Skippy - thought that would be what i needed, so will be on my way to town as soon as i drop my children off on monday morning !!
viki.w - i can guarantee that i will certainly be posting on this site still. In just a few days i seem to have gone from meeting myself coming backward to getting prepared realistically for what is around the corner.
I would also like to add that i am so grateful to the moderators experts etc for this site, it really helps people so much and has become invaluable to me and no doubt alot of other people.
Good luck Moneyworries. When I changed my bank account I went back to the old fashioned way of paying my bills for a while. I notified the companies I owed money to and they sent me bills instead which I paid in cash through the Post Office or a local bank. Then I gradually re-instated the direct debits that I WANTED to add to my new bank account ... which were quite a few less than were on there before.
Soulgrowth, i really hadnt thought of contacting them all and asking for bills for a couple of months - its such a great idea, and one more thing to add to tomorrows list of 'to do's'. X
Absolutely agree skippy - i do get alot of reductions due to dd, so would certainly be until maybe day after i go BR, then i can set them all up again in my coop account. Do you hear straightaway with regards to the account?
When I went into the branch they couldn't open the account in the branch - I don't know if that was just Kingston though. They sent my forms off with copies of my ID and then forgot about me! I had to phone them up to find out why I hadn't heard anythingand it turned out there was a computer error and my account was open, but they hadn't generated my debit card! I had it within a couple of days though, and that was the only problem I've had with the account.
I've heard they often refer applications, and I'm not sure how long that takes, but I think the account is usually opened within a couple of weeks.
It is quite true that you do save money by paying by direct debit ... but I always feel that I would much rather have the money sat in MY bank or savings account earning ME interest rather than sat in THEIR bank account earning THEM interest. Additionally, I really do not like the thought of a third party having open 'access' to my money ... we often hear horror stories on the Forum of organiastions having dipped into peoples accounts when they weren't expecting it, really messing things up ... and, indeed,it has happened to me. I always like to stay in control of my money [:)]
The problem is a lot of things HAVE to be paid by direct debit if you can't pay in full - car insurance, pet insurance etc. I prefer knowing that my bills are going to be paid without me having to make a special trip to the Post Office, or phone up a rip off 0870 phone number to pay.
That's true Skippy. I pay the main bills in life on DD ... mortgage, council tax, income protection payment. The odd yearly bills car insurance etc. I pay up front in full ... most other monthly outgoings ... gas, telephone etc I pay by online banking transfer. I do tend to be quite organised and have a book of dates when things have to be paid by. I still like to have the control over my money and pay when I choose to. We are all different and have our own systems that work for us [:)]
To be honest dd does work for me, as sometimes last minute things come up, almost all the time (kids usually)!! the other couple i usually pay online through the bank anyway.
DD works fine for me as well. Everything is paid via that, utilities, mortgage, mobile phone, insurances. I don't think there is a bill I pay any other way.
I check my online banking regularly to make sure that the payments are as they should be.
Sharing from experiences of dealing with debt
The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.
Bob Marley. http://kallis3.blogs.iva.co.uk
