help needed on dm plan

[mr_help]

hi can any one help please my mum is 64 and has entered a debt man plan at 150 per month she can not afford this any more as her income has changed alot can she get out of the plan and sort the creditors our self as i said she is 64 has mental issues since she lost my dad 6 years ago she is also having problems with walking and standing for long periods since i have joined cag i see that she is now under the hard ship scheme and could get dla with which i will b helping her with please help i worry 4 my mum so gratefull terry

[Guest wino]

Who is the DMP with?

Have you contacted them to say her income has changed?

[mr_help]

the dmp is with chase saunders we have not spoke to them yet but i have just found out that my mum can cancell the agreement with them giving 1 months notice in wrighting then we are then left with all those credit card companys but looking through cag i can get them on 5 pound a month as before i said she is 64 vunerable and has mental health probs wish me luck any any advise is much neededthanks my friend

[Guest wino]

If you are happy with Chase Saunders dealing with everything and wish them to continue then contact them and explain her circumstances and see if they can re-nogatiate smaller amounts with her creditors. I am not sure how much you will be charged for this but it definatly will not be free.

 

If like many, many people are doing on cag is negotiate yourself. With help, information and template letters freely availiable on here and the support of people who are or have been in the same position we can help you through.

 

Have you CCA'd the credit card companies to see if the debts are actually enforcable?

[mr_help]

thanks wino got 2 g o

out 4 a while your so kind please stay with me on this your help is vital i will come back 2 u god bless xx terry

[Laura Cooke]

You don`t have to pay any dmp Payplan and CCCS dmp are free they will sort out small payments on your Mum`s behalf your Mum is entitled to Attendance Allowance if she as mobility and mental health issues see the Citizens Advice Or do you have a Welfare Officer at your GP`s we have one who will sort out benefits side of things she even may be due for tax credits.

 

Citizens Advice would sort her debts out and negotiate payments free of charge and they`d look into what extra benefits she`s entitled to they and if your Mum isn`t up to going to see them they will come out and visit if you explain her situation, Citizens Advice are good at helping and gaining grants for you if you are in hardship they can get you electrical appliances with these grants or carpets etc ring you local Citizens Advice up and get an appointment and your local Social Services can help as well just explain they are good for helping and getting you the help you need

[mr_help]

hi laura so kind of you me and my mum went 2 see the c a b and they said no prob go bankrupt good idea but that really scares her can i do it all for her on her behalf iam not scared fed up of them all chasing my 64 old mum she has no assets only her car whats my next move she got so into debt cos we lost my dad 6 years ago borrow borrow all the way i did not no till now xx

[Laura Cooke]

If she as mental health some creditors have been known to wipe the debt off if you get a form filled out from your GP which they will send you if you tell them your Mum as Mental Health, she could go bankrupt and owe no one it`s £500 to apply for bankruptcy (I think) or as you suggest go on the National Debtline and download their budget sheet fill that in and if it doesn`t state something such as what your Mum pays out for car as an example bury that cost in the food or somewhere else but keep a note of it, courts even allow £50 a month put away for future holidays!!!

 

Don`t leave anything out such as Christmas/birthdays/celebrations etc and print one off for each creditor send one to each no need to let them see on the budget forms who your other creditors are but if your Mum as any surplus income this should be equally shared out amongst her creditors

 

Write a letter to each creditor stating such as your Mums health as deterioated and her present financial difficulties as caused severe hardship and that the current budget sheet you are sending reflects what she can realistically offer

 

You will probably get debt collector phone calls but I ignore them as they just all talk, if you get any letters off debt collectors threatning to call you could write or ring them up but preferably keep all communication in writing as no proof of what`s said etc and send everything recorded delivery and keep a copy tell debt collectors not to waste their time ringing or calling to see your Mum as they won`t be welcome as this would cause your Mum much anxiety and distress and if they did call after telling them this you will report them to the OFT as you tell them any contact will only be acknowledged in writing

 

They can`t get blood out of a stone and with unsecured debts not a lot the creditors can do so long as you have no arrears with such as the utility bills again this can be negotiated especially if on benefits the benefit agency will pay a small sum to the utilities if you arrange this with the companies involved

 

Keep your chin up we all in same boat, I`ve been grateful to this site have some low moments as I`m a carer so understand your problems:)

[mr_help]

thanks laura gonna get kids 2 bed brk defo you have lifted me and my mum more than you no xx

[mr_help]

so laura cos my mum owes thousands we can keep away from bank rupt her budget which i have done leaves her with 50 per month left and does not include hols etc like you said one of her cards has 7000 pounds on it can i offer them say a fiver per month they dont scare me at all also mum mental illness is major depresion never got over loosing dad so sudden and scared of people ie det collectors phone calls and generall live cos she is snowed under

Edited February 3, 2010 by mr_help
add ons

[Laura Cooke]

Hi it`s not a crime to be in debt though it may feel like it at times, no one as to declare themselves bankrupt if they don`t want to no matter how large their debts, your Mums are unsecured she`s a pensioner and reliant on benefits so the worse thing that can happen to her is the creditors take her to court which in my opinion I very much doubt they would as it costs considerable money to take it to court and the likelyhood of them coming away with less or the same as your already offering isn`t worth their effort

 

As I advised send them the letter point out that you will not deal with personal phone calls or acknowledge any visits to your home as it would be too stressful for your Mum due to her anxiety and depression and if they do then ignore this you can report them to the OFT as you have told them your Mum isn`t well and you`ve asked for all contact to be made by mail only

 

If you get nuiscance calls you could always change your number or invest in Truecall which blocks out unwanted calls as recommended by DD on the site

 

It seems daunting as it has to me many times. Like yourself it`s not my debt but I`m having to deal with it, the advice on here tends to be good and points you in the right direction, and as the saying goes there is always some one worse off than yourself some owe a lot more than you do, a change in circumstances is beyhond anyone`s control and no one should be made to feel guilty or hounded for money they simply haven`t got

 

I have offered a £1 a month to my hubbies creditors it is left with them to do as they please as we in same position as your Mum they can`t get blood out of a stone a debt collector can`t do any more about your debt than the creditors who may sell the debt onto them so don`t let them tell you otherwise

 

Save your letters, keep copies of anything you send if you feel you do have to speak on the phone take down what is said as you have no proof don`t ever offer anything on the phone just remain polite (Calls recorded) and remind them that you have requested in writing that they only deal with your Mum by letter and send everything recorded delivery

 

IF a court claim ever came about the judge would see that you have been professional about the debt and done everything to keep your creditors informed and have had no other options in your present financial circumstances to do any other the judges I have met over the years are quite sympathetic to the consumer

 

Try to reassure your Mum that there is nothing the creditors can do to your Mum her debts are unsecured just send the budget sheets and letters and leave the ball in their courts but don`t offer more than your Mum can comfortably afford if her disposable income is nil for the creditors offer them a gesture of goodwill payment of a £1 a month:)

Edited February 3, 2010 by Laura Cooke

[mr_help]

god bless you laura thats what i will do that is such good advise i cant thank you enough i feel really strong and positive now with you helping me just for the record iam 42 years old and a pround chritian and you have a good heart i will keep in touch iam always on this site will keep you up 2 date xxxxxx terry and yes i did get her number changed 2day x

Edited February 3, 2010 by mr_help
spelling

[Laura Cooke]

Keep your chin up Terry I`m only happy to give advice as I have happily received the same off good people on here don`t let it get you down let you control the situation not the creditors controlling you:)

[Guest wino]

Laura has given good support and advice.

 

I feel the CAB are far too quick to suggest Bankrupcy.

 

I still think the first step is to send a CCA request to each card to see if they have a signed credit agreement. If they have not then that debt is unenforcable.

[Laura Cooke]

Thanks Wino what I did forget to say was that there are some good template letters on the site should they need a tip on what to write to debt collectors or creditors, never mentioned sending a credit card agreement request as i thought that might not be something they could deal with but I am sure if you did send for the agreements Mr Help and post them on the site advice would be at hand

[mr_help]

hi every one just some advice is there anthing else i can cover up my mums income surplus we have done a budjet with normal stuff like gas water etc laura said budget hols xmas etc which is a great idea any stuff you think that we may have forget things maybe out of the norm bless u all xx laura and wino cant thank you enough

[Laura Cooke]

Car insurance, house insurance, car tax, life insurance, clothes, emergency fund for miscellanous eg replacing appliances, carpet, decorating etc, car repairs, hobbies, cigarettes, everything really that is part of your living expenses, if you pay breakdown insurance on appliances just make a list and you`ll be suprised what you are paying out, hair cut, dentist, opticians etc etc

[mr_help]

thanks laura lots there we never thought of great help xx

[Guest wino]

This is quite a good template to give you an idea:)

 

 

http://www.motherwellwishawcab.org.uk/downloads/Income%20&%20expenditure%20Template.pdf

 

You can put down what you spend on pets if your mother has any.

[Laura Cooke]

Wino forgot pets think I forgot car repairs or service as well lol x

[mr_help]

Thanks Guys Gonna Get On It Now Will Keep You Updated