What to tell creditors??

craftysarah

I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributes to these posts, I've just spoken to CCCS and did the online debt remedy and have taken the first steps towards setting up a DMP. :embarasse

I don't feel as relieved as I thought I would but I'm hoping I feel better once I know my creditors have been told.

Just a quick question, when they ring again do I tell them I'm setting up a DMP? Will they hassle me for amounts and how much do I tell them? I hate the constant phone calls but I guess I need to stop avoiding them?

Thanks for any advice.......

saltnvinegar

craftysarah wrote: »

I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who contributes to these posts, I've just spoken to CCCS and did the online debt remedy and have taken the first steps towards setting up a DMP. :embarasse

I don't feel as relieved as I thought I would but I'm hoping I feel better once I know my creditors have been told.

Just a quick question, when they ring again do I tell them I'm setting up a DMP? Will they hassle me for amounts and how much do I tell them? I hate the constant phone calls but I guess I need to stop avoiding them?

Thanks for any advice.......

Hi Crafty Sarah

First of all a massive well done for taking control of your debts and taking that first step towards becoming debt free.

Its a big thing for everyone to go through to acknowledge things have got to that point but an even bigger one to then go on to do something about it.

:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T:T

Yes your creditors will keep calling you for a little while though things should settle down in a month or two.

When they call them, just inform them you are setting up a DMP with the CCCS, and the CCCS will be contacting them shortly.

Refuse to answer security questions if you like if the calls start getting too much for you.

Don't answer any questions they put to you other than the CCCS will be contacting them. Most certainly do not give out any payment amounts. The CCCS will be doing all this for you.

Simply state that all correspondence will now be through the CCCS and they should not contact you directly.

Then hang up.

Remember you are in control of your phone not them!

Best

SnV

craftysarah

Thanks for that SnV, I hate the constant phonecalls, M&S are the worst, they even phoned me at work today, I have no idea where they got the number from as I haven't told them and it was soooo embarassing when our admin lady bought the phone to me. The lady was so rude when I wouldn't go through the security questions, I was in the middle of a room of under 2's for goodness sake!

Thanks for the encouragement too, I've been feeling so down lately. The CCCS website even directed me to see my doctor

saltnvinegar

craftysarah wrote: »

Thanks for that SnV, I hate the constant phonecalls, M&S are the worst, they even phoned me at work today, I have no idea where they got the number from as I haven't told them and it was soooo embarassing when our admin lady bought the phone to me. The lady was so rude when I wouldn't go through the security questions, I was in the middle of a room of under 2's for goodness sake!

Thanks for the encouragement too, I've been feeling so down lately. The CCCS website even directed me to see my doctor

Yeah M&S Money are known for this. They would have your employment details from your application form then they would have google'd your employer to get their phone number and then called them on a fishing exercise.

Don't let them get you down. Harrassment is the only weapon that these people have. Once you learn that, and learn to not let them stress you out you will realise that they actually have little power over you.

Collections departments and debt collectors rely purely on putting pressure on people to get results. So don't let them do it to you.

Use the forum here - its a great source of information and support network for people going through exactly the same thing.

So something more practical to deal with M&S Money. Use the following template. Make sure you send it recorded delivery and DO NOT SIGN IT. Sign it digitally if you must using a handwriting font.

START OF TEMPLATE LETTER

Re: Harassment by telephone


ACCOUNT NUMBER: XXXXXXX

Dear Sirs

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing.

I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls.

I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only.

I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine.

Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company will be recorded.

Yours faithfully,

DIGITALLY SIGN


END OF TEMPLATE LETTER

Jinx

There is a letter somewhere to tell creditors to only contact you in writing - do a search for this and send it to whoever should get it. You do not need the hassle especially at work! (crossposted - salt&vinegar gave letter above)

Personally, I changed my home number - just made life easier........

If you feel you want to tell your creditors, why dont you just do a nice letter? I wrote to mine and said I could no longer afford the payments and I would pay them what I could afford and that I would pay monthly by recurring online payment. You dont have to give specifics, just that CCCS will be in touch and perhaps add that you will not discuss by phone?

Well done for getting started... it gets easier....

craftysarah

Thanks guys, I'll answer the calls tomorrow and tell them I'm doing a DMP with CCCS and ask them to stop calling, it sounds stupid but I don't think I've ever just asked them to stop.....it sounds so obvious when you write it though. At least that way if they phone again they'll know why I'm not answering. Thanks everyone.

Ids61

Hi don't worry thousands if not millions have gone or are going through the same problems as you.
If you are harrassed by phone calls be polite but say that you are dealing with a debt charity & they will in
contact.State forcibly that in future please only communicate in writing,make it clear that contact at work
is not an option and may be ilegal.Debt collectors will try every method to intimidate you to pay even if you can't afford the payments within your budget.The phone calls should end once cccs have contacted your creditors. However this is not a guarantee.You have made a positive move to deal with debt, so you do not have to speak to them, ignore the calls and refer any letters to cccs.

cado1

I recently set up a DMP with CCCS and this time when my creditors phoned I told them what I was doing and they all said that they would put a hold on calling me for 30 days to allow the CCCS to get in touch and they have all stuck to their word !

Good Luck x

craftysarah

cado1 wrote: »

I recently set up a DMP with CCCS and this time when my creditors phoned I told them what I was doing and they all said that they would put a hold on calling me for 30 days to allow the CCCS to get in touch and they have all stuck to their word !

Good Luck x

Wow, that would be amazing, I certainly wouldn't miss that dreaded feeling every time the phone rings

craftysarah

Ids61 wrote: »

Hi don't worry thousands if not millions have gone or are going through the same problems as you.
If you are harrassed by phone calls be polite but say that you are dealing with a debt charity & they will in
contact.State forcibly that in future please only communicate in writing,make it clear that contact at work
is not an option and may be ilegal.Debt collectors will try every method to intimidate you to pay even if you can't afford the payments within your budget.The phone calls should end once cccs have contacted your creditors. However this is not a guarantee.You have made a positive move to deal with debt, so you do not have to speak to them, ignore the calls and refer any letters to cccs.

Thank you. I didn't realise half the things you could say and do before I started reading the DFW threads this weekend, I now realise that avoiding the phone calls altogether was the worst thing I could have done but hey, I think I've found a bit of strength from you guys tonight not to be quite so scared anymore

craftysarah

I just wanted to report back to say that not all people at M&S are horrible!

Even though I told them yesterday that I couldn't talk at work they rung again today.......... my boss told me to take the call outside and finish it quickly, she was not happy. To cut a long story short the man was rude to the point of being aggresive. He said he didn't believe that I'd started a DMP with CCCS because I couldn't give him the ref number, even though I explained it was at home. I asked them to stop phoning and to please put everything in writing he said he wasn't prepared to agree to that and he could guarantee that I would be hounded every day until I made a payment. I got upset and told him I couldn't speak anymore and hung up.

When I got home I phoned to give them the ref number and I spoke to the nicest lady ever. I told her that I was ringing to give the ref number and she said 'oh thats fantastic, thanks for keeping us informed'. I explained how I was spoken to earlier in the day and she sounded appalled. She was so nice that she got me upset again because she was kind! ......I'm such a baby at the moment, I'm usually so strong but this has really got to me. She explained how they'd leave me alone for 2 weeks then phone for an update. She also warned me to be prepared for them to ask if I could make a token payment when they ring but to make sure I only agreed to what I was absolutely sure I could afford and that they want to help me through the stressful situation and not make it worse.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that they're not all bad at M&S!

Sarah