DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

Hopelessly_Hopeful

chunkybutcheeky wrote: »

Hi, I'm just getting together all the paperwork for CCCS after finally realising that we couldnt carry on living like we were, going without food so we could pay a minimum payment on numerous credit cards and hardly touching the balance. Anyhow, CCCS are setting up a DMP and I have now changed bank account and redirected direct debits, and salary.

I have now missed a months payments and starting to get calls etc which terrifies me. I am just not answering them. I have also asked CCCS if we can start the DMP in November, as next month we need the money to get the MOT, car tax, and to pay an emergency vets bill, dentist bill and boiler repair/service, as we know once we are on this budget, its still tight and we need a few months to save some for emergencies.

This will in effect mean I have missed 2 payments before we start paying the creditors. I'm just so stressed because nothing ever seems to go right and I'm worried that we will do this, then start getting court letters etc. I've always paid, so this month when I cancelled all the payments, and actually had some money to do a proper food shop, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted.

We are determined to sort ourselves out and have started a budget for the next 6 months in advance so we dont get caught out with any bills again.

I feel awful, but then at the same time I know we are doing the right thing.

I think I just need a bit of reassurance.... I'm really panicking today.

Hello, welcome and well done. Sounds like you have made a significant number of positive steps. If I have a wobble I plough the energy into budget planning etc too. Sooo much more positive than just sitting fretting. I'd do all the same steps you have so of course I thin you are well on track.

Listen, very very very few cases get to court. If you show, and you will, because you have written records to show you have being doing the responsible thing it is HIGHLY unlikely the court will find against you.

Standard scare tactics. When you read the letters you will see 'may' quite a lot. Just threats, nothing else. We will hel to support you with this should it happen.

I spent a few days starting at the beginning of threads, it amazing how quickly you pick things up and see peoples journey get bettter and better. Knowldege is power and in the interim we have our sense of humour and support network to keep us going.

Welcome to your new life

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

chunkybutcheeky wrote: »

DP30, thanks, I am just sending my letters to creditors and have also rang two of them (hard to do while at work). I'm not very good on the phone and tend to give in very easily without explaining myself very well...something I need to work on!

Phone calls can be empowering but they can try to maniulate you too and you have no proof of them so please use with caution. Letters will always serve you better.

HHx

chunkybutcheeky

I have poured my heart out in these letters and I know it probably wont make any difference, but its certainly helping me!
I've change my contact details to an old phone number not in use, so hopefully it will reduce the number of calls. At the moment I've had a few "please make an immediate payment" letters, so hopefully I can get these posted today and get the DMP up and running.

I'm also going to read the whole thread, set up a file with all the letters in etc and try and calm down. I will keep in touch on this thread too, hopefully sharing experiences will help someone else too.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

chunkybutcheeky wrote: »

I have poured my heart out in these letters and I know it probably wont make any difference, but its certainly helping me!
I've change my contact details to an old phone number not in use, so hopefully it will reduce the number of calls. At the moment I've had a few "please make an immediate payment" letters, so hopefully I can get these posted today and get the DMP up and running.

I'm also going to read the whole thread, set up a file with all the letters in etc and try and calm down. I will keep in touch on this thread too, hopefully sharing experiences will help someone else too.

It certainly will help, what goes around comes around. It's amazing how empowered you can feel for taking charge of it and not burying your head and keeping your fingers crossed.

HHx

Time_to_face_the_music

princess18 wrote: »

hello, i was just wondering if anyone can give me some advice,
i'm starting on a self-managed DMP, and so far its been going well. however, i've had trouble getting payday express to agree to a repayment plan of any kind. i have however recieved an email from them this morning saying i have 14 days to get my debt management company to contact them with a letter of authority. obviously being self managed i dont have a debt management company, nor do i know what a letter of authority is. i fear that as im self managed they will not take me seriously or accept any offer i make other than in full- which is certainly not possible now that i have commited to repayment plans to other creditors. what can i do? i certainly cant set up a dmp through a company in 14 days, but i was doing really well on my own until now. what can i do??

Hi princess18 :hello:

I definitely would not ring them, put everything in writing and send it recorded delivery. Perhaps in VERY LARGE BOLD font that it is a self managed DMP.

Good luck

Time_to_face_the_music

chunkybutcheeky wrote: »

I feel awful, but then at the same time I know we are doing the right thing.

Hi chunkybutcheeky and welcome :hello:

Don't feel awful and you are doing the right thing :T

It can be terribly stressful at first but it does calm down quite quickly and when you see the debts going down it makes it all worthwhile :j

chunkybutcheeky

I do genuinely feel so much better, thanks guys! I think once I have agreement from CCCS that I can start the DMP in November, I'll feel so much better, just worrying about the bills on top of not paying is really stressing me out.

lady123_2

Hi guys, im trying to do my own DMP, im currently on benefits but hope things will improve, i have offered all my creditors £5 per month, done I&E sheets, the only bank that wont accept is Santander! they say I have to go through a third party and have defaulted me. I have continued to make payments to them but not sure what to do to be honest.
Any advice?

Hopelessly_Hopeful

lady123 wrote: »

Hi guys, im trying to do my own DMP, im currently on benefits but hope things will improve, i have offered all my creditors £5 per month, done I&E sheets, the only bank that wont accept is Santander! they say I have to go through a third party and have defaulted me. I have continued to make payments to them but not sure what to do to be honest.
Any advice?

Hi, well done

It's good they defaulted you are more chance the interest will get stopped. Just keep paying.

HHx

lady123_2

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Hi, well done

It's good they defaulted you are more chance the interest will get stopped. Just keep paying.

HHx

Hi thanks for the reply, I cant understand why they wont accept the offer from me but will from cccs or Payplan or the like, i call them regularly im not running away from the situation, i have also written because Westcote were not passing my offers on to Santander, and claimed that i never sent an I&E sheet which i did as I still had the rec delivery slip. Westcot were rude an
d aggressive towards me on the phone so now I just call Santander direct, they know im off work and suffering from depression.