DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

poohbear59

Thamesmeadhammer wrote: »

DMP making my life easier, an unexpected £200 from Barclaycard for a PPI claim and then POW!!! Our self employed electrician son doesn't get paid and is owed for 6 weeks work, Washing machine packs up and I can't fix it this time and I get home to a letter from Mercers a debt agency working on behalf of Barclaycard. Rung Stepchange who said that Mercers are part of Barclays and was told to put the letter to one side and let SC deal with it :T (Standard procedure from Barclaycard).
Well that's one out of three sorted, roll on Christmas:beer:

I had a letter from Mercers too. I phoned them and was told to just file the letter as it is set out as a matter of course. It did have me very worried.



Last week we received a legacy ad as a result of this I can afford to pay off some debts. I phoned Payplan and was recommended to offer half what I owe or even less. has anyone else had recent experience of full and final settlements?
I feel that I should pay off some in full and leave the rest until I can afford to pay but realise I should pay an equal percentage to all.

ANewLeaf

Hopelessly_Hopeful wrote: »

Hi


Payments can be made on the 1st or the 10th I think. Personally I'd do a reduced payment this month as it's your first year you haven't been able to build up a reserve and have a 6 year old to consider. Give SC a call and ask what your options are. It's your money. You may get some hassle but it will sort itself out. If you do reduce it make sure you write to the creditors too, don't just rely on SC.


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

HHx

Thanks for the advice, phoned stepchange this morning they have reduced my monthly payment by 161 starting this month, will make Christmas and every other month a little bit easier. Worried about it all night then couldn't believe it was all sorted in ten mins this morning, just goes to show how helpful the staff at Step Change are!

Anyone else worrying about their budget please don't out it off, they are there to help!'

Hopelessly_Hopeful

ANewLeaf wrote: »

Thanks for the advice, phoned stepchange this morning they have reduced my monthly payment by 161 starting this month, will make Christmas and every other month a little bit easier. Worried about it all night then couldn't believe it was all sorted in ten mins this morning, just goes to show how helpful the staff at Step Change are!

Anyone else worrying about their budget please don't out it off, they are there to help!'

Glad you got sorted. I'm the first one to moan about the lack of consistency and informality of DMPs but the positive side is at least it allows flexibility. Once we know the score that is


HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

poohbear59 wrote: »

I had a letter from Mercers too. I phoned them and was told to just file the letter as it is set out as a matter of course. It did have me very worried.



Last week we received a legacy ad as a result of this I can afford to pay off some debts. I phoned Payplan and was recommended to offer half what I owe or even less. has anyone else had recent experience of full and final settlements?
I feel that I should pay off some in full and leave the rest until I can afford to pay but realise I should pay an equal percentage to all.

Good luck with this. Plenty of posts on the F&F. Advice generally is start at 30% and work up, negotiate. If they wont play ball move onto the next one.


Please let us know how you get on.


HHx

Sazzie23

poohbear59 wrote: »

I had a letter from Mercers too. I phoned them and was told to just file the letter as it is set out as a matter of course. It did have me very worried.



Last week we received a legacy ad as a result of this I can afford to pay off some debts. I phoned Payplan and was recommended to offer half what I owe or even less. has anyone else had recent experience of full and final settlements?
I feel that I should pay off some in full and leave the rest until I can afford to pay but realise I should pay an equal percentage to all.

Great news Poohbear, I doesn't make up for grief but the person who left it for you would surely want you to make the most of it. Paying off some will enable you to pay the others faster so get the best deal you can. Remember you have probably already paid oodles of interest and charges at some point

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Morning all


Hope everyone is ok and managing on budget.

Just thought it worth mentioning, when I can, I buy extra meat at this time of year as mega bargains to be had. I bought a decent leg joint of pork for £6 from Mr T at the weekend. Cooked, carved, added gravy to containers and sorted into 10 portions in the freezer. Only works out at 60p a portion and makes sure I eat proper food.

Also my first year on DMP I'd been given some money and I accessed some of the emergency fund and bought some presents to put away for the year after in the sales. Again, lots saved by buying things in advance.

I do appreciate budgets are tight but worth considering where we can to get ahead of ourselves and will give more room for slack later.

Have a good day all


HHx

Sazzie23

Thanks HH

Good advice, eating well on a budget is still important.
Off to look at my new allotment this week....(bit scared though)

Jim3960

Hi All,

Long time lurker, it was about time i posted.

My DMP is with CCCS, which is now Step Change and they are great. Really great. Every time we call we get a great service. If only i got the same service from the bank.

Half the debt is gaining interest and i can't understand why some accounts do and some don't. As a couple we had two separate accounts with the same bank and had overdrafts of similar amounts but I pay interest and she doesn't?!

Great feeling when you get that statement and do the maths, we have several due to finish in a few months.

If you are thinking about starting a DMP, do it.

Really enjoy the thread, good motivation.

Jim

Time_to_face_the_music

Jim3960 wrote: »

Hi All,

Long time lurker, it was about time i posted.

My DMP is with CCCS, which is now Step Change and they are great. Really great. Every time we call we get a great service. If only i got the same service from the bank.

Half the debt is gaining interest and i can't understand why some accounts do and some don't. As a couple we had two separate accounts with the same bank and had overdrafts of similar amounts but I pay interest and she doesn't?!

Great feeling when you get that statement and do the maths, we have several due to finish in a few months.

If you are thinking about starting a DMP, do it.

Really enjoy the thread, good motivation.

Jim

Hi Jim and welcome :hello:

Have you made official complaints about your debts which are still charging interest? If you haven't and you need any advice or help with template letters, please let us know.

it's great to hear things are going well and hop you stay out of lurkdom and visit us more often

Puzzcat

Originally Posted by Sazzie23
Hi all, back again

came across this post on the DFW forum board
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/....php?t=4818729

Might interest some of the readers here.

Hope its OK to post the link here

Puzzcat wrote: »

I forwarded my details for this and have got an interview with them next week.... quite excited sadly as I have never talked about my debt with real people before....

I had my interview today, it was so bizarre speaking about my debts and how I had got to where I am today with my dmp etc.. It was very theraputic, pretty much like free therapy and they paid me... I cannot stress how much mse and particularly this thread has helped me and would like all posters to give themselves a :T.