We are about to pull the purse strings soooo tight!

Alice_in_Poorland

Today was NSD3.

Have written February's and March's birthday cards, need to get cash to put in where needed. Need to get a bottle of alcohol for another present.

Have got just over £20 of n3ctar vouchers since the beginning of January...not bad.

Got a pile of paperwork to sort out but not feeling it tonight. OH watching xf1les, not my thing so think I'll have an early night.

Xx

brizzledfw

Well done Alice. I am in a grump and just sitting in bed cruising the diaries! Certainly not feeling it here!

NSD 3...not bad at all for 8th of the month

Alice_in_Poorland

Yesterday was NSD 4. Today I've spent £10.48 in to coop, but I must confess we have eaten out tonight. Spent £23 (inc drinks) at the cafe, they have started to do a carvery and I just had a thought on the way home, came through the door and said 'lets go out for tea'.......but as nice as it was now I'm battling with the guilt.:o

Paid stepchange today, 34 payments to go.

Received a statement from bcard, balance £5090. I can't get my head around this statement.

Previous balance £5213
Payments £120
Credit (goodwill gesture) £50
Interest £47.71 (1.0158%)
New balance £5090.89

Next months interest £49.09?!?!
Interest rate p.a. £12.19%

How come I am paying more interest next month? Sorry to appear thick.:(

No heating on tonight.

Tomorrow will pay childcare £145, need to get petrol too, and will put £50 in flight pot and put £29 in emergency fund.

Xx

brizzledfw

Well done on having a f&ck it moment....they happen, embrace them and move on

Have BC put the rate up again?? Looks so?? Grr

Puzzcat

Alice_in_Poorland wrote: »

Yesterday was NSD 4. Today I've spent £10.48 in to coop, but I must confess we have eaten out tonight. Spent £23 (inc drinks) at the cafe, they have started to do a carvery and I just had a thought on the way home, came through the door and said 'lets go out for tea'.......but as nice as it was now I'm battling with the guilt.:o

Paid stepchange today, 34 payments to go.

Received a statement from bcard, balance £5090. I can't get my head around this statement.

Previous balance £5213
Payments £120
Credit (goodwill gesture) £50
Interest £47.71 (1.0158%)
New balance £5090.89

Next months interest £49.09?!?!
Interest rate p.a. £12.19%

How come I am paying more interest next month? Sorry to appear thick.:(

No heating on tonight.

Tomorrow will pay childcare £145, need to get petrol too, and will put £50 in flight pot and put £29 in emergency fund.

Xx

Hi Alice, I think it is something to do with the days in the month, as in Feb short and March 3 days longer..
Have you had any response from your complaint letter to BC yet?
Puzz.x

Alice_in_Poorland

brizzledfw wrote: »

Well done on having a f&ck it moment....they happen, embrace them and move on

Have BC put the rate up again?? Looks so?? Grr

I know brizzle. You know what I'm like......it was a very nice treat though.:)

This 12.9% interest rate is because they don't do 0% interest because I can pay off £120 per month. To qualify for 0% interest I would have to pay just £49 per month......which I can't do under stepchange because everybody has to be paid equally.:mad:

To only pay bcard £49 I'd have to self manage our DMP. That still fills me with horror but......

Xx

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hi Alice, I think it is something to do with the days in the month, as in Feb short and March 3 days longer..
Have you had any response from your complaint letter to BC yet?
Puzz.x

Thanks Puzz, I never thought of that...doh!

Yeah it's all to do with been able to pay off £120 per month. To qualify for 0% interest I'd have to only pay £49 per month, which I can't do through stepchange.

Stepchange have written to bcard asking them to reconsider. Don't hold out much how really. It just sucks, it really does.

Xx

brizzledfw

Aha..of course. That passed me by too!

One day Alice...you will feel up to self management am sure!

Puzzcat

Alice you need to write to them as in bc, as a complaint. Then if not resolved you have to complain to the fos. Stepchange can only do so much it would be much more productive if you did this bit yourself..I am nagging now....
Puzz.x

Alice_in_Poorland

Puzzcat wrote: »

Alice you need to write to them as in bc, as a complaint. Then if not resolved you have to complain to the fos. Stepchange can only do so much it would be much more productive if you did this bit yourself..I am nagging now....
Puzz.x

Hi Puzz, I did write a complaint to bcard and asked for a response in writing. They didn't write they called me at home and told me about the interest etc, I asked for a response in writing and they told me they would write to stepchange...not me!! I spoke to stepchange and that's when they advised that there wasn't much they could do but they would write to bcard and ask them to reconsider.

Can I now write to FOS and complain. Do I just literally write a complaint letter to FOS stating the situation...and the unfairness of it all?!?

Nag away Puzz, I need it a times.

Xx

Puzzcat

Hi Alice,

I think you have 2 problems here..

1. You must insist that your creditors correspond to you in writing only otherwise you have no evidence.

and

2. The payment you are giving to BC is this nearly at the normal minimum payment?

I think you need to complain again in writing to BC including the word complaint and state correspondence in writing only and then once they respond if not happy complain to FOS. You can do that bit online, of course there is no guarantee they are going to be able to assist due to the high payment you are giving BC (as it may look like you can afford it and are out of financial difficulties)

Obviously if you were to go self managed you could drop the payments to BC and have that £50 each month for your budget/savings etc.. The debt would reduce at the same speed it is now but without paying silly interest...and your savings would grow...!

Sorry I don't think without a paper chain of complaint letters I don't think you can move onto the FOS.

Good Luck whatever way you decide to do it..

Right nagging over..:D

Love Puzz. x