Unsolicited text messages about a DMP | DMP News and Articles

The threat posed by unsolicited DMP debt help texts

For some time the advisers at Debt Management Plan Forum have been hearing about huge numbers of people who receive offers of services like a DMP by text message. Indeed, a quick show of hands proved that 50% of the team here also receive them personally. A news report has now suggested that half the adult population of the UK is being pestered by unsolicited contact regarding a DMP, loans, or various types of claims services.

Our team is made up of professionally qualified debt advisers, so it’s a fair assumption that none of us have approached a company and willingly provided our phone number to be subsequently marketed for services like a DMP. Is it reasonable that so many people around the UK are being pestered in this way? Possibly more importantly, is there a more sinister side to all of this?

CCCS are a well-known debt charity which offers clients a DMP without charge. In response to the growing phenomenon of these texts they have been asking Twitter followers to let them know what types of unsolicited texts they are receiving. The findings are scary, with people reporting enormous numbers of debt help, DMP, PPI claims and payday loan text messages arriving from companies they don’t know and didn’t approach.

The Information Commissioners Office has let it be known that dealing with this problem, and the annoyance that it can cause, has moved up their agenda. They also believe that the problem shouldn’t be seen just as one the creation of annoyance, they are concerned of potential links to organised crime and are currently engaged in targeting raids on those they believe may be responsible.

Now you may be struggling with debt in the current financial environment, and might be thinking that a DMP would be a good way to help get everything under control. If you received one of these unsolicited texts offering you debt help or a DMP what should you do? It might be tempting to get back in touch and find out a bit more? We’d strongly advise you that this is the worst possible way to seek out DMP advice and services:

How did they know a DMP was right for you? They didn’t know this, and it may not be.
Would you willingly work with a company that may be committing an offence?
Getting back to them tells them that you are real. You’ll then find many more DMP, loan and claims texts hitting your phone.
Have a read of our DMP forum. Starting a debt management plan on this basis might be a really bad starting point and lead to future problems.

You must remember that there are various ways to deal with debt problems. A DMP will be right for some people, but an IVA, or bankruptcy, or a Debt Relief Order, may also be open to you and in some circumstances a much better fit for your needs.

Our DMP forum would be a good place to start researching whether a DMP will suit you. There is information there about the other options worthy of consideration as well. You may also wish to contact a DMP firm that is a member of one of the trade associations (DRF and DEMSA) or a free-to-client DMP provider like CCCS. Many Citizens Advice Bureau offices also employ debt specialists that could help you. There are lots of ways to get good advice on a DMP and other debt options. Replying to an unsolicited text message is never one of them though.