To scared to open letters am i the only one?

painted_lady

I used to never open my post for the same reason, I knew the envelope and font of every finance company and didnt open them. I knew Barclays used a different size envelope when they sent a letter informing of a charge. I have now changed my life around and almost look forward to post as it prooves I can do it. I no longer have bank charges and even if I have no money, I am in control. You can do it too and you have taken the hardest step. Well done to you. best of luck and keep us posted.

thepinklady

I was once scared of opening letters, I knew what they would be so would hide them in a drawer and try and forget I got them. Sadly they don't stop - more would come and I would get myself in bigger trouble financially. I now wish I had opened them and not left them for months, maybe I wouldn't be in this mess if I had sorted myself out years ago!!!

Good luck - all be fine in the end!

Tesco_points_addict

You've made the first vry important step...with everybodies help on her you will sson be making good progress:T
Good luck xx
TPA

PS not opening the letters doesn't make the debt go away...but then you know that - you can get over this

moneydesperate_x

Hi

I am new to this site too, joined today and I am in exactly the same situation, and having filled in the CCCS debt remedy online I am waiting to hear from the CCCS.
All i can say is without this website and everyones support (reading other peoples threads etc until i joined) i would still be dreading the postman too.
Wishing you good luck for your appointment, remember you are not the only one.........x

Adrasteia01

I found one of the most unpleasant and surprising things was adding up all of the individual amounts I owed into a total figure - because it will be almost certainly more than you expect.

However, once you have that you can work out the best way to repay it, so more goes off your debt and you pay less interest. You can work toward repaying it and being debt free, and not having to worry about the post anymore.

It won't be pleasant, but once it's done you can move on and gain control of your finances.

I'd suggest getting a few folders and putting copies of your credit card and bank statements in there, along with any bills you have to pay. Also, set up a spreadsheet on the pc (or write it in a book) showing how much you've paid off your debts each month. As you make inroads into it it will urge you to carry on.

Good luck,
Tamara

lemonhead_4

also similar, does anyone else walk down the street or when driving, look at people and think 'i bet they are ok with money and not silly like me' i did, then i came on this site and now i look at people and think 'i wounder if they are on MSE' i always seemed to think i was the only one, now i know im not, i prob walk/drive past people in the same situation each day.

bowz25

hi
good luck with the start of you dmp and well done for getting started.
I have been on dmp since june 07 with cccs. (best thing we ever did)
As others have said i sorted out all my up to date statements and put them in a folder sent the originals to cccs and kept copies.
It is daunting at first and i admit a few times the phone calls made me cry when i came off the phone, and you do have to repeat yourselves to creditors when the call. Our phone calls stopped after about 2 months letters a bit longer.
Everytime i received default or letter from creditor i purchased cheap plastic folders stuck label on front for each creditor (we had 12 creditors) and put all correspondence from them in the folder. It does take over at first but once its up and running it will be better and when creditor calls you can relate to any letters sent.

Good luck again and take care

painted_lady

I do that lemonhead, but more "there not on MSE" when I see them wasting money.

Sassers

This thread is such a comfort - thank you all and the OP very much.
Tonight is my `big night' to open to horrors lurking in the recycling bin....
Thing is if I'm serious about getting 3/4 way debt free this year, then I have to do this.
Might make the opening the envelopes process as nice as possible with a pile of munchy sarnies, cup of coffee and a bit of background music to help it all along.

Love Sassers xx

lemonhead_4

it is all daunting, i spoke to a friend of mine who had same prob about 4 years ago, she wrote to them all asking for cheaper payments and she got letters from debt collectors etc, but no one actually came round, the letters are to scare you more than anything she told me and so far she is right, she said that she offered what she could afford, now she dont hear from any of them, maybe just a letter a year to ask if she would like to up her payments, so i took advice from her, thats why i wrote to them all and as i said some have accepted but a few have not, one that makes me laugh is tesco visa accepted my reduced payments and there is £7000 on that card, but my store card which has £500 wont accept the reduced payments, so have been getting debt collector letter from GE, i just get the help i need to do letters from the debt advice places abaout as mentioned on this site