New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

[Pip]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Just checking that you do not have a current account with any of the banks that you owe money to.

Glad to say I haven't! Thanks!

Looking at the dates of when most of these cards were taken out, it was that silly time when you couldn't open your front door each day cos of credit card offers piled up on the doormat, or open a Sunday supplement without five application forms falling out ...

[garlok]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

We all did it Pip. Struggled on, trying to be honest reasonable people but that is not how they think of you when you try to talk reasonably to them about your difficulties. They set the dogs loose on you and try to tear you to pieces. In the depths of utter despair I went into this UE thing on another site after all those calls from CMCs trying to make a fast buck. We have solicitors on board as well but due to the aggro they gave us as two accounts have been sold on the purchaser is now being put through the torture and as much aggro as I can give them with following the AAD UE routes. Not something they have enjoyed over the Christmas period. Luckily we know from 2009 that BC were unable to find any legally substantive documents for any account when our sols investigated then.

First conversation with sols told us not to get involved with DMPs, IVAs Tomlin Orders or anything like that as most schemes collapsed leaving the debtor further in trouble than when they had started out. At worst case they expected to negotiate a F & F down to 10% if the very worst came to the worst. Which they did do on a live account for us anyway. Now they are a useful "letterhead for rent" if I need to get really heavy with some unfortunate, otherwise just following the UE routes as advocated here on this site.

Not paid a penny since we decided enough was enough in 2009. The hassle has been extreme but you get through it once you realise here that you are not alone. We've all been there and are still battling on when other sites have recommended total capitulation to the parasites

regards
Garlok

[mk_chatham]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary



Just checking that you do not have a current account with any of the banks that you owe money to.

If you do then now is the time to get a new basic account opened with someone like the Co-op.

Good luck

MK

[Pip]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Many thanks to everyone for the kind welcoming words!

Thank you for your post, you need to think very carefully about UE, its not easy but it does work and you will be fully supported on here.

I've given it about a month of thought, on-and-off, during the bonkersness that is December. Even though it might not be easy, I think it's a better option to try than destitution (via CCCS monthly payments stretching on into A.D. 2025, by which time we'll all be wearing tinfoil and have hover-cars, if we can afford them) or bankruptcy (a rather severe option, I fear, before trying UE).

It's about 18 months since I first defaulted on minimum payments. Had I known what I know now, I would have stopped paying minimum payments the moment it was getting difficult. I now do not quite understand the Sacred Cow That Must Not Be Sullied of keeping one's credit rating clean. There was something along those lines that held me out paying minimums with absurd interest for so long. The amount of money paid to twazzocks like Lloyds just to go down the interest and charges plughole is eye-watering. But eye-water under the bridge now!

I accept that the letters are going to come thick and fast, but oddly, even while getting these CCA request letters ready, I think that having put the worry aside, it'll be easier dealing in a methodical way with letters that start coming, rather than worrying about letters that might come and do come anyway even while I've been paying a reasonable amount, AND worrying about having enough money to pay my rent and gas/elec bills!

So, while I hope I'm not being too rose-tinted-dippy-hippy-specs about it, I imagine that once I get into a routine with Letter Received > Logged > Placed in Diary > Responded to (where necessary), it'll then be > Head Clear, on with the rest of your day unencumbered with worry, with laughter a lot closer to hand than has been the norm for a long time.

Speaking of laughter, maybe the "Spider" approach might even be better than UE? --
(Link to 27b/6 Overdue Account email exchange)

Thanks again to all for the wonderful welcome!

Pip

[pompeyfaith]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Pip,

Welcome to the best Consumer help site on the planet, your situation is much the same as us all here and the difference between us and OTR is that we put help first and give it freely.

We also believe in having a bit of fun mixed in as that does relieve the stress and worry that debt brings.

You are now in good hands and every post will get answered.

Welcome aboard

Regards

[garlok]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Hi Pip,

Yes you have come to the right site. I think I can say we are all bank haters here. If you read the new main site you will see that we are known as a Consumer Revenge site. The main aim here is to hit the banks and their mates where it hurts ----- in their pockets. We are probably the only remaining forum that has not sold its soul to the devil for less than thirty pieces of silver. We still run with UE, the law has not changed and in the event of an enforceable agreement we will attempt to see you through to some form of settlement at the LEAST cost to yourself.

We have through the good offices of our owner, Niddy, (never-in-doubt) just saved a member close to £20K with a sensible Full and Final with a creditor.

Don't worry about DCAs they have no legal authority or powers whatsoever unless they actually own the debt and have purchased via Assignment in Absolute. Their ONLY weapon against you is your OWN fear of what they might do to you, which is NOTHING only bully and threaten you.

If the phone starts going with these jokers as it will, discuss nothing with them, do not even go through security, just tell them in writing only and put the phone down. Seriously, but keep a log of all calls, date time, which account, what they said, this will be useful later. Kepp all correspondence as pixie has said with envelopes all marked up with the date it arrived through your door. These things are important to your case.

Also ask questions not matter how trivial you think they are. Abuse and ridicule of members is just not allowed on this site and dealt with most times befiore it even reaches the public eye.

Hope that all helps and lets seewhat comes back from your CCA requests, by the way use POs now and not cheques and don't sign anything with your normal signature, most times just print your nane.

regards
Garlok

[Pixie]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

too slow with this, went to make a cuppa in the middle!!!

[MrsD]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Hi Pip

Thank you for your post, you need to think very carefully about UE, its not easy but it does work and you will be fully supported on here. I must admit the reason we went for UE was exactly the same as yours and we were paying 1228 per month to CCCS and that still wasn't enough!!! Now 18 months down the line with UE.

Read everything twice and get a good feel for how it works, it can be a bit scary and you must be prepared to stand firm, there will be an avalanche of phonecalls and letters to begin with, but we do have the benefit of some great templates (just updated) so we have an answer for everything. You should then send off a CCA request for each card, recorded delivery enclosing your pound (postal order if poss) remember to sign the letters digitally and then sit back, relax and await replies which should be uploaded to Niddy (totally secure only he can see)and then we can start to see sort paperwork they have. That is of course, if they have any at all..............

Any questions give us a shout, someone will be around to help out.

too slow with this, went to make a cuppa in the middle!!!

[LooLoo]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Hi Pip

and a very big Welcome - my situation was very similar - I actually did my own DMP for over a year - and finally I realised that UE was one way forward.... and have not looked back. Your journey will be full of ups and downs and lots of letters but just remember so many of us have been through and are going through the same thing so we know how you are feeling.

Rest assured we are a friendly bunch - and don't forget to have a look around the rest of the site as we do actually have fun!!!!

Good luck

LL
x

[Pixie]

Re: New user Pip saying "Hello!" and with overview of my situation before setting up diary

Hello all!

A couple of months ago I had started posting on another forum with a view to getting some guidance about alternatives to what had become a crippling £400 p/m DMP via CCCS. When on that site I was guided here via a private message from another friendly user. I had serious and disappointing misgivings early on about the other site when one of my postings was extensively edited and censored without any justification and without any private message received from the editing (or any other) moderator. I didn’t kick up a fuss or comment to moderators but it didn’t inspire any confidence as a new member of the site. My transgression was to mention by name another forum (that I wasn’t a member of) and the title of a thread (I didn’t paste any links) on there that mentioned an ID theft situation similar to one I had encountered.

You won't get any of that here!

I was about to put a link to your welcome thread but I see you've already seen it! Have a look at the links in the first post.

Looking at the start dates of your CCs, it's very likely that most, if not all, would be UE.

Get those cca requests sent off (recorded delivery and signed digitally) and buy some more files. 1 won't be enough - you'll need one for each CC. Don't forget to staple the envelope of any letter you receive to the letter and add the date you received it.

Yes, you're getting ahead of yourself worrying about the interest charges! Let's see what comes back.

[Pip]

Hello all!

A couple of months ago I had started posting on another forum with a view to getting some guidance about alternatives to what had become a crippling £400 p/m DMP via CCCS. When on that site I was guided here via a private message from another friendly user. I had serious and disappointing misgivings early on about the other site when one of my postings was extensively edited and censored without any justification and without any private message received from the editing (or any other) moderator. I didn’t kick up a fuss or comment to moderators but it didn’t inspire any confidence as a new member of the site. My transgression was to mention by name another forum (that I wasn’t a member of) and the title of a thread (I didn’t paste any links) on there that mentioned an ID theft situation similar to one I had encountered.

Ahem! Anyhow! After having read a lot of threads and postings both here and elsewhere, I’d like to run my situation by you. I’ll try to make it not too long-winded!

The debts are thus:

Credit card
Capital One
Start date: Feb 2005
Current balance approx. £4,000
Last "full" payment (i.e. within their stipulated minimum): Sep 2010 (approx).
On arrangement -- Last payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Sep 2010.
Status: default
Notes: [higher, now unsustainable] payment through CCCS accepted (£400 a month pro-rata across all creditors)

Credit card
Halifax
Start date: Oct 2005
Current balance approx. £7,000
Last "full" payment: Sep 2010 (approx).
On arrangement -- Last payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued April 2011.
Status: default
Notes: Getting hassle from Moorcroft (who have not bought the debt -- they just say I have to negotiate repayment through them, even though they know that Halifax have been receiving payments from me)

Credit card
Lloyds TSB Bank plc
Start date: Jan 2004
Current balance approx. £13,000
Last "full" payment: Sep 2010 (approx).
On arrangement -- Last payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Nov 2010.
Status: default
Notes: Various hassle from MHA Collections, BLS Collections. Eventually accepted part of £400 pro-rata payment through CCCS for time being, i.e. hassling/threatening letters stopped.

Credit card
MBNA
Start date: June 2003
Current balance approx. £5,000
Last "full" payment: Sep 2010 (approx).
On arrangement -- Last payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued March 2011.
Status: default
Notes: have gone very quiet after initial kicking and screaming and heaping on of extortionate interest.

Credit card
Citibank
Start date: Oct 2005
Current balance approx. £4,000
Last "full" payment: Sep 2010 (approx).
Was being paid via CCCS until Nov 2011.
Moved to Opus in October 2010 and CCCS transferred payments from Citibank to Opus automatically. (I should have stopped them in their tracks but was less clued-up then)
Notes: On receiving letter from Cabot re. purchase of Opus account, told CCCS to stop payment. Sent Cabot CCA request in October; no CCA yet forthcoming; payment currently withheld from them.
Status: (not sure whether a default notice has been issued)

Credit card
RBS Mint
Start date: March 2000
Current balance approx. £5,000
Last "full" payment: Sep 2010 (approx).
On arrangement -- Last payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Nov 2010.
Notes: They went quiet once they started receiving part of £400 pro-rata via CCCS

Credit card
Sainsbury's
Start date: June 2004
Current balance approx. £7,000
Last "full" payment: Sep 2010 (approx).
On arrangement -- Last payment via CCCS: Dec 2011
Default notice issued Feb 2011.

All of my debts are credit cards and in Summer 2010 found I couldn’t sustain the minimum payments to creditors and started a DMP with CCCS. This sort of got the creditors off my back but I still get periodic hassle and letters. The £400 paid via CCCS each month has of the beginning of December 2011 become unaffordable and I gave a £100 payment for December and cancelled my direct debit with them -- I expect the letters from the creditors who will receive a lot less of the pro-rata payments to start flooding in.

The thought of paying impoverishing amounts each month (more than my rent) for 12+ years into a bottomless pit of debt and having a very restrictive life of serfdom for that time is not appealing. I have no mortgage, no car, no assets. Practically everything in my rented flat is second-hand hand-me-downs, from TV, sofa, fridge, bed down to cutlery and crockery! I have no borrowing/credit cards etc. with my current account bank thankfully.

CCCS were a good initial help for the 18 months or so I’ve been with them, but I feel they’ll be rather inflexible when it comes to going along the UE route. They also want you to have a completely impoverished life with maybe £8 a month to spend on yourself for non-essentials – like maybe half a pint of beer and a Cadbury’s Fudge for yourself once a week for being a good compliant bank-coffer-stuffing little girl/boy to numb to pain. I’m not into flashy clothes, furniture (see above) or gadgets (happy with my 6-year-old Nokia “nPhone”), but near enough poverty in abject submission to banks with their privatised profits and socialised, taxpayer-funded losses makes for an all-round nasty stench. And a bit of financial breathing space would be nice, even if only to stash money for eventual Full and Finals for the enforceable ones.

One rather daft and probably irrelevant question I have to sign off with: if an account is sold to a DCA, where the OC has piled on masses of interest and charges (e.g. the Lloyds and Sainsbury’s ones), can you then get the charges and interest taken off by the DCA that has purchased the debt -- this in the case of a debt being enforceable? Probably getting ahead of myself now!

Off now to send off the CCA requests and buy a nice new file to start slotting the letters into. Having read through a few of the diaries, I get the rather pleasant feeling that 2012 is going to be a year where I stop dreading the arrival of the post each day, and where a day stops being either a good one or a bad one because of which letters arrive ... wouldn’t we all have loved to know what we know now five years or so ago!

Many thanks to all and especially Niddy and the moderators and site team for a truly welcoming, friendly, non-berating place!

Pip