Help with Payplan interview.42000.00 in debt

lillibet_dripping

euronorris wrote: »

Hi Somewhere and Lillibet!

Well done for taking your head out of the sand, and taking positive steps towards getting rid of the debt. It's scary and overwhelming, I know. But also well worth it.

Have either of you completed an SOA, and posted in on this board? Quite a daunting prospect, I know, but you will get LOTS of helpful suggestions on how you can cut back, or save money (like switching utility providers, or having nights in instead of out, how to cut back on grocery shopping etc). I'd highly recommend it.

Also, you could pop over to the Up Your Income and Old Style threads, which will give you ideas on how to increase your income (even if it's only by selling old/un-needed/un-used/un-wanted stuff on Ebay), and make your money stretch further.

I didn't do a DMP myself. But you can see from my signature that I had a lot of debt, and now it's getting closer to being cleared! The first year, in particular, required some spending changes on my part and also selling old stuff, getting more into cooking from scratch, mending things, and also following up with the companies about reclaiming payment protection. Every little helped! Now I cannot believe how much money I used to waste, thoughtlessly.

You can do it too! (that sounds so cheesy, but I mean it sincerely)

x

Thanks EuroNorris.
I am already a regular on the OS board and feel quite on top of grocery shopping now, but posting an SOA will be useful for getting second opinions.
Whereabouts are you in NL? When I was married, we lived for 5 years in a small village just outside Utrecht. My ex was on various computer based contracts and I worked for two years in Amsterdam (no smutty comments please!) in a classical record music distributors.
Absolutely loved NL. Our son was born over there and has Dutch godparents. I miss it very much.
Lilli

somewhere_up_there

Hi
And good Afternoon
Just had a call from payplan.
She said already on a dmp[news to me]
Think the first person i spoke to must be a new recruit.
They will ring again on Thusday to discuss my debt repayment options.

The only one i wish to take though is a dmp

Funny you really dread making the phone calls to the card companies, but so far they have all been helpful, even the dreaded mbna.[virgin].
Maybe not as nice when the small payments start arriving.

Like you lilli i should have done this years ago.
I have always felt guilty about going down this route.
But for the last few days have felt relief.

Euro norris:

Soa
Everything sold
Everything cut back.
No going out
Not a lot of food
Gas heating off[ not been on a lot in winter]
Managed to get a calor gas heater left on pavement by someone.
One mans junk and all that.
In fact i will probably be the first unclothed skeleton on this forum.
Just living on the basics.

Phone calls will no doubt be starting , but i will not be answering.
Mail only thanks

euronorris

lillibet_dripping wrote: »

Thanks EuroNorris.
I am already a regular on the OS board and feel quite on top of grocery shopping now, but posting an SOA will be useful for getting second opinions.
Whereabouts are you in NL? When I was married, we lived for 5 years in a small village just outside Utrecht. My ex was on various computer based contracts and I worked for two years in Amsterdam (no smutty comments please!) in a classical record music distributors.
Absolutely loved NL. Our son was born over there and has Dutch godparents. I miss it very much.
Lilli

I'm in Haarlem. It's gorgeous! Like a Dutch version of Bath!

Would love to stay here permanently, but we shall just have to wait and see about that.

Somewhere up there:

Glad you've already made some cutbacks. It's so harsh at first, I know.

Are you able to take in a lodger? Do you have the space? It's a good way of increasing your income if you have the space.

A few other things to consider (if you haven't already):

Mystery shopping
Completing Surveys (though this isn't for everyone, and is one that I am never very good at sticking to)
A 2nd part time job (though this depends entirely on your existing commitments)
Freelance work (do you have any skills you could earn money from - language translation, computer skills etc?)

Errr, that's all I can think of, off the top of my head.

lillibet_dripping

somewhere_up_there wrote: »

Hi
And good Afternoon
Just had a call from payplan.
She said already on a dmp[news to me]
Think the first person i spoke to must be a new recruit.
They will ring again on Thusday to discuss my debt repayment options.

The only one i wish to take though is a dmp

Funny you really dread making the phone calls to the card companies, but so far they have all been helpful, even the dreaded mbna.[virgin].
Maybe not as nice when the small payments start arriving.

Like you lilli i should have done this years ago.
I have always felt guilty about going down this route.
But for the last few days have felt relief.

Euro norris:

Soa
Everything sold
Everything cut back.
No going out
Not a lot of food
Gas heating off[ not been on a lot in winter]
Managed to get a calor gas heater left on pavement by someone.
One mans junk and all that.
In fact i will probably be the first unclothed skeleton on this forum.
Just living on the basics.

Phone calls will no doubt be starting , but i will not be answering.
Mail only thanks

Brilliant! You are on your way! It's impossible to describe the relief unless you have experienced it isn't it:o

The final phone call just goes through the formalities, setting up the payments to payplan etc. etc.

I've just got to face the dreaded Virgin and can breathe a bit easier.
Hope you are enjoying the sunshine.
Lilli

somewhere_up_there

Hi Lilli.
Do not worry about virgin, they were really nice.
He said they have a statement of affairs letter on there website.
He said fill that in and send it off.
He said it is good to make contact before you go into arrears.
Sorry a lot of he said.

Will be sending them the 28 day letter plus a small payment.

Euro Norris;
I already work From 8am until 9pm.

Lodgers : do not have the right temperament.

Great weather, will probably need our snow boots in the Summer!!!!!!!!!

somewhere_up_there

What was the final thing, that made you decide to sort everything out.
Mine {hopefully my neighbours are not reading this]
There mail blew out of bin into my garden, turns out they are on a dmp.

Last week they came home with a Porche!!!!!!!

I thought what am i doing living like this

Mrs bag lady

BlushingRose

We didn't contact any of our creditors ourselves about the DMP. We just sent off the 'we're on a DMP letter' with a token payment and we've had no issues (so far) with anyone.

somewhere_up_there

Blushing Rose.
hope it's the same for me.
They are probably overwhelmed with dmp letters.
That they will get round to us all eventually.
Hope you have cheered up.

Lilli ; have you rang the virgin hotline

BlushingRose

somewhere_up_there wrote: »

Hope you have cheered up.

I wish it was that simple.

somewhere_up_there

Had a phone call today.from payplan.
They explained all the options.
Decided to go with the dmp.
Next call is to be from the dmp team.
Will make token payments in the mean time to egg, virgin, barclaycard.
The start of a very long journey begins.

Fab weather again, plaice for evening meal, a whoopsie from the co-op.
Thats my life
Bargain bin .

Lilli. How is things going on your dmp