DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 10

livingindreamland

We are now 9 months into our DMP with Stepchange, all accounts have defaulted, but the last couple of months we haven't had any statements, is this normal?

Puzzcat

livingindreamland wrote: »

We are now 9 months into our DMP with Stepchange, all accounts have defaulted, but the last couple of months we haven't had any statements, is this normal?

Hi, Are your debts still with the original creditors? And are they mainstream ie; Halifax,hsbc etc? I get monthly statements for all my cc's but not for my loan or overdraft but I can keep track of that through noddle. I don't get statements from apex who took over my halifax. You may need to make some calls.

Hopelessly_Hopeful

livingindreamland wrote: »

We are now 9 months into our DMP with Stepchange, all accounts have defaulted, but the last couple of months we haven't had any statements, is this normal?

As far as I know they only have to provide them once a year. Id write and ask for them all the same. If they refuse Id ask them to confirm the debt has no interest attached so you know its going down not up. If they don't play ball report to the FOS!

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Hi Lewpy

Well done for calling them, we understand this isn't easy, many,many of the folk on here have felt the same - we might sound tough & super-confident now (well some might!) but lots of us were shakey, shaken and defeated when we started out.

I'd agree with great advice from the others about £1 tokens, it wont make a jot of difference and is more likely to make creditors pay ball. I didn't make any token payments as i was in such a state I couldn't figure out how to, and nothing bad happened, no one knocked on the door and took my things away. I did get some pretty persistant calls but i just ignored them or called when I felt strong- which wasn't often. It was in the days before I found this thread and all the support you can get here.

Think about making a couple of months of tokens, if you can get that little emergency fund behind you it will save loads of stress in the future for when xxxx breaks (my kettle exploded this week - I went to the shops and paid cash - ok its not expensive but on a string-tight budget you don't have that flexibility. You've got little uns and there are bound to be expenses that crop up. Justify it in your mind that you have probably been paying far more than you could afford for too long, so now you are restoring balance. You are not planning to shirk, you want to pay, its just gonna take longer than you'd hoped. And thats the line i use with creditors now.

Any DMPers with ideas on how to survive christmas ?- I don't have any children but I warned the step-children early so that the step-grandkids wouldn't expect too much. Adults got poundshop pressies and I worked through so only needed to buy extra chocolates to take to the work buffet. It did make me lose of a bit of the fund I'd built up, but I've saved a bit for this year. (still a worry though - its an expensive time).

Maybe you have stuff to sell, services to offer, ironing, child sitting, cake baking - there are alot of forum threads on DFW to give ideas.

GUO - sorry but nothing beats eating haribo :rotfl:

Re Xmas presents.

For kids pics depending on age - I made packs up using little bubble baths, bath bombs, puzzles,facepaints lip gloss and sweeties. You can get lots from pound shops and break up. Looks more than it is. For the sweets I bought tubs of chocs- you can get heros, celebrations, roses, kids mix etc for £4 a tub in tesco just now. I bought cellophane bags off ebay and made a goodie bag up from the various tins. Lidl do unusual ribbons cheap to tie a bow on them.


Adults I did some recycling!

Hope that helps.

HHx

lastdayofseptember

Got my text today thet my DMP is being set up and first payment goes out on the 10th November.

Am still really worried about my bank accounts. I think I need to speak to them.

I have a £550 overdraft with Halifax, also have a joint account with Husband with Halifax but all that goes in that one is my sons DLA benefit.

Stepchange did say they prob wouldn't touch that money as they'll see it's benefits and can't risk touching it as they won't know who it belongs to.

They did say I could remove my name off the joint account but would rather keep it there if I can.

Anyone know anything about this at all please? Feeling so sick

lastdayofseptember

lastdayofseptember wrote: »

Got my text today thet my DMP is being set up and first payment goes out on the 10th November.

Am still really worried about my bank accounts. I think I need to speak to them.

I have a £550 overdraft with Halifax, also have a joint account with Husband with Halifax but all that goes in that one is my sons DLA benefit.

Stepchange did say they prob wouldn't touch that money as they'll see it's benefits and can't risk touching it as they won't know who it belongs to.

They did say I could remove my name off the joint account but would rather keep it there if I can.

Anyone know anything about this at all please? Feeling so sick

Interesting I just read on CAB that they can't take from a joint to a single without permission of both parties. Think I will speak to them.

I am feeling worse than ever about all of this today even though I should be feeling better I am sorting it. My Husband still doe snot know about any of it. I feel like the most evil terrrible person in the whole world. I know that may sound ridiculous but feel so sick

spiffyiffy

Hi all,


Just a quick update/question; I've rung step change and have set up the DMP with them hopefully starting 1st Dec. I just have to send their documents back now with all the things that they need and all should be good to go on this side of things.


Do I now send off my token payments? I've only written up one for Barclay card and it seems a lot of work. This maybe due to the lack of seep Should I also ring them as well just to tell them and give them a heads up?


I cant remember who was asking the weight of my baby but he was 9lb 1oz.


Thanks

Hopelessly_Hopeful

spiffyiffy wrote: »

Hi all,


Just a quick update/question; I've rung step change and have set up the DMP with them hopefully starting 1st Dec. I just have to send their documents back now with all the things that they need and all should be good to go on this side of things.


Do I now send off my token payments? I've only written up one for Barclay card and it seems a lot of work. This maybe due to the lack of seep Should I also ring them as well just to tell them and give them a heads up?


I cant remember who was asking the weight of my baby but he was 9lb 1oz.


Thanks

Hi

You need to make sure each creditor gets a payment within a 30 day period. So send £1 token either chq or po or transfer electronically. If you are spending money on a stamp make the letter work for the money and use the templates to inform them of the DMP, ask them to freeze interest and only to contact you in writting. My view is to send such a key letter by recorded delivery. Empowering to send them and you will soon feel in charge again

HHx

Hopelessly_Hopeful

lastdayofseptember wrote: »

Interesting I just read on CAB that they can't take from a joint to a single without permission of both parties. Think I will speak to them.

I am feeling worse than ever about all of this today even though I should be feeling better I am sorting it. My Husband still doe snot know about any of it. I feel like the most evil terrrible person in the whole world. I know that may sound ridiculous but feel so sick

Hi

You are not evil. Debt is not a chrime! I'm not sure how long it will be feasible to keep it from your other half. I do appreciate it may be a difficult conversation but it will be better behind you than waiting for it to come.

Sending a hug over for you

HHx

Puzzcat

lastdayofseptember wrote: »

Interesting I just read on CAB that they can't take from a joint to a single without permission of both parties. Think I will speak to them.

I am feeling worse than ever about all of this today even though I should be feeling better I am sorting it. My Husband still doe snot know about any of it. I feel like the most evil terrrible person in the whole world. I know that may sound ridiculous but feel so sick

Hello,
I had to get our joint account closed as I didn't want my partner to be financially associated with debt! We are associated by a mortgage so no idea how his credit will be affected by my dmp..Will cross that bridge... My oh knows I have debt and have done something to resolve it but he doesn't know how much and has little interest in mine or the general finances of the house.
Speak to stepchange, they will have an answer I'm sure.
Good luck
Puzz.x