What's The Point in MoneySavingExpert?

rayday2

I agree Zulu the main part of this site is getting lost in chat!

Dr_Hook

But a big part of the DFW community is its warmth: cut the chat and it'd all get a bill, well, clinical.

immoral_angeluk

Anyway.. going back to the original question...

What is the point in MoneySavingExpert

To be a source of support, advice and help for those who need it.

If the CEO of barclays came on here needing help, he would get the same treatment as everyone else. Or at least I'd hope so. Because if he didn't it'd be a very sad day indeed that someone was rejected help that they needed.

always_amazed

Thats a really lovely way to put it IA.

moonlightpjs

I don't often post of these types of discussions and I will only post the once but I have to agree with IA.

There is a point of MSE and most certainly of DFW board - going back a few months (well nearly a year) I was, without a doubt, comtemplating sucide and posted on here. The first responses I received were "don't worry, we'll help you, we are/have been in the same boat" etc etc From that day forward I have known that there is a place I can go where nobody will judge me, nobody knows who I am, I can pour my heart out (as I have done many times) I can rant, I can seek advice, I can give advice. And I have made many "virtual" friendships and the banter, laughter, jokes, support, advice, the caring attitude, the whole sense of feeling like I belong has kept me on my way to being DFW - and even when I am DF I will still be here because, to me, there is no other place like it.

Who cares if people chat, who cares if there are parties on a weekend - the people who need help do not not get it because people have formed friendships and have a get together once in a while (which everybody new or old is welcome to) and have a laugh - it just shows the spirit of the DFW board. The daires, though I don't post often on them, inspire me when I read them (and I do read them regulary) and make me feel that I am not alone and if I can help I will, just as I know there is help there if I need it - the same as for everybody who already is a DFW or who is just joining the ranks. Just look at the amount of posts on the diaries and the amount of views.

Nobody will go unhelped, nobody will not be advised and supported and I do not think for one minute that anybody will be ignored. I have told people on here things I wouldn't tell anyone in real life and I have never been judged

I admit to not been here all of the time but I know when i do return I will be welcomed with open arms - the same goes for every user of the DFW board without question.

DFW is a community like no other and I for one would not be without it. It has saved my sanity - I welcome the banter and the laughter as it brings a lighter side to wanting to be DF, you can forget your worries - even if it is for such a short time.

Toto

I would be the first person to congratulate someone who has taken steps to deal with their debts, no matter what method they use. For some, bankruptcy is the only option and if they are prepared to hand over their lives to the OR to deal with their debt they deserve huge congratulations when the deed is done.

I hate threads like this to be honest, there is an undertone of judgement. Why single out bankruptcy, why not IVAs or worse still those who just run from their debt. It's an absolute nonsense that the banks are damaged to the point of redundancy because of people not being able to pay their debts. All the banks do is write this off against tax. Banks make people reduntant because they can source cheaper labour elsewhere, or they have technology which reduces the need for manpower.

Interest rates go up and down depending on what the banks can get away with, what the competition is doing and a whole host of other economic factors, not because Joe Smith didn't pay his barclaycard bill.

stacey21_2

Hi

Sorry there was no judgemental undertones meant from myself, I was just starting to think along these lines because of the recent media/Martin interest in the PPI claims. What I was really meaning to ask is why there is a degree of contradiction on the site re: cancelling PPI so that there is no protection on a loan, which may lead to unmanageable debt, which then may lead to bankruptcy.

Shineyhappy

I think responsibility is a very good point.

I work for a smallish company and we have credit limits on each customers account. Their limit is dependany on the size, turnover, usual spend of the company buying from us. We would not give a 500k limit to a small trader who has a turnover of 10k. Surely banks should work on a similar level??

We have had customers go bankrupt but those risky customers do not have large limits so the damage is minimised.

Where as on a personal level, you can see my debts on my signature and yet Lloyds whom most of my debts are with still keep sending me credit card cheques and informing me of all the pre approved loans I could have. This is not responsible, they can see how much I earn and how much I owe and yet they are trying to sell me more debt?

Yes we do have a responsibility for ourselves but desperate times call for desperate measures as they say and in court you can use the plea of diminished responsibility for mitigating circumstances.

I honestly believe if both sides try to be more responsible then it wouldnt be a bad thing.

rayday2

stacey21 wrote: »

Hi

Sorry there was no judgemental undertones meant from myself, I was just starting to think along these lines because of the recent media/Martin interest in the PPI claims. What I was really meaning to ask is why there is a degree of contradiction on the site re: cancelling PPI so that there is no protection on a loan, which may lead to unmanageable debt, which then may lead to bankruptcy.

One of the reasons I claimed my PPI back is that I paid £4k (stupid I know!) for payment protection on a loan they told me it would cover sickness, redunancy and death seeing as it was secured on the house we went for it. Turns out we are only covered for critical illness (which we have a life policy on) death and redundancy, I have a similar policy for the mortgage which covers me for £8 a month so a lot cheaper.

But people do need to ensure when or if claiming that they have adequate cover in place or like you said they could loose a whole lot for a few pounds now.

TOBRUK

stacey21 wrote: »

With the issue of PPI, there is independant cover available to cover your house/loans etc.. are these not recommended either? I do admit that I don't have this on my loan, and the reason for that was purely cost, but the more I think about it the more I think I should have something?

Hi Stacey, about PPI - I had this on credit cards and in the case of becoming ill and not being able to make payments I was covered, and I paid for this for years. One day I found myself ill, unable to work LONGTERM! I made a claim and although I didn't have a large sum - I had 2 credit cards and the total for both came to about £800, but it is a very large amount when you do not have a wage. They would not pay out, I even paid for a report from my GP, but they still refused - I didn't take it any further because I was too ill to deal with it. So based on my experience I do not take out PPI as they will try to find any reason for not paying out.