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This solution is available throughout the UK. 

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How to make your first DMP payment

You have spoken to one of our debt advisors, they have worked out your budget and advised you that the best way to get your situation back on track is with a debt management plan (DMP).

Here is a step-by-step guide on what you need to do to set up your first debt management plan payment and get everything up and running as soon as possible.

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What documents do you need to set up my DMP?

After your debt advice session with us, we will send you your personal action plan. If we have emailed you your plan, it will be waiting for you in your inbox shortly after you have spoken to us. If we have posted it to you it will be there in the next few days.

To make sure your DMP is set up as quickly as possible please send the following documents and information to us:

1. Please send us proof of your highest income. This should match the amount you gave us during your debt advice session. If it does not, make sure you include a note to tell us why. It also needs to include your name and can be one of the following:

  • Your most recent payslip (dated within the last 3 months)
  • A recent bank statement that shows your income received (dated within the last 3 months, and you can also highlight your income figures if you feel this would help us identify it quicker)
  • For benefits, please send your most recent award letter (all pages and this should include the amount of benefits that you are currently receiving)

2.  A list of your debts. Don’t worry about sending us a statement from each of your debts. We just need the name of the company and your account number with them

3. Your signed DMP agreement. Without this we cannot contact your creditors

4. The completed Direct Debit mandate

Please post these documents to:

Plan Activations, StepChange Debt Charity, 123 Albion Street, Leeds, LS2 8ER.

If you post your information to us, make sure you take your envelope to the post office and pay the correct postage.

If you can scan all of the information we need, you can email it to us instead of posting it. If you don’t have a scanner you can take a picture of the documents on your smartphone and send this to us. Please make sure they are good quality, clear photos. Don't forget to include your name and client reference number in the email.

Once we have processed your information we will contact each of your creditors and:

  • Tell them you are coming onto a DMP with us
  • Give them a copy of your budget so they know you are paying as much as you can afford
  • Let them know when they will get the first payment from us

If any of your creditors contact you, just let them know your plan has been set up, we have sent them their proposal and they will get their first payment soon.

Get your DMP off to a smooth start by making sure your first payment reaches us on time. There are various ways DMP clients can make their initial payment and when they need to make their payment by.

The easiest way to make your DMP payment is to set up a Direct Debit, but there are alternatives.

How do I set up a Direct Debit for my DMP?

There are three ways you can set up a Direct Debit:

  • Log into OnlineDMP and choose the Direct Debit set-up option
  • Download and print off the Direct Debit mandate form (PDF) and send it to our postal address
  • Call us, making sure you have all your bank details to hand

 

What if I can't set up a Direct Debit in time for my first payment?

We understand that it is not always possible to get a Direct Debit set up in time for your first payment. In these situations you can make a payment straight to our bank account while you wait for your Direct Debit to be set up.

The payment needs to be made to the following account:

Sort code: 20 48 46

Account number: 70238163

You will need to include your client reference number and surname with each payment. Make sure there is a space between them. Like this:

Payment reference: 1234567 Smith

You can find your client reference number on emails or letters we have sent you about your DMP. We cannot pay your creditors without this number.

You can make payments to our account through internet banking or bank transfer. Don't forget to check the cut-off date for this month's payment.

Can I pay my plan by standing order each month?

Yes you can. However, please be aware that DMP payment dates by standing order change each month.


Can someone else make my payments?

Yes, but it is important we check the identity of this person so we know where the money is coming from. It is part of our legal responsibility to protect you, your creditors and StepChange.

If we cannot check the identity of the person making your payments, we will not be able to accept any more payments from them.

What do I need to do?

The person making your payments needs to fill in one or two forms and return them to us as soon as they can.

They will pay by Direct Debit

1. The payer request form

  • Give the payer request form (Word document) to the person making your payments
  • Ask them to print it off, fill it in and sign it with a black pen
  • Ask them to return the form to us. They can scan or take a picture of the form and email it to us. Or they can send it to our postal address. Information on where to send it is on the form

The form explains how we use their personal data and has a link to our privacy notice.

2. The Direct Debit mandate

  • Download and print off the Direct Debit mandate form (PDF) and ask the person making your payments to fill it in
  • Ask them to send the form to our postal address or email it to us. Information on where to send it is on the form

They will pay by standing order

  • Give the payer request form (Word document) to the person making your payments
  • Ask them to print it off, fill it in and sign it with a black pen
  • Ask them to return the form to us. They can scan or take a picture of the form and email it to us. Or they can send it to our postal address. Information on where to send it is on the form

The form explains how we use their personal data and has a link to our privacy notice.

Common DMP questions our clients ask 

Once we have received your payment in our bank account we will process the money and make payments to your creditors. We will send out these payments within five working days.

Creditors will usually receive these payments the same day we send them, but if a creditor has asked to receive payments by cheque it can take a few days more to be processed.

DMP payments are sent to your creditors as soon as the funds have cleared. Sending the money as soon as it clears means your creditors will receive your money sooner.

Most creditors receive payments from us electronically, by a bank transfer. With some creditors, we also send them details of which account the payment relates to so they can match it up with your account.

When we send your proposal to your creditors we tell them that they will receive your DMP payment before the 28th of each month. However, the payment is likely to be received by your creditors before this date.

Your Direct Debit payment must be made on either the 1st or 10th of each month. If you pay by standing order, the cut off date for payments will vary month to month.

Direct Debit payments are collected on the 1st and 10th of each month. If you are worried you might not be able to make your payment it is important that you get in touch as soon as possible so we can find an alternative solution.

While we hold your money, it is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS):

This means you can get compensation if we are unable to meet our financial obligations. You can find out more on the FSCS website www.fscs.org.uk