DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

Growurown

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Morning Folks

Is anyone else really feeling sorry for the banks just now? :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

:rotfl::rotfl:

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Have also bought the much raved about 'take away secret' and also '50 shades of grey'. I wonder which one will proove most useful?

HHx

Yes everyone is on about 50 shades of grey. Let us know what you think:D

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Growurown wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl:



Yes everyone is on about 50 shades of grey. Let us know what you think:D

I am excited enough about the kebab recipes!

HHx

Grand_Benders

Just finished drafting the letter I'll mail-merge on Monday to all our creditors. Cross posting here (from my diary) to get as much input as possible before I send it, so feel free to comment, advise or otherwise tear it apart.

I've tried to cover as many 'starting a DMP' issues as I can in the hope that I'll minimise the stress of letters and calls, although I'm not kidding myself that they'll all comply, but I can try

Dear Sir/Madam

I am currently experiencing financial difficulties and have received advice from Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) to help solve my debt problem. They have recommended that myself and my partner enter into a Debt Management Plan (DMP) with them, and we have now sent them our agreement together with full details of all creditors, debts owed and our monthly household income and expenditure.

I find myself unable to meet the minimum payments on my account with you this month, and so have enclosed a cheque for £5 which is all I can afford whilst I arrange to get my finances in order. I hope you will see that this shows a willingness to continue to pay something to my debt with you and work towards clearing this through the CCCS DMP.

I would ask that you please consider reducing or stopping interest or any other charges on my account to help me during my financial difficulties and to avoid increasing my debts any further.

All correspondence and contact in relation to my account should now be made with CCCS direct and they will be in touch with you shortly to confirm their details and the start date of the DMP. Our DMP reference number is XXXXXXX and you should quote this on all correspondence with them.

I note that the due date for payments to my account is currently around the XXth of each month. Since CCCS send all payments out around 25th of each month, I would be grateful if you could move my current ‘due date’ to 25th or later in the month to avoid timing differences with CCCS which might result in unnecessary late payment charges, further compounding my debt problems.

I thank you in anticipation of your assistance and co-operation whilst I am going through this difficult time, and assure you that I am doing everything I can to resolve my current financial situation in a responsible and sustainable manner.

Yours faithfully

Thoughts?

lizzy23

Thats really good, i would just add to this that if they do feel the need to contact you directly that you would appreciate it in writing only

All correspondence and contact in relation to my account should now be made with CCCS direct and they will be in touch with you shortly to confirm their details and the start date of the DMP. Our DMP reference number is XXXXXXX and you should quote this on all correspondence with them.

do you mind if i nick this for when i do mine?

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Looks good GB.

I would please note all future communications should be in writing only. Not just appreciate etc.

HHx

ikkle87

Well I've started my own thread up in the debt free diary section, it's a bit scary this malarky, especially when it's all there in black and white for people to see but at least it is there and there is no avoiding it. It's been suggested that my budget is a little bit excessive but hopefully I've explained the reasoning for that and it's justified but who knows.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

ikkle87 wrote: »

Well I've started my own thread up in the debt free diary section, it's a bit scary this malarky, especially when it's all there in black and white for people to see but at least it is there and there is no avoiding it. It's been suggested that my budget is a little bit excessive but hopefully I've explained the reasoning for that and it's justified but who knows.

Have you tried putting details into debt remedy tool. Its anonymous

http://www.cccs.co.uk/AW/Debtmanagementplan.aspx?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=200022&gclid=CMWDu4HY9rACFcohfAodQHfFMQ

HHx

ikkle87

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Have you tried putting details into debt remedy tool. Its anonymous

http://www.cccs.co.uk/AW/Debtmanagementplan.aspx?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=200022&gclid=CMWDu4HY9rACFcohfAodQHfFMQ

HHx

Thats where I've done it through hun, and where all the figures are from, I had to go on the live chat bit to ask for guidance from them as I'm pregnant but been told I could go into labour as early as 3 weeks from now so they said to put down that I'd had the baby so it looks massive for 2 people. Also spoke to them on the phone for advice about Wonga etc.

ukjs1976

Update: Two Years Later...

It's now two years since I came to this forum, completely freaked out, got rapid responses from kind and understanding folks on here and then contacted the cccs. Had my phone discussion to set up the DMP which has been in place ever since.

Well, this is my experience...

The staff at the cccs are consistently 'human', realistic and for me were a massive help when getting my head round where I was financially and setting up the DMP.

I opened a new current account with a building society that I had no previous connection with what-so-ever and arranged to have my salary paid into this new account BEFORE contacting any of my creditors to say I was in financial difficulty.

The DMP repayment direct debit goes out of my current account each and every month, just after my salary is credited.

I have never once been phoned by any of the three banks I owe money to.

I have been defaulted by all three banks. Banco Abbey aka Santander, american express, egg (since bought by barclaycard).

Interest and charges were frozen by all three banks and continue to be so.

My credit file is of course shot to bits... however there are no sleepless nights and no fear of the phone or what envelopes will plop through the the front door. That is the difference between having support and being alone and scared.

That has been my experience so far. I have the next yearly review now due as two years have passed. For me not much has changed. I hope things continue how they have been as far as the DMP goes.

I 100% recommend a DMP and the cccs for folk who find themselves in a place where this needs to be considered.

Grand_Benders

lizzy23 wrote: »

Thats really good, i would just add to this that if they do feel the need to contact you directly that you would appreciate it in writing only

All correspondence and contact in relation to my account should now be made with CCCS direct and they will be in touch with you shortly to confirm their details and the start date of the DMP. Our DMP reference number is XXXXXXX and you should quote this on all correspondence with them.

do you mind if i nick this for when i do mine?

Help yourself to any/all parts of the letter.

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Looks good GB.

I would please note all future communications should be in writing only. Not just appreciate etc.

HHx

I had written originally that any direct contact should only be in writing, but my OH pointed out this is like an invitation to them and I should only offer CCCS as a communication option for now. Then if they DO contact me direct, I'll do the 'in writing only' letter (sent 2nd class of course because we're poor!)

I'm actually prepared for one telephone call per creditor so I can give them the chance to be nice understanding human beings when I tell them to speak to CCCS but after that the calls will go straight to voicemail)

Can't remember who said their spreadsheet is called 'ostrich' several pages ago. Ours is called 'lightbulb' :rotfl: