Help Needed

[Dontknowwhattodo]

I am a newbie. I did post last week about my debt situation but can't find my thread, hence a new one.

 

I am in the process of setting up a DMP with Payplan, who have advised me to send a token payment of betwen £1.00 & £5.00 to my creditors with a covering letter stating that I am seeking help and to hold action for 28 days.

 

Would someone please let me know if I should sign these letters? Would it be ok for me to use a digital signature?

 

I am also in the process of requesting the CCAs and having read extensively on this forum, the adivse has been not to sign the letters - does this apply to all letters to the creditors?

 

Many thanks for your help and have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

[davey77]

For future reference if you go to you 'user cp' at the top left next to FAQ/Calendar etc then click 'list subscriptions' your thread should be there. Another way is to click your own name on the screen, "find all posts/Threads by Don'tknowwhattodo" will show up.

 

You don't need to sign anything. Use a digital signature. Remember, they (the Creditors) all use them and we have to accept that from them so why can't we do the same.

I haven't signed anything for ages! :)

Edited December 24, 2008 by davey77
spelling

[davey77]

Online Personal Signature Maker - MyLiveSignature - Free Personal Signature Generator

[Dontknowwhattodo]

For future reference if you go to you 'user cp' at the top left next to FAQ/Calendar etc then click 'list subscriptions' your thread should be there. Another way is to click your own name on the screen, "find all posts/Threads by Don'tknowwhattodo" will show up.

 

You don't need to sign anything. Use a digital signature. Remember, they (the Creditors) all use them and we have to accept that from them so why can't we do the same.

I haven't signed anything for ages! :)

 

 

 

Thank you davey77 for you help. Have got myself a digital signature from the link and am going to start using it.

 

I am being a pain but there is definitely no way the credit card company can "lift" and paste my digital signature onto CCA, yes? I have done the letters following the templates here and now need to get to the PO to get the postal orders and send them off. I cancelled my EGG direct debit and they are already writing to me saying I should reinstate it, blah, blah, blah. It does still get me down but feel more able to deal with them knowing there is plenty of support and help here.

 

Once again thank you so much for your help and I sincerely hope you would stick around to guide me through this mess. Have a happy New Year.

[davey77]

Well, if they wanted to they could lift a signature but the fact that it is not your 'actual' signature would mean that would be a pretty dumb (and obviously fraudulent) thing to do. Don't think you need to worry about that for now, just keep an eye on what they send you.

 

I take it this is the thread you started relating to all this:

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/general-debt-issues/173864-help-my-debt-problem.html

 

13 Creditors and 78k. Well, i would wait until you start to get replies to your CCA requests (send recorded delivery) then start individual threads for each one: Egg account in the Egg forum etc etc. Don't do what i did and lump them all together lol My thread is 45 pages long! Which is why i have started to separate them out a bit.

 

You have cancelled the direct debit with Egg because you can't afford the payments. (If that's the reason then they won't like it much but you can't get blood out of a stone, so it's tough for them.) I presume you know about the CCA time scale of 12 working days + 2 for postage.

 

If you are willing i would post what Creditors we are talking about. How much owed to each, when the account was opened (if you can recall) and what type: Credit Card or Loan.

 

I'm sure others will be along to help out especially when you start getting replies to your CCAs and can post them individually.

 

Happy New Year to you too.

[davey77]

By the way, it's early days but should you not get properly executed agreements from all 13 creditors within the timeframe (I'd be shocked if that actually didn't happen!), and your plan would then be to cease payment (as they would be in Default of your CCA requests) then you should expect lots and lots of phone calls (assuming they all have your current telephone number?).

 

I had to change my number after 8-13 calls a day, 7 days a week. Something to keep in mind. But we shall see what happens.

[Dontknowwhattodo]

This is going to sound very very a silly question. I got my £1.00 postall orders and the lady at the counter said it is best to send them crossed as then the PO can only be paid into a bank account. Now, I have never sent a POto anyone before so don't know what to fill in or not to fill in. The date and amount has been printed by the post office and where it says "Pay" it has got 3 asterisks [***] Do I need to do anything before sending it off?

 

Many thanks.

[davey77]

hmmm i haven't had anyone say that to me at the PO. I don't really see a reason where the PO is cashed as being important. As long as it is cashed and the Creditor has received your request.

 

Im not that familiar with PO's myself. I have just written the name of the front and on the back i wrote "CCA payment ONLY". Writing down the account details on the PO for future reference.

[Dontknowwhattodo]

hmmm i haven't had anyone say that to me at the PO. I don't really see a reason where the PO is cashed as being important. As long as it is cashed and the Creditor has received your request.

 

Im not that familiar with PO's myself. I have just written the name of the front and on the back i wrote "CCA payment ONLY". Writing down the account details on the PO for future reference.

 

 

Hi there,

 

Gosh it makes me shudder at the stuff we get told by counter staff. Still no harm done.

 

Thanks for the advise, will make sure I do that when I get round to sending them.

 

I was just wondering, in regards to my current position. I have already got a case number etc. etc. with Payplan to start the DMP.

 

The Monday before Christmas, Payplan emailed me the paperwork - some 25 pages long but in realty about 12. They have set it out in pdf.

 

I was of the impression that they would also send me the documentation in the post to complete. So far nothing has surfaced.

 

In their email they had requested that to move things on I should try to return the documentation within 7 days. Well that deadline has complete gone out of the window.

 

As their offices are closed until Monday, I have email them to ask if they were also sending the paperwork in the post.

 

I am unable to make amendments to the pdf document. Every alternate page is blank and the signature pages have rolled over to a page of their own - so what would I be putting my signature to?

 

Would you or anyone here know if I should expect Payplan to send me the paperwork in the post? I am beginning to get a bit concerned as it would be 2 weeks this Monday since they emailed me and I have not be able to get on with sending them back as Payplan requested. Obviously, I shall be ringing them Monday to find out what the process is.

 

The other thing is, as I am doing the CCA letters, do I have to inform Payplan? Would it jeopardise the DMP negotiations with the creditors? Shall I just send them off and bear the consequences? Starting to loose my grip again with all this delay - felt positive when the DMP was OKed but feel deflated and tired now. Got to get through the weekend.

 

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and new year's eve. WISHING YOU A PROSPEROUS 2009.

 

Many thanks for your help and support

[Dontknowwhattodo]

Hi All

 

Panic over - Payplan paperwork arrived in the post today. PHEW. Now to find somewhere quiet and complete them and send them back as soon as. My debt free journey is about to start and fingers and everything else crossed I get through to the other side intact.

 

Still wondering about the CCA requests though - do I send them now or wait till the DMP is up and running?

 

This is such a brilliant, informative and supportive site. Wish I had come here sooner and maybe just maybe I would not be in so deep.

 

Thank you everyone.

 

Have a good weekend.

[42man]

It it was me in your position I would send out the CCA requests....they are only suitable for 'credit' products....also don't forget to start the excessive charge reclaim process (+8% compounded interest) too !!

[davey77]

Hi All

 

Panic over - Payplan paperwork arrived in the post today. PHEW. Now to find somewhere quiet and complete them and send them back as soon as. My debt free journey is about to start and fingers and everything else crossed I get through to the other side intact.

 

Still wondering about the CCA requests though - do I send them now or wait till the DMP is up and running?

 

This is such a brilliant, informative and supportive site. Wish I had come here sooner and maybe just maybe I would not be in so deep.

 

Thank you everyone.

 

Have a good weekend.

 

There are no 'consequences' to a CCA request. A millionaire with 2 credit cards with zero balance has a lawful right to see his/her credit agreement at any time. You can do that independently of any DMP. How you act upon what they do (or don't) send you is entirely up to you.

 

But you can cross that bridge once you have received replies to your CCAs.

[Dontknowwhattodo]

There are no 'consequences' to a CCA request. A millionaire with 2 credit cards with zero balance has a lawful right to see his/her credit agreement at any time. You can do that independently of any DMP. How you act upon what they do (or don't) send you is entirely up to you.

 

But you can cross that bridge once you have received replies to your CCAs.

 

 

Hi davey77

 

Thank you for your support. Had not heard from you for a while - was beginning to wonder if all was well. Anyway, I have had replies from Tesco and Natwest in response to my letter requesting that they hold action for 28 days whilst I discuss my situation with Payplan.

 

They have sent me a proforma letter saying as the letter they received was not signed they would like me the return their letter with my signature and date in the the space provided [box]. Their letter has been digitally signed!!!!

 

What do I do? HELP

 

MINT have levied £12.00 charge on my account as I only made a token payment of £5.00 on the last statement. They have done so after receiving my letter letting them know that I was in the process of setting up a DMP with Payplan. Just cannot believe them.

 

Perhaps I should forward the letter from MINT to Payplan. They are already in the process of negotiating with all of my creditors and it's just insane that they should put charges on the account when I am struggling with the debt already.

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks for all your help.

 

Warmest regards.

[davey77]

Hi davey77

 

Thank you for your support. Had not heard from you for a while - was beginning to wonder if all was well.

 

Hi, Doing fine thanks. Took a bit of a break from the site for a few days but all's well here.

 

They have sent me a proforma letter saying as the letter they received was not signed they would like me the return their letter with my signature and date in the the space provided [box]. Their letter has been digitally signed!!!!

 

What do I do? HELP

 

Personally i would reply that if you are willing to accept their digital signature and they have willingly corresponded with you at your known address then they will have to accept your letter as it stands and not try to skirt the important matters contained within your correspondence (of which you have yet received an appropriate reply) with inane and distracting comments.

 

The alternative is to re-send another copy as it most likely depends on the person who reads it as to what reply you get. Try a Customer Relations Manager address.

MINT have levied £12.00 charge on my account as I only made a token payment of £5.00 on the last statement. They have done so after receiving my letter letting them know that I was in the process of setting up a DMP with Payplan. Just cannot believe them.

 

You can complain about that in your letter, but don't expect a back down or even response to it. Worthwhile only to show you are annoyed by their actions at the very least.

 

Perhaps I should forward the letter from MINT to Payplan. They are already in the process of negotiating with all of my creditors and it's just insane that they should put charges on the account when I am struggling with the debt already.

 

I would write to payplan explaining (with copies) and tell them you are not happy that Mint are deliberately trying to increase your indebtedness. (Haven't used Payplan myself but heard good things, so far.)

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Many thanks for all your help.

 

Warmest regards.

 

Have the CCA's gone off?

[davey77]

People are talking about signatures further down in this thread:

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/177398-dca-want-proof-signatures.html

 

Seems the difference being between general correspondence/CCA requests and S.A.Rs which are a request under the DPA. Digital Signatures for the first group and actual (or slightly altered if you can get away with it) for S.A.Rs.