DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 10

Hopelessly_Hopeful

Kate_fixing_it wrote: »

Well how's this for bizarre??? HSBC letters were posted late yesterday (23rd). Today I checked the account online and it's a lower balance than I expected. Looked at details and they've refunded a month of overdraft interest on the 23rd! I have 3 debts with them and this is the only one charging interest still.

Guess they're either going to default or have realised that the balance is only reducing a few pounds each month. I had the complaint letter all ready to send too - that's saved me a stamp

It also means that tomorrow when SC pay them, two accounts with them - overdraft and credit card, will drop down to the next 100! Making the balances £13XX and £19XX

Payslip has arrived and they've sorted out last month's mini mess so I'm £79 up on what I was paid last month too :j

Just one creditor to fight interest on now - sygma (asda) credit card and they have already reduced it so I'm not sure how that'll go.

Had a fabulous afternoon at the park though did push the boat out and spend £6 on a McFlurry each on the way home (ice cream van at park was extortion - £2.50 each!! And there were 5 of us!) and over all our day was more of a success than any theme park little kids are both exhausted, teens are relaxed and I'm just delighted at their happy faces.

Off to "Ma's-gate" tomorrow en route to physio - have to drive that way anyway so I'll be using the same fuel and kids get another day out and DH wants to do something on Saturday before going to a BBQ that night. The way things are going I'll need a holiday to get over this one

Hope you've all had a good day (still crossing everything for you Fuzzy!) and even if you haven't remember that we're all another day closer to debt freedom folks!

Kate x

May the positivity last Kate

Good call re ice cream. I hate wasting money now

HHx

livingindreamland

After six monthly payments to Stepchange, due to pay rises etc (and we for the first time in our lives have a savings account) I've just completed an online review, by upping our payments by £24 a month we have shaved 2 years of our Debt Free Date :-)

Hopelessly_Hopeful

livingindreamland wrote: »

After six monthly payments to Stepchange, due to pay rises etc (and we for the first time in our lives have a savings account) I've just completed an online review, by upping our payments by £24 a month we have shaved 2 years of our Debt Free Date :-)

Great news, congratulations

HHx

Newchapter

Well I have been foolish. I have used a debt management firm and they appear to have gone bust and taken this month's payment with them.


I was with Payplan before and the repayment negotiated through them was crippling.


So I am now going to try and sort it myself. I take inspiration from those of you already doing it.


I have just written to 5 creditors asking to set up standing orders with them. I cant find the address of the 6th, but I guess they will write to me soon enough.


Wish me luck folks

FuzzyDF

No news about my non DMP news. Had an allergic reaction to the contrast I had injected for the CT and ended up having an anaphylaxic shock. I am a bit of a drama queen. Was surrounded by a team of hunky docs though which was a plus. Few more days wait now.

I'm feeling positive though.

Thank you to everyone who asked about me xx

Sazzie23

FuzzyDF wrote: »

No news about my non DMP news. Had an allergic reaction to the contrast I had injected for the CT and ended up having an anaphylaxic shock. I am a bit of a drama queen. Was surrounded by a team of hunky docs though which was a plus. Few more days wait now.

I'm feeling positive though.

Thank you to everyone who asked about me xx

Ooh Fuzz that doesn't sound nice, (except the hunky docs:D) did they still manage to do the scan though? Sending positive thoughts for you.

Sazzie23

Newchapter wrote: »

Well I have been foolish. I have used a debt management firm and they appear to have gone bust and taken this month's payment with them.


I was with Payplan before and the repayment negotiated through them was crippling.


So I am now going to try and sort it myself. I take inspiration from those of you already doing it.


I have just written to 5 creditors asking to set up standing orders with them. I cant find the address of the 6th, but I guess they will write to me soon enough.


Wish me luck folks

Hi Newchapter

That's pretty rubbish for you, but maybe one of those silver linings and third time lucky & all that once you get going again.
Some of the self managed folk swear by NEDCAB site which has lots of advice and templates.

Possibly someone on here could help with address for number 6 if you let us know the name.

Disaster has struck, but you have brushed yourself down and got on with it, well done. :T

Best of luck, but keep coming back to let us know how things are going.

Sazzie23

livingindreamland wrote: »

After six monthly payments to Stepchange, due to pay rises etc (and we for the first time in our lives have a savings account) I've just completed an online review, by upping our payments by £24 a month we have shaved 2 years of our Debt Free Date :-)

:Yeah go LiD :beer: in control and money in the bank, great stuff.

Sazzie23

GrinC wrote: »

I'm a newbie here. Just spoke to payplan and i am determined to get this sorted. Any advice, tips or words of wisdom?

Please be gentle - i've never been so emotionally fragile in my entire life. It doesnt help that i am doing this alone. I literally cannot speak to another soul about it.

Hi GrinC

Welcome to DMPland. Well done and I agree it's really not easy at the start, I think a lot of us felt pretty emotional at the start, but it does get better I promise.

My ex-partner, now lodger, does know about my DMP although he doesn't really understand it, the rest of my close friends are aware that I have had to cut down a lot, as "have debts I want to pay off". Others outside my inner circle know nothing, as does my brother. In a sense I would like people to know, so that when I ask for chocolate or particular shampoo etc for my birthday they buy it for me as they would know I actually can't afford to buy it myself. But they don't know and I'm not about to tell them :rotfl:

Have a good, truthful story for anyone if there is stuff you can't do anymore. For example I used to go to a few concerts with a mate, but this year I said, as my income is down and I have some debts to pay, I've cut down on the concerts for a while. Can we have a look and see which ones are important to us both ? She now looks out for the cheaper ticketed ones for us so we're still able to get to some. Other times we meet up at home rather than eat out.

Good luck and keep smiling, eventually your face convinces your head there is something to smile about:D

Monkeyballs

Morning all!

So, I finally got around to playing catch up and there are some great posts as usual from new and old hands

A few which really struck a chord are;

silentkiller wrote: »

Glad to find some people who "get it". All I get from my family are friends are 'well we told you so' or 'how could you let it go this far?'...

Madness isn't it? The people we should be able to trust are the ones we are worried about the responses from the most as though we are bad people? My advice is (and all in your own time and only if you are confident and actually want to) is to open up to someone you know you can trust and talk it through with them.

It's uncomfortable but once it's out there and they know how you feel and that you told them in confidence then somehow it feels easier...

GrinC wrote: »

Please be gentle - i've never been so emotionally fragile in my entire life. It doesnt help that i am doing this alone. I literally cannot speak to another soul about it.

Case in point... Hi Grin welcome

monkey1000 wrote: »

Hi Guys, just wanted a bit of advice as I'm pretty worried. Have sent off my DMP pack today to step change - opened new bank a/c etc. We owe £86K, and will hopefully be paying it back over next 4.5 years at £1516 a month. My question is, what if none of the creditors agree to freeze the interest and keep accumulating it? Will we end up owing 100's of thousands when the DMP finishes? I dont really understand and am now pretty scared:(

Hi Monkey (are you me sent back from the future to save mankind?),

I don't know anything about your finances and presumably you're on good money but how tight have you budgeted?

I only as as £1513 is a lot money and 4.5 years is a long time to go without any wiggle room if you know what I mean how realistic is your budget in regards to how you actually live? It's easy to overcook the budget while scared is all and it's a sure fire way to sabotage yourself somewhere down the line...

Do you have an emergency fund (and this applies to all newbies)?

Now, most of your creditors will stop interest and charges or at least lower you interest to something almost negligible but others may need their arm twisting the first month is a bit of a learning curve as you find out who is playing ball and who needs a nudge but it's all "good fun" and very empowering

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hello and welcome to another monkey!!! Hope your just as naughty as our other monkey mb of g!!!
Welcome to dmp wonderland and the best thread on the forum..
Puzz.x

Naughty? Moi? No no no... Surely not!!! I'd be offended if I had any shame at all LOL xxx

It's quite a big post so I won't quote it but check out Antonic's post # 786, especially re. keeping on top of your balances and communicating

As so eloquently shown by Kate and Karen this thread is about DMP mutual support but we're a community here (almost family ) so don't be afraid to drop by and just say hi and let us know how you are or this could be quite a dulllllllllll and dry thread otherwise

Anyway, that's enough from me for the moment as it's crazy early (stoopid back, stoopid heat) and I've not slept much tonight (ice cream at 03:15 seems odd but good ).

Laters amigos!!!! Or at least less early LOL

MB of G xxx