DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

Growurown

stupid-fool wrote: »

Have I missed a "starting out on a DMP" guide somewhere as there seems to be quite a lot of info that I'm picking up as I go along?

I don't know of one but I bet if there is then TTFTM or HH will know about it. When we had our LBM I read this thread and picked up a lot of info that way. The advice and experience of others on this thread were invaluable when we set up our DMP.

The one bit of advice I think we had that was most useful was by Toffeepenny that helped me out alot when I started out. I've copied it out as it was on the last thread. Hope it helps all you Newbies just beginning as well.

'I want to reassure you all that there is absolutely nothing to worry about setting up a DMP with CCCS or Payplan charities.
Creditors will accept your DMP and regular payments from CCCS/Payplan because they will have every minute detail about your income/expenditure. They know CCCS/Payplan have been realistic with setting up a monthly budget and will accept payments from them.
Every penny you pay each month is going towards your debt and not in the pockets of someone who works for GREGORY bloody Penfold Creditors will be MORE willing to hold off interest and charges when with CCCS/Payplan than any fee charging company.
If creditors know you are with a fee paying company they are more likely to kick up stink and not play ball. Why can't Halifax or Lloyds or whoever you owe to have that £30 monthly fee you are paying Gregory? If someone owed you money would you be pleased they were giving £30 a month away for nothing when it could go in your pocket and pay you?
I cannot stress enough the importance of setting up a realistic budget when starting out. You cannot be expected to live on beans on toast every day until you are debt free, whilst there is nowt wrong with beans on toast (I like mine with a sprinkling of cheese!)it would be one miserable long road to being debt free let me tell ya!. You are allowed a bit of a life honest! The creditors can be like Great Whites sometimes but even sharks have a heart!

DMP Budget advice

The CCCS website is completely confidential and you can tweak budget figures up or down to suit what I mean by this is......
do you wear glasses? No? well you do now, put whatever the maximum they will allow you for eye tests, glasses per month
don't eat much? well now you do, try and put a little extra in the groceries box
take a packed lunch to work? well now you have meals at work
have teenage kids? well they all catch the bus to school
don't smoke? well now you do put something in this box
See where I am coming from? It may not be entirely honest I know but retune your budget to allow a few extras and this could add a few tenners in your pocket here and there. It does not get checked on but it's the difference between having a little something over at the end of the month to make life a bit more bearable than miserably wishing for every payday because you are skint to the bone month after month.

After your DMP is all set up and running and you are budgetting well or have a little bit more to pay towards your debt then you can always ring CCCS up and say you would like a budget review and arrange to pay more. Your debt free date will be nearer and the creditors will be happier. It's a win win.'

tomandjerry

Hello all fellow DMPs and DFWs,

I have been on a DMP for a while and this is the letter (or some info from it) which came through from one of my creditors today: Important information - We're making changes to your credit card agreement with us (as of 1 January 2013). It is important to tell you about this change as your credit card account is currently in default and there is still a balance owing, although you may have a repayment plan in place with us to reduce this.

New condition: If we owe you any money in connection with any transactions, interest or charges on your acc we may use that money to reduce any arrears you owe under this agreement. If we intend to do this we will tell you when we offer to make a payment to you. We will also follow any relevant guidance in a Code of Practice that applies to us, or as required by our regulator or another similar body.
There is no need for you to do anything else, but if you would like more info on this change, you can call us on...

So, shall I make that phone call to find out if they are going to do what they have suggest above and also to show the interest in my financial situation instead of ingnoring another letter from them and wait what's going to happen?
What would you do?
thanks, t&j.

Time_to_face_the_music

stupid-fool wrote: »

Have I missed a "starting out on a DMP" guide somewhere as there seems to be quite a lot of info that I'm picking up as I go along?

I have been here since January this year, until then I had never heard of a DMP and had no idea there could be a solution to our debt problem.

There is no magic book. This thread and the previous one were my "starting out on a DMP" guide. The people here were, and still are, my helpers, supporters and advisors. This thread is my rock, sometimes it's the only place I can come when I hate the banks, when a bit of my house or car falls apart, when I just need somewhere to rant or whinge.

You will learn as you go along but you cannot beat reading back and picking stuff up yourself.

I have a lot to thank people here for and I will be eternally grateful, as will Mr TTFTM who is 100% onboard with this too. I was helped, advised, supported so now I try and give back what I can to help other people who are starting out.

Hopefully you will learn from here and then find yourself advising, helping and supporting other people.

Mutual support is what it is all about. :T

Time_to_face_the_music

tomandjerry wrote: »

Hello all fellow DMPs and DFWs,

I have been on a DMP for a while and this is the letter (or some info from it) which came through from one of my creditors today: Important information - We're making changes to your credit card agreement with us (as of 1 January 2013). It is important to tell you about this change as your credit card account is currently in default and there is still a balance owing, although you may have a repayment plan in place with us to reduce this.

New condition: If we owe you any money in connection with any transactions, interest or charges on your acc we may use that money to reduce any arrears you owe under this agreement. If we intend to do this we will tell you when we offer to make a payment to you. We will also follow any relevant guidance in a Code of Practice that applies to us, or as required by our regulator or another similar body.
There is no need for you to do anything else, but if you would like more info on this change, you can call us on...

So, shall I make that phone call to find out if they are going to do what they have suggest above and also to show the interest in my financial situation instead of ingnoring another letter from them and wait what's going to happen?
What would you do?
thanks, t&j.

Hi T&J :hello:

I think all the creditor is saying if they owe you money for any reason, e.g. interest refund, PPI claim etc, that they will use that money against your debt and not refund it to you.

Personally I would just file the letter

Tigsmom

Sorry folks been busy half term so not posted much. Just had a quick scan to catch up. Well done to all the newbies for taking the step, it gets better trust me.

I see some of you are worried about Christmas so I thought I'd add a few tips. My kids are giving teachers/friends this year a jam jar full of value toffees (24p a pack - Asda) circle of fabric over the top (recycled school summer dresses) with a homemade tag on. Stocking fillers from £1 shop. 2nd hand pressies off ebay plus a few new ones bought 3 for 2 from Argos (mostly courtesy of Grandma). I took some photos of the kids wearing santa hats and will be printing some off and framing them for relatives. We will also be making some fabric/felt decos for the tree. Food will be a £6 joint from Iceland (slow cooked) with the usual veg, stuffing etc. We realised a few years ago that half of the xmas lunch went in the bin so have cut down on portions and use leftovers in a stew. You do not need to buy luxury food. I've bought a tin of choccy biscuits and some chocolates otherwise it's the same food we usually buy. One thing I would say is start stockpiling early next year. I bought all cards and wrapping in the jan sale (50p each) so I don't have to buy any this Christmas and I have been buying the odd extra throughout the year to spread the cost. If you can't afford presents for parents and you have kids get them to make something. Grandparents love handmade presents and theres lots of ideas on the internet.

Last week we went to church to pack boxes for Samaritans. It really made us realise how lucky we are. The kids who get those boxes just get that, nothing else. Inside each box was the following;
1x small teddy, 1x mcdonalds type toy, sml pack pencils & notepad, 1 sml pack sweets, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap & flannel, hat & gloves.
And if you look on youtube you can see how happy they are to get that box. It's very humbling.

Christmas isn't about 'things'. It's about being happy and close to the people you love. And the people who love you will realise that too, so don't worry.x

debtdawg

Hey everyone

Stressing this morning! DH received a payment on Monday (a tax refund) which was supposed to be covering our rent, for some reason Lloyds have treated the BACs payment incorrectly and the amount that is showing paid is not showing as available, i.e. it's been treated like a cheque and I have no idea why. He is going to speak to them today but I don't know if it will do any good!
I still have no access to online accounting with Natwest (why does it take over a week to send out an activation code?!) so can't set up a standing order from there yet, so until the money has cleared we can't pay our rent. We have a great landlord but I don't want him to know we're having issues
Also I am waiting to hear from the student finance company with regards to what they are going to do with my grants as they may remove them due to an overpayment last year. They don't call back when they say they will and I keep being told different things. If I don't receive my grants I am going to be over £2000 down which could affect the setting up of my DMP. I'm also receiving letters from Rossendales regarding the overpayment as the SLC referred it to a debt collection agency even though I am still studying and they told me I didn't have to pay it back until after next July.

Really stressing today!

Time_to_face_the_music

Tigsmom wrote: »

Sorry folks been busy half term so not posted much. Just had a quick scan to catch up. Well done to all the newbies for taking the step, it gets better trust me.

I see some of you are worried about Christmas so I thought I'd add a few tips. My kids are giving teachers/friends this year a jam jar full of value toffees (24p a pack - Asda) circle of fabric over the top (recycled school summer dresses) with a homemade tag on. Stocking fillers from £1 shop. 2nd hand pressies off ebay plus a few new ones bought 3 for 2 from Argos (mostly courtesy of Grandma). I took some photos of the kids wearing santa hats and will be printing some off and framing them for relatives. We will also be making some fabric/felt decos for the tree. Food will be a £6 joint from Iceland (slow cooked) with the usual veg, stuffing etc. We realised a few years ago that half of the xmas lunch went in the bin so have cut down on portions and use leftovers in a stew. You do not need to buy luxury food. I've bought a tin of choccy biscuits and some chocolates otherwise it's the same food we usually buy. One thing I would say is start stockpiling early next year. I bought all cards and wrapping in the jan sale (50p each) so I don't have to buy any this Christmas and I have been buying the odd extra throughout the year to spread the cost. If you can't afford presents for parents and you have kids get them to make something. Grandparents love handmade presents and theres lots of ideas on the internet.

Last week we went to church to pack boxes for Samaritans. It really made us realise how lucky we are. The kids who get those boxes just get that, nothing else. Inside each box was the following;
1x small teddy, 1x mcdonalds type toy, sml pack pencils & notepad, 1 sml pack sweets, toothbrush & toothpaste, soap & flannel, hat & gloves.
And if you look on youtube you can see how happy they are to get that box. It's very humbling.

Christmas isn't about 'things'. It's about being happy and close to the people you love. And the people who love you will realise that too, so don't worry.x

A lovely post Tigsmom, thank you x :T

debtdawg

Tigsmom that is a great post, thank you for sharing your experience with regards to the samaritans boxes, it really does make you think x

Tigsmom

I had to hold back my tears as I was packing them! It was great for the kids though. Their lists are quite modest this year and they have agreed to have a clearout to help children less fortunate. I showed them the Samaritans video too and got them to compare their school, home etc. Children like toys at Christmas but they also like fun and love. The happy memories last much longer than the toys and cost much less. Plus they don't like to see their parents worried and unhappy.

Time_to_face_the_music

Tigsmom wrote: »

I had to hold back my tears as I was packing them! It was great for the kids though. Their lists are quite modest this year and they have agreed to have a clearout to help children less fortunate. I showed them the Samaritans video too and got them to compare their school, home etc. Children like toys at Christmas but they also like fun and love. The happy memories last much longer than the toys and cost much less. Plus they don't like to see their parents worried and unhappy.

You are making me a bit tearful now too

I think kids do understand, my graddaughter asked me did I want to sell some of her old toys to make money for new ones. She knows I have been selling on ebay so she wanted to join in