DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Time_to_face_the_music

Julie67 wrote: »

Morning all,

Thanks for the advice HH and TTFTM. I think you right and I'm going to throw anything extra I can at it.
I agree about SC. they have been good for us getting us started but I feel I would have much more control and would make more headway managing it myself.
What was the process you went through. Did you just let SC know and then contact each creditor to explain what was happening with new budgets etc? I'm pretty sure we can increase the payments to everyone in August, but am concerned they won't accept the DMP when its self managed. Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks.

We spoke to StepChange and explained we wanted to go solo and asked them for all of the contact details for the creditors. They sent us a full list and we then prepared our own I&E via NED CAB and wrote to each creditor explaining we were managing our own DMP and please find new I&E etc. NED CAB provides all letter templates etc and the creditors were all fine with it.

I think they maybe like the idea the letter still mentions CAB so think you are getting advice from someone, when really you do it all yourself online!

If any creditor doesn't play ball, we just tell them we have some financial problems and we can only make token payments for a few months. It's amazing how 3 months of £1 a month can bring on some defaults

scared1

Halifax did the same thing with me and when I spoke to them on the phone they said they can only reduce interest as my payment was too high. In the end they passed it onto a debt collection agencey and all interest then stopped. I think it helped that I missed a couple of payments due to emergency car repairs and this was what the halifax guy told me would mean it got passed on to debt collector. I said oh good because they will stop the interest. Had a bit of a struggle with them.

BevieB

BevieB wrote: »

Hello all, Had a cra--y day today. Someone has driven into the side of our car and driven off. The back wing, bumper and passenger door are all dented. This was the icing on the cake, we had only just got the car back from the garage where needed 2 new tyres, service and a list an arm long.Our excess is £350 plus all the other costs!!!!!
Does any one know if Stepchange can return any of the payments that have been just sent as I know they don't pay them out until after the 25th. If they can could get us out o a hole

Rang SC they have arranged to return most of our payment for this month. Just waiting to hear what the damage will be.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

BevieB wrote: »

Rang SC they have arranged to return most of our payment for this month. Just waiting to hear what the damage will be.

Well done for sorting the rescue plan and hopefully the information will help others in the future.

HHx

Julie67

Hi all,

TTFTM thanks so much for the info. I'm going to have a look at the cab website tonight. Definitely going to go this route, just going to get the first 6 months under our belt. I'm hoping I get a job soon and our circumstances will be vastly improved that way we can throw a lot more at the debt and most importantly we will be in control. Thanks again.

antonic

I have had email confirmation from Payplan today to confirm that I am DF.

The email has been printed & stored in a safe place for posterity.

Today I tried to log into my Payplan account and got a message of "Your password has expired" - therefore I must be DF as my account has been closed !

I have done it, so I know YOU can all do it as well

Still_skint

That must be a great feeling.

My DMP is still in it's infancy. Some of my creditors have accepted however some still add interest and charges which means I owe more now than when I started.

I'll get there in the end.:money:

antonic

It sure does feel great , but you will find out the easiest way to cope with a DMP is to change your mindset about spending.

Once I did that , it became a bit easier.

Still_skint wrote: »

That must be a great feeling.

My DMP is still in it's infancy. Some of my creditors have accepted however some still add interest and charges which means I owe more now than when I started.

I'll get there in the end.:money:

poohbear59

I feel a bit stupid. Lioydstsb still won't accept or answer my letters but I did eventually speak to someone who knew what was going on. She questioned the fact that Payplan had sent me letters to send out and weren't doing it themselves. I rang Payplan and have now found out I am not on a DMP yet as our available income after necessesities is too low for a DMP. Our surplus was -£26 and is now ......drum roll please.... £18 I have to laugh or I will cry.

Is there another thread for those on so little they can't afford a DMP? Or can I stay here to learn more before my DMP starts?

Find_The_Real

Hello Poohbear

Sorry to hear that Payplan weren't entirely clear about the DMP process. Generally it would be best to make token payments until you are in a position to have some more disposable income to throw at the debts. The NE Cab have some great advice on their website about dealing with it all direct

http://mymoney.nedcab.org.uk/moneyadvice/

I'm sure a few others will come along soon with some good advice as not everyone on here is using a free charity and quite a few are sorting it out by themselves.