feeling guilty but had no choice

carlos700

I received my paperwork the other day from CCCS to start a DMP with them i have not returned anything back to them yet as i am just trying to get all the paperwork they have asked for .The plan is going to be started on 1 st March .

Yesterday i had to draw money on one of my credit cards again £100 because i have no money for food this month .I am not sure whether i will get into trouble with CCCS for doing this does anyone know ?(as i said the plan has not started yet ) Does the amount that you owe to your creditors have to be to the exact pound which you put on your CCCS forms ?The amounts which i have put on the forms are there abouts but not the exact amounts .

Gemmzie

You need to tell CCCS that you've done this as it might jeopardise your DMP.

In_Search_Of_Me

You definately need to tell cccs. Did they not tell you when you rang that you shouldnt use your CC's any more? Is there any way you can pay that money back immediatey & get through the month another way? I am surprised though that they let you withdraw on the card if you are doing a DMP....let us now how you get on but you MUST stop using the cards...

maddysaver

Although I agree you shouldn't have done this, as you state, you haven't begun the DMP yet, so you are not as yet bound by the CCCS's informal agreement to not take on any more credit.
In answer to your question, no your figures do not have to be to the exact penny or pound when you fill in the CCCS forms, although they need to be relatively accurate.
You can certainly tell the CCCS if you want to, but personally at this stage, if I were you, I wouldn't worry.
However you do need to now stop doing this and seek alternative ways of making ends meet. The sooner you being the plan the better, because then you WILL have surplus money. Are you still paying creditors the full payments this month? If so, it is acceptable to stop and just sent a token £1 payment with a letter ( I think you get them in the CCCS pack) saying you are beginnning a DMP and will contact them with your offers of payment in due course.

RAS

Write a list of what is in the fridge/freezer and store cupboard and go over to the Money sAVING oLD STYLE bOARD and do what is called a store cupboard challenge. They will help you make the most of what you have got.

And then sort out anything that you can sell to get you a bit of money in hand, or work a bit extra.

What did you spend the £100 that you have not got for food on?

In_Search_Of_Me

maddysaver wrote: »

Although I agree you shouldn't have done this, as you state, you haven't begun the DMP yet, so you are not as yet bound by the CCCS's informal agreement to not take on any more credit.

I'm sorry but I a fairly sure this isnt correct legally - if you knowingly spend money on cards (whether cash or otherwise) that you know you havent got then it can have serious consequences for a DMP...it would be much better for the OP to check and be able to rectify this than go ahead regardless....what did CCCS say about using the cards when you contacted them OP? Can anyone clarify this for definate legally as it is quite important...

Gemmzie

AFAIK, it is legal but it does mean the creditors are well within their rights to refuse the DMP until the cards have been unused for three months, and therefore can hassle the customer and add charges as much as they like until then.

carlos700

Thanks everyone i have already paid my min payments for this month to my credit cards ,i did not realise that i did not need to as i will be paying a payment to CCCS on 1 march .The min payment to the credit card was £75 so this is the reason i am out of pocket .

RAS

I suggest that you ring CCCS and explin this to them.

CCCS_Sarah

Hi Carlos,

You need to stop using your credit cards for living expenses. Creditors are much less likely to stop the interest and charges if the card’s are been used plus once the DMP is set up, if further credit had then been used this would put the DMP at risk.

If you are struggling with your budget at the moment you could always move you start date back to the 1st April? This would give you more time to take control of your priorities and live within your budget. If you do want to move you start date give CCCS a call just to let them know and also make a token payment to your creditors for your March payment – this is just a goodwill gesture until the DMP is up and running.

Give me a shout if you have any further questions & good luck with your DMP