DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 11

KID77

Evening All!

Just wanted to get some opinions on whether you think its ok to claim bank charges/account fees against creditors in my dmp?
Ive read mixed comments online and a little nervous about doing it in case I anger them.....

Thoughts please :-)

KID
x

Sazzie23

KID77 wrote: »

Evening All!

Just wanted to get some opinions on whether you think its ok to claim bank charges/account fees against creditors in my dmp?
Ive read mixed comments online and a little nervous about doing it in case I anger them.....

Thoughts please :-)

KID
x

Hi Kid,

Is this for charges accrued whilst on DMP ? If you have been charged whilst on a DMP I'd say yes try to claim, they are not supposed to put you in a more difficult position so you stand a good chance of reclaiming.

Charges pre DMP? We're they unfair/unrealistic? I'm not sure the people who manage your DMP would even find our if you reclaimed these, never mind be bothered. Anything particularly worrying you about doing this?

KID77

Hi Sazzie

The charges are mainly pre-dmp and include bank account fee for an upgraded bank account. I am probably chancing my arm but feel it may be worth trying for the sake of a letter. There are some overdraft charges which have been applied for July and August (after they were notified of DMP) so I am also going to try and claim these which I think I have a more realistic chance of getting.

I'll send some letters and see what happens :-)

xx

Flumpybutton

Morning everyone I am in need of some advice yet again!!!
To cut a long story short I had an operation last year which had a long recovery time and meant I was off work for 5 months follwed by a period of 6 weeks back in work but due to complications from op I then had to take more time off. All was good with my DMP as I was getting full pay as I work for council. I went back to work in January on reduced hours as even though I had ongoing issues due to op I couldnt afford to stay off as pay would of gone to 50%. I reduced my hours a couple of times and have had to adjust payments to SC twice due to this.

Today I have had a call from hospital and after months of waiting have a date for my next op which is next Wednesday. So am happy for this but very worried about my pay and DMP!! I have been in the process of preparing letters to go self managed but now I don't know what to do as I think my pay will be reduced as I will be off work for a few weeks. I knew this was going to happen at some point but it is all a bit of a rush now.

Should I write to my creditors myself and explain about hospital and pay and offer lower payments than I am on now for a few months .

So much for cutting a long story short!!!!!

timetosayenough

Hi everyone,


All quiet here. Haven't heard from any creditors apart from text messages chasing late payment but I'm guessing they may be auto generated. Thanks for all the tips of pet insurance. I'm getting a quote from Animal Friends anyway, even though they obviously won't cover her current disease but it'll give me peace of mind that I've got some insurance just in case. Still need to contact vets about prescription but I've still got a few weeks medication left so will wait until next week then sort it out.


Hi Flumpy, I'm new to the DMP process, starting mine in November but the only thing I can think of is talk to Stepchange. I'm sure the many lovely experienced peeps will be along later. Good luck.


The only other thing is that SC have already sent letters to creditors saying that I'm starting DMP on 1st September but now SC have agreed I can start 1st November what is the best thing to tell creditors about the delay. Should I say I have outstanding bills I need to pay?

lewpster

Hi Everyone

Things ticking along nicely for me. Checked Noodle at the start of the week and 5 out of 6 accounts defaulted 8 months in so that's not great but it means in 5 and a bit years they will be gone. Barclaycard say my debt has been passed to their debt management arm so may default this month then I have a full set.

Loving my new single life and once I get my tax credits sorted I can up my DMP payments until my house with ex is sold. Loving the new independent me

Pickle29

Sazzie23 wrote: »

It's a really tough time and I'm sorry you're having to go through this, but logically I think, start looking for a new, better paid job, or one you'd like more than the current one. If you don't find that, then stay where you are until you know what is happening?

As I said in post above, don't worry about what the creditors might say/think, they'll get what you have left over,mid it takes longer to get to a DFD then it does.

Stick to positives, your debts are being managed, you still have a job and you obviously have lots of transferable skills, it will all work out.

Thank you Sazzie, the voice of reason!
I'm applying for things I like the look off that are broadly similar salary or a little less, just to keep my options open! I've also investigated going to college part time in September to try and get some more qualifications in something that might help my future job search whilst still working. I really don't know what will happen, but feeling more optimistic today about my DMP- any payment is better than no payment if I was out of work- therefore I'm keeping busy applying everywhere!

Will keep you posted
Thanks again

Sazzie23

Flumpybutton wrote: »

Morning everyone I am in need of some advice yet again!!!
To cut a long story short I had an operation last year which had a long recovery time and meant I was off work for 5 months follwed by a period of 6 weeks back in work but due to complications from op I then had to take more time off. All was good with my DMP as I was getting full pay as I work for council. I went back to work in January on reduced hours as even though I had ongoing issues due to op I couldnt afford to stay off as pay would of gone to 50%. I reduced my hours a couple of times and have had to adjust payments to SC twice due to this.

Today I have had a call from hospital and after months of waiting have a date for my next op which is next Wednesday. So am happy for this but very worried about my pay and DMP!! I have been in the process of preparing letters to go self managed but now I don't know what to do as I think my pay will be reduced as I will be off work for a few weeks. I knew this was going to happen at some point but it is all a bit of a rush now.

Should I write to my creditors myself and explain about hospital and pay and offer lower payments than I am on now for a few months .

So much for cutting a long story short!!!!!

Hi Flumpy
Hope the op goes ok next week, after all that waiting, must be quite a shock to get a date. Not sure it will make any difference if you go self managed now or later, in the end the old 'can't take what you haven't got' applies. You can prove your income reduction of you need to, and they are lucky you didn't give up work completely.

What works better for you? If you are thinking that post-op you'll have time on your hands in recovery, why not do it then? Or if the recovery is long and you won't be up to doing letters either do it now, or plan for later in the year.

Were you hoping to achieve anything specific by going self-managed? Obviously if you are on a fee charging DMP then I'd say move now (well I would wouldn't I!).

Meanwhile, pack your hospital bag, your mp3 player and a good book and let us know how you get on.

Sazzie23

Pickle29 wrote: »

Thank you Sazzie, the voice of reason!
I'm applying for things I like the look off that are broadly similar salary or a little less, just to keep my options open! I've also investigated going to college part time in September to try and get some more qualifications in something that might help my future job search whilst still working. I really don't know what will happen, but feeling more optimistic today about my DMP- any payment is better than no payment if I was out of work- therefore I'm keeping busy applying everywhere!

Will keep you posted
Thanks again

Great attitude, you'll be fine, we've had a few redundancy worries reported on this thread over the couple of years I've been in here and they've all worked out ok in the end.

phoenixx

Hi all - it's been weeks if not months since I've visited. The new thread is looking good! I have so missed this forum - ridiculous working hours trying to hold down all my jobs are to blame. I have come close to damaging my health with over 100 hour weeks becoming the norm. It isn't sustainable - I have been found asleep over my computer more than once and dribbling on key pads is not good for them...I have reached the conclusion that max number of jobs at any one time is 3 - one full time and 2 part time/temporary. At the height of my efforts I was running 5 or 6. If it takes longer to pay off the debt then so be it. I can't sacrifice health, family, friends or sanity any more. So I will still work hard and save what I can but will aim for max working hours of 75 a week. Debt update: Barclaycard are still dragging their feet over interest. How I have come to loathe them! M&S come second - they reduce for a few months after we contact them and then revert to interest again! Is grinding...Hope you are all enjoying the better weather and knocking off those debts. Xxx