DMP mutual support thread part 13 !!

[Deleted User]

Willing2Learn wrote: »

Finding a new account is easy. Just make sure that the new account is from a different banking group to all your creditors (to stop any chance of offset recovery).

Changingtimes

Just to add to the advice given by Willing2Learn on bank accounts. Yes, it is easy to open a new bank account but it will be the Basic variety. All major banks have them and most can be opened entirely online. They do not offer an overdraft or usually a chequebook should you need one. They offer everything else though such as a Debit Card, DDs and SOs and you can access your account online. As far as I know they don't offer a switching bonus to move to basic accounts and you'd have to set it all up yourself. It depends on the state of your credit history as to whether you'd qualify for a regular account instead but most of us on here have the basic one and can manage perfectly happily with it. Quite a lot of us are with Nationwide, I can recommend them 100%.

Moveslikeagger

Just out of interest Stef, are they calling your mobile or home phone? Or both?

Steff90

Just my mobile as I don't have a home phone

Changingtimes

Thank you all who offered me advice.
So I put them all on notice and ask them to freeze or would step change do this for me.?
All accounts are up to date as of now. And payday 18th November next one. So between now and then open a new account and contact all my creditors?
Are you also saying to issue complaints now before I ask them to freeze my accounts?
Sorry for all the questions I just don't want to do anything wrong
Thanks again

biker_rob

Hello all. Just a quick question. I have sent all of my holding letters (including one to Barclays re: my overdraft). Set up all of my DDs and SOs in my new account, employers payroll updated and currently looking at price comparison deals for car insurance, broadband,energy etc. So things are going to plan. I have gone through the Nedcab DMP website and really feel I can self-manage (although Stepchange have been excellent).

My question is about the holding letters. I used the templates from the SC website which state that they will be in contact with my creditors at some point. If I was to decide to go self-managed and send offer letters from myself would it make any difference to how my creditors would deal with me?

Willing2Learn

biker_rob wrote: »

If I was to decide to go self-managed and send offer letters from myself would it make any difference to how my creditors would deal with me?

When I went self-managed I just randomly sent out settlement offers as and when funds became available. This did cause consternation amongst some of my creditors, as they said I was giving some accounts preferential treatment. It never caused any of my creditors to escalate any enforcement, so I was not too worried about some being upset due to perceived preferential treatment. Hope this helps

January2015

biker_rob wrote: »

Hello all. Just a quick question. I have sent all of my holding letters (including one to Barclays re: my overdraft). Set up all of my DDs and SOs in my new account, employers payroll updated and currently looking at price comparison deals for car insurance, broadband,energy etc. So things are going to plan. I have gone through the Nedcab DMP website and really feel I can self-manage (although Stepchange have been excellent).

My question is about the holding letters. I used the templates from the SC website which state that they will be in contact with my creditors at some point. If I was to decide to go self-managed and send offer letters from myself would it make any difference to how my creditors would deal with me?

I assume you mean offer of monthly repayment letters rather than offers of F&Fs. When I went self managed all my creditors were fine (and I had 11 of them). Not one of them treated me any differently than when I had been with SC. I did quote the NEDCAB reference everytime - which seemed to make some of them think I was being supported by Citizens Advice Bureau - but hey if they want to think that then that's fine by me :rotfl:

coolcait

Steff90 wrote: »

Hi everyone

I have sent letters a few weeks ago to all my creditors stating I am going to be dealing with step change.
However I am getting constant phone calls and I'm just ignoring them as I did put on the letter that I only accept correspondence in writing.
Do I continue ignoring these calls?
I haven't answered any yet and don't really plan to.
Trying to hold off starting a plan for a few months until I can build up an emergency fund but I'm just worried in the mean time my creditors try to take action against me while I'm ignoring them. Not sure what powers they have (I'm in Scotland).
Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Willing2Learn wrote: »

Hi Steff90, if it was me, I would continue to ignore all calls. If the calls continue, since you have written to them to advise that they do not have consent to phone you, I would make an official written complaint (reiterating that you only consent to written communication). The rules are the same in Scotland re consent.

Edit: How are you finding the DAS process? Hope it is all smooth running for you...

Steff90 wrote: »

That's what I thought! Thank you.
I haven't started it yet. Just holding off for a couple months so I can get some money put away. I'm waiting on phone calls from everyone as I haven't paid any of my credit cards this month but that said I will ignore until I'm ready. It's quite daunting!
But we'll get there eventually ��

Hi Steffi

If you're going into a DAS that takes a bit of time in itself. Your money adviser - I think you said you're going with StepChange didn't you? - has to do some work with the creditors first. Checking account numbers, balances, who they've sold the debt on to! All that kind of thing.

That can take several weeks in itself. Then they have to send the proposal to your creditors and give them three weeks to reply (or ignore it). If they all accept, and ignoring counts as deemed acceptance, then the DAS is approved.

If any of them reject the proposal then someone at the DAS Administrator's office will decide if it can still be approved anyway. That can add a bit more time.

And once it's approved, you have six weeks to make the first payment.

That means the whole process can easily take at least two or three months, giving you tie to put some money aside while StepChange are dealing with your creditors and the DAS.

Something to bear in mind if the phone calls get too stressful .

Good luck!

Steff90

Coolcait thank you! I didn't realise it was such a long process to start it up that's good to know I should probably call them sooner than later 😬 ! Probably partly scared to start it up as it's then official 😧!
That's great advice though and definitely something to bear in mind. I've had 3 automated called from HSBC today stating I'm behind with payments but I'm assuming these are just automatically generated by the company.
I will keep you updated x

biker_rob

Thanks W2L and Jan. That's good to know, I guess it makes little difference as long as they are being paid. Still haven't decided to go self-managed as yet but really considering. I'm not the most decisive person in the world so appreciate the advice.