DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part Three)

Summer1969

Marru wrote: »

Hi Summer, I got the same response from CAB except that in the final report due to my occupation and my assests in my little side business they adviced me to find ways to increase my income and that was that. I would definitely take the CCCS advice and forget the CAB.

I got a very nasty letter from Sechiari, Clark and Mithcell -solicitors on behalf of Lloyds. They threatened to add their fees on my loan etc etc. Has anyone had any experiences with them? I thought that only thing I can do is to copy my correspondence I have sent to LLoyds and send it to them. What do you think?

I wish I had never ever taken that Lloyds credit card. It was just a way to shift some money from more expensive credit card to low interest for life card and this is now the consequense. Sighs. Why can't they be like M&S?

Marru

I can't advise you about the cc, I am afraid, but there are lovely helpful people on here that will be along.

Thank you for replying, I am so scared. I have been off work a few months with depression and this situation isn't helping me. I need to get something sorted quick but don't want to make the wrong decision. Having to wait another 2 weeks is just making me panic more.

andytwonames

Summer1969 wrote: »

I need to get something sorted quick but don't want to make the wrong decision. Having to wait another 2 weeks is just making me panic more.

You are clearly struggling with life whilst this situation is unresolved. I think that waiting 2 weeks is the wrong decision for you.

Call CCCS now and tell them what CAB said, AND tell them what the wait is doing to you.

When I called CCCS, the advice was to stop paying all of the creditors immediately and send them token payments whilst we worked out the DMP details.

Protect your income by having the money go in to an account where you don't owe any money, stop all payments to creditors now (except mortgage, council tax and utilities) and send token payments.

If you do it now, you will start to feel better. You can always go down the bankruptcy route later if you think it is better.

If you stop paying your creditors while you sort things out, nothing really bad happens, nobody dies, nobody comes to burn your house down or kidnap the children (although, that would save a few quid!)

I got the pack from CCCS weeks ago and did nothing with it! I called them yesterday and they said just send a second lot of token payments and we can start from 1st June.

Shazand

Hi Summer1969

I agree with andytwonames, waiting is the wrong decision for you, 2 weeks when you are anxious and depressed is like waiting a year !!

I suffer from Panic attacks and since deciding on a DMP, I feel like a new woman. Obviously we have a long way to go, but knowing there is a solution and having the support on this thread makes all the difference.

Keep talking and reading this thread and I promise once you have contacted CCCS and arranged the DMP you too will feel much better.

Summer1969

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice. Just had a blub down the phone to OH, seeing the doctor next week as well. I will ring back the CCCS and tell them what the CAB said. I am just confused, DMP or bankruptcy, need to do get things sorted in my head and put a plan into action.

andytwonames

Summer1969 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice. Just had a blub down the phone to OH, seeing the doctor next week as well. I will ring back the CCCS and tell them what the CAB said. I am just confused, DMP or bankruptcy, need to do get things sorted in my head and put a plan into action.

DMP NOW, doing a DMP will help resolve the immediate problems. You will still have the option of bankruptcy later if you want it.

rayday2

Marru wrote: »

I got a very nasty letter from Sechiari, Clark and Mithcell -solicitors on behalf of Lloyds. They threatened to add their fees on my loan etc etc. Has anyone had any experiences with them? I thought that only thing I can do is to copy my correspondence I have sent to LLoyds and send it to them. What do you think?

I wish I had never ever taken that Lloyds credit card. It was just a way to shift some money from more expensive credit card to low interest for life card and this is now the consequense. Sighs. Why can't they be like M&S?

Marru

They are not proper solicitors they are just a department in Lloyds I take it it was nice grey paper and looked the part?

I had a letter and I copied them with my offer of payment and complained at the way there "clients" Lloyds had handled things.

If you get to that department you know that is Lloyds last line in defence and they will crumble - I would tell them that you are now considering reclaiming the charges back.

Someone posted on the forum to say that in his experience Lloyds very rarely went for any legal action. He was the one who confirmed that this so called solicitors were just in fact another department - the address is very similar if you look.

louietudor

Hi again all i need a bit of advice or opinion

I have huge debts ( over £50000 ) but I am at last attempting to deal with them

Heres my dilema - I am at the moment a self employed hairdresser and 2 years ago I was diagnosed with bone cancer ( chronrdo sarcoma ) - its not life threatening at this stage but the the pain and the treatments i am on ( no radiation thank god but oral chemo - immune inhibitors etc) can be prohibitive to work plus I need a healthy diet - im ok with my illness like i say its been 2 years since I was diagnosed - it just stops me from working the hours and at the rate I used to

I have been in contact with cccs and have my telephone appointment next week - I also have the letters ready to go to my creditors with the offer of token payments till dmp is sorted

My dilema is do i inform my creditors of my condition - i would hope it may lead them to be a bit more sympathetic but i am also wary they they may think 'cancer - he's gonna die' and be even more forceful to get the most out of me before i kick it ( which I wont)

My heart says tell them the truth then even though it may not effect their treatment of me now it may once the dmp is up and running with regards to the reviews etc ( ie condition the same so cannot work anymore hours etcso cannot pay any more)

if anyone has any thoughts id be gratefull

unhappynugget

Having just had a lovely conversation with rma which got us nowhere fast, my husband decided to phone them back (with holding the number of course) and continued to ask them the same questions they ask us. It went on " hello could i have your name please" and after the third time the young girl said her name, then she asked " has anybody tried to contact you? " so replied " not from this planet" it went a bit quiet for a moment then we asked " can you please confirm your date of birth" and to our surprise she gave it. This was becoming very amusing at this point so we continued " could you please confirm your address and postcode " after repeating the question 3 times the young girl said " i am ending this call now, thank you good bye".. What a lovely bunch!!!
so the moral of the story is give as good as you get!

rayday2

louietudor wrote: »

Hi again all i need a bit of advice or opinion

I have huge debts ( over £50000 ) but I am at last attempting to deal with them

Heres my dilema - I am at the moment a self employed hairdresser and 2 years ago I was diagnosed with bone cancer ( chronrdo sarcoma ) - its not life threatening at this stage but the the pain and the treatments i am on ( no radiation thank god but oral chemo - immune inhibitors etc) can be prohibitive to work plus I need a healthy diet - im ok with my illness like i say its been 2 years since I was diagnosed - it just stops me from working the hours and at the rate I used to

I have been in contact with cccs and have my telephone appointment next week - I also have the letters ready to go to my creditors with the offer of token payments till dmp is sorted

My dilema is do i inform my creditors of my condition - i would hope it may lead them to be a bit more sympathetic but i am also wary they they may think 'cancer - he's gonna die' and be even more forceful to get the most out of me before i kick it ( which I wont)

My heart says tell them the truth then even though it may not effect their treatment of me now it may once the dmp is up and running with regards to the reviews etc ( ie condition the same so cannot work anymore hours etcso cannot pay any more)

if anyone has any thoughts id be gratefull

If you do inform the creditors then I am sure there is a debt collection guideline that says something to do with not putting extra pressure on vunerable or something.

Tell you what I will give you the link you can read through it and then decide!

Friday evenings my brains do not work!

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

Certainly would be a good reason to put as to why you cannot at the moment fulfill your full credit payment.

timetobefree

thought it was about time I actually posted something instead of just reading everyday.

I've now made four payments to cccs and about to make my fifth. I've had my first review and as I'd had a raise could double my payments and bring my plan down from 21 years to 9 which is a lot better.

So far I've been defaulted by three creditors. Here is my list of ones who have accepted and frozen interest.

Tesco Finance
royal bank of scotland
Marks and Spencer
Alliance and Leicester
Ge Capital (now sold on to CL finance)
Lloydstsb O/draft
Lloydstsb Loan

These have agreed but don't know about interest

Cahoot

These have frozen interest but not agreed

LLoydstsb Credit card (where is the logic)

These have not agreed (BOO BOO)
Halifax
American Express

both these say will charge interest and fees for next three monthe and then pass along and stop

I,ve had the grey letter from LLoyds and thanks to reading the site everyday didn't panic when i got it (although my wife did who opened it) and realised it was just another computer letter.

So for all you people at the start of the orcess i can honestly say five months down the line things do get better.

hope everyone is well and looking forward to some time off over next few days.