can contacting creditors before DMP route is chosen hurt?

poppyg_2

indebtbigtime wrote: »

10past

that was certainly my intention and all the advise from GA etc is stick to thje free charitable organisations, but just been in a gambling recovery chatroom and been told that gambling debts can be wiped out by a fee paying firm (approx £400). That would be a bargain!

I also have gambling debts, I really don't think they can be wiped off as they're still debts, I wouldn't trust a fee paying firm

If you can afford the DMP then I think you'd be better off sticking with that in your situation but obviously see what CCCS when you have your telephone appointment with them

poppyg_2

Would it help to post up an SOA so people can have a look and advise on your incomings and outgoings?

indebtbigtime

poppy - soa coming tonite

have spoken to national debt line and cccs, but not yet payplan......am i to assume they are all pretty similar offering similar services?

thx

poppyg_2

Hi, yes all pretty similar services but it seems that some people contact one and are not happy and then get a better service for their particular needs from the other so I guess it depends whether you're happy with what has been suggested or if you feel you need another opinion before you decide what to do x

indebtbigtime

Hello

Sorry for dealy. I have been thinking long and hard about what to do, and attending GA meetings nightly, but with pay day today its time for action

Coming in

Wage 1 2940
Partner wage 370
CSA PAYMENT 370
Child Tax Credit 40 (expected to be ceased whenever the gov catch up on their backlog)
Child Benefit 210

Total in 3940

Coming out proposal from DMP GUYS

Mortgage 995
Water 64
Council Tax 130
Gas 64
Elec 64
Build + c ins 35
Phone, mob, net75
TV LIC 11
SATELKLITE 21
Repairs and main 30
childcare 50
life ins 15
medical insu 9
vehicle spares 20
road tax 13
motor ins 34
vehicle cover 5
fuel and prarking 250 (i travel lots with work and we are very rural)
public transport 25
food, toiletries and clean 488
school/work meals30
pets 20
tobacco 30
school trip s 20
medicine 8
dentist 14
hairdressing 22
laundry 10
clothing 73
sports, hobbies 30
kids pock money 40
sundries and emerg 30

TOTAL 2725

total for dmp 1215 to be pro ratad across 72k of debt

indebtbigtime

also can anyone advise on whether the creditors can see any savings accounts, i may have. I dont have lots but have a few hundred in bs which I want to hold on to for emergencies, and also get annual bonus each year which I would like to put away for lump sum payments

your views?

poppyg_2

Well done on attending the GA meetings I think you deserve a massive pat on the back. Being a reformed gambler myself I know how hard it is to take action. I didn't do anything about my problem for a long time, I'm female and I felt such shame in what I'd done but now I've got support of family and a couple of close friends I'm finding things much better although it's still not easy (I haven't gambled now for approx 3 months and it's getting easier now for me not to)

Your food/toiletries bill is huge, how many of you are there in the house? Take a look at the old style saving boards for some fab advice on meal plans, old style cleaning and other advice

If you travel a lot for work can you claim any of it back or is it more the cost of actually getting to and from work?

School/work meals - can you take a packed lunch to save a few pounds? Not to add more to your DMP necessarily but maybe to put away in a pot somewhere for a few days out with the kids or emergencies.

The amount you can pay off in the DMP is really good so I think despite the large sum you owe it's definitely achievable with some hard work

In answer to your question regarding savings, the answer is no, as savings don't show up in any credit reports.

Glad you've posted your SOA, sure you'll get some more advice very soon x

indebtbigtime

thanks poppy. GA meetings help although i find different locations mean very different styles and approaches.

the food bill is what the cccs are suggesting. I suspect in previous months we have spent about £200 more per month, so have been worried about how the kids will all adjust (without treats) - appreciate you can live on alot less, and people do, but consious we have been over eating / too many luxuries for long time, so will be interesting

petrol. I reckon I spend about £330 a month, although everytime I go to the petrol station its gone up. Unfortunately the job pays well, but insists on about 4 different locations, and its contractural hence no claim back.....think ill mention this at payrise negotiation time

thanks for confirmation about savings....love to get a few quid put away in case I was offered full and final settlement reductions....

do you attend ga?

poppyg_2

Hiya, sorry, only just seen you replied to me, these threads vanish so quickly!!!

I'm trying to go it without the GA meetings, not sure if that's the best thing to do or not but it's working so far but am aware if I slip that's the route I'm gonna having to go down, so far I'm doing ok, have basically made my family ban me from bookies and I'm not allowed on any gambling websites which were my main downfall.