DMP Mutual Support Thread - Part 12

Onebrokelady

Hi me again,I think my DMP will be due to start on the 1st of March,I have DDs due to come out of my account to my creditors this month should I pay these this month or cancel them and save the money to my emergency fund,I have some temporary money coming in for my emergency’s fund any way but wasn’t sure what to do

[Deleted User]

I think you and I are very similar in one respect, that's being worriers about what 'might' happen:o. Trust me, it invariably never does. Our worst fears never materialise. Worry is the last thing you need right now:) so please try to think of yourself and the baby.


If it were me, and I speak from the viewpoint pf someone with the tendency to worry about what-might-be in my DNA:o, I'd do the following.


Cancel your next DD/SO payments to creditors. Write a short letter (no need to go into much detail at this stage) to each creditor mentioning your excellent history of repayments. After all, you've done remarkably well in repaying so much already, you should be really proud of yourself for that:T. Then say that you are due to give birth next week and have masses of unexpected/necessary expenses which, because you have been paying the maximum amount towards your debts, you have no emergency funds/savings to cover. No need to go into any detail of figures or anything. Just explain that you have no money for what have now become essentials. The baby and its welfare comes first after all. Go on to say that you have meanwhile suspended payments to all creditors for the immediate future. Say that you will try to work out the best way forward and will be in touch with them again to tell them when your payments will resume and what they are likely to be. No need to give a date or put a time limit on it. Don't ask them if they will allow you to suspend payments, you must tell them that's what you are doing. You can go down the token payment route for now if it makes you feel any better but many would advise not to bother.


I see that Suseka has already given you very valuable advice. This is just a personal opinion, what I'd do myself. I know people like sourcrates (who gives such wonderful advice as a rule and is a star of this thread) would advise doing less than this and not perhaps telling them anything, just saying you are ceasing payments for the foreseeable future due to unforeseen circumstances. I would only rest easy if I tell them something about why I need to do it and what these circumstances are. I'm a worryguts:o

Oh, and most importantly of all, stop worrying about Debt Collectors or anyone knocking on your door. This will just NOT happen.

FoolishGirl77

Thank you all. You are so right, I worry about the what ifs and might bes. I know I shouldn’t - But I do �� I will draft some simple letters today and send them off, cancel my standing orders and keep my fingers crossed ��

I will try to keep you all updated but if I don’t post for a while it’s because I’m busy doing something g else! :rotfl:

You have all been such a comfort - I wish this thread was more prominent on the web it’s invaluable!

Suseka97

FoolishGirl77 wrote: »

It’s so good hearing from somebody who has been where I am goi g and still as positive as you are! Thank you!
I guess it’s just frightening because obviously I can pay something but if I pay nothing or just token payments for a few months it will make such a difference at such an uncertain time.
Most of my debts are now with DCAs and defaulted, It’s so terrifying thinking of how they will react to going from an agreed payment t to nothing - with only my promise that payments will start again on x date. What if they don’t accept? I can’t have people knocking on the door When I’ve got the new baby.
I know you say not to worry, it’s easier said than done. Sorry. 😐 I’m such a scardy cat.

Just to add... seeing as your debts are already defaulted and with DCAs, this actually makes things a lot easier. They probably won't react much if at all. DCAs have so many accounts to handle they can go months without contacting debtors even when payments stop, regardless of whether you've told them the reason or not.

You won't have people suddenly banging on your door - just doesn't happen like that from my experience. Just write and explain, but there's really no need to tell them that much. Just that your circumstances have changed and you are reviewing the situation etc. etc. If it makes you feel better and more assured, then by all means you can say you are expecting a new addition to the family and have to make cutbacks/changes to your existing repayment plans as a result.

As CBC says - you've done really well managing to reduce your debt as much as you have, so you really shouldn't have any problems. If you do, then pop back on here and we'll help.

Suseka97

Onebrokelady wrote: »

Hi me again,I think my DMP will be due to start on the 1st of March,I have DDs due to come out of my account to my creditors this month should I pay these this month or cancel them and save the money to my emergency fund,I have some temporary money coming in for my emergency’s fund any way but wasn’t sure what to do

Cancel DDs for any debts that are going in the DMP now and if you've not done so already, contact them (via letter, email, or telephone) advising you are about to/have set up a DMP via StepChange. Pretty much all creditors know about SC and in doing so most, if not all, will put your account on an immediate 30 day hold. Put that money aside to add to your EF.

Daydreambeliever

FoolishGirl77 wrote: »

Thank you all. You are so right, I worry about the what ifs and might bes. I know I shouldn’t - But I do �� I will draft some simple letters today and send them off, cancel my standing orders and keep my fingers crossed ��

I will try to keep you all updated but if I don’t post for a while it’s because I’m busy doing something g else! :rotfl:

You have all been such a comfort - I wish this thread was more prominent on the web it’s invaluable!

Hello, really just repeating what Carbootcrazy and Suseka have already said. Please don't worry about reducing/making token payments. I have been self managing my dmp for 7 months now and this month I have had to drop to token payments again as I have more vet bells. I have wrote to all 7 creditors telling them that they will be getting £1.00 per month until 1st September due to unexpected household expenses/vet bills. When I went self managed and dropped to token payments last year for the first time, I worried dreadfully, now not a bother. No-one will come knocking. And you always have everyone here to turn to for advice and help, like you say it is an amazing thread with wonderful people. Take care and hope everything goes well DB x

FoolishGirl77

Daydreambeliever wrote: »

Hello, really just repeating what Carbootcrazy and Suseka have already said. Please don't worry about reducing/making token payments. I have been self managing my dmp for 7 months now and this month I have had to drop to token payments again as I have more vet bells. I have wrote to all 7 creditors telling them that they will be getting £1.00 per month until 1st September due to unexpected household expenses/vet bills. When I went self managed and dropped to token payments last year for the first time, I worried dreadfully, now not a bother. No-one will come knocking. And you always have everyone here to turn to for advice and help, like you say it is an amazing thread with wonderful people. Take care and hope everything goes well DB x

Thank you all. Again the support is fantastic and just what I needed right now. Not one to let the grass go I have drafted the letters as simply as I’m comfiortable with and my partner has kindly posted them. Have cancelled the SOs so payments now paused. Feels goood to be taking action - just hope madam turns up now so I can occupy my mind with far more important things! :beer:

Onebrokelady

Suseka97 wrote: »

Cancel DDs for any debts that are going in the DMP now and if you've not done so already, contact them (via letter, email, or telephone) advising you are about to/have set up a DMP via StepChange. Pretty much all creditors know about SC and in doing so most, if not all, will put your account on an immediate 30 day hold. Put that money aside to add to your EF.

Hi thanks for the advice,I will get onto that now 😊

Onebrokelady

Hi, I don’t have any words of wisdom because I have just joined here so I’m new to this but just wanted to good luck with your new arrival and I hope everything goes well for you xx

LadyMorticia

Hey guys.

Sent off a "write off" letter to all of my creditors at the suggestion of my GP and psychiatrist about 10 days ago.

NCO Europe (Lowell) who I have 2 accounts with (Littlewoods and Very), I checked my online account and it said "review." However, it now says "closed." Does this mean my write off request is successful? I don't want to get my hopes up but the Littlewoods debt is a very large one!

Also, I've checked my credit report and the Littlewoods account doesn't appear anywhere on it - either open or in the closed section. There's no mention of it.

x