Mini meltdown and light bulb moment

misstara

:eek: to OH doing DIY that late!

Hope all went well at the hospital today

AleMrsT

Least the bathroom's sorted now, no complaint from the neighbours (so far!)

AleMrsT

:eek: Just spent sometime on the StepChange website reading up about the DMP's as I haven't heard anything back since I sent my paperwork off, (it seems like weeks ago but it must only be a couple of days,) and I wanted some idea of how long it all takes.

Well, I wish I hadn't looked because I'm panicking now!! :shocked:
I thought a DMP STOPPED people from writing and calling you, and I was not aware until just now that I may get visits from debt collectors and wind up with a CCJ!!! EEEKKK.:mad:
I want to cancel it all and carry on as I was, but I'm not sure if its too late. I've never in my life been chased by a debt collector and I certainly don't want a CCJ. :eek: They never mentioned this on the phone, and its all so casual on the website that its like 'yeah, you may get a letter from an official court person and someone will come knocking at your door, but don't worry, ring us and we'll carry on paying your £20 a month'.

I only have 11 payments left on my loan which was originally over 5 years, with the balance at £1769, (it was £1750 as I made a small overpayment to round off the figure, but interest has now been added.....) so it seems such a shame to 'give up' on it now, especially as I'll probably still be paying it in 5 years and may end up with a CCJ.

Don't know what to do for the best now. Not sure if its too late to change my mind. :huh:

Going to find my original post on the DFW forum and repost it to my diary to see if I can adjust my budget and do it all myself. I don't have spare cash at the moment, and my reduction in hours will leave me with less (although not as much of a drop as I thought) I've set up my basic account, I'm sure with everyone's help on here and some savvy budgeting I can do it.
Does anyone know if you definitely get a CCJ on a DMP? Stepchange are closed now so I cant call them. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'd appreciate your help!!!

On a more positive note, I've just been on the Insolvency Register as I am curious as to the status of OH's IVA, we've never discussed it, apart from his initial disclosure that he is in an IVA, so I have no idea how much he has left to pay, how much longer its running for etc, and after searching on the register, he doesn't come up, so I am assuming this is a good thing? That he may have finished it and its been removed? He's out this evening, so may mention this tomorrow whilst we're at hospital.

AleMrsT

So, I've spoken to hubby, he's also concerned about the risk of CCJs and DCA visits, which is why he didn't come across as very supportive when I first mentioned it. He said he's been through it all, it was the worse time of his life, he ended up with a defaulted IVA so is now paying back everything he owes, paying £5 a week indefinitely until the balance is cleared.
I'm now not sure reducing my hours was the right thing to do, but it's agreed now and I feel better knowing I can get a mid week break, but my head says we can't afford the salary drop.
Ugh. Who has a crystal ball?!
Think I'm just in a cranky mood today with it being hospital day, I'm seething that we have to pay parking and costs to be here. My 3 year prescription exemption expired in June this year, I tried to renew and my gp said I should never have had the exemption as I don't actually qualify so if she sends off the renewal I may end up with a bill for prescription charges I got free for the past 3 years. :huh:
Sorry for the ranty post, just feel like I'm back to square one, anxiety flutters have returned.

misstara

Big hugs to you - I hope the anxiety flutters are not too bad. Unfortunately I don't know anything about DMPs so can't help there, did you ring Stepchange today to find out more information.

That's very annoying about the parking and prescription charges, no wonder you are seething.

AleMrsT

Thanks misstara, it was a bad day yesterday!I did some more reading and did another forum post on here, got some excellent advice which put my mind at rest. I think I'd be more at risk if I carried on as I am and didn't do the DMP, as I can't afford the payments now, and after a good old chat with my mum, she said how can they take you to court for money you done have if they've been told you don't have it, what a waste of time for them. Good old mums, always there with a logical answer.
Feeling more positive today, despite £14 spend yesterday on car parking plus prescriptions. :eek: anyway, I should be grateful I'm not in America and all I do pay for is the prescription and parking.
At work today so on my way out shortly. Didn't get chance to call stepchange yesterday or change my direct debits so will use the work phone today.

AleMrsT

Hi All,

I just wrote this whole thing out once but something happened and it all got deleted. Anyway, back again.

Sorry for being quiet the past few days, I've just read back on Friday's post and clearly Friday was not a good day! Ah well, I feel a lot better now I've looked at everything rationally and I am a bit perkier after the re-fill on Friday.

I'm looking forward to payday on Friday, I want to be able to do a proper budget based on what my wages actually are, then will be able to update my balances

I got an email yesterday from Stepchange saying they've had my paperwork, but the payslip I sent them doesnt match the figure I gave for my income when I set up the plan, but this is obviously because my wages were dropping. I don't have a new contract or anything yet, so I've asked work to do me a quick letter confirming the new pro rata salary, but seeing as the change of hours took 9 weeks to sort and confirm, I'm not holding out much hope that I'll get the letter by the end of the week, but I really do need it ASAP.

Things seem a bit better with OH now, although he's still not entirely convinced about everything, when I told him I actually have a positive balance in my new Barclays account and it's not even pay day, he responded sarcastically saying that at least all of our problems are now solved. MEN!! :mad:

He did suggest that I should try and claim for disability living allowance after discussions that took place at the charity weekend we went to a few weeks back, he thinks this will help us with the cost of prescriptions, travel, parking, etc etc, but I really don't think I can face the fight of putting in the claim.
Its so humiliating having to think about the things that you can't do, just for a few extra pounds, I really don't know whether its worth all of the hassle, especially considering I wasn't eligible when I wasn't working at all, its going to be even harder to be approved now I do work, despite having to reduce my hours.

We'll see, I may have to look into finding an advisor to help me with it all.

I can't really remember what else I was going to say, apart from listing my spends.
Friday - hospital parking £14, prescription £8 (OH paid)
Saturday - at work so £2.50 bus fare, then £4.37 in c@rd factory on a balloon for sisters hen do and a birthday card and wrapping paper, then £7.20 spent in Pr1mark for knickers to decorate at sisters hen do.
Sunday - no additional spends, hen do stuff all paid for, mum paid for my taxi and gave me £10 back towards the items bought on Saturday.
I then went straight to the bank on Monday and paid the £10 in to my new account, BUT, I forgot to take lunch to work so had to buy it, but instead of grabbing a 8oots meal deal as I usually would, I got the £1 sandwiches, then got a 39p toffee crisp from Savers, so total spend for lunch, £1.39!
OH on late shifts this week, so £2.50 bus fare home today. Total spends over the weekend, £39.96, but minus parking and prescription that OH paid, and the £10 that mum gave me back, total spends is £7.96, so over all I'm quite happy with my weekend spends. :j
I made a fritatta with left overs for tea last night, then used up a potato and tin of tuna and had jacket potato tonight. I'm determined to buy no more food and make do until we can afford to go food shopping after pay day. I'm off work tomorrow on my new hours, so no bus fare spend, and will have lunch at my mum's or sisters, as my sister is on maternity leave and mum doesnt work until the afternoon. Result!
I think thats all for now. Will try and update again later in the week. :rotfl:

misstara

Glad to hear you sounding more positive. Well done on your weekend spends and your MSE lunch

twiggy86

I found you! Didn't want to just read and run!


I hope you've managed to speak to StepChange and have your concerns alleviated. I don't know anything about DMP so I cant offer any advice, but it sounds like its the right thing to do for your peace of mind. At least if you do get any phone calls you can simply say "speak to StepChange" (or so I believe from reading other posts).


I hope your OH gets on board with the idea.


Good luck

AleMrsT

Thanks Misstara and Twiggy.

So far I've spent the morning with my niece which has been lovely, and now looking at information online about benefits.

I stick by my original decision; I can't be bothered with the hassle for the sake of some random figure of extra cash (it is THAT confusing, I don't even know how much the entitlement would be!!!!)

From what I gather, our joint household income is too much for us to get working tax credit (who in their right mind decided that £18000 total household income is a sufficient amount to live on?!) and I do not get enough 'points' to be eligible for the personal independence payment.
So from what I understand, I work too much and earn too much, and also don't work enough because I have a life long condition, but I'm not 'incapable' enough to get disability assistance even if I didn't work at all?! So, now I've cleared that up, SCREW IT. I'm getting coffee. :rotfl::eek: