Debt getting me down..

[Char&Bump-x]

Me and my Oh are constantly skint, we have over £2000 debt between us, and have absolutely no way of paying it.

We are on income support, do not recieve tax credits yet, and can barely afford to live.

We get housing benefit, but have to pay a £50 top up each month.

We owe 2089.35 just to catalouges, havent paid a water, gas or electric bill since we've been here, owe £280 to south west water from his last property. We're just sinking lower and lower each month that passes.

I dont know what to do. I need to get in contact but i am too scared to phone. It makes me feel sick at the thought of talking to them. I want to write letters but dont know what to say.

I'm really at the end of my tether, me and OH argue about money ALL the time and our relationship is going down the pan because of it.

Does anybody have ANY advice on what to do, avoiding face to face or telephone contact if possible.

 

[amylk87]

I'm so sorry about your situation hun all i can think of is citizens advice or the natioanl debtline. i know there's phone contact but i don't know if theres an online service. Hope it gets better for you x

 

[amylk87]

Check out this link, hope it helps

https://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/ManagingDebt/PlanYourWayOutOfDebt/DG_10013291

 

[Vickie]

Didn't want to read and run, unfortunately no advise as I'm not in the UK. Hope one of the others can help you out

 

[ClaireLouise]

Hey chicklet, I grew up on the breadline I know how u feel. Is there any family members who can help? Crisis loans? I would contact citizens advice sweets. You need enough money to live off as you have a LO.

Is OH looking for work? Anything you could sell? Concentrate on paying one thing back at a time. Me & OH were slipping into debt & we were fortunate that the MIL got us a loan to pay off our debts (£12,000!!) and now we pay her back £250 a month over 5 years.

Could a family member help consolidate ur debts & u pay them back?

 

[daddy.danno]

Ello treacle

firstly,


i have been in this situation for months, i am 21 and i have 12k worth of debt.

i got so worked up over debt and not having money and the constant letters coming through the door.
i went into depression, went on medication, and quite frankly, i didnt need too, il tell you why.....


Debts are nothing.

i have topped my self up with knowledge as i was getting so frustrated with calls, bailiff letters the lot.

you have to prioritise what you pay.

you MUST pay council tax - non payment of this, you lose your house, you risk being taken to prison.

Water, electric and gas - you need these to survive. With what you owe to these, ring them up, explain the situation and tell them what you can afford on top to clear the arrears, they are very helpful, aslong as you keep them informed and explain your hardship.

Rent - same again keep upto date or risk losing house.


NON PRIORITY DEBTS - Catalogues and loans are non priority debts, they will keep ringing, they will send letters, and will threaten with bailiffs.
I have kept ignoring them, changed number to ex directory, and i inform them not to call my house phone as this is harrasment. Explain you want all corrospondance in the form of a letter. (you dont have to deal with ignorant, snotty call center staff)
Offer them a token payment of £1 each per calender month.

They CANNOT refuse this.

If they do you can then take the matter to a hearing at court, and the judge will throw it out and write the debt off as they are refusing to take the queens pound sterling.

BAILIFFS- The biggest jokers around. DO NOT let them make you feel pressured.
REMEMBER... A bailiff cannot force entry into your house, without a police officer present.
A bailiff does NOT hold the power to enter without your permission.
A bailiff CANNOT stop you from shutting the door on them, if they do so they are breaking the law.

HOWEVER...

A bailiff can come through an open door if unattended, they can enter through an open window, once they are in they can then take property, so remember this information.

the laws of debt are always on your side, if you cannot pay the debt, you will be helped out.

Was this catalogue taken out pre 2007? if so you may have an illegally drawn up document, and can have it wiped?

Other methods of clearing debt....

Debt Management - A debt management course is aided to help people in debt, and can usually clear you in a few years.
Most companys charge you around £15 per month to do this for you, although there are free ones through the CAB.
A debt management company will deal with all corrospondance with the crediters. You tell them what you owe, who to, and they will sit with you and arrange what you can afford to pay per month.
All letters will get sent to them and you dont deal with the companys.
This usually costs in the region of £100 per month upwards.

County court order - Goes to court with your debts, they will set up a monthly amount of which you pay to the court and they will evenly distribute it to your creditors.

Debt relief order (DRO) - Very good service which i would reccomend to you, but you must have under 15,000 debt and under £50 spare each month.
They will send you a pack (national debt line) fill in and submit it to them.
You will then have your debt wiped. for a small fee of £90. (cheaper and better route of bankruptcy)

if you need any more help please message me and i will happily help you further.

Good luck.

Dan

 

[Char&Bump-x]

Thank you soooo much Dan. I really needed that. Bailiffs are my worst nightmare!

x

 

[ticklemonster]

My OH is currently in debt by about £10000. This causes me endless amounts of stress as i am debt free, this was all from a previous relationship. He owns his own home and we both work full time. Although i am quite happy to help with the running of the house i refuse to help pay his debt off. In the end about 6 months ago he contacted a company called Christians against poverty, the are like a debt management company but they don't charge you anything. They contact all of your debt companys and arrange payments for you. They also pay all your other bills as long as you pay them a set amount a month. My other half currently pays out roughly £1000 a month to them, and they pay the mortgage, council tax, water bills, then any spare money from that goes on debt. 6 months ago he had a total repayment time of 15 years, but in these 6 months it has now gone down to 10 years, so hopefully in another 6 months it will be 5 years. They are obviously a christian organisation but you yourselves don't have to be religious. They come to your house and talk to you about everything, they may say a prayer for you, but it is worth it as they make you feel ten times better.

Sorry for long reply but they have helped us and i can see a light at the end of the tunnel but like anything it takes time, and you can't take on anymore debt. Every debt letter you get, you send to them and the organise it. Hope this helps a lil, and sorry again for long post xxxx

 

[daddy.danno]

Thank you soooo much Dan. I really needed that. Bailiffs are my worst nightmare!

x

your very welcome,

i was in your situation once, and i refused after thinking long and hard to let it get to me, so i got up and investigated, and i was actually suprised by the lack of power these companys hold to reclaim debt from you.

Dont panic and dont let it upset you.

Money problems are the least of your worries in life.

Money cant buy love, money cant by health, and money cant buy happiness.

keep your chin up, and take my advice and file for a DRO.

i am still in process of thinking about doing it, although i havent had any corrospondance from debts in months now, as it costs them more to chase me, than they will ever get back from what i owe them!

 

[Rachiebaby24]

I KNOW how you feel hun. x Gas are threatening to cut me off

Its so depressing.....

 

[Char&Bump-x]

Rachie..it will get better, just hard to see that when you're so stressed xx