DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 4)

HHH_2

As a little boost to all of you on DMPs this will be my second christmas on a dmp and the relief of knowing I can only spend what Ive got is a great thing. also as of 1st dec my debt has just become less than £40.000. back in the days of setting it up I was almost suicidal with worry but the wonderfull CCCS have made my life worth living again, so if you're at the start of your dmp dont despair it is do able. nearly 2 years down the line on my dmp and although there are no foreign holidays or new cars I am much happier and the time has flown by. good luck to you all.

lulaloo

Hi all,

just need a little advice - i've sent off all my paperwork and token payments and am just waiting for the phonecalls from creditors to start. I had a missed call off one yesterday so i know they'll probably ring again today - what do i say if they're asking for more money?
I also put in the letters with my token payments that i wanted all further contact to be in writing, so are they technically harrassing me because I asked this?

Thanks for any help

Lula

MummyOnAMission_2

Hi there, Ive just started mine too, well Im into my first month. When they rang I just said I was dealing with CCCS and that they will be contacted by them shortly with a payment proposal. Most of them were happy with that and one just kept ringing back til rec'd letter. If they ask for more just say you dont have it. There are so many people starting DMP at the moment that they will probably be ok and just keep ringing til get letters from CCCS. Try not to worry i know its hard but will start getting easier soon. Good luck with it all!!

lulaloo

Ok so Loanstore just rang me (they are a division of ChequeCentre) and i took out a £1000 loan in July 2007 and agreed to pay £94.60 for 24 months.
(i know that sounds ridiculous but I was desperate at the time). There;s currently about £600 left to pay.
The man was really agressive but I stood my ground for most of the call. He kept sayin the minimum payment we will accept from you is £15 a week, I explained to him that wasnt possible and they would hae to wait for the CCCS to contact them.
After going round in circles with him for ages, he said 'OK so if you wont agree to pay this £15 now, i need the name of your manager at work and i will ring them and get an arrestment on your earnings'.
At this point i started to cry because i dont want my employer to be contacted and eventually just had to give him a debit card payment for the £15.
He said I have to ring up every week from now to pay it. Now i feel like I've completely messed up because I know I wasnt supposed to give him any money.
Can they actually ring my employer?

Lula

Gemmzie

Lula, you need to contact the CCCS and let them know that they've harassed you into making a payment, they are not allowed to do this.
There's a letter somewhere (will try and find it) to send to creditors to stop them phoning you. If they phone, simply say that they need to contact you by post and put the phone down. If they continue to phone, then they are causing harassment which is not allowed.
Don't panic though!

lulaloo

thanks gem
i was just about to say that until he said the thing about contacting my manager. i'm going to ring the CCCS now to find out if they can actually do that.
lula

Lozza001

Hi All,

My DMP started on 1 Dec. I have made my 1st payment to CCCS and they have contacted my creditors.

Having sorted Barclaycard, and their ringing my hubby at work, I felt a bit of relief... then...

I received a phone call from Virginmoney, who I have a c/card with. CCCS has told them that they will get £6 per month from me, but they have told me that this is not enough. I need to top this payment upto £27 p/month or they will start putting charges on the account.

Has anyone had anything similar?

I am going to ring CCCS tonight, but I just wondered if anyone else has had the same.

Gemmzie

Hi Lozza, yeah we've had a couple of accounts that they just keep adding charges too, eventually they stop and you can claim the charges back - well that's our method of dealing with it. CCCS may be able to put pressure on them to stop once the others have.

Lozza001

Cheers Gemmzie, thats really good news. I will speak to CCCS tonight and see if they can.

By the way, whats a gold piggy?

Lozza

chatterbox1980

Hi there,

Just wondered if someone could help?

I've recently had my hours at work cut down, which means my pay has gone from £1,410 to £1,040 due to the "credit crunch". My other half (bless him) is trying his best to help me out with bills but its just getting too much. I earn an extra £20 from helping my nan out every week.

I have looked for a permenant job, but there is nothing I am qualified to do, or can do but have to take another pay cut.

I have been able to make all bar one payment this month (well this pay month) which is to my littlewoods catalogue for £120 but have been able to pay "debt", share of mortgage and a bit towards the bills - the rest, my boyf has been sorting out (but this can't last forever as he has debt to pay too - but does earn more than me)

Breakdown of what I have to pay PM:

My share of the mortgage and bills: £638
Debt: £628
Food: £120

My question is, am I able to go through with a DMP? I was looking at a IVA but really don't want to take this route.

Just want a bit of advice, you guys on here really know your stuff and are v.helpful.