About to start DMP with CCCS soon...can i squeeze the last drops from my credit cards

Gemmzie

It's probably going to be first of April now, but only CCCS can answer that for you for definite. Either way you need to ask them this to make sure.

jillie1974

i think if she has already done her soa with them all the calculations will be based on those figures ie how much she can afford to pay each month etc i wouldnt recommend spending on those cards at all. best thing to do would be to speak to CCCS for their advice

hitback

Firsttimebuyer wrote: »

Direct Debits went out a week ago and we cancelled them yesterday. She opened a new account and they gave her an overdraft automatically....she is NOT intended to keep this. First thing we will do when the DMP starts is to cancel the overdraft completly.

Why wait until the DMP starts before cancelling the overdraft? It's just temptation in the long run...Better to get a basic account with no overdraft

Verbatim

As many have said a call to cccs will bring certainty and peace of mind if she asks that the dmp starts in April and just token payments in March.

Cut up the cards and cancel the overdraft or she'll be tempted to use more credit which could well mean that she is less likely to get interest frozen by creditors. You will then be paying off your debts for longer as interest added each month will stack up.

There are now 3 weeks to payday so can you do a stocktake of what food you have in and manage to eat until then? The old style board is good for suggestions on meals from what ingredients are to hand.

It's a difficult situation to be in and I hope you find a way to get through until payday.

jillie1974

youre not meant to have an overdraft when you are with cccs, just basic account

CCCS_Matthew

Hi there,

I would second the advice so far - using what's left on available on the credit cards would be a very bad idea as the creditors are much less likely to accept the agreements or stop the interest if she still using the cards up to the start of the DMP.

If she is really struggling to get her priorities covered and find her first payment for March then it may benefit her giving us a call to arrange the DMP to start in April.

If the bank account she has is overdrawn, then the overdraft needs to be included within the plan in order for that to get paid back as well as the rest of her debts. It's important she opens a basic bank account away from anyone she owes any money to, to ensure once the DMP is up and running she is living within her means and there is no opportunity of overspending which could lead her being back to square one.

Hope this makes sense, and like I say, it's best that she gives us a call to discuss putting the DMP back a month if that's going to help her get everything else up to date

Regards,
CCCS