Hello from a Newbie :)

hollykb

Hello everyone!
I have been hovering about reading bits and bobs for a week or so, but thought to really get involved I should join up and post!
So a big hello to everyone this site seems full of really helpful inspiring people and just reading through stuff has encouraged me to deal with my own debts.
I have 2 unsecured loans, 1 overdraft and 1 credit card that are currently being paid through a debt management plan with a company called DebtSure. They charge a percentage of my payment so not all the money goes to clear my debts, so I really think I should get arrangements myself so I can pay things off quicker. I am a full time mature student so had tried to forget about my debts as so long as the one £200 payment goes off each month everything is fine. However, I graduate in a year and would love to start off in a new career with at least a more manageable amount of debt and things under my control. Also, at the moment my dad gives me £200 a month to cover the debts because I'm a student, so this will stop when I graduate. I will have to go through my paperwork and sort out exact debts but it is around £25,000 that I owe (I did work for several years before going back to uni so ran up debts then).
I am working part time now its the summer holidays and am really into crafting so would like to try and make some extra money from that. I really think I will get on much better with the help and support that everyone here obviously provides, and with other peoples success stories to help me along
Enough blabber from me for now!! I will make one of the SOAs later in the week and start getting the numbers in order.
Bye for now and thanks for reading! xx

downnotout

welcome to the DFW board. you should be able to get a lot of support on here!

Time_to_face_the_music

hollykb wrote: »

Hello everyone!
I have been hovering about reading bits and bobs for a week or so, but thought to really get involved I should join up and post!
So a big hello to everyone this site seems full of really helpful inspiring people and just reading through stuff has encouraged me to deal with my own debts.
I have 2 unsecured loans, 1 overdraft and 1 credit card that are currently being paid through a debt management plan with a company called DebtSure. They charge a percentage of my payment so not all the money goes to clear my debts, so I really think I should get arrangements myself so I can pay things off quicker. I am a full time mature student so had tried to forget about my debts as so long as the one £200 payment goes off each month everything is fine. However, I graduate in a year and would love to start off in a new career with at least a more manageable amount of debt and things under my control. Also, at the moment my dad gives me £200 a month to cover the debts because I'm a student, so this will stop when I graduate. I will have to go through my paperwork and sort out exact debts but it is around £25,000 that I owe (I did work for several years before going back to uni so ran up debts then).
I am working part time now its the summer holidays and am really into crafting so would like to try and make some extra money from that. I really think I will get on much better with the help and support that everyone here obviously provides, and with other peoples success stories to help me along
Enough blabber from me for now!! I will make one of the SOAs later in the week and start getting the numbers in order.
Bye for now and thanks for reading! xx

Hi Holly and welcome

Please don't ever pay fees for a debt management plan, all the money you pay should be going towards your debts, not to feather DebtSure's pockets! You can get a totally fee free DMP via either CCCS or Payplan where every penny goes towards your debts. Give either or both a call tomorrow morning and discuss your options. Of course, you can also manage your own DMP and quite a few people here succesfully do that too.

Crafting sounds like a great extra money earner, have you tried selling on ebay or Etsy?

hollykb

Thanks for the speedy welcomes I realise now that I should definitely not be paying for help when there is free help available! I chose Debtsure initially as I could set up the plan via email and post, and never had to talk to anyone, which is something I find quite scary! Once it was set up, it was very easy to just ignore the fact I was losing money as it was all sorted out. But now I want to get back the control and make sure all my money goes to my debts. I see on here the amazing amounts of debt people have cleared and I want to do that too
As for crafting, my mum and I are planning to start an Etsy shop soon, as she is also a keen crafter and would like some extra pocket money! We also know somebody that makes cosmetics and has stalls at craft fairs and things, so hopefully could do that in the future. Watch this space!!

Time_to_face_the_music

hollykb wrote: »

Thanks for the speedy welcomes I realise now that I should definitely not be paying for help when there is free help available! I chose Debtsure initially as I could set up the plan via email and post, and never had to talk to anyone, which is something I find quite scary! Once it was set up, it was very easy to just ignore the fact I was losing money as it was all sorted out. But now I want to get back the control and make sure all my money goes to my debts. I see on here the amazing amounts of debt people have cleared and I want to do that too
As for crafting, my mum and I are planning to start an Etsy shop soon, as she is also a keen crafter and would like some extra pocket money! We also know somebody that makes cosmetics and has stalls at craft fairs and things, so hopefully could do that in the future. Watch this space!!

I have never used Payplan but like you, I didn't really want to speak to anyone, and I did all of our DMP online via CCCS's website and their debt remedy program. You can agree to the terms online and they then send out all the paperwork for you to sign and return including direct debit forms and template letters for your creditors etc. I do think in your case, you may be better speaking to them because they will need to advise you on DebtSure and if you need to give notice to leave them etc, unless you already know the terms and conditions.

I love craft fairs and table top sales, that would be an ideal supplement to an Etsy shop. Good luck :T

hollykb

Yes I think you're right, I'm not sure how it works if you already have a DMP but want to change companies, so I will probably have to call them. But my head is not so far in the sand now so am not so worried about talking I will drag out all the paperwork tomorrow and start getting things rolling. Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out both Payplan and CCCS! I've only been on here an hour and already feel like its helping!

kerinat

hi hollykb
Check that debtsure are not charging you PPI on your bill. A friend had a similar debt company and after paying them for 5 years noticed she had been paying ppi on top. She is now in the process of claiming it back. If you have been charged any ppi on credit cards, loans, hp. store cards etc..... there is lots of information on this web page... Good Luck