DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Find_The_Real

Hello All

I hope everything is going ok and there is a chance to enjoy the weekend. Glad you got the car done Zenshi at a reduced price, every little helps as they say even though it wasn't a bill you wanted.

Creditors are such strange creatures in that they have a different way of dealing with our debts every time it seems. BC have been one of the best for me, stopped interest straight away and moved the statement date until after SC sent out their payment so I was never late, whereas an ethical high street bank has been a PITA. However it is very frustrating that they don't have a set protocol of dealing with customers debts and they should do.

I hope everyone has a good weekend even though the weather is naff for May.

ianmak

Sorry to hear about car troubles etc, I only need to worry about my yearly 3.5k season ticket on the trains. :-/

In nearly 5 years of a DMP I have changed so much as a person. I have...

1) Learned to cook again and lost 1.5 stone in the process.
2) Got rid of my car and lost another half stone through extra walking!
3) Become so much more frugal. The DMP is about living comfortably, but that doesn't stop of from thinking about what you need from life. Remember ML's mantra re buying stuff.
4) Re breakdowns, I've fixed a vacuum cleaner, fridge/freezer and an oven since being on a DMP, in the past I would just have bought a new one.
5) I've also become a lot more DIY savvy. I've always relied on my Dad, but have become a lot more independent. When he is unable to help, I won't be able to afford tradesmen to fix things!
6) I've learnt to budget. I accept that things went wrong when I bought my flat, already 6k in debt, and with no idea on budgeting. An Actuary at my work presented a piece about introducing financial education into schools, and it was very interesting, and something I've cared about for a long time. They included this video, which I thought was rather good...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NmOftWdh6s&feature=player_embedded

When I think about being in debt, I thought I was happy, leading a good life, and I realise now that I had nothing, and now I've spent the time since improving my life and paying off 38k of debt in the process! Just over halfway left to go...

Suseka

Yes creditors do appear a little flakey in how they deal with different debts. MBNA are annoying us, because whenever someone calls, they say they know we are pending a DMP, but would we like to pay a little more in the meantime! To be honest, if that's as bad as they get - then I'm not really bothered.

On the flip side Barclaycard have been pretty reasonable thus far, and Halifax we very understanding and are happy to wait until SC have sorted things for us.

Oh well - nothing stranger than folk I guess.

Well done lanmak, those debt reducing figures are pretty impressive :T

moohound

All my stuff keeps breaking at once bath tap and basin tap in bathroom both needed replacing, only had cold water coming out, gas hob packed in and had to get a new one, and today the toilet "went funny" and wouldn't stop pouring water into the pan, not good when you are on a water meter, at least that one was only a tenner to fix, and I dropped a full mug of coffee on a cream coloured carpet, to cap it off it turns out my garage was built by the Lone Ranger and Tonto and needs a new roof, it is only 4 years old.

Thank The Maker for the emergency fund, which is now almost zero again, it was enough for the smaller things, but the roof is a major disaster.

My OH had just won £400 on the lottery which will pay for 2 tyres and 2 front brake pads, so its not all bad I guess.

dmb_2

Poor you. Why is it lots of bad things seem to happen at once. Maybe lottery win is a sign of luckier things on the horizon.:beer:

Growurown

moohound wrote: »

All my stuff keeps breaking at once

I'm in the same boat as you moohound. The latest thing to go wrong is the mower and now the grass is about a foot long. Tried all the obvious things to see if I can fix it but it looks like it will have to go to the repair shop:( The hot tap won't turn on in the bathroom and the cistern makes a terrific noise when its flushed and I spilt a whole cup of tea on the cream bedroom carpet! Are we leading parallel lives?:rotfl:

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Growurown wrote: »

I'm in the same boat as you moohound. The latest thing to go wrong is the mower and now the grass is about a foot long. Tried all the obvious things to see if I can fix it but it looks like it will have to go to the repair shop:( The hot tap won't turn on in the bathroom and the cistern makes a terrific noise when its flushed and I spilt a whole cup of tea on the cream bedroom carpet! Are we leading parallel lives?:rotfl:

The thread has another set of twins

Sorry to hear about the challenges.

GUO - a carpet fitter told me water cures anything. Oh yes I thought, will stick to my otherstuff, chemdry and the like. Well - he was right- give the stain a blot and rub. Soak a teatowel in water and cover the patch. Cover the teatowel with a plastic bag. On top of the bag put lots of heavy books. Leave for a few days and AMAZING result.

Hope that helps

HHx

Growurown

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

The thread has another set of twins

Sorry to hear about the challenges.

GUO - a carpet fitter told me water cures anything. Oh yes I thought, will stick to my otherstuff, chemdry and the like. Well - he was right- give the stain a blot and rub. Soak a teatowel in water and cover the patch. Cover the teatowel with a plastic bag. On top of the bag put lots of heavy books. Leave for a few days and AMAZING result.

Hope that helps

HHx

I will give it a go, thanks HH. Water's cheap:D

poohbear59

It seems as though it is taking ages to get our DMP up and running.
Payplan suggested I open an account at Nationwide.I applied over two weeks ago. A phone call to them last Wednesday to chase it up meant they generated another letter which we received on Fioday and now everything is signed and posted. Yesterday I managed to catch Mr P to get him to sign the forms

MissL46

I received a large PPI claim in my account earlier today :j then contacted my DMP company to let them know and say if I can pay my creditors directly. It was ok with the company (Money Debt and Credit) so duly spoke to each creditor and settled in full except Barclaycard (long story). It was like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

Happy happy joy!!! :j