DMP & Mutual Support Thread - Part 11

Triangle

Puzzcat wrote: »

Hi Triangle,

Sorry my post probably came over a bit abrupt.. I shouldn't try to reply in a hurry before bed...!

Sorry you are feeling low, it is hard as it is such a long journey, but you must focus on how far you have come not how far you have to go..!

As I said if you have already written to the creditors to complain then escalate to the fos, this can be done online. No guarantee but no harm in trying.

Self managing is easy and is what you said. Nedcab is a free service that you can set up and it helps you get started with the letters to creditors etc. It is very simple and you can adapt it to how you want it, for example I didn't like the way they split my payments as its different to SC so I amended the letters accordingly so I could pay the same as I was. The hardest bit was getting all the account/sort codes as despite writing requesting the information some of the creditors didn't read the letters.. durr..

Anyway whichever way you go, chin up, keep smiling and keep asking questions...!!

Good luck.
Love Puzz. x

Hi Puzz, apologies for taking so long to get back to you, things have been manic here!! I really really appreciate your advice and wisdom (and to the others who replied) :-)

Since this post I have realised that I couldmt just mope about so have sent my complaint letters off - no response at yet but will send a second soon and then complain to ombudsman.

I'm feeling more confident about going self-managed and will do this in a couple of months dependent on the two creditors resposne - only way I can see to try and push the final two defaults.

Many thanks again x

Triangle

Well rather bizarrely (since I posted about this yesterday) DH has heard from one of the creditors we have complained about.

I'm not happy however - he had several calls to his mobile, our home number (which I missed), his work number and two emails. In one day. I said in previous letters we would only correspond in wrriten letters.

Would others on here call them back? It's BC :mad: and we were complaining about continual adding of interest over the last year and no default. I'm not sure what a telephone conversation would achieve?

Many thanks

Tiggerlou

Hello.... I am due to start a DMP with Stepchange as I have debts of 38k to 18 different creditors... All paperwork sent off and just waiting for SC to contact the creditors and the first payment to go out in September... I have gone with a DMP rather than an IVA after discussion with the IVA advisor.... companies I owe include Barclaycard, American Express, Very, Littlewoods, Capital One, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and i have a personal loan with Moneyway.... I just wondered if anyone could let me know what experiences of these companies they have had and what to expect... I am most concerned about Moneyway (secure trust bank) and also the possibility of doorstep collectors... makes me struggle to sleep at night... any help would be gratefully received... i Have read the last 167 pages of the thread and realise that I am not the only one in this situation and has put a lot of things into perspective.. no one in my family or my partner know about this as they would be so cross and I can't cope with the arguments on top of this at the moment so the thread has been my only support... thanks in advance x

[Deleted User]

:wave:Welcome, Tiggerlou

Well done on taking the major step of embarking on a DMP. I know it won't have been an easy decision, if my own experience is anything to go by, but you'll find you are sleeping easier at nights once it gets underway:)


Just one query. Do you have some sort of emergency fund in place? On a DMP you'll have no access to credit and will have to depend on what money you already have.


I'm now over 3 years into my Stepchange DMP, fast approaching having paid off half of the horrendous £56000+ debt that I started with:j. It's been hard at times but I've learned a whole new way of living without relying on credit.


If there's anything that you need to know please ask. There's always someone who will be able to help in a non-judgemental way:T. I know exactly what you mean about no-one knowing about your debts as I'm in exactly the same situation:o. Even OH doesn't know and, for various reasons I don't feel I can share even on this friendly and supportive thread, there's no way I can ever tell him. Threads like this as well as the lovely people at Stepchange have been lifelines:j


Good Luck. Please keep posting and let us know how you get on:beer:

sourcrates

Tiggerlou wrote: »

Hello.... I am due to start a DMP with Stepchange as I have debts of 38k to 18 different creditors... All paperwork sent off and just waiting for SC to contact the creditors and the first payment to go out in September... I have gone with a DMP rather than an IVA after discussion with the IVA advisor.... companies I owe include Barclaycard, American Express, Very, Littlewoods, Capital One, Lloyds, Bank of Scotland and i have a personal loan with Moneyway.... I just wondered if anyone could let me know what experiences of these companies they have had and what to expect... I am most concerned about Moneyway (secure trust bank) and also the possibility of doorstep collectors... makes me struggle to sleep at night... any help would be gratefully received... i Have read the last 167 pages of the thread and realise that I am not the only one in this situation and has put a lot of things into perspective.. no one in my family or my partner know about this as they would be so cross and I can't cope with the arguments on top of this at the moment so the thread has been my only support... thanks in advance x

Hi,

Losing sleep over money worries, is silly, especially when you have a solution in place.
Of course creditors will ring you, if you haven't paid, solution block there number.
If they write, put the letter in the recycle bin.

Doorstep collectors are rare, but they are not bailiffs, they have no more power to enter your home than I do, you simply tell them to go away or the police will be called.
You do not conduct Buisness on the doorstep.

Most DMP's once up and running go very smoothly, you are one of millions in debt, don't think you will be treated any different to the others, all will be fine.

Tiggerlou

Thanks for your replies.... yes I have a small emergency fund in place and it feels strange to actually have any money if you know what I mean... I will be happier once the plan is underway and the first payment gone... just hope it goes as smooth as it can xxx

Sazzie23

Tiggerlou wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.... yes I have a small emergency fund in place and it feels strange to actually have any money if you know what I mean... I will be happier once the plan is underway and the first payment gone... just hope it goes as smooth as it can xxx

Hi Tigger and welcome,

Well done for reading through the thread. You are very right about having money, it's is strange when pre DMP, most of us have been surviving on CC and robbing Peter etc ...
In fact it's a good time to think, really think, about budgets and savings and what you'll need to pay for up front. People often get tripped up with, car breakdowns, boiler and washer repairs/replacement, school trips and vets bills, although all these things are sortable so don't panic if they do happen, it's good to have an idea what you could do if you need a new tyre at 8am ion the way to start the school run etc etc.

To put DMP St art up in perspective with talk of bailiffs and debt collectors, very very rare if you are in an arranged payment plan (AP ) markers on noddle. In fact so rare I don't think I've seen anyone in here say they've had this while they are in a DMP. Sourcrates is correct though, make sure you know your rights. I realise its especially a worry if you are trying to hide things from family. You can hardly say, keep the door locked in case the debt collector comes when they don't know about your debt issues.

I'd recommend you have good stories prepared about why you are not spending as you did previously, I'm saving for my pension, a new car, house repairs, usually covers most questions. Or we're reducing our outgoings whilst there's financial changes at work, due to Brexit or something else is another idea.

If there's a risk of phone calls to numbers you don't own I've seen people say, there was a breach on my account and we're trying to get it sorted, or simply, ppl sales people again, they never give up. Try to log into any on line accounts and remove your numbers, put 123... If a number is required.

Finally as others have said, try not to worry about it, some DMPers have had no phone calls and everything went smoothly, fingers crossed you'll be one of those.

Saz

P.s. Don't beat yourself up about accruing debt, it's easier to gain the debt and harder to lose it :mad:

Sazzie23

Triangle wrote: »

Well rather bizarrely (since I posted about this yesterday) DH has heard from one of the creditors we have complained about.

I'm not happy however - he had several calls to his mobile, our home number (which I missed), his work number and two emails. In one day. I said in previous letters we would only correspond in wrriten letters.

Would others on here call them back? It's BC :mad: and we were complaining about continual adding of interest over the last year and no default. I'm not sure what a telephone conversation would achieve?

Many thanks

Think I might be up for replying to an email, if only to say get lost and write to me. Otherwise I've found them persistent with phone calls which can be especially annoying if you are not happy to talk.

Saz

Tiggerlou

Thanks Sazzie23... your reply ia much appreciated... I can see myself being on here for the duration!! ��

BeingDebtFreeStartsHere

Good morning all,

Well, finally a letter from BC informing us that a default has been registered on the account. Hubby followed this up with a quick call to BC to confirm this and the lovely chap on the phone said the default has been registered and that they are back dating it to when we started our DMP in Oct 2014!!
Result :j:T

Last creditor to tackle to get our final default registered is The Co-operative!!

Take care,

BDFSH x