o clock this morning i manged to read through all your diary.
And it has made for a very interesting read ,it's encouraging to know that you still feel the DMP was the way to go and how you have coped with all the up's and down's.
We are prob in similiar situations age wise etc ,and the fact that my OH is being a real "moron" about it:mad:


Hi Mom23,

I'm glad that you found my diary encouraging! We have had our up's and down's and it was very hard for me to accept that I couldn't pay my CC's (some I have had for over 25 years!) but having now gone down the DMP route I still think that we have down the right thing. I am getting used to paying for everything with cash and I shop around for a bargain which is fun! I have just bought a Winter coat for £40, it's not fashionable but it's warm and practical. Previously I would have paid for a top name and paid £200+, so I must be learning!!:o

I know what you mean about the post office:rotfl:Originally, I was travelling miles to one where no-one knew me but in the end I thought "what the hell!... does anyone care or even notice?" and they didn't so I went to the local one!

My OH is better these days but even now he just doesn't understand why I was so stressed by it all. I just carry on regardless:)

Keep in touch and Good Luck with your journey, it does get better once everything calms down:)

Ellie xx

Ellieseleven

Mercers continue to write, phone etc. and also they are now offering "pay two, get two free" What part of "We're skint" do they not understand?

Santander have written to us to say that they want to review our position now that we are several months down the line. Our financial position is no better in fact it's worse than ever as OH is a gardener and who wants their garden done at the moment? I will contact CCCS this week to see what they say.

Otherwise, everything is pretty much on an even keel and fingers crossed that it stays that way.

Panic rating 0/10
Bladder behind eyes 0/10
Feeling of failure 0/10
Support from OH 6/10
Determination 10/10
Christmas presents 4

Chrisblue1962

Hi Ellieseleven,

Have read through your diary as youve posted on mine in the past.

I am encouraged by the fact that youve battled through some rough times but are making slow but sure progress.

I try to gain strength from gaining "little victories" such as saving a pound here and there, getting lower renewal quotes for insurance and alike.

Don't let anyone tell you that you are not doing well, you are doing brilliant! Far be it for me to be critical but I think your OH needs to grasp the basic reality that he should look to get alternative work during the winter AS WELL as bills and food have to be paid all year round!

On my own dmp journey, OH had a job interview this week and she starts Monday :T:T:T:T:T:T. She applied for no less than 150 jobs over 6 months and had three interviews. Her involves 60 mile daily round trip by car but we will be able to start living again a bit.

Fingers crossed I keep my job despite local govt. cutbacks .

Take care and like the slogan says "Keep calm and carry on"

Ellieseleven

Thanks for your post Chris, OH is getting better but the problem is that he has been mollycoddled all his life but I'm getting there slowly!

Good news this morning, after all the phonecalls, threatening letters etc. from Mercers, we finally rang them back:eek: OH gave authority to me to speak to them and I explained that we are on a DMP (which they said they hadn't been informed of!) but they have now accepted our reduced payments and will stop all phonecalls and any further action. This is fantastic news and I feel so much happier than I have of late.

This site has given me the guts to ring knowing what they can and can't do to us, so it was worth ringing.

The lady that I spoke to was lovely and was sympathetic to our situation.

Other than this drama our life is back to normal but without the credit and we can see the balances reducing slowly.

Panic rating 0/10
Bladder behind eyes 0/10
Feeling of failure 0/10
Support from OH 6/10
Determination 10/10
Christmas presents 9

Chrisblue1962

Well Done re. Mercers

I think they (Mercers and other DCAs) thrive on "terror tactics" - nasty red letters, etc - and the fact that people don't know their rights nor what Mercers can or cannot legally do.

This site & forum empowers people to get their lives back on track - long may it continue to do so.

Ellieseleven

Hooray!! Phonecalls have stopped:)

Now trying to get into the christmas spirit without the worry!!

Been christmas shopping and paid with cash, everyone will get a token present this year and I did have to reign in my extravagent streak a bit but on the whole I am pleased with the presents that I have bought and even managed to nab some bargains at half price:o


Panic rating 0/10
Bladder behind eyes 0/10
Feeling of failure 0/10
Support from OH 6/10
Determination 10/10
Christmas presents 23

Ellieseleven

Well we managed to do christmas without any credit and it feels good! Presents bought, food in the cupboard and debt reducing

Had a review with CCCS and our payments have gone up by £13 per month so we can handle that.

Merry Christmas to all you DFW's:xmastree::xmassign:

Panic rating 0/10
Bladder behind eyes 0/10
Feeling of failure 0/10
Support from OH 6/10
Determination 10/10
Christmas presents 32