DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 9

sunnyskies2

Hi Fuzzy

I would clear out any money asap and put in a 'safe' place until you have set up new bank account - even if it means holding onto cash, cancel direct debits, then tell Halifax. That way any money for living expenses can't be taken by any creditors.

I cancelled my direct debits last week with the payee and bank - they will write and ask for any missed payments - when you have new bank account set up you can catch up with any unpaid. My change over seems to be going smoothly at the moment:)

Sarah

Puzzcat

Capital one were no problem for me and bc are at the moment not charging interest but not defaulted so a watch this space moment! Halifax sold to a dca within first 3 months and no interest, so again a different representation....sometimes there appears to be no pattern to how creditors work....
Good luck all newbies and stick around for the ride.
Puzz.x

Kate_fixing_it

Oooh you've all been busy while I've been in vampire movie and school trousers buying land!

I think MB pretty much summed up all 5 movies - I've sat through two and then the TV threw a hissy fit and cut all sound - an hour of plugging/unplugging, swapping settings and various uncoordinated button pressing and it's working again!

Big hello to Fuzz :waves: you'll love this thread, heaps of advice and support and you'll be spared my bizarre ramblings soon as I'll be back at work in a fortnight.

Sunnyskies: the number plates thing has shocked me, very lucrative and I'm really lucky to have acquired mine with the car but IMO it's a pointless status symbol - especially mine (X99 XXX and doesn't spell anything, just makes my car look older than it is with no personal significance) but I'm not complaining if someone wants it!

Monkeyballs: you've shed some light on my barclaycard situation, their share from my DMP is £2 less than 1% of the balance. What a ridiculous policy! Surely anyone in a DMP is struggling to clear debt regardless of what's available.

Hope you are reading this any perhaps smiling at your fame Sazzie and feeling a little better.

And finally...VERY successful shopping trip for me. Went for one thing and came back with that item and nothing more! It's the first time I've allowed myself a browse since the day I called SC. Mostly because I need to walk about more and build my strength - there's only so far I can walk around the house. Was nice to wander round chatting with DD1 too. I totally forgot she's officially left school and was yelling at her to hurry up this morning and making threats about no lifts etc before she reminded me :rotfl: I have today been informed that I'm a fun mum and I'm cooler than her...instantly undone by saying "yeah, I'm down with the kids" and singing in the lift at Asda Home

Pretty good day really

Kate x

FuzzyDF

sunnyskies2 wrote: »

Hi Fuzzy

I would clear out any money asap and put in a 'safe' place until you have set up new bank account - even if it means holding onto cash, cancel direct debits, then tell Halifax. That way any money for living expenses can't be taken by any creditors.

I cancelled my direct debits last week with the payee and bank - they will write and ask for any missed payments - when you have new bank account set up you can catch up with any unpaid. My change over seems to be going smoothly at the moment:)

Sarah

Thank you, sorry for all the questions. I'm opening a new bank account (tomorrow) using a 7 day DD switching service. Should I then ring Halifax and tell them that I cannot pay the overdraft off, the Credit card and the Clarity loan which they recently offered me. I have a Step Change reference number, do I just give them that?

There is nothing for them to take out, no savings!

Apologies for all the questions. Last week I was so low I was thinking about doing silly things because of the debt until I came across this thread and admitted to myself there is a problem.

The only thing that worries me is any court action, debt collectors from Halifax. Is that something that could happen?

Puzzcat

FuzzyDF wrote: »

Thank you, sorry for all the questions. I'm opening a new bank account (tomorrow) using a 7 day DD switching service. Should I then ring Halifax and tell them that I cannot pay the overdraft off, the Credit card and the Clarity loan which they recently offered me. I have a Step Change reference number, do I just give them that?

There is nothing for them to take out, no savings!

Apologies for all the questions. Last week I was so low I was thinking about doing silly things because of the debt until I came across this thread and admitted to myself there is a problem.

The only thing that worries me is any court action, debt collectors from Halifax. Is that something that could happen?

Just ensure that your current creditor dd's are not included In the switch over!!!
As for possible court action etc.etc. Don't worry about what may never happen and concentrate on the here and now. Make sure your budget is liveable with wiggle room and possibly delay your start up with token payments for a few months to allow yourself an emergency fund and to get used to the budget.
Puzz.x

Monkeyballs

Growurown wrote: »

Yup definitely bonkers. What are you on? Can I have some too please?;)

That'd be a wonderful blend of Cocodamol, Naproxen, Amitriptyline mixed with hay fever stuff and on occasion... Tramadol Oh, and my wonderful life :money:

Kate_fixing_it wrote: »

Monkeyballs: you've shed some light on my barclaycard situation, their share from my DMP is £2 less than 1% of the balance. What a ridiculous policy! Surely anyone in a DMP is struggling to clear debt regardless of what's available

Yup... I was chatting to a lovely lady in their customer service dept. today and without saying as much she made it pretty clear that she thought it was bonkers too LOL

FuzzyDF wrote: »

Thank you, sorry for all the questions. I'm opening a new bank account (tomorrow) using a 7 day DD switching service. Should I then ring Halifax and tell them that I cannot pay the overdraft off, the Credit card and the Clarity loan which they recently offered me. I have a Step Change reference number, do I just give them that?

There is nothing for them to take out, no savings!

Apologies for all the questions. Last week I was so low I was thinking about doing silly things because of the debt until I came across this thread and admitted to myself there is a problem.

The only thing that worries me is any court action, debt collectors from Halifax. Is that something that could happen?

Honestly.... I'd take out any money you have (including remaining overdraft if this is what you are living off of) and then call them and call and give them your DMP ref.

At the end of the day it's just another debt

As for what they'll do? I don't know but someone may have an idea... Personally I suspect they'll b*tch and moan but ultimately accept your payments from SC... If it's sold on to a DCA then great, they'll be easier to deal with probably

You're stressing which is understandable, you're asking the same questions that everyone else has done in the past ask away it's why we're all here

MB of G x

blisteringblue

Monkeyballs wrote: »

I'm a bit lost LOL I don't expect the FOS to uphold my complain (although it would be nice) but why oh why does BC seem to treat everyone in such different ways?

I agree MB, ours is a joint DMP and my Barclaycard has been frozen with balance of 10k and a payment roughly 1.85%, Whereas my wife with a balance of 4k and a similar % is paying the 0.5% like you.

I'm in 2 minds just to leave it because if I complain they may add it to mine too.

In the grand scheme of things though we reduced the interest on the cards from almost £800 a month :eek: to around £30 now. So no wonder we are loving the DMP

Monkeyballs

blisteringblue wrote: »

I agree MB, ours is a joint DMP and my Barclaycard has been frozen with balance of 10k and a payment roughly 1.85%, Whereas my wife with a balance of 4k and a similar % is paying the 0.5% like you.

I'm in 2 minds just to leave it because if I complain they may add it to mine too.

In the grand scheme of things though we reduced the interest on the cards from almost £800 a month :eek: to around £30 now. So no wonder we are loving the DMP

LOL madness...

I think in your shoes, knowing what I do now I'd just leave it too - apparently each agreement is reviewed every 12 months anyway so enjoy it for as long as it lasts I say

Plus, to be fair a saving of £770 per month is worth having

MB

Powered_By_Pies

Monkeyballs wrote: »

Hi,

So... Barclaycard...

I've made a complaint re. the interest being charged and also them having put AR on my credit file instead of just defaulting.

I got a call today from (actually a very sweet lady who seemed to be on my side) telling me that the complaint cannot be upheld as I'm paying more than 1% of my balance so interest is appropriate? Also that as I'm in a DMP it's an unofficial arrangement to pay (hence AR marker) and will get a final rejection to me within the next 3-4 weeks as it comes out from a different dept. within the organisation?

Honestly she seemed to contradict herself quite a lot but as she sounded so sweet and when I said I'd probably complain to the FOS as well she said I might as well LOL

Now, my DMP payments have reduced and I'll be paying @ 0.5% of my balance each month for an unknown (but hopefully short) period of time and she said that they may after 6 months of the reduced payment either default or freeze interest!

I'm a bit lost LOL I don't expect the FOS to uphold my complain (although it would be nice) but why oh why does BC seem to treat everyone in such different ways?

MB of G x

Thing we'd probably find a lot of these call centre people are on our side when it cones to things like that - I'm a tech rep in the customer service department for a big online bike retailer and when people email in and complain about something, I find myself agreeing with a lot of what they're saying.... But I still can't help them because of the ludicrous systems put in place in the company!

That's why I try and talk fairly to anyone on the phone and have only snapped once at one guy from NatWest who wasn't listening to me and kept trying to shut me out and talk over me. I shot him down in 5 seconds flat.

In other news...

I sat down today and did a couple of sums and things are looking good and on track. I'm having a little bit of a hard Tim sticking to budget but it's not been by as much as last month - I'm working out a way I can get round that.

But, final car finance payment goes out next month so that frees up about £165 a month. I get a pay rise in September at my job, so.... I think this month (what with it being my birthday in the next couple of days :-p ) I'll be getting myself a bike on cycle to work!

It makes sense to do it now. Because I work for a bike retailer I can get it on C2W with the discount applied, and then it'll start chipping down on my fuel costs. It'll be one of our own-brand bikes as well, so that takes the cost down even further as we can cut out the middle man of the supplier and get direct from manufacturer. Plus it's a bit silly that out of all the tech-heads advising on bikes and parts in my department, I'm the only one who doesn't actually have a bike! :eek:

Plus I had some good news on the cambelt for my car - I was getting ready to fork out the best part of £400 for it to be done at my local garage, when a friend at work checked with a mate who's a mechanic and has all the tools and he's happy to do it for £249, parts and labour included!

I could get used to this bargain hunting malarky!

Time_to_face_the_music

blisteringblue wrote: »

I agree MB, ours is a joint DMP and my Barclaycard has been frozen with balance of 10k and a payment roughly 1.85%, Whereas my wife with a balance of 4k and a similar % is paying the 0.5% like you.

I'm in 2 minds just to leave it because if I complain they may add it to mine too.

In the grand scheme of things though we reduced the interest on the cards from almost £800 a month :eek: to around £30 now. So no wonder we are loving the DMP

Monkeyballs wrote: »

LOL madness...

I think in your shoes, knowing what I do now I'd just leave it too - apparently each agreement is reviewed every 12 months anyway so enjoy it for as long as it lasts I say

Plus, to be fair a saving of £770 per month is worth having

MB

I can understand the letting sleeping dogs lie approach but just two little comments from me:

1) The FOS does not take kindly to a creditor treating two accounts differently under the same DMP, so if you ever do decide to fight it, you can do it with this in mind.

2) Some creditors expect a 6 monthly review, not 12 months, so keep an eye on this as they can and will use a lack of review as an excuse to restart interest.

TTFTM x