DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

inbetweener

Evening all,

Had a half hour chat with step change today, very helpful, let me amend my food budget from 200 to 300 without questioning it.

Has anyone got a link to the co-op account that a majority of people have signed up to? Apologies in advance as i have seen a link somewhere on here but cant find it

Allypops

Find_The_Real wrote: »

Hello all

Shamefully borrowed from another thread but for all those getting those phone calls - below is the best thread ever on here IMHO on how to deal with those wanting money, I still laugh over it now, especially post #40. Makes me wish they would start calling.

I remember reading out that thread to my DH one evening, I was crying with laughter and couldn't get half the words out which of course makes it even funnier :rotfl: Don't get many laughs out of my own dealing with creditors though :cool:

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Mossop01 wrote: »

Hi HH, thanks for advice, didnt know SC could do that, id rather not tho, only 1st payment, would be quite depressing if i had to do that so early, we have what we need so no excuse not to carry on as normal, i can always put it in emergency fund next month, good to know info tho incase i need to use it later. Thanks

Bear in mind for the future - it's your money and DMPs are informal arrangements not legally binding. Yes we should go with the spirit of commitment and compliance but life events do happen and things will go wrong from time to time. We don't have credit to fall back on now and few have healthy emergency funds so the DMP needs to be adjusted accordingly. I think it is the one advantage of them taking money on the 1st and not paying out until the 25th, gives some reflection and call back time. I once had to have a whole month returned, apparently you are allowed to do this a couple of times a year. Before anyone gets too giddy though remember it often triggers computer automated madness from the creditors so be prepared for a fight if you have had interest lowered or frozen.

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Time_to_face_the_music wrote: »

I wish M&S would wash their hands of me. We have paid 24.9% interest every month on one account, since starting the DMP and are panicking as we near minimum payment on the other.

Now we are self managed, I am throwing everything at the interest charging account and have it down from £5000 to just over £1000. I can't wait to see it gone in the next few months :j

Good luck with the self managed Ms TTFTM and good riddance to M&S:T

HHX

Hopelessly_Hopeful

CharliesAngel wrote: »

four years into my DMP this month... I feel like I should be celebrating or something but quite honestly I'm getting bored of it now

so.. plans are to over pay my DMP by 100 next month then 200 for four months (basic payment is 189).. to clear it by July rather than January 2014.. my budget review isn't due until July and debts outstanding aren't that horrendous, although I'm not sure why I'm in a rush to pay Nationwide back as they've been an absolute bullying/harassing/ignoring every threat to the ombudsman nightmare! It's taken some mean and scary budgeting on my part but it will be worth it, I've never been a fan of the upper limit on budgets as they never seem realistic..

I hope all of you who are starting out on your journey are coping with the logistics of moving direct debits, opening accounts and sending off token payments, it's starting to feel like television was black and white when I sent my token payments off :rotfl: the thing i've learnt is to not take anything seriously.. they could take you to court, they could send someone round, they could do this, they could do that.. blah.. do it then! :think: Having lost my mum in the last year I've got more than enough cr*p on my plate without some jumped up in house DCA idiot telling me what I already know..

Rant over.. I don't post often but when I do it's an essay

and hooorahhhh it's Friiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiday :T

CA x

Well done for getting close to the finish line

Whats the plan for afterwards?

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

RonniesMummy wrote: »

Evening!

I have been lurking all week, loads of people starting their dmp journey today with first payment going out today, well done! That was me last week, and it was lovely to log onto stepchange website on the 24th and see the statement to show your debts are being paid!!

I am juggling my finances, still have nothing in an emergency fund, and when I get paid things will still be tight, I am doing overtime a lot so hope that will help!

I am waiting on getting some money back from someone who is hard to get hold of, looking at small claims court, hope it doesn't come to that, and praying a cheque will just arrive at our door, as I so need this money to go away for an emergency!!

Just cooking tea, out of the cupboard, trying not to buy any food until the cupboards are bare this month!!

Hope everyone is well !

x

Hope the cheque comes good for you. I'm trying to eat out of the cupboards and freezer too. Really justifying anything I put in for the next few months. Decided to have a weeks holiday, first time in 5.5 years. One of things I'd campaign to change in DMP land is that you should be allowed a small allowance in the budget for a holiday pot. I think it is outrageous this is not permitted, worse still for people with dependant kids.

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

mojoback wrote: »

Hi everyone

Has anyone come across this - I checked my credit report and noted that the 2 Barclaycards (visa and mastercard) which form part of my DMP are not listed on it- this was on both noodle and experian - does anyone have any experience of this.

Sorry don't know about this but am interested. Worth be starting a new thread, there are areas that discuss credit rating. I'll be looking forward to my last couple of payments this time next year so it's something I need to start getting more information on.


Good Luck

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

dad2one wrote: »

Well, the last of my DDs left my bank account today, and what was left I took out in cash. Now to break the bad news to them... (HSBC).
The new co-op account is about to be activated so that's coming on alright. As far as I know SC are working on my DMP proposal, I only signed the forms a few days ago. I'd better tell them not to arrange any payment until I next get paid!
M&S rang me yesterday, demanding money. I told them I'm working with SC for a more affordable arrangement and the person on the phone went all 'nice' and was happy to leave me alone.
Capitol One too have been nice and agreed not to pester me.
Of course it's early days and these guys are probably yet going to lay on charges, interest, etc. But, as long people can be civil about things I'm happy. I always make a point, including in my letters, that I fully intend to pay what I owe, and am not trying to run away from my debts.
I have a loan, an overdraft, and a credit card with HSBC, and they know nothing yet of what's happening. Come Monday though... they'll not be happy.
I'll email them with my SC reference and follow it with a letter on Monday.
I expect another phone call or two, just hopefully not at work - I get no privacy there.
Anyway, I'm confident for the future, and immensely relieved to be sorting this mess out.
Good Luck all.

As Mossop says onwards and upwards! Defo all going in the right direction.

They have no right to contact you at work, you can stop this by sending them a letter to that effect and report them if they do for harassment. Just because they ask questions you dont have to answer etc. I used to be terrified then I loved it if they called as I could tackle them about the interest rate and not helping etc. Trust me the worm turns and they are the ones that want to put the phone down PDQ:rotfl:

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Find_The_Real wrote: »

Hello all

Well done to the long term people who are showing us newbies how it is done. Great to hear all the recent successes and commiserations to those that are still trying to get somewhere with the creditors, I doubt they are wanting to make life easy for us, and sorry to hear about those who just trying to survive the first few months.

I got a statement from Barclaycard showing they have stopped the interest so I'll take that as a indication they have accepted by DMP. Still nothing from the other 2 although the bank has credited it to my account.

I'm beginning to wonder if my repossession is like a top trump card or something as I have had very little contact from my creditors especially as I know the bank has a very active debt management department as I used to sometimes look after it, however I shall look upon in it a very grateful way that I am not being hounded to death.

Shamefully borrowed from another thread but for all those getting those phone calls - below is the best thread ever on here IMHO on how to deal with those wanting money, I still laugh over it now, especially post #40. Makes me wish they would start calling.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/741653

Good news on Barclaycard.

That link is fantastic, thank you, had such a good giggle with it. I thought I was bad when they used to call but I am an angel by comparison!

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

inbetweener wrote: »

Evening all,

Had a half hour chat with step change today, very helpful, let me amend my food budget from 200 to 300 without questioning it.

Has anyone got a link to the co-op account that a majority of people have signed up to? Apologies in advance as i have seen a link somewhere on here but cant find it

Glad you are getting sorted and have a larger budget.

I've got standard coop account that has a 200 overdraft facility. The purists here will say it is not allowed but I think it's fine and ocassionally have had to dip into it. The other advantage is you can apply for this one online (you cant do this with the more basic cashminder). I applied on a Saturday, called in branch with my ID on Tuesday and was set up by the Wednesday.

HHx