Creditor calls going crazy

S1Ebbz

Paperwork sent to Step change for DMP

Letter sent to all creditors informing this. DMP hopefully starts first payment in April

But....

Phone is going crazy with calls. Like crazy is this normal?? I havent picked up as I am in work

What am I meant to say if I pick up a call. They have called me like 5 times already and text me. Is this normal.

GDB2222

I'd pick up a call and ask them to stop calling. Are all the calls from the same people?

S1Ebbz

Hard to tell I think most from same. Issue is in work it's extremely hard to pick up..can I tell them not to call? I appreciate the set up process will be challenging just didn't know how to relieve this whilst its being set up

MrsTinks

Yes and no.... that really depends on which creditor it is who's calling you. Most banks and credit cards are actually pretty good these days and once they have been informed of a DMP from one of the charities they tend to just let you get on with it.

Whether log book loans and payday lenders and their ilk are as good I don't know. Who is it that is calling you?

If you can, pick up the phone once and firmly tell them that you will not be speaking to them - you have entered a DMP with Stepchange and xyz is your reference number.

Then contact stepchange and let them know about the calls.

In fairness this could even be something as simple as a mistake in a letter meaning your creditor hasn't yet been notified of your DMP and so they think you're just missing payments...

January2015

If you feel you can cope, pick the phone up and just say you are working with stepchange to set up your DMP. They will be hearing from SC soon. Please do not continue to call me and please put all communication regarding this account in writing.

They have to put an immediate 30 day stop on contact, interest and charges.

If you don't feel you can cope answering the phone then is there anyway you can block those numbers? When I started my DMP I bought a CPR call blocker (about £50). I wasn't too concerned about calls but my OH was. If you can afford one of these, they are brilliant.

However, my best advice would be to take a deep breath, pick the phone up yourself and phone each creditor. Tell them about SC, tell them they will be hearing from SC shortly. Tell them to communication in writing only. I actually did this in the end with our DMP. Nobody was rude to me, nobody said anything bad. I was so nervous before I did it but it was actually a relief to get it done.

sourcrates

Creditors use whats called an "automated dialing system".

Basically a computer rings everyone who is in arrears on there account, until the call is answered, or it reaches its maximum calls a day setting.

On occasion, the computer is way ahead of the call handler, thats why when you answer the phone, no one is there.

Once they know your on a DMP, you will be taken off the calls list, until then, either block the number, or ignore it.

S1Ebbz

Ah ok that makes sense thank you for the update on this

Its just been a little bombarding but fingers crossed once they know whats going on