DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Rookoo_2

Morning all

I felt inspired to write an update today as I’m feeling pretty positive about things, which isn’t a feeling I’ve had over the past few years!

I received my first statement from StepChange this morning, was such a good feeling seeing the balances decrease… and for once I don’t have the cards so I can’t just go and spend what I’ve just paid off!

I’ve managed to pay off phone bill and car insurance arrears and a contract I had for a 3G dongle has ended so that’s an extra £36 a month for me!

I also have got myself a part time job doing bar work in a local hotel, I’m sure working 2 jobs will be tough as my main job is pretty stressful but with Christmas coming up I wanted a bit of extra cash to buy a few pressies, I’ve already set my budgets and expectations of my family… my 16 year old brother didn’t seem too impressed when I said Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones rather than having masses of presents to open, but he’ll just have to deal with that!

So all in all, it’s been a positive month, November is going to be slightly tough as I have gone over budget as I had to pay off arrears, but I’m hoping with my new bar job bringing in an extra payment each week I’ll make it through without too much worry.

Also since I’ve started this journey the phone calls from creditors have slowly decreased and I now haven’t had one in about a week, I’ve just been polite and said I’m on a DMP, retold them the details and that StepChange are dealing with my finances.

Hoping this positive feeling continues… so glad I’m finally dealing with something I should have dealt with a long time ago.

:rotfl:

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Rookoo wrote: »

Morning all

I felt inspired to write an update today as I’m feeling pretty positive about things, which isn’t a feeling I’ve had over the past few years!

I received my first statement from StepChange this morning, was such a good feeling seeing the balances decrease… and for once I don’t have the cards so I can’t just go and spend what I’ve just paid off!

I’ve managed to pay off phone bill and car insurance arrears and a contract I had for a 3G dongle has ended so that’s an extra £36 a month for me!

I also have got myself a part time job doing bar work in a local hotel, I’m sure working 2 jobs will be tough as my main job is pretty stressful but with Christmas coming up I wanted a bit of extra cash to buy a few pressies, I’ve already set my budgets and expectations of my family… my 16 year old brother didn’t seem too impressed when I said Christmas is about spending time with your loved ones rather than having masses of presents to open, but he’ll just have to deal with that!

So all in all, it’s been a positive month, November is going to be slightly tough as I have gone over budget as I had to pay off arrears, but I’m hoping with my new bar job bringing in an extra payment each week I’ll make it through without too much worry.

Also since I’ve started this journey the phone calls from creditors have slowly decreased and I now haven’t had one in about a week, I’ve just been polite and said I’m on a DMP, retold them the details and that StepChange are dealing with my finances.

Hoping this positive feeling continues… so glad I’m finally dealing with something I should have dealt with a long time ago.

:rotfl:

Welcome and well done, immense relief I can imagine.

Just a word of caution - SC statement is a guesstimate based on the creditors freezing interest so please don't rely on this as a matter of accounting. Suggest as you do as many of us have and set up your own log or spreadsheet and details what's on your actual statements from the creditors so you don't get any nasty surprises.

Onwards and Upwards.

HHx

Rookoo_2

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Welcome and well done, immense relief I can imagine.

Just a word of caution - SC statement is a guesstimate based on the creditors freezing interest so please don't rely on this as a matter of accounting. Suggest as you do as many of us have and set up your own log or spreadsheet and details what's on your actual statements from the creditors so you don't get any nasty surprises.

Onwards and Upwards.

HHx

Thank you for the advice, I did check all my balances and updated my balances on SC online, but I guess I did just assume all my creditors would want to freeze interest! Probably not a good assumption to make!

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Rookoo wrote: »

Thank you for the advice, I did check all my balances and updated my balances on SC online, but I guess I did just assume all my creditors would want to freeze interest! Probably not a good assumption to make!

Don't want to be the bearer of bad news but given your projected DFD is only 16 months away that may be unlikely.

HHx

Growurown

:hello: Afternoon all. Everybody seems to be on a positive today:j It is good to hear some good news because when we got up this morning we found a long line of oil down the road and a pool of oil under the car.

So have had to pay to have it towed and the garage are looking at it now. This is just after having paid to have the wheel bearings done and a new timing belt:eek::eek: Plus the MOT is due on my car this week too. I can feel palpitations coming on already.

Anyhoo I have called the lovely Step Change people and they are going to delay taking my direct debit until the 10th. At that point I should know what the damage is and will have to drop my payment to the creditors again this month. Not the end of the world though, it will just mean a few grumpy letters from the creditors and all back to normal next month.

So on we go along our DMP road until we are debt free:j I can't wait:D

rizla_king

Anyone got the templates for complaining to get interest and charges stopped?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4805101

jubilee14

ah GUO that car of yours certainly puts you through the mill doesnt it. But the joy of the DMP and its flexibility is great.

Here's hoping the car behaves at MOT.

Puzzcat

rizla_king wrote: »

Anyone got the templates for complaining to get interest and charges stopped?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4805101

I have posted the details I posted on here last week. I did also suggest this morning that they pop over here for advice....

Growurown

jubilee14 wrote: »

ah GUO that car of yours certainly puts you through the mill doesnt it. But the joy of the DMP and its flexibility is great.

Here's hoping the car behaves at MOT.

It certainly does. There would have been a time when circumstances like these would have stressed me out completely, but not now. I keep those palpitations at bay! OH on the other hand..............:rotfl::rotfl:

mon1o

Hi everyone

I started in a DMP with stepchange in 2012. Ive been making my payments and paid nearly £5000 towards my debts. In reality this equates to £2200 of debt cleared due to the fact that some creditors have not stopped the interest accruals. I posted a thread on the board last night because I felt so low about this it just seems like I'm getting nowhere fast. My DFD is estimated as 2019 but even this seems unrealistic at the moment given the amount I need to clear and the length of time its taking.

Everyone has been so helpful and I was directed here for some more support and advice. I have obtained the letter from a post earlier in this thread to send to creditors and I will send this off this week to the lenders concerned. I am also getting calls all day everyday from 2 lenders in particular who I have (in the past) requested do not contact me via telephone and only in writing.

I just feel like I am struggling at the moment and thanks to the people on this board I have found some motivation to cut back even more and try and increase what I can pay. I have a mid year review booked in with stepchange for friday evening.

I havent read through this thread yet but I will (with a cup of tea in hand) and I will post back later on.