starting DMP a few questions

head_above_water

I have finally took control of my financial mess. After months, ( years to be honest) of robbing peter to pay Paul, borrowing more money to make loan payments and generally putting my head in the sand I called step change. as I have an income but payments are more than what I earn a DMP was suggested.
so far I have send all my creditors a token payment ( scary), opened a basic bank account and printed off direct debits to start moving over. I have cancelled sky subscription and mobile phone, changed gas provider to get a better deal, I finally feel I am doing something to sort this mess out. I have a few questions
1. sometimes I earn overtime at work, but it isn't consistent, I have a normal payslip and an overtime one and a letter to say what my basic pay is. will they take the basic pay, last months ( which had overtime) or an average. I don't want to commit to a figure when I know the overtime is not there all the time.

2. Is life insurance classed as an essential, as I have a mortgage?

3. My mum is in a nursing home and they take all her pensions etc and she has just £17 a week for herself, she has bad feet and needs a chiropodist once a month, as she doesn't have a "need" like diabetes she has to pay this herself but can't so I pay it, is this allowed on DMP

4. When will the letters and phone calls stop, ? this is the main reason for me taking control as they are making me ill, I get at least 12 a day and they just won't stop.
Thank you

sharp82

1. Work out an average of what you earn over the year, and put that down as your income. Do they actually want to see payslips? Payplan didn't

2. As long as its reasonably priced, they should allow it

3. How much is it? Put it down in the prescriptions bit, and see if they question it... dont mention its for someone else

4. How long is a piece of string! I'd give it 2/3 months before everything settles down.

Julie67

Good luck on your DMP come along and join us on the DMP support thread, lots of fantastic support and advice.

DS4215

sharp82 wrote: »

1. Work out an average of what you earn over the year, and put that down as your income. Do they actually want to see payslips? Payplan didn't

Use your basic wage for your DMP calculations. Any overtime you earn, you can always put towards F&F offers to the people you owe (save it up), but if you use an average and the overtime dries up you will be short...

misterbarlow

i have fluctuating overtime, and stepchage only took my definite regular pay into account..

Mort

head_above_water wrote: »

I have a few questions
1. sometimes I earn overtime at work, but it isn't consistent, I have a normal payslip and an overtime one and a letter to say what my basic pay is. will they take the basic pay, last months ( which had overtime) or an average. I don't want to commit to a figure when I know the overtime is not there all the time.

I was with Payplan, they were just interested in my regular income - no overtime.

head_above_water wrote: »

2. Is life insurance classed as an essential, as I have a mortgage?

If it is what covers your mortgage then it should, my endowment policy was allowed.

head_above_water wrote: »

3. My mum is in a nursing home and they take all her pensions etc and she has just £17 a week for herself, she has bad feet and needs a chiropodist once a month, as she doesn't have a "need" like diabetes she has to pay this herself but can't so I pay it, is this allowed on DMP

Strictly speaking no but if you were to say the cost is yours they probably wont query it if the cost is not too high.

head_above_water wrote: »

4. When will the letters and phone calls stop, ? this is the main reason for me taking control as they are making me ill, I get at least 12 a day and they just won't stop.
Thank you

It can take a while for the calls to stop but they do, eventually.

Congratulations on taking this step. A DMP is not an easy option but it can get the job done, I found that the worst thing was just the steady plod of the debts gradually reducing.