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All done!

Yesterday I made the final payments to my creditors. I contacted them directly to get balances about two weeks ago and confirmed with Payplan that I would inform them once they were nil. It all went a bit too smoothly, took about 30 mins in total. Still not convinced it should have been that easy. Got the authorisation codes and the four creditors confirmed over the phone ( and have sent letters ) to say the accounts are closed and paid in full. My payplan online account is now disabled - my spreadsheets showing debt reduction is complete - I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my time anymore!!

Weird feeling yesterday. I kept expecting to feel some sort of epiphany or for the sun to shine above my head for the duration of the day or something. But it was just another day in the end. I suppose the benefit of being debt free will become apparent in the next weeks and months as I begin the readjustment to being able to do what I want, when I want ( within reason of course ).

I started my plan in Autumn 2010, and it has been 3.5 years of battening down the hatches. I've been able to increase my payments periodically which has allowed me to knock ten or so months off the completion date. If you are in a DMP I would advise you to do this if possible. Every bit extra helps, and could mean an extra month or two 'back in black'. Payplan were great with me, no trouble at all - though I decided to sort the last month out myself as I wanted to make sure there were no issues with finishing yesterday. Taking control of my debt is probably the best thing I have ever done, and anybody who is considering what to do about problem debt should know it can be conquered if you take that step. Whilst I havent been a very active member of this forum over the years, I always looked at the latest threads every day or two just to remind myself there are others in the same kind of predicament. Good luck!

Comments

  • Many congrats New Bill! :)

    Must be such a relief!! I'm sure the real feeling of being debt-free will become more apparent; i guess we're all just tuned to being in debt so when we're not it'll feel odd!

    Enjoy it, you've earned it!!
    It all takes time and time is money,
    money talks and talk is cheap.

    - David Ford
  • Suseka
    Suseka Posts: 213 Forumite
    Congratulations :beer: I guess its not quite sunk in yet, but your next payday when your money is all yours will be the best feeling ever.

    I'm in it for the long haul and it really helps to read stories such as these; to know there is light at the end of the tunnel and life moves on.

    Enjoy the moment and good luck in the future.
    LBM: March 2013 / DMP Start: 1 July 2013 / 14 Creditors
    Debt: £80,473 / DFD: [STRIKE]Nov 2018[/STRIKE] June 2018
    Update (Aug14): Debt 62,920 (22% paid) / 11 Creditors
  • Congrats Bill,

    Did you always manage to keep the interest off though, even when increasing your payments?

    This is my concern, that eventually I will have to go it alone away from Stepchange because I've "too" much available to pay the debts.
  • Brightspark87
    Brightspark87 Posts: 1,466 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    :T Congrats thats great news and gives me SO much hope for myself in a couple of years time. Thanks and it may take a while to sink in but when it does enjoy

    Paid off all Catalogues 10.10.2014
  • asparagus1968
    asparagus1968 Posts: 1,787 Forumite
    Debt-free and Proud!
    New_Bill wrote: »
    Yesterday I made the final payments to my creditors. I contacted them directly to get balances about two weeks ago and confirmed with Payplan that I would inform them once they were nil. It all went a bit too smoothly, took about 30 mins in total. Still not convinced it should have been that easy. Got the authorisation codes and the four creditors confirmed over the phone ( and have sent letters ) to say the accounts are closed and paid in full. My payplan online account is now disabled - my spreadsheets showing debt reduction is complete - I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my time anymore!!

    Weird feeling yesterday. I kept expecting to feel some sort of epiphany or for the sun to shine above my head for the duration of the day or something. But it was just another day in the end. I suppose the benefit of being debt free will become apparent in the next weeks and months as I begin the readjustment to being able to do what I want, when I want ( within reason of course ).

    I started my plan in Autumn 2010, and it has been 3.5 years of battening down the hatches. I've been able to increase my payments periodically which has allowed me to knock ten or so months off the completion date. If you are in a DMP I would advise you to do this if possible. Every bit extra helps, and could mean an extra month or two 'back in black'. Payplan were great with me, no trouble at all - though I decided to sort the last month out myself as I wanted to make sure there were no issues with finishing yesterday. Taking control of my debt is probably the best thing I have ever done, and anybody who is considering what to do about problem debt should know it can be conquered if you take that step. Whilst I havent been a very active member of this forum over the years, I always looked at the latest threads every day or two just to remind myself there are others in the same kind of predicament. Good luck!

    well done, really pleased for you:j:j:j
    LIVE SIMPLY * GIVE MORE * EXPECT LESS * BE THANKFUL

  • dubs57
    dubs57 Posts: 97 Forumite
    Lucky you! Brilliant and well done. It must be possib:jle after all!
    Member 116 2 pound savers club:) 167 virtual sealed pot challenge:j
  • Trishiapp
    Trishiapp Posts: 141 Forumite
    How wonderful!

    Huge WELL DONE!!!
    Everything in my life is a reflection of who I am-as within, so without.
  • pickle_me
    pickle_me Posts: 203 Forumite
    Well done Bill! Enjoy your new life in the black :beer:
  • :beer:
    Massive CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!
    DEBT FREE AND PROUD:D
    'Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt'
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