DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Cekaelta wrote: »

Hello helpful people,

I don't think I've posted in this thread before, but I have in the debt-free forum. So a quick summary: OH has been on a DMP (with a fee paying company) since 2010 for 3 debts (2 credit cards & 1 overdraft). We finally sent out the letters required to change his DMP to a self-managed one through NEDCAB on Tues 4th Feb (letter to DMP company cancelling & to each creditor informing them the management of the DMP was changing and asking for up to date balances & payment info) .

Yesterday he got the first response. It's from Moorgate Loans Servicing (his smallest creditor-around £750 still owed) and all it says is 'Upon receipt of this letter it is essential that you contact me on the above number.' OH is not willing to speak to the debt companies on the phone-he had quite a lot of issues with doorstop collectors, constant phone calls & the usual threats etc during the early stages of setting up the original DMP & his fear of having to deal with that again is a big part of why it has taken so long for him to move away from the fee-charging DMP. He doesn't want the companies to have his phone number and he wants all communication on paper so there are proper records. So basically after advice on what to put in the next letter & whether he can insist communication is by letter only?

Thanks

Hi


It will get better


Yes letter only is fine. Send them notification and tell them any more contact other than in letter will result in your reporting them for harassment to the FOS.


If they do it report them.


They will run off.


HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Suseka wrote: »

Hi all and welcome to all the new DMPers

I've been off the boards for a long time, but still plodding on with the DMP. As you can see from my signature things are moving along reasonably well. The only creditor who is refusing to play 'nice' is Halifax and I'm still battling to get them to stop charging interest. But i shall persevere.

It's been a tough few months... my sister was diagnosed with the dreaded 'C'. It's a rare type and she has had two major operations already; with a further one planned for later in the year (to remove more tumours). Its a case of taking it one day at a time and I have to admit has taken its toll on my mental state somewhat.

Anyway. Its a new year and I must catch up with the DMP thread and see how everyone is getting on

Sorry to hear about your sister.


Glad to see your figures are going in the right direction.


HHx

Woodypuddy

Hi, just thought I would post a quick update on my position. I read the forum every day and it is a great source of support. I really can't believe I have come so far since my LBM in mid Jan.

DMP starting with Step Change on 1st March and received news from MBNA today that they have accepted the proposed figure and will freeze interest on both accounts (one was ex Virgin). I just feel so happy that my 2 biggest debts (15k and 11k) have agreed.

Fingers crossed for the others now - Barclaycard (next 2 biggest) and Tesco both wrote to say they would freeze for a month whilst they wait to hear about the DMP and I haven't heard a dickey bird from Santander despite 3 letters (they are my smallest debt at 2k)

Baking an apple cake now to celebrate

X

Sazzie23

Woodypuddy wrote: »

Hi, just thought I would post a quick update on my position. I read the forum every day and it is a great source of support. I really can't believe I have come so far since my LBM in mid Jan.

DMP starting with Step Change on 1st March and received news from MBNA today that they have accepted the proposed figure and will freeze interest on both accounts (one was ex Virgin). I just feel so happy that my 2 biggest debts (15k and 11k) have agreed.

Fingers crossed for the others now - Barclaycard (next 2 biggest) and Tesco both wrote to say they would freeze for a month whilst they wait to hear about the DMP and I haven't heard a dickey bird from Santander despite 3 letters (they are my smallest debt at 2k)

Baking an apple cake now to celebrate

X

Great News WoodyP - enjoy the cake

Hi Suseka - thanks for calling in, its helpful to hear from longerterm DMPers that it is possible to keep going, I hope your battles with Halifax pay off soon.

You should be able to put your strength into supporting sister without having to battle the creditors, & I hope that her battles are also successful. You know where we are if you need someone to rant at.

Cekealta - would it be worth mentioing in the 'only contact me by letter' letter that there were previous issues in being contacted by phone, it puts massive amount of stress on OH and this is the reason for letter only contact ?

Well done for moving away from fee-paying, I'm sure lots of lurkers of this thread will be motivated by your move to self-managed, thanks for sharing and good luck with it.

Catandy - Yippee a success with Aqua, very hard to do from what I hear, and they sound so helpful in their adverts:mad:

Once again this thread has shown itself to be exactly what is says on the tin, mutual support - thanks everyone, enjoy Sunday. :j

Cekaelta

Thanks HH & Sazzie, will get another letter out this week then making written contact only clear. No replies from the others yet, but I'm sure they'll suddenly get in touch when they don't get paid, which they won't if they don't give us updated payment details!

RebelRed

Hey guys!

I'm nicci and I am so pleased I have come across this thread!

We were struggling with debt for so long so decided to speak to Stepchange who have been wonderful. I won't lie, it was the hardest phone call I've ever made and there was a lot of tears shed that day! We've set up a DMP and our first payment goes on the 10th March (so still VERY early days) but I'm so stressed and worried about all the calls/letters I'm receiving. My biggest worry is that some of the creditors won't accept the terms and we just fall deeper into debt. Luckily none of our debt is secured on our home (THANK GOD) but I'm still a bag of nerves sitting and waiting for news.
Vanquis have been lovely, the lady explained that until they receive the paperwork from stepchange they can't freeze the account but she would put a block on the account for 4wks to stop people contacting me and allowing enough time for sc to be in touch with them.
New Look have been horrible, this is what lead me to look for advice and support as I just wanted to cry. He was very abrupt, told me he wouldn't accept my sc ref num and I needed to make a payment. I also have a next account, littlewoods, very and isme accounts and with them being similar companies I'm really worried. I suppose I feel ashamed as it's my fault we're in this position and why should people help us?!

I suppose I'm just wanting someone who understands to tell me it's going to be alright.

On Friday the 14th we managed to buy a sensible full weeks food shop for the first time in months (we were currently coping on £25pw for me, my husband and 3 young children) that feeling was absolutely bliss and I want to be able to continue to do that.

I'm sorry, I'm waffling on now and I'm sure you get sick of the same thing! It feels so good to get that all of my chest though so thank you!!! :beer:

spendaholic

My fee-paying DMP company closed my account last June, apparently, but they forgot to mention that to me until November. I was unable to meet monthly payments for several months, and then when I could make a payment, they declined it. Twice.

If they closed the account, does that mean I'm no longer tied to them? Step Change are currently looking at things for me, but they need information that Valour Financial are being funny about releasing. You know, like my account numbers and stuff ...

I've had to write a proper letter to VF, which they won't get or act on for a few days, but they did say once they'd received the letter they could email the information to me.

Is this usual when trying to leave a DMP fee-paying company? Is there anything else I need to be doing? Thanks for any help and advice.

2spicy

Hi all the new members ... I have seen a few people who are starting out having a lot of grief and horrible phone calls..

Just remember...
At the end of the day, you cannot give them what you donot have. They can be rude, nasty, threatening but if you donot have it (or say you donot have it), no one can question that.

We had a load of grief when we first started out.. calls asking for "just one more payment" .... Tell them no. You are entitled to have money to live, and yes you accept your in debt and managing that debt, and they will HAVE TO WAIT until your in a better financial situation.

Donot get intimidated, why should you be upset.. you've already shed the tears before you started with your DMP. Be strong, tell them firmly "NO". and make the payments when you can afford it, or as set out in your DMP.

Some lenders are understanding, others not so. always be polite, and if you need support, please remember, were all here for the same reason.... there is a lot of knowledge and experience here, no question is a stupid one (weve all be stupid, thats why were here), now were all in this together as it were, and all working to become debt free.

jubilee14

Hi all not been on for a while but still checking in.

following car repair works which i had to reclaim most of my DMP payment in january. I am now according to my creditors behind on my payments BUT Hfx havent charged interest for the last two statements. They have also formally closed my account and wont be giving me a new card ** Shame lol**

Have been delaying updating my sig as hfx loaded more fees on in Dec as the revised Income and Expen wsnt sent out in time but maybe thats whats prompted the free interest and oooh could they be going to default me???? please do!

So for the newbies it does still have roller coaster moments but as 2spicy says cant have what you havent got and if you like me find an unexpected cost SC do give you money back .... which the creditors would never do!

with car now MOT'd and another £200 out the door seem to be back on an even keel for now.

so keep on plugging it will be worth it in the end.

Just to say to Niccired25 - dont know how you managed on £25 per week for your family but it will help when you can actually spend decent amount to feed the family. well done !

RebelRed

It's just really scary! Until I spoke to Stepchange I had no idea what the lenders could and could not do, because I was so caught up in paying them each month I fell behind with council tax and gas/electric. Thankfully I have got back on track with those as sc told me they were priority. I'm looking forward to the day I know most/all of my creditors have agreed to the dmp, I already feel better because I'm actually dealing with it rather than pretending everything is ok