DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Time_to_face_the_music

fermi wrote: »

Do people think a separate dedicated thread for posting experiences on getting charges and interest frozen and/or refunded would be a good idea? Plenty of good advice on here, but a dedicated place to go to see what others have managed, how they did it, who they approached and how, what complaints they made etc might be a helpful resource to supplement this thread?

Opinions?

I'd prefer for it to remain in this thread. Sometimes it's nice to just see the facts but the support in this thread makes it worthwhile reading every post.

We are currently 20 months in and have all interest and charges frozen but I have had to fight hard for it. I have and will share the information and techniques used with anyone who asks and am happy to help with letters. But we do not travel the usual route and my advice is usually to leave StepChange or Payplan and go it alone, which loses you some support but gives you so much more power.

Talking of which ... any chance you can add a link to the NED CAB DMP plan in your signature Fermi?

And do you know what happened to MSE Badger? He/she seems to be missing in action and it's sad to see people reporting being debt free or mortgage free and then not getting their badge

Can only echo what my twin HH has already said, thanks for all the time and effort you give us :T

LadBroke

Growurown wrote: »

Hi Ladbroke, these are some of the things we have on our list you haven't got. They may not apply to you of course. Your food/drink amount seems high, is this just for you? If this amount includes leisure activities that is one on my list you can cross off!

council tax (I'm assuming this is already included in your rent)
insurance (contents?)
prescriptions
dental
opticians/glasses/contact lenses
emergencies
pension
leisure activities
newspapers/magazines

That's a brilliant post, thank you !

Yes, Council tax is already included.
I should have thought of the dental treatment and opticians though, after all, I'm wearing glasses !
The comment about my food bill and the suggestion of adding in leisure activities and magazines helps big time, seemed extraordinarily high to me as well ... especially since I do live alone

Now then:

Can someone provide me with an e-mail address or fax number for TRITON Services (they are a Debt Collection Agency, acting on behalf of NatWest).

I would also need a landline number for NatWest Mastercard or their postal address, I'm sure their based in Southend ?

Puzzcat

LadBroke wrote: »

That's a brilliant post, thank you !

Yes, Council tax is already included.
I should have thought of the dental treatment and opticians though, after all, I'm wearing glasses !
The comment about my food bill and the suggestion of adding in leisure activities and magazines helps big time, seemed extraordinarily high to me as well ... especially since I do live alone

Now then:

Can someone provide me with an e-mail address or fax number for TRITON Services (they are a Debt Collection Agency, acting on behalf of NatWest).

I would also need a landline number for NatWest Mastercard or their postal address, I'm sure their based in Southend ?

Sorry no idea on the first one but this is the address I believe for the second..

NATWEST
CARDS CUSTOMER SERVICES
PO BOX 5747
SOUTHEND ON SEA
SS1 9AJ

AnnM48

Hi all,
As always I have been keeping up to date reading the thread, and inspired by those who are nearing the end if their DMP journey... And very thankful to all those posting advice! I'm just into my third months DMP payment. It's been a bit of a struggle sticking to the budget, but generally it's still a relief to finally be in our way to clearing our debts. Had to reduce my DMP (which I only knew was a possibility by reading this thread!) for October as both cars need serviced... Felt bad as we have only really started our plan, but stepchange were very understanding.
My biggest frustration so far has been Halifax! All other creditors have frozen interest and charges... But Halifax haven't even acknowledged the DMP and have added a further £150 charges over the past three months. I have tried phoning four times, first of all to be told that my debt is with collections, but when I tried to call them I couldn't even get through, just got an automated message to say my account is not with collections and to call normal servicing number!!! It's so frustrating! When I called back they just keep saying that they have not received the payment offer from step change, even though it had been sent four times, and step change tell me it goes electronically so can't really go missing. I'm assuming my next step is to complain to them. From others experience do you think I should just phone and put in a complaint or write to them? They certainly don't make life any easier!

Hopelessly_Hopeful

AnnM48 wrote: »

Hi all,
As always I have been keeping up to date reading the thread, and inspired by those who are nearing the end if their DMP journey... And very thankful to all those posting advice! I'm just into my third months DMP payment. It's been a bit of a struggle sticking to the budget, but generally it's still a relief to finally be in our way to clearing our debts. Had to reduce my DMP (which I only knew was a possibility by reading this thread!) for October as both cars need serviced... Felt bad as we have only really started our plan, but stepchange were very understanding.
My biggest frustration so far has been Halifax! All other creditors have frozen interest and charges... But Halifax haven't even acknowledged the DMP and have added a further £150 charges over the past three months. I have tried phoning four times, first of all to be told that my debt is with collections, but when I tried to call them I couldn't even get through, just got an automated message to say my account is not with collections and to call normal servicing number!!! It's so frustrating! When I called back they just keep saying that they have not received the payment offer from step change, even though it had been sent four times, and step change tell me it goes electronically so can't really go missing. I'm assuming my next step is to complain to them. From others experience do you think I should just phone and put in a complaint or write to them? They certainly don't make life any easier!

Hi

I has the same issue so reverted to writing which has many advantages as it's hard to prove you called them! Have you a copy of any of this in writing where you have asked them to stop charges? If not please do now. If no response in a month report them. If you have something in writing report them via a phone call to the FOS. I got a reduction to 14.9% interest but they did refund 6 months of all the other interest and late charges.

Good luck, please let us know how you get on.

HHx

AnnM48

Ok, thanks. I'll aim to have a letter off this week, will be interesting to see how long it takes them to reply, or if they'll claim not to have received letter!

Hopelessly_Hopeful

AnnM48 wrote: »

Ok, thanks. I'll aim to have a letter off this week, will be interesting to see how long it takes them to reply, or if they'll claim not to have received letter!

Recorded delivery will strengthen your case with FOS.

HHx

Mojo13

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hi Sam, I like the idea of a twin...we can be the newbie HH and TTFTM,
although it may take some time to get as knowledgeable as them !!

And 43k is where I hope to be in a few years time.... Mine is ........£59k..... Will be over £60k by the time the dmp kicks in.... so I shall be here for awhile !!!!!!

Good luck and keep posting.....:D

Hi Puzzcat,

I am just collecting my things together to send off to Stepchange to start DMP asap, my debt is around the 44k mark with at the moment predicted 19years to pay off, I'm now worried the creditors will think this is to long did you or anyone find this or do they mostly accept it. I am optimistic that I will be able to pay more on an ad-hoc basis and when the kids start school hopefully take a second job. But I really want to get this started and hopefully get back on track.

THanks for listening I was feeling so hopefully and then suddenly had this thought they might not accept it.

Mojo

:eek::eek::eek:

Puzzcat

Hi Mojo,

Welcome to the journey! I'm not sure I can answer many of your questions yet as SC will be making contact with my creditors during the next few weeks. The contact I have had with them has been minimal. I have written to them all, some more than once now with token payments so I don't miss the 28 day payment schedule. I have only had 2 phonecalls from Halifax and M & S both agreed to hold the accounts until they heard from SC.

I had one letter from M & S confirming this and one letter from Capital One requesting authorisation from me to deal with SC. I had about 4 letters from Halifax but they all said basically the same thing and they have now stopped. No contact from Natwest, Creation, RBS, or B.Card. I have checked online and postal statements and can see charges and interest being added but was expecting this at this stage until the dmp is set up. I have no idea who will or won't accept but I believe SC will continue to pay regardless even if they refuse, I shall cross this bridge when I get to it...!

My plan is approximately 8 - 9 years... but I am intending to speed it up as we go along so hope to clear in 5 - 6, but again that is dependent on interest/charges being stopped and working magic with my budget...

I will keep posting on here as I go along in the hope then anything I say may be of use to someone else!

Good Luck.
Puzz. x

Thamesmeadhammer

Just a quick question, SC have set up my DMP and I have paid my first payment to them today at the bank over the counter in cash.

Should of called SC but it's too late now and could wait till the morning but should I continue with a token payment or not bother as my DMP is under way with the first payments to be payed on 24/25th?

Have had a number of letters today that have crossed over in the post and the DMP being set up and I have responded to all so far by phone, should I carry on or should I put it in writing as well?