payplan- a few questions

[UTF]

Hi

 

I'm new to all issues regarding debt, but I have learnt that it's best to stay away from Managed Loans, despite giving the impression there are no hidden charges (I don't want to risk it by going ahead)

 

With my earnings being considerable low, yet with a clean credit history -possibly two payments missed between 12-8 months, it is impossible to get a loan to clean my debt.

 

My overdraft is the main issue, leaving me with hardly any money and constantly paying fines. My credit card interest is high, the total never reduces (I have never missed any payments). I have one loan which I am in control of and do not want any agencies to interfere with it.

 

So, I was planing to join Free Debt Management Plans, Free IVA Debt Advice and Free Debt Help | Debt Advice | Payplan and would like to know if this is a wise move. Would I need to open another bank account with a different bank? Is it possible to open a new account knowing that loan companies such as 'lower my bills' have searched my credit history in the last month? Also, I read that payplan can freeze the interests on the debt owed, does this affect your credit scoring? And Is it possible for payplan to manage only my overdraft and credit card without managing my loan?

 

I'm sorry for asking all these questions but I am eager to make the right choice the first time round and be rid of an £8000 debt!

 

I appreciate any advice

 

thank you

[dx100uk]

payplan will manage what you want then too

just tell them.

 

however it might be best to read a few threads about them [just type payplan in the search of the blue bar above]

 

there is of-course no reason why you could not do this yourself with help from this site though

 

dx

 

dx

[samthemainman]

I've not had any experiences with Payplan - but many of their principles are in common with CCCS (who i'm with). Its not necessarily a case of what they will or won't manage - but the implications of leaving certain creditors 'out' of any debt management arrangement.

 

With CCCS for example, you have to agree and sign up to disclosing all of your debt details and including all of them in the plan. The increases the leverage they have with creditors and is transparent to everyone. If for example one of your creditors found out that creditor b, c or d isn't on the plan (and they do get visibility of who else you owe money too - via the DMP and sometimes your credit file) - then they are unlikely to accept a pro-rata'd offer of payment - why should they when you're favouring other creditors? The idea is to keep a level playing field. These days if you have just 1 default on your credit file its difficult to obtain credit - so another couple are unlikely to make too much of a difference.

 

Re: changing your bank account - if a DMP is recommended for you by PP or CCCS, then it is recommended that you open a new 'basic' bank account - and with a bank outside the family of your current bank (e.g. Halifax and Bank of Scotland are part of the same group) so that they do not 'offset' your money - i.e. take money out of your current account to pay off a loan (e.g. Halifax and Bank of Scotland are part of the same group). Search for 'money made clear basic bank accounts' in Google and there's a pdf file containing all you need to know about this. Providing you're not a past fraudster (and for some banks an undischarged bankrupt) you'll be fine - just go into your branch with a passport and some cases a proof of address. I recommend the Co-op Cashminder from personal experience.

 

Regarding your credit score - rest assured that if you do start Debt Management your score will be shot down regardless and will remain that way for 6 years (and then you have to build some history back) of your date of default (though not from the end of your plan - a common misconception). Playing creditors off against each other won't stack up if you end up with a CCJ to pay and you're declaring differents amount of debt to the judge vs creditor A vs creditor B.

 

Do you really want more credit soon anyway? If not - I say get on the phone to Payplan or CCCS and be open about everything - otherwise they'll advise a solution which may be the wrong one for you.

 

Good luck.

Edited February 11, 2010 by samthemainman

[UTF]

Thank you for the advice

 

dx100uk, I'm tempted to manage the debt myself, however when I contacted the credit card company I owe money, to freeze my interest, they refused, so I am hoping payplan can help with this. I have paid over £2000 in the last year and the total is still the same :/

 

samthemainman, what you said has got me thinking in regards to leaving some creditors out of debt and it does seem ideal to allow payplan to manage them. I found everything you said answered my questions directly and was very helpful, particularly about 'family' banks. I was planing to either go with co-op of Barclays Thankfully I can confess I'm no fraudster and everything is legal! I certainly don't intend to borrow any money for a long time, I've not really needed to in the past, this debt I have is from my student days and suddenly when my student period was over, the interest shot up!

 

Thank you

[loobyloo85]

Hi

 

I am with payplan debt management. It is not guaranteed that they will be able to freeze the interest and charges on your accounts, but they do have a good success rate of doing so, and the good thing is that you would have someone acting on your behalf in the debt management plan to save you having to deal with everything yourself.

They would advise you to change banks if you are banking with someone you owe money to, incase they act on the right to offset.

[UTF]

Hi Loobyloo85

 

Thank you for sharing I feel really nervous about signing up to payplan! At the rate I am going with my own management, I'm not getting anywhere and pretty much stuck in a rut!

 

I know it's not ideal to favour some creditors over another in terms of payplan managing them but I have given this further thought, one of my loans will finish in two years, but my credit card will take three years. I really don't want to extend the duration of the loan. I only want to add the credit card and overdraft.

 

You mentioned that they cannot guarantee a freeze on the interest, which is fair enough, however with them lowering it only, will the total amount owed reduce each month, because despite mine being around 19% per month and paying the minimum payment, the total has not decreased for over a year.

 

I don't have a problem changing banks, but will I have to close my existing one? I am worried that I may not be able to open a bank account with a say Barclays! My head is all over the place!

 

Overall, have you been happy with the way Payplan have managed your debts and have you seen the totals decreased?

 

Sorry for all these questions!

[Passionheap]

Hi UTF.

 

On Monday 1st March I had my second appoinment with CAB. My first being in February 2009. Although I was able to agree reduced payments with most of my creditors, only a few agreed to freeze the interest and would review the plan after six months had past. In December 2009 I realised I could no longer sustain the level of payments and made a further call to CAB. The caseworker went though all my debts and took details down of income and expenditure. These went into a 'pro-rata' spreadsheet and a calculation came out with an amount that would go to pay my creditors.

 

The CAB caseworker rang Payplan and introduced me. An appoinment was made for me. A few days later they rang me and I was on the phone for around 45 minutes (Payplan pay for the call) A debt management plan (DMP) was set-up. Today I have received an authority form to sign and return, on reciept, Payplan can begin to contact each of the creditors and act on my behalf.

 

As I also have an overdraft (OD) with my existing bank they have advised me to open a basic bank account with another bank and reading through the booklet the CAB provided to me I rang a bank that I have had a savings account with for about 15 years. At the end of the application process they advised me I had been successful in opening a 'Current account' and a cheque card and cheque book would be provided to me. I declined an overdraft facility as I am determined to make a fresh start with my finances. NB. The (OD) will form part of the payment plan so any funds that were paid in to my existing account would be taken by the bank to pay off the (OD) and the credit card debt I also have with them.

 

From April my income will be paid direct to my new bank account, from which, each month, a direct debit payment is made to Payplan. Payplan will then distribute the money to each of my creditors until the debts have been paid off. NB. Payplan do not charge any fee so the full amount they recieve from me will pe paid to my creditors, they even advised me the number of years and months it will take for the debts to be paid off.

 

Should I, in the future have a sum of money that would pay off all of my debts, Payplan would, on my behalf contact each creditor asking for a 'settlement figure' the amount available would pay off all the debts in full. My only regret is that had I known about Payplan in February last year I would have contacted them straight away. As at today I feel much happier already so I hope the above is of use to you too? there is hope! Please note, I have only given an overview of my circumstances and have left out any personal details or names of organisations. Finally, Payplan have an online facility for clients to enable you to click into your Payplan account at any time in the DMP to review payments made to each creditor, outstanding balance etc. this service is also free.

 

Regards.

[loobyloo85]

Hi UTF

Yes overall, I am very pleased with the way Payplan have managed my debts and my debt has decreased over the last year. The interest and charges have been charged on some occasions but Payplan have always negotiated with them on my behalf and managed to come to an agreement to get the charges frozen again. You could contact them and ask them any queries you have before you agree to go aheasd, plus if after a month or so of being with them you find it isnt working for you, you can come out of it at anytime. x