DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part Three)

geoffmr1

telboy99 wrote: »

Hi Geoffmr1,

I know exactly how you feel. HFC are not a nice bank to deal with.They seem out to punish every unfortunate debtor in spite of your good efforts to pay them a reasonable monthly payment based on what you can afford.

I had a CCJ from them last year.They added huge "collection charges"(over £1500.00).If they try it on you should CHALLENGE them in your defence.They withdrew the charges after i sent a recorded delivery letter to them and their solicitors as they could not substantiate the charges.

Thats very interesting because they have done the same to me, Weightmans have added £1500 to the HFC debt, I did ask CCCS if I could challenge this amount but they said Weightmans were entitled to do it.

Marru

Hi,

I sent offer letters for token payments to my creditors last Thursday and have been waiting what is going to happen next and ... nothing! Lloyds has stopped calling, I got a call from M&S but got cut off in the middle of security check (I hope she didn't think I cut her off) and they didn't call back and no post at all. I don't know if I should be relieved or worried.

I was going to pay my token payments on Monday even if I don't hear from any of the creditors. What do you think?

Marru

nomoneynomoney

Marru wrote: »

I was going to pay my token payments on Monday even if I don't hear from any of the creditors. What do you think?

Marru

I would send the token payments if this is what you have told them you will be doing

newlywed

I agree, pay token payments anyway - it shows willingness to pay "something" towards your debts while you are sorting things out. Apparently adds a plus mark towards you if it ever goes to court - if they do try and get difficult with you

telboy99

Geoffmr1,
CCCS told me the same about the collection charges but i told them i was going to challenge HFC anyway.They said it was up to me.
It was certainly worth doing,thats £1500 less to pay off my CCJ. Try to defend it when you send the form back to the court.DONT let them get away with it.Send a recorded delivery letter to HFC and their solicitors asking for a detailed breakdown of the charges.Their solicitors wrote to the court and DROPPED the charges.
Good luck

AmyV_2

I feel a bit down now reading about you various experiences with Charging Orders - I was under the impression they could only do it if they had a forthwith judgment - or if you defaulted on a CCJ payment :-( Why is some debt being called "unsecured" if they can secure it so easily for no reason other than they ask the Court for it :-((

Also my hubby is with HFC and up to now they have been okay - do they always pass on to DC or Solicitor? that in itself isn't a problem - its just if these people turn out to be horrors then we may have that to look forward to.

Sorry - I'm having a sad day.

Marru

Hi,

Thank you so much RayDay for the tip that Lloyds is a sponsor of National Debt Line. I got calls yesterday from M&S, no probs, they hadn't got my letter in their system yet but I explained the situation and they were very ok with it. Then call from Lloyds. First I had trouble with the lady's accent (Chinese?) and they also didn't have my letter/s in their system. I explained the situation and said I will be paying token payments until my situation improves. She started making noises about £1 not being enough and that is when I was able to use the fact that this is a recommended token payment amount by National Debt Line and as Lloyds are sponsors I would think that it would agree with their guidelines which she didn't have anything to say. So THANK YOU! :T The creditor that has the biggest balance (70%) NW has been very very quiet.

Can't thank people enough for this thread. It helps me to keep things manageable.

Marru

compulsivespender79

Sorry Amy, no advice, because I haven't any experience of this, but lots of ((((HUGS)))).
I think Rayday was right when she said earlier on that there are an awful lot of us who aren't experiencing any difficulties. It just seems that there's lots of trouble because people are talking about it on here. Whereas the many of us who aren't haven't trouble aren't posting, precisely because we aren't having trouble. So that's probably why it all seems doom an gloom on here at the moment. Although I'm sure Rayday put it better than I managed to!
Also remember that creditors never treat all of their debtors in the same way either, so what's happened to one may not necessarily happen to you.
Could you try talking to HFC about what there plans might be?

CSx

sam89

Hi Amy,

As Rayday says it is only the problems that get posted about so it gives a false impression of DMP.

I have 2 debts with HFC. They were very understanding when I first had problems last August and were the first company to accept our DMP, stopping interest immediately and never applying any charges :T .

Even if things are going to change there is nothing we can do about it, there is no more money, so no point in worrying. I know how difficult it is not to though :rolleyes: .

Take care,
Sam,
x.

AmyV_2

CS and Sam

Thanks so much - you have made me feel better -just feeling sorry for myself today - and good to hear that not everyone is treated the same (but not good for those who are having a hard time of it of course).

I think the reason why I am worrying is because one of my husband's creditors - well their solicitors - have behaved really badly - and although we are trying to sort it out with the Court it really disheartened me that companies could behave like that.

Most days I'm quite upbeat about it but now and again the worries creep back (doesn't help I keep forgetting to take the anti-depressants of course!)

Anyway - I'm going to make a cup of tea - always cheers me up ;-)