DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 8

scared-sick

Well after receiving another couple of phone calls from Santander, and each time they refuse to give me their surname, today one did!!

Got the call and thought 'here we go again'. Had a whole speach prepared about talking to some one more senior etc, however, asked her surname and she gave it no problem. Dont know if they had got the message and actually escalated it to someone more senior before the call.

Anyway, I was so surprised by her plesant and helpful attitude!
I told her about being in the process of setting up a dmp with cccs and they should be in contact in due course. She said oh thats brilliant! Lots of people struggle on and get into all sorts of trouble but you have done the right thing in contacting them if you were struggling.

I got suspicious when she asked me the cause of my debt problems, but I told her the truth as the reason is on the budget sheet with cccs which I suppose they will see.
Then she was asking me if all my priority debts like my mortgage, council tax etc was up to date and said it was really important to keep on top of these. Are these trick questions of some kind?

I dont know what I was expecting but I wasnt expecting that.

She also said she has made a note on the account and all letters and phone calls will stop for 40 days by which time they should have heard from cccs.

She assured me that I had done what was best and they never have any trouble in dealing with cccs and everything should go very smoothly.

Wow!!

PinotGrigio41

scared-sick wrote: »

Well after receiving another couple of phone calls from Santander, and each time they refuse to give me their surname, today one did!!

Got the call and thought 'here we go again'. Had a whole speach prepared about talking to some one more senior etc, however, asked her surname and she gave it no problem. Dont know if they had got the message and actually escalated it to someone more senior before the call.

Anyway, I was so surprised by her plesant and helpful attitude!
I told her about being in the process of setting up a dmp with cccs and they should be in contact in due course. She said oh thats brilliant! Lots of people struggle on and get into all sorts of trouble but you have done the right thing in contacting them if you were struggling.

I got suspicious when she asked me the cause of my debt problems, but I told her the truth as the reason is on the budget sheet with cccs which I suppose they will see.
Then she was asking me if all my priority debts like my mortgage, council tax etc was up to date and said it was really important to keep on top of these. Are these trick questions of some kind?

I dont know what I was expecting but I wasnt expecting that.

She also said she has made a note on the account and all letters and phone calls will stop for 40 days by which time they should have heard from cccs.

She assured me that I had done what was best and they never have any trouble in dealing with cccs and everything should go very smoothly.

Wow!!

Well done on speaking to them ! Has that made you feel better ? Must admit Santander asked us lots and lots of questions, the answer to which were on the CashFlow Financial Statement ( in our case ,rather than CCCS or Payplan) , so rather than answer them I told them to read that rather than get into any potentially tricky explanations !

All great news though ! Onwards and upwards !

mon1o

Thanks for all your advice regarding my caravan. I'm going to speak to the oh and see what he thinks. So far today there has only been 1 phone call. Once the paperwork is sent how long does it take for the plan to be started with CCCS?

scared-sick

PinotGrigio41 wrote: »

Well done on speaking to them ! Has that made you feel better ? Must admit Santander asked us lots and lots of questions, the answer to which were on the CashFlow Financial Statement ( in our case ,rather than CCCS or Payplan) , so rather than answer them I told them to read that rather than get into any potentially tricky explanations !

All great news though ! Onwards and upwards !

Yes I do feel much better! Like I say, I was a bit worried as she was being so nice, I wondered if it was some kind of trick!!

She was going on about making sure I had enough money to live on and the cccs budget is great and simple. Honestly I was in shock.

I hope any further phone calls are like that!

scared-sick

One thing Santander did say was that as long as I kept up with the dmp agreed payments, the debt should still stay with the bank.
If it does, does this mean they wont default me?

It they dont default me, what does that mean for my credit file?

Obviously people say it is better for them to default you as soon as possible so that it drops off your file quicker, so what actually happens if they dont?

Standingtall

scared-sick wrote: »

One thing Santander did say was that as long as I kept up with the dmp agreed payments, the debt should still stay with the bank.
If it does, does this mean they wont default me?

It they dont default me, what does that mean for my credit file?

Obviously people say it is better for them to default you as soon as possible so that it drops off your file quicker, so what actually happens if they dont?

I just wanted to reassure you that I don't believe these to be trick questions. I have a credit card and overdraft from Santander in my DMP and they have been fine. The only glitch was the continuation of charges and interest on my overdraft. However, I sent them a letter about these and they replied within 14 days giving their apologies and also refunded the charges and interest from my DMP start date. The templates for such letters are on the National Debtline website.

Regarding the default, maybe they will never default you - I believe this can happen. In which case I suppose your credit file would show late payments and full settlement in the end? Not sure but I expect some others will confirm one way or the other.

scared-sick

Standingtall wrote: »

I just wanted to reassure you that I don't believe these to be trick questions. I have a credit card and overdraft from Santander in my DMP and they have been fine. The only glitch was the continuation of charges and interest on my overdraft. However, I sent them a letter about these and they replied within 14 days giving their apologies and also refunded the charges and interest from my DMP start date. The templates for such letters are on the National Debtline website.

Regarding the default, maybe they will never default you - I believe this can happen. In which case I suppose your credit file would show late payments and full settlement in the end? Not sure but I expect some others will confirm one way or the other.

Oh thats great. Thanks for that. I wasnt sure as you know what they say about something being too good to be true!! I was only honest with her anyway.

Great news about the interest for you. That will be my next battle in the saga I think, trying to get them all to stop it.

Hmmm....not sure, I dont think they can mark them as 'late' payments as technically they wont be late, just less. I am sure there will be some form of button they can press to tell my credit file how bad I have been though. I just hope whatever they do, doesnt last for more than 6 years!!

Growurown

mon1o wrote: »

Thanks for all your advice regarding my caravan. I'm going to speak to the oh and see what he thinks. So far today there has only been 1 phone call. Once the paperwork is sent how long does it take for the plan to be started with CCCS?

When I started my DMP I asked exactly the same question! Actually it was very quick and didn't take more than a couple of weeks. I also read some very useful advice on the forum and made sure I put in amounts for things like dry cleaning and lunches at work even though I never spent money on them. I also put in that I was a smoker (I'm not) and this gives me a bit of extra wriggle room managing the day to day stuff, and has given me a little bit of savings.

However I've just had a huge bill to pay on my car so the savings are gone and I have had to reduce my payment to CCCS next month to pay for the rest.

It is scary knowing there's no credit to fall back on but there is always the option to make reduced payments for the really important stuff.

mon1o

Well finally today ive sent all my paperwork in for CCCS (special delivery!) and sorted out letters to my creditors to send registered post on thursday morning when i can get to the PO for postal orders (my hsbc account is almost obsolete and im now using my new basic account so no cheque book ).

Got a letter off one creditor today threatening all sorts - defaults, ccjs if left and advising me to contact them urgently - ive only missed 1 payment? i thought this would happen after a few months but not 1. maybe a bit naive of me. had 1 phone call so far but i was in bed (working nights) so didnt answer it. hopefully thatll be it for today.

BlushingRose

mon1o wrote: »

Well finally today ive sent all my paperwork in for CCCS (special delivery!) and sorted out letters to my creditors to send registered post on thursday morning when i can get to the PO for postal orders (my hsbc account is almost obsolete and im now using my new basic account so no cheque book ).

Yep, it's postal orders all the way for us these days x

mon1o wrote: »

Got a letter off one creditor today threatening all sorts - defaults, ccjs if left and advising me to contact them urgently - ive only missed 1 payment? i thought this would happen after a few months but not 1.

Ignore it chuck, they're just jumping up and down a bit is all x