DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 10

Sazzie23

spiffyiffy wrote: »

Hi all,

Just an update; I haven't heard back from any creditors yet to whom I wrote the token payment letters to. Is this normal? I've only had a couple of calls which I'm comfortable in replying to. I've heard back from step change a couple of times but they always want more information.

Thanks

Hi spiffy

I think they are usually more enthusiastic about talking to you if you have a missed a payment, it does take a while to get these things through to the right people, sit back and see what happens.

Monkeyballs

Morning all!

It's persisting it down here but it's warm and sunny in my heart for all my DMP amigos group hug anyone?

I'm feeling quite good this morning (despite the weather) because I have a bit of a plan in place which keeps a little cash coming in and stops me (hopefully) from losing my job! Hurrah!

So, as some of you may know I've had a few 'issues' with my back this year and while they've not gone they have eased a bit (and about time) and my occupational sick pay has run out so no pay due at the end of November but I have been allowed to book December off as holiday so I'll get a full months pay at the end of December and then in January I'll go into work part time (paid just for the hours I work) then February and March I will be going in and doing 16 hours per week (or more if I can do it) at full pay by which point I/they will know my limits and we'll take it from there

Ok so there are a couple of things which could back fire but I'm positive and then I can get back to kicking seven shades out of my debt LOL

So, it's been a while since I posted here (hi all newbies!) but I've just had a catch up and am good to go again

ForMySister; Welcome you wonderful person you you have found a community which will be 100% supportive of you (which you're already getting ) you have my sympathy as I had a gambling problem which led to a big increase in my debt so I understand some of what your sister must have gone through as have others I'm sure... I'm fortunate in that I got help before things got "crazy" but I'm sure that her knowing you understand and will do anything to help will be a huge comfort for her xxx as for those PDL's others are right, if your sis calls and gives them authority for you to discuss her accounts you'll be fine in my experience PDL's are genuinely the better type of creditor to deal with although I never had debt with these two... Right now the idea of them calling work ill be akin to a bomb going off but they'll likely only do it the once if you've sent a harassment email and tell the person who calls that you are recording the date/time and name for your records when putting a complaint to the FCA

Lewpster; I have this theory, way too many of us want to get people presents that we know they want... For the last couple of years I have switched to getting them presents which I think they like! By doing this Christmas shopping is a billion % easier and a lot cheaper too as it's easy to spot something nice for a fiver while invariably what people want is a good wedge more...

Kate; Fingers crossed again for you pickle xxx Also, (and someone might want to confirm this or you could probably just speak to SC) I think you can stop payments to a creditor while you have a complaint being investigated? I admit I never did it with the creditors I made complaints too but with Creation being "helpful" it might be what is needed to chivvy them along?

Spot; I cleared a Barclays OD about the middle of the year (the account had been closed in the meantime) and when I paid it off I heard nothing for about 3 months then they sent me a letter to confirm it... In the meantime I had called too and they confirmed it was at zero but I still recorded the date/time and name of the person I spoke to anyway

Spiffy; Generally creditors just want to be kept in the loop and are a lot more cooperative if you do so they may not like token payments but TOUGH lol you're paying what you can afford and they can't do too much and know it

Aloof; Everyone goes through the "oh sh*t" panicky start to a DMP until it's in place, up and running after that it's hindsight city! Looking back at all that stress we put on ourselves...

Anyway, that's enough of me right now as it's Friday and I'm hungry! Big bowl of porridge here I come...

Laters all

MB of G xxx

ForMySister

sillymeme wrote: »

Sorry for double posting, the last ones a little long. I just went and double checked my email correspondence with Mr lender (I found it very reassuring to be able to read and follow contact that others had had in similar situations)

I actually contacted them three days after my payment was missed. Ive added the email I sent to the end of the post (I also sent a copy by post). They replied the same day stating the account was on hold but they needed to here from the DMP company. They didn't directly acknowledge the request for no phone calls, but they definitely didnt make any and ive actually had no further contact at all from them.

This is the email/letter I sent (it likely can be worded better - I copied from elsewhere, and you'll find many similar templates, but may be reassuring to your sister to see exactly how one company was dealt with):

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to you regarding the outstanding account which was due to rollover on XX/XX/XXXX


Since making the above agreement with you, circumstances have changed and I cannot now afford to make the agreed payment. I have received advice from payplan (ref no: XXXXXX) to help solve my debt problem.

Payplan are setting up a Debt Management Plan for me and they will send you an offer of payment along with a copy of my budget and list of creditors. I regret that I cannot meet the contractual payment but would appreciate your cooperation to ensure I can pay back all that is owed as quickly and fairly as possible.

As in line with published guidelines by many regulatory authorities, you are only to contact me regarding this matter via email (abc@hdg.com) or at the postal address on file. I will be able to reply to any emails very rapidly and prefer this as a means of communication. In particular, I request that no more phone calls are made to the number you hold for my employer.


Finally, my account does not induce any details of a customer or loan ID. If a reference number exists, please could you provide me with that.

Hi, I didn't see your messages yesterday because I was working late. Thank you so much for this, it is a huge relief to know that they won't contact you if you ask them to.

Payment is due to these accounts a week on Monday. I have send them both emails asking for their policy regarding speaking to me instead of my sister so that I can try and sort this before them.

I also persuaded my sister to email StepChange giving me authority to speak with them. It will take 5 working days for this to be logged onto their system so I will call them next week and try and try and get these other two accounts added to her DMP. Can you think of any reason why StepChange would say no?

Kate_fixing_it

Thanks MB, will have a look into that over the weekend. Might make them get their finger out. I've already threatened to put them on token payments until it's defaulted and sold on. I still have the PPI cash waiting, I want this sorted before I start making offers so I can be fair to everyone. Seriously considering going self managed from January now once this debacle is dealt with.

Interview is at 2pm. I have two competitors and the second of them is in there now. I'm last and being seen by my current boss and former boss. Fingers crossed they're saving the best for last. I'd love to hear back today but I doubt that'll happen as there are all sorts of HR hoops to jump through. Will do my bbest and cross everything for 3rd to lucky

Good to see you back and sounding like your old self.

Kate x

Sazzie23

Kate_fixing_it wrote: »

Thanks MB, will have a look into that over the weekend. Might make them get their finger out. I've already threatened to put them on token payments until it's defaulted and sold on. I still have the PPI cash waiting, I want this sorted before I start making offers so I can be fair to everyone. Seriously considering going self managed from January now once this debacle is dealt with.

Interview is at 2pm. I have two competitors and the second of them is in there now. I'm last and being seen by my current boss and former boss. Fingers crossed they're saving the best for last. I'd love to hear back today but I doubt that'll happen as there are all sorts of HR hoops to jump through. Will do my bbest and cross everything for 3rd to lucky

Good to see you back and sounding like your old self.

Kate x

Hay Kate, how did it go ? Fingers crossed for you

Regards debt busting, sounds like self managed is the way to go to try to get those creditors to play ball ......oh but it scares me :eek:

MB sounds like you have a plan, and your employers are playing ball too, great advice as always

Formysister - how is your sister doing? I think the main hiccup with SC could be that their policy states, and they ask you to sign - that you will take no more credit while in the DMP. From your earlier posts I think your sister actually didn't add to credit she just didn't include them because of the phone call worry...in which case I think SC would be sympathetic.
If they aren't - good folk on here will help out with guiding you/her towards a self managed DMP so don't get over stressed by it.

Happy weekending

ForMySister

Hi Sazzie, my sis is as well as can be expected, thank you for asking. She wants to go back to work on Monday so that she can self certify her sickness and no-one will know what has happened. I'm not convinced that's the best idea but don't know what I can do to stop her.

I've had a bad night. Didn't sleep much and I'm feeling very anxious and upset today. Deep breaths and this too shall pass, I suppose.

Brogden

Sazzie23 wrote: »

Hay Kate, how did it go ? Fingers crossed for you

Regards debt busting, sounds like self managed is the way to go to try to get those creditors to play ball ......oh but it scares me :eek:

MB sounds like you have a plan, and your employers are playing ball too, great advice as always

Formysister - how is your sister doing? I think the main hiccup with SC could be that their policy states, and they ask you to sign - that you will take no more credit while in the DMP. From your earlier posts I think your sister actually didn't add to credit she just didn't include them because of the phone call worry...in which case I think SC would be sympathetic.
If they aren't - good folk on here will help out with guiding you/her towards a self managed DMP so don't get over stressed by it.

Happy weekending

I have to say it Sazzie..........Self Managing is the way to go

People can be depressed and feel very disturbed with their debt, particularly as they have their LBM and the charities are there to assist. I had several conversations with Step Change at the start and they were magnificent but I thanked them for their support and went self managed.

If you can give the DMP a bit of your time and are happy to speak to all of the creditors then go self managed. Even if you can't bring yourself to speak to them you can self manage by putting everything in writing but I am impatient and quite like grabbing them by the n+ts

If you can self manage and 'wheel and deal' a bit I believe you can be debt free in a fraction of the time it will take with Step Change or PayPlan.

Don't misunderstand me, the charities are fantastic places for people to 'sort their heads out' and get started on the road and we are all better for them being there!

Don't be afraid - everybody is trained to be sympathetic and helpful (now Toothfairy have gone bust that is!!!)

Brogden x

Florida15

Hi, we are 1 year into a DMP with StepChange.

All been ok and all had stopped interest. However today we receive our barclaycard statement, we usually pay £83.50 via stepchange but they now want a monthly payment of £235.00.

We tried to call barclaycard but as we have not spoken to them in years, apparently we failed their security questions.

We don't know what to do are are worried sick as we pay what we can afford and could not pay what they are asking.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Time_to_face_the_music

Florida15 wrote: »

Hi, we are 1 year into a DMP with StepChange.

All been ok and all had stopped interest. However today we receive our barclaycard statement, we usually pay £83.50 via stepchange but they now want a monthly payment of £235.00.

We tried to call barclaycard but as we have not spoken to them in years, apparently we failed their security questions.

We don't know what to do are are worried sick as we pay what we can afford and could not pay what they are asking.

Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks

Some creditors will only accept DMPs for 6 or 12 months and then require an updated I&E from Stepchange to ensure no circumstances have changed. Check with Stepchange on Monday to see if they have sent this to BC and any other creditors.

TTFTM x

jessbaird

Hello all

I know it's abit out there but has anyone ever dealt with student finance with an overpayment issue. They over laid me when I was in uni & there is around £650 remaining on the over payment to be paid. I usually pay it monthly but since starting my dmp I can't afford to pay them, I haven't called them yet cause I'm looking for advice on where I stand first cause when ever I ring they just threaten me with bailiffs each & every time.

Any advice at all would be great Thank you