Debt Management Plan (DMP)

Entering into a Debt Management Plan (DMP) will give you an opportunity to repay your debts at a rate you can afford.

How do I apply for a DMP?

Firstly, you will need to understand how much money you have coming into the household and how much you have going out each month. This is your budget and it will enable you to see how much money you have leftover at the end of the month to pay towards your debts.

You can work out your budget by completing an Income and Expenditure form, which you can either do by completing our form online, or you can chat through your situation with one of our debt advisers on 0800 316 1833 . They will be able to advise you on which costs you can include, and what level of expense your creditors will expect to see.

Will my DMP be accepted?

When we have worked out what money you have leftover, we will talk through all of your options with you and recommend the most suitable debt solution for your circumstances.

If a DMP is right for you, we will set the plan up for you, and contact your creditors to make an offer of payment, based on what you can afford.

It’s worth noting that only unsecured debts will be included in a DMP. If you have a mortgage or a secured debt such as a Hire Purchase agreement on a car, this will be accounted for in your budget so you will have enough money to continue making payments towards these bills.

How do I start my DMP?

Once we’ve contacted your creditors, you will start making one monthly payment to PayPlan and we will then divide it up and share it amongst your creditors fairly. They will all receive an amount on a ‘pro rata basis’ – this means it will be relative to the amount of debt you owe. So, the creditor you owe the most to receives the biggest share of your monthly payment and so on.

Once in your DMP, you will continue making payments until all your debt is cleared. We will let you know how long we expect this to be when we discuss the plan with you. We request that creditors freeze interest and charges on your debts, to allow you the opportunity to repay them as quickly as you can afford. However, some may continue to add interest and charges. If this is the case, it will take you longer to repay your debts.

Is a DMP right for me?

A DMP with PayPlan could be suitable for you if you have more than one debt and are struggling to make your monthly payments. It could be a good option for anyone who is able to repay their debts in a reasonable amount of time.

If you are a homeowner and have lots of equity in your house, a DMP could be a good choice. If you’re concerned, it’s a good idea to speak with one of our advisers who can run through the suitability of every debt solution with you.

Why should I choose PayPlan for my DMP?

PayPlan don’t charge any fees for setting up or managing your debt management plans as we are funded by the credit industry, so 100% of the money you pay goes towards repaying your debts. Find out more about the benefits of choosing a DMP with PayPlan.

We will also review your plan once a year to ensure you can afford your payments and check whether a DMP is still the best solution for you.

Will my creditors still contact me in a DMP?

Creditors are still legally allowed to call or write to you during your DMP, but if you maintain your payments, this is likely to reduce over time. However, if you miss any payments, they could start contacting you again.

There are some letters creditors have to send you by law, such as an annual statement or default notice, and these will continue if you’re in a DMP. If a particular creditor is still contacting you a lot, pressuring you to increase your payments or pay them outside the plan, then please let us know so we can help.

What to expect from a debt management plan with PayPlan

Single, affordable, regular payments

You make just one payment every month, at the most convenient time for you – for many people this is just after they’ve been paid. We then use this payment to pay all of your creditors. Read more below if you need help with debt management plans…

Reduced monthly payments to suit you

A Debt Management Plan (DMP) is an informal agreement between you and your creditors, where you arrange to pay off your debts through lower monthly payments than your contractual payments. Your creditors may agree to freeze interest and charges, which gives you the reassurance that your debts are not continuing to grow. A DMP is not a legally binding debt solution and won’t appear on any public registers, so nobody needs to know about your DMP unless you tell them.

It’s possible for you to arrange your own repayment arrangement with creditors, or you can use a company like PayPlan to set a DMP up on your behalf.

Not only does this reduce the legwork for you, but unlike many companies, PayPlan offer completely free debt management plans, as we are funded by donations from the credit industry.

To speak to our specialists about our online debt management plans and to get impartial advice on which debt solution is right for you, call FREE on 0800 316 1833 .

We are available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 3pm on Saturday. Alternatively, you can get debt help online by using our online debt solution tool, PlanFinder.

Convenient online tracking

You can check the progress of your plan at any time on PayPlanPlus.

This free online service enables you to keep tabs on all the payments you make, the amount that has been paid to all of your creditors and allows you to see an estimated time scale of when your debt will be repaid.

Freezing of interests and charges

While PayPlan cannot guarantee to get interest and charges frozen in all cases, we will talk to your creditors and ask them to freeze interest and charges while you make your repayments.

Friendly and experienced staff

You’ll find our trained advisers understanding of your situation and ALWAYS ON HAND to assist you with any questions you have about your debt management plan.

How about the ‘small print’?

We always ensure our clients are aware of, and understand, all aspects of the debt solutions we advise on. Even if you enter a DMP, your creditors can still take legal action as you’re not making your contractual payments. You should also be aware that failure to keep to your agreed repayment terms may result in your plan being cancelled, and your creditors might also look to take legal action against you to ensure they get some form of repayment from you.

By entering into a DMP your regular repayments may be lower, however your repayment period could be longer. This is why when you contact us we will always look at a range of solutions – we want you to get out of debt as soon as you can so you can start enjoying your life again.

A Debt Management Plan may affect your credit rating. A DMP is not a formal agreement so creditors do not have to accept the proposal and they can continue to register defaults until you have repaid all your debt. With a DMP, your credit rating could be affected for up to a maximum of six years from the date of the last Default Notice issued against you, which your creditors can issue at any point during the plan like they can with legal action.

Take advantage of our free debt help and advice – Contact us today

At PayPlan, we know that debt is an accepted PART OF LIFE for many people. But we don’t believe that this has to be the case.

We advise on a wide range of practical solutions to help people deal with their debt and get on with LIVING THEIR LIFE rather than just accepting it and struggling to survive. To start putting your debt worries aside, call us free on 0800 316 1833 and have a chat with one of our fully trained advisers.

You can be confident of receiving sensible, sound advice without obligation. When you call we will talk you through a full review of your current circumstances and explain the choices that are available to you – we will also recommend the most suitable solution and assist you with your application.

If you already think that a DMP is the right choice for you, then simply call our advisers today on 0800 316 1833 and take the first step towards regaining control of your life and your debt. And please don’t be put off if our advisers are busy helping our other clients, just fill in our online Debt Help form and we will call you back.

Let’s make life more affordable

You’re just two steps away from taking back control of your finances and freeing up more money for you and your family.

No impact on your credit score.

Excellent, professional, friendly and empathetic service. PayPlan have given us our lives back!

Sandra Daly