What can you do if a creditor has been asked to freeze interest but hasn't? This can happen if you ask for a payment arrangement. It sometimes happens, but more rarely, in a Debt Management Plan (DMP). But most creditors do freeze interest if you have supplied a reasonable Income & Expenditure Statement. If you are in a DMP, your DMP firm will have sent the creditor this. The … [Read more...]
DMP articles
This page and the following ones list all Debt Camel articles about Debt Management Plans in date order, starting with the most recent.
You may prefer to look at Debt Camel's Guide to DMPs. That has links to the most important articles, covering DMP advantages and disadvantages, the different ways you can set one up, things that can happen in a DMP and how to decide if one is the right option for you.
DMPs can be useful if you have a temporary financial problem for a few months or a year or two, or as a long term way of clearing you debts, but you need to be wary of DMPs that will go on for too long.
Thousands should switch from DMPs to a DRO after rule changes
The rules about who can have a Debt Relief Order (DRO) were relaxed on 29 June 2021. You can now qualify for a DRO with debts of up to £30,000 and you are allowed more assets and more spare income. It is estimated that an extra 13,000 people a year who are renting will now apply for a DRO because of these changes. Many people who currently have a Debt Management Plan (DMP) or have payment … [Read more...]
How does a payment arrangement work & is one right for you?
A typical payment arrangement is an agreement to repay a credit card, catalogue or loan in affordable monthly amounts. This is also called an arrangement to pay. You can ask a lender for an arrangement to pay, or a debt collector. The key points are: an arrangement is needed if you can't afford the normal debt repayments; do not offer more than you can afford; ask the lender or … [Read more...]
Worried about starting a DMP? Answers to common questions.
A reader said she was scared about starting a Debt Management Plan (DMP). Her worries were that her husband's credit rating would be affected and that she would get lots of phone calls from creditors. A DMP is supposed to help with your debt problems, not increase them, so I thought it would be useful to look at the common concerns people have before they start DMPs. DMPs are good debt options … [Read more...]
My DMP is ending – when will my credit score improve?
A reader asked: "I have 6 months left on my DMP and I know my credit rating is rubbish. Will my rating improve once this is paid off?" That's a simple question, but it needs rather a long answer. This article is for people who are near the end or who have already completed their Debt Management Plan (DMP). If you are thinking of starting a DMP see How does a DMP affect your credit rating? … [Read more...]
I’m in a DMP – can I get a mortgage?
A reader asked about applying for a mortgage when she is in a Debt Management Plan (DMP): "I have been in a DMP for 8 years and still have 6 to go as I still owe £16,000. With hindsight, I should have gone bankrupt! My parents will give us a 20% deposit in 2021, but they don't know about my debts so I can't use their money to end the DMP. Will I be able to get a mortgage?" I've written before … [Read more...]
My DMP payment is too high
A reader asked if it is OK to reduce your debt management payments when you need to? This is a common problem in Debt Management Plans (DMPs). Sometimes your income falls. Sometimes your expenses go up faster than your pay does. These money troubles hit people with large debts particularly hard. Debt management firms and IVA companies are reporting that disposable income - the amount of … [Read more...]
Should I keep paying an old debt?
Do you have to keep making payments to old debts? It can be easy to get stuck in a long-term Debt Management Plan (DMP) or payment arrangements. If you are paying little each month, your debts will take a very long while to be gone. This article looks at the questions people often ask about old debts where they have been making monthly payments to the debts. If you haven't been making … [Read more...]
You both have debts – but may need different debt solutions
You both have debts, you both know it's time to tackle them and you want to do this together. But if one of you has a lot more debt, or a much larger income, or you own different assets, you don't have to have the same debt solution. A good debt adviser will help you look at what option each of you needs to get the best result for your family going forward. This article looks at some of … [Read more...]
Is it a lot of work to run your own DMP ?
Most people use a firm to run their Debt Management Plan (DMP). In this case you make one monthly payment to the firm, who then divides it between your creditors. This is free if you go to StepChange, Payplan or CAP - other firms do exactly the same but charge you a fee each month. But you can do all this yourself, not using a DMP firm. The advantages of this are: you are in control; … [Read more...]