DMP mutual support thread part 13 !!

Suseka97

Sylvester6 wrote: »

Hi everyone......
..... I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick wall!!! I'm definitely not ringing them but will send another letter when I can get my printer working!! It is so frustrating!! We have paid token payments to these accounts too!! So worried they'll take further action and not sure what else to do!!

Sorry to hear you're feeling somewhat down, but try not to be It's true to say that when it comes to Link, I'm afraid you are indeed banging your head against a brick wall and you're not the only one!!!

They are a shambles outfit and its a case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing. Just stick to your guns and never call - although its tempting to get things moved on, they are, as CBC says, very adept at intimidation. You've told them what you intend to do - so carry on with the tokens and in March make the payment you chose to make - not what they tell you to.

Out of interest, have you sent CCA requests off for these ones (or any/all of your debts)? I ask because if not, do so - they have to stop collection activity until they provide the info. If you have and they've been proven as enforceable - that still doesn't matter when it comes to agreeing a payment plan, particularly if your I&E proves you can only afford x amount. And, you do not have to send wage slips or bank statements to prove anything to them - only a Court can legitimately ask for that.

Sylvester6

Thank you for your replies Carboot and Suseka. It is reassuring in an odd way that others have problems too. I had spoken to a few other DCAs who were fine, so I phoned them to get it sorted out quickly but found them very intimidating and felt very much like the advisor was trying to trip me up with figures. I will just keep responding to their letters by letter and keep paying for now!!

I haven't sent CCAs as yet, that is our next step and I have the postal orders waiting. I'm just a little unclear on the process in that do you stop paying altogether when you CCA them? I'm just a bit wary that I've just sorted going SM with token payments and then if I stop paying altogether it'll rock the boat somewhat if you know what I mean!! Feeling a bit out of my depth at the minute!!

Thank you

Suseka97

Sylvester6 wrote: »

I haven't sent CCAs as yet, that is our next step and I have the postal orders waiting. I'm just a little unclear on the process in that do you stop paying altogether when you CCA them? I'm just a bit wary that I've just sorted going SM with token payments and then if I stop paying altogether it'll rock the boat somewhat if you know what I mean!! Feeling a bit out of my depth at the minute!!
Thank you

Okay, this is what I did. I went self-managed in July 2017 and informed all my creditors that I was doing so. Along with that letter I sent the CCA request and said that I would be suspending payments and would be carrying out a review of my financial position and would be back in touch in due course. That was just stalling tactics whilst I waited to see whether they could comply with it or not. I had debts with the PRA group and Link. PRA acknowledged the CCA quite quickly stating that until paperwork was provided they would be suspending collection activity. Link never acknowledged anything, but I stopped paying them anyway.

It took PRA around 6 months or so and they finally came back with the news that they were unable to locate the necessary paperwork and as such the debts were not currently enforceable, adding that didn't mean the debt wasn't still owed. Link took longer, but eventually came back with the requisite documentation, but it took them around 10 months to do that and during that time I continue to hold payments, building up a nice F&F pot.

Since around May/June time this year I've been playing letter ping-pong with Link and to date I've still not made any payments. Two of the Link ones have been reduced due to Barclays refunding money, which they paid straight to Link. So that's all they've had in some 17 months.

So the moral of this story is don't be deterred by the possibility of enforcement escalations - there are a lot of hoops to jump through before it would ever get to Court (if that's the concern), so get the CCAs off swiftly. If they find the paperwork - so be it and you can put your repayment plan into action. If they don't - well then the fun starts

ontheup..

Hi all

After reading through these posts for a few weeks I am finally trying to get myself sorted out! After maternity leave, reduced hours and now long term income combined with high interest charges and just trying to survive I now feel like I'm drowning. I did contact Stepchange who suggested a token payment plan as I have practically no disposable income while I am off however should return to work in a few months hopefully. However I am finding this all such a minefield. I have already opened a new bank account and have all incoming and main direct debits sorted out as my main problem is with my previous bank who have sent me a letter EVERY day since. I am trying to get together the stuff together for step Change and have contacted the other creditors to explain and give reference number etc. 3 out of 4 of them have still contacted me and 1 added on late payment charges after this. I still need to contact my previous bank but very scared about this one as seems such a lot of money (2 big overdrafts and 1 loan). I am very anxious about it going to court and absolutely cannot talk to family about debt! Anyway just wanted to pop in and say hello and hopefully when I get up and running with Stepchange I will start to see light at the end of the tunnel. You guys are all amazing, so knowledgeable about this and confident!

sourcrates

ontheup.. wrote: »

You guys are all amazing, so knowledgeable about this and confident!

Hi,

Welcome to the thread, no matter how bad your financial situation, you should always deal with such matters from a position of strength, you have rights too, its not a one way street.

Does not matter if you owe £20 or millions, you should not feel intimidated, circumstances do change, fact, creditors know this, its mostly standard computer generated letters you will be receiving, recycling bin fodder, once it filters down you are working with stepchange, things will quieten down.

Just to allay your fear of going to court, sometimes a creditor will do this just to secure there position, normally its all done by post and online, you do not actually have to appear in person, you make an offer of monthly payment, usually its accepted, normally the same as you are already paying via SC.

If you are already paying via a DMP court action is extremely unlikely.

[Deleted User]

ontheup.. wrote: »

You guys are all amazing, so knowledgeable about this and confident!

Thank you but we've all been in the same position as you are now, taking those first scary first steps into DMP-land.


Just keep reading, take any relevant advice that you're offered and most of all try not to worry. You've made a great start in addressing your debt problem and making an effort to do something about it. I can still remember how hard that was:eek:



Welcome to the thread and please keep asking about anything that's worrying you. There's a lot to get your head round at the start but we'll all do our best to help you through it:)

Sylvester6

Thanks Suseka, that's really helpful. Definitely going to get the CCA requests in and then we'll see what happens from there. I'm sure I'll have lots more questions but I am really grateful for you taking the time to reply. This Forum is fab and I don't know where I'd be without it

ash28

I'd just like to say thanks for the advice on the CCAs which I sent off today complete with postal orders. So in the space of a week my creditors have holding letters and CCA requests......


My question is; what happens now? Do I get in touch with the creditors 30 days from when I sent the holding letters with a repayment offer and an I & E statement or because I've sent CCA requests do I just wait for the results to comc back from those before sending anything to them?

sourcrates

Sylvester6 wrote: »

Thanks Suseka, that's really helpful. Definitely going to get the CCA requests in and then we'll see what happens from there. I'm sure I'll have lots more questions but I am really grateful for you taking the time to reply. This Forum is fab and I don't know where I'd be without it

Expect the next few weeks to be busy, we always have an influx of fresh meat in the days and weeks following Christmas, when the credit crd bills hit the doormat and there's nothing in the pot to pay them.

Sylvester6

[Expect the next few weeks to be busy, we always have an influx of fresh meat in the days and weeks following Christmas, when the credit crd bills hit the doormat and there's nothing in the pot to pay them.]

That's definitely one of the best things about a DMP, not putting Christmas on the credit card!!