DMP Mutual Support Thread (Part 4)

Ex-Spendaholic

Stop answering the phone calls. They can only harass you if you let them. I used to keep my mobile on silent and just watch them ringing over and over.

Nowadays my mobile is silent. Once the DMP is up and running you won't hear from creditors by phone.

rayday2

Good luck, take your time read through and hit them with all you have! Just remember top of the letter big letters FORMAL COMPLAINT and then recorded delivery.

very_silly_and_scared

Hi all.

I have just got in touch with CCCS and they recommend a DMP but I am now really panicked about particularly MBNA's refusal to cut interest. I have £9,000 with them (out of a total of £22,000) and it's ramped up to 29%. I am so, so scared at the moment. Feel almost like I could end up in a worse state. Can anyone PLEASE help me and advise me as to in 'real life' how difficult this actual process actually is?

At moment not eating or sleeping, feel sick and desperate all the time...

rayday2

Ok take a deep breathe!

At the moment forget about interest rates all you need to do at the moment is get your DMP off the ground. When its all accepted then we can work out what to do about charges and interest.

First important thing about a DMP is to get a bank account not related to any creditors you owe money to. Use this link if you have not done it yet but remember that Abbey are probably buying A&L and GE Money http://www.payplan.com/debt-library/miscellaneous.php

The next bit is to realise that how you feel this minute, we have all been there and I guarantee in about a months time you will look back and wonder what all the worry was about. This is the hardest bit facing the decision.

Come in here as much as you like with what is on your mind and someone will answer, there are lots of people on here who deal with CCCS and are very supportive.

I don't want to bog you down with too much now because the most important thing for you to do is relax, 200 members in this topic and you will only see about 15 tops because the others are all happily on there DMP and pop back when they have reviews, or just to say hi.

longforthesun

Hi very silly and scared I am just starting out a DMP with CCCS with my OH he owes MBNA 10k and I owe 6K to MBNA. Cant advise on how difficult this process is going to be but just wanted to say your not alone. MBNA are our biggest creditors and so far they have actually not been too bad, they have called a few times but we have just given them our CCCS ref number and they have just said they will await to hear from CCCS but that we may still receive phone calls. This morning OH has received a post card from MBNA advising they will call on thursday between 8-8 however I am sure they only mean call on the phone and not in person. From reading here it is just one of their tactics. The sick feeling has left me now mainly due to all the advice i have taken from this site. I am just taking it one call and one letter at a time my creditors. I am sure someone will be along soon who can advice more on the process.

rayday2

longforthesun - I see you are learning to read between the lines of correspondance its an art

longforthesun

I am rayday 2 thats all down to the advice form the likes of yourselves. I am so thankful i found this site.

Ex-Spendaholic

Hi VerySillyandScared. Just to echo Rayday's words. We have all been where you are now. We all got through it. It was awful at the time. I used to wake in the morning (after very little sleep) and my first thoughts were - debt, DMP, CCCS, creditors, phone calls. I was on edge all the time. Then magically those letters went to creditors, the agreement went to CCCS and everything slowly but surely settled down. I promise you once you get the first payment into CCCS it will be a huge weight off your shoulders. Creditors will accept eventually - some may be a nuisance but they know that what CCCS propose is what you can afford so they will give up.

I'm taking the kids to the beach shortly for a cheap day out. :j

very_silly_and_scared

Thank you both for your encouragement. I suppose it's just after keeping your head in the sand for so long...

I am in no way seeing this as a 'quick fix' but have been further intimidated by the 'horror stories' of hassle from creditors and their refusal to cut interest. I am single and on my own in this so probably need more assurance than most that this is the best option for me and that it's not going to make things worse.

Again thanks to you both for your quick responses. Any further encouragement/advice anyone can offer I'll be really grateful.

very_silly_and_scared

Thanks ex spendaholic....

and to you all, I know I am jumping ahead of myself here but I am just terrified of all the hassle and grief. I have managed to juggle my finances up to this point and not missed a payment so I haven't had much experience of that...