DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 10

Sazzie23

Iwanttobefree wrote: »

Been quiet for a couple of months, it's been a total nightmare.

I really really wish I had gone self managed in the first place and not used Payplan or Stepchange.

One of the biggest headaches was Stepchange insist I open a basic bank account and stop using my current account which has a £500 OD limit that I go into every month, and to add this OD to my plan.

People on here advised me to manage my own plan and not add it (well some did, others said it was right to add it).

Moving the direct debits over has been a nightmare. Payments that never ever came out before say the 15th from my old bank, came out on the 10th etc. I had 4 unpaid direct debits (and charges each time) in the first 3 weeks alone.

My old bank always paid everything even it it took me slightly over my OD limit and their annual charges for my OD etc isn't as high as my charges for my first few weeks of my basic account has been.

I really really wished I had kept my direct debits at my current account and ignored Stepchange.

Luckily, while I did set up my basic account and move my DDs I didn't actually give Stepchange the details of my old banks OD and now I'm self managing, am back using that account as my main account instead.

I'm gradually going to move the DD's back and get rid of the basic account, all it's done is cost me more money I don't have,

Stepchange sent out letters to all my creditors explaining my finances and making an offer, but I went self managed before the first payments were due (but did make all payments).

Creation got my interest rate wrong and I had to phone them, as soon as I said I was self managing, they said they need ALL the info again, even though nothings changed in 6 weeks.

They dropped the interest rate on two accounts to 3% APR, said they would on the other account, one I've made all payments up to date on, so today I receive a statement with the full normal card rate interest, a £12 default charge, £95 interest etc etc etc .

Sure, I've phoned them up, they've removed the charge and the interest and assured me it has been put down to 3% but it's never ever ending.

Today I receive a letter from Capital one saying that I'm in arrears (I've made every payment as per what Stepchange set up) and I don't appear to be with Payplan any more. They don't seem to have had the letter Stepchange sent them, and yet again I've got to spend money on posting them stuff they've already got, try to argue charges etc.

And to be honest I'm almost at breaking point.

Much more hassle and I'm going to say sod it, all you you take me to court, give me loads of CCJs and at least I'll know what I'm paying each month.

I first contacted Payplan around Feb this year. Yet I now owe slightly more money than I did when I contacted them and it's November.

Sorry, I'm in rant mode

Hi iwanttobefree

Sorry you are having such a tough time, I looked back on a few of your previous posts so I could see what was happening. I see you were with payplan til August this year? And then went to stepchange, did you let creditors know you we're changing and make token payments in the meantime? I'm not quite sure what payments were made with Payplan, did they debt go up with them?

Regards the Late Payment for DD charges, yeah these are often high but many companies will refund if you explain what happened with new bank account. And some will change the dates of DD especially if you never asked to change them in the first place.

I feel you are in a position where you don't want to be fixed by the 'rules' - some people love em and some don't. SC have their rules for a reason and they work for some, not everyone.

Do you have debts linked with your original bank, if you do and they decided to offset debt, then you could be in even more trouble, if you have no linked debt stick with them, just don't get yourself into more debt ...if you can't live without more debt it's likely the budget is a problem. I did see your income fluctuates though so I expect it's difficult.

You can give up and go to CCJ but I'm not sure that will relieve your stress as their will be more negotiating and 'rules' that DcA will impose.

Good luck with it, hope having an outlet rant to did help a bit

ilovegreatdanes

Hi.just popped back in to say keep on with debt paying.was on here many moons ago when it first started.i owed £25grand and with stepchange its down to£13grand approx so please dont lose hope.i had 13 creditors and have paid off 2 so its slow and steady and stil about 12 years to go.was so bad at first and stil have a couple of p.i.t.a.creditors but they realised that even£5 a month is better than nowt and they all accept it in the end cause they know I am serious about payin back wat I spent....and I think they are grateful that I didnt go down the bankruptcy path where they would have got zilch.alot of ppl on er dont like stepchange but they have been really great...no fees and I think that I stood a better chance of all the creditors accepting my offers because I was with a big charity ....and I paid them instead of 13 every month...also I think the creditors dont give you as much hassle and c.ap with stepc on my side plus any advice you need.anyway, good luck everyone and dont let the bs grind you down.

Sazzie23

ilovegreatdanes wrote: »

Hi.just popped back in to say keep on with debt paying.was on here many moons ago when it first started.i owed £25grand and with stepchange its down to£13grand approx so please dont lose hope.i had 13 creditors and have paid off 2 so its slow and steady and stil about 12 years to go.was so bad at first and stil have a couple of p.i.t.a.creditors but they realised that even£5 a month is better than nowt and they all accept it in the end cause they know I am serious about payin back wat I spent....and I think they are grateful that I didnt go down the bankruptcy path where they would have got zilch.alot of ppl on er dont like stepchange but they have been really great...no fees and I think that I stood a better chance of all the creditors accepting my offers because I was with a big charity ....and I paid them instead of 13 every month...also I think the creditors dont give you as much hassle and c.ap with stepc on my side plus any advice you need.anyway, good luck everyone and dont let the bs grind you down.

Thanks I love GD, it's really important for the longtermers to hear from others who have started out and kept going over many years, gives faith that it's doable, nearly 50% gone for you! that's brilliant.

Thanks for calling in, come back soon

igaveupnowimback

Hi, started with SC couple months back, had to cancel last payment due to blunder with priority ctax debt and pending house move. Initial phone calls had calmed down, now after work noted call(s) have been made to my home phone by Shop Direct group whilst I was at work. Had to look up number and others say this happens frequently but no one on other line yet if do answer you are charged £12 fee. Problem is my office received 4 calls today just like this. New phone set up couldn't trace caller, so unsure if was them. I dont think they have my work details, but distinctly concerned now in case they have got them, silent calls like this never happened in my office before. My actual work details would relate to external head office, but I don't trust creditors not to have sourced this. Anyone experienced this ? Am unsure whether to phone them tomorrow to request not to do this?
:eek:

zenshi

Fingers crossed I can start ploughing though the debts now with my new job that starts tomorrow :j

igaveupnowimback

Just reading back and read of ForMySister's concerns. Thank you am going to try doing what you are planning to do and email/write to the creditors regarding this. I may be wrong as i don't know how they would have obtained the contact details but I am suspicious of all the silent calls today.

Wish I could really get into DMP proper and start seeing positive changes, as it is I am still dealing with the effects of every single penny going on high interest and late fees to creditors every month for years.

House falling apart as never had money to maintain it, depression caused partly by debts, working all hours and studying to try to better things and never seeing any benefit for doing so. All needing fixed now as am about to move and really could do without fear of calls embarrassing me at work too.

ilovegreatdanes

If anyone calls at home I used to ask whos calling, then if they asked for me, iwould simply say that I wasnt prepared to deal with them by fone and all corespondence should be by letter,as I was saving all letters as proof, then I put the fone down.silent calls are usually automated to ring til a human voice speaks to them and they dont leave a return no cos its a call centre so your bosses will not find out.either way I dont think they are supposed to harass you at work.therecare rules as to when and where they can fone you.just keep telling them over and over that you will only deal with them by letter amd eventually they will stop.they are paid by results to get their money back asap, rather like they are on commision so be as pessistent as them.....by letter or fone down.

ilovegreatdanes

Re igaveup post about missing sc payment......im sure if you foned sc up to explain and ask for help they would be able to advise you and restart your dmp.they have loads of ppl in yor position so have loads of experience as to your situation.am sure they wil guide u step by step and contact the creditors for you.most creditors deal direct with themanyway so its a relief especially if you av lots of diff debts.

Sazzie23

igaveupnowimback wrote: »

Hi, started with SC couple months back, had to cancel last payment due to blunder with priority ctax debt and pending house move. Initial phone calls had calmed down, now after work noted call(s) have been made to my home phone by Shop Direct group whilst I was at work. Had to look up number and others say this happens frequently but no one on other line yet if do answer you are charged £12 fee. Problem is my office received 4 calls today just like this. New phone set up couldn't trace caller, so unsure if was them. I dont think they have my work details, but distinctly concerned now in case they have got them, silent calls like this never happened in my office before. My actual work details would relate to external head office, but I don't trust creditors not to have sourced this. Anyone experienced this ? Am unsure whether to phone them tomorrow to request not to do this?
:eek:

Dunno if it helps but whenever I get a phone call from a number I don't recognise or a letter in an envelope that looks like a demand or a bill, or even a knock on the door that I'm not expecting I get fears that they (baliffs/creditors/someone with a ccj etc) have found me out and are coming after me ......

I've been in DMP 18 months now and been fortunate enough to never had to miss a payment and the fear has lessened but it never goes away, anyway every time I've been strong enough to answer the phone its been someone trying to flog summat - the letters are always marketing mail and no baliff has ever been to my door as far as I can tell, so maybe, just maybe you are worrying about something that is not really about you/your debt?

igaveupnowimback

Thanks, it was actually SC who refunded my payment last month due to an 'unexpected' priority debt, came about because i didn't manage my budget very well initially and had huge extra expenses. Thanks also for info re work calls. Very much appreciated.