about to start this journey

missje74

Hi I have been reading this site for a while and thought I would say hello. I am about to start the dmp journey and have to say I am terrified.

I am a single mum to 2 great kids and feel I owe it to them to get myself sorted.

I owe 14,000 across 10 creditors including 4 payday loans. I have paperwork ready for ccs and just plucking up the courage to post it . My dfd is a very long way off but would really appreciate some advice and support along the way as feel all alone.

im worrying about losing house, pdls calling at work (have removed number from them but hear horror stories) just about everything really and its making me ill.

I know I have to start somewhere so please come say hello and maybe we can help each other x

happy_bunny_2

Hi there,

Well done for trying to get this all sorted

You will get good advice on here, so if you have any specific questions just ask.

As for calling you at work, its against OFT debt collection guidance to do so and identify themselves, so if they do you need to complain in writing.

This tells you what creditors can and can't do, and if you complain in writing every time they break these then eventually they will get the message.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/consultations/OFT664Rev_Debt_collection_g1.pdf

Good luck

HB

missje74

Thankyou, will no doubt be asking alot when things get moving x

HOK3Y

Hello missje74 and congrats on taking a step towards fixing your debt problems. There's lots of great advice here and many people who know exactly how you feel. You are definitely not alone! This is your time to dig yourself out of the mess and there are many people here who will only too happily support you on the way. There will be people on here whose stories show you that there is always someone worse off, that people can and do get themselves out of what appears to be a hopeless situation, that being afraid is understandable and normal, that YOU CAN DO IT. Don't give up or lose hope. We are here to support you and we understand. You are not alone by any stretch! X

Deep_In_Debt

Hi and Welcome.

You're in the right place for support and advice. Please do not be afraid to ask; there are a lot of helpful and knowledgeable people on this board who will help you all the way.

It will be scary at first and you will need to ride the storm in terms of creditors calling you. When I started my dmp, I would speak to each creditor once, explain that I was on a dmp, gave them my CCCS (Stepchange) ref number and told them they needed to speak to CCCS and that I would not speak to them any further and any further calls would be noted and would be classed as harrassment. I then hung up. They eventually got bored with calling me when I didn't answer my phone. I started my dmp in Jan 2008 and creditors had stopped harrassing my by Sept/Oct 2008. After that, the only contact I had from them were yearly statements.

You won't lose your house; just keep paying what you can afford, no matter how small it is, and there is little that the creditors can do.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel and you will see it shining brightly sooner than you think.

Good luck on your debt free journey.

Jemima09

Hi missje74

well done for taking the plunge, it's definitely worth it.

Just want to check that 'ccs' is a typo, and you meant 'cccs' or stepchange as they are now known. googling ccs takes me to a fee paying provider, which means you won't be paying as much towards your debts as you could.

Anyway, dmp's are hard work at first, but just remind yourself how hard it is anyway when you're being chased all the time. I started mine in mid-2009 at just over £20k, and my final payment will be in December this year

missje74

Hiya thankyou all for your kind words, kinda feel a bit better knowing im not alone, yes it was a typo ha ha (stress) I am doing it through step change ....

Mojo13

missje74 wrote: »

Hi I have been reading this site for a while and thought I would say hello. I am about to start the dmp journey and have to say I am terrified.

I am a single mum to 2 great kids and feel I owe it to them to get myself sorted.

I owe 14,000 across 10 creditors including 4 payday loans. I have paperwork ready for ccs and just plucking up the courage to post it . My dfd is a very long way off but would really appreciate some advice and support along the way as feel all alone.

im worrying about losing house, pdls calling at work (have removed number from them but hear horror stories) just about everything really and its making me ill.

I know I have to start somewhere so please come say hello and maybe we can help each other x

Hi missje74,

I don't really have an advice I am just trying to start the ball rolling as well with Step Change, after trying to ignore it for too long. I have a pretty large debt with a debt free date way in the future but hopefully this date will come nearer as I work on the mountain.

Take Care and keep going, I'm going to

Mojo:T:T:T

Jemima09

missje74 wrote: »

Hiya thankyou all for your kind words, kinda feel a bit better knowing im not alone, yes it was a typo ha ha (stress) I am doing it through step change ....

Oh good! can't be too careful, you just hear of them charging people a lot of money when it could all be going towards the debt!

Don't worry though, the stressful bit it nearly over! the first couple of months I found a bit nerve-wracking, maybe because I didn't believe it could go as smoothly as it has! but after that it's been great. All my creditors froze interest and stopped calling me, CCCS arranged a new budget each year and have always been very fair about what went in it, so I wasn't over-stretched but at the same time I was making decent payments back. Couldn't have done it without them, you'll be really pleased that you made the decision!!

missje74

I posted all back to step change today and mentally feel ready. Thankyou anf Well done Jemima09 I can see you are so nearly there x

Mojo nice to meet someone just starting out, if you need a moan let me know, my dfd is a very long way off also be nice to have some buddies along the way

uphillstruggler

Good luck with everything missje74. You've probably been through income and expenditure with SC but you may find that posting an SOA on here may help you get it all sorted in reality and in your mind.

My advice would be try not to worry. You can and you will get it sorted.

Take care,
US