most stupid idea i ever had :'(

[highhopes19]

Hi ladies....

So before I was pregnant I toook out 2 home provident loans for xmas last year... At the time it seemed like a good idea, I was paying back £20 a week on each loan, so £80 a month at the time I could afford it so wasn't a problem, I had never missed a payment.
Then when I found out I was pregnant, my aim was to have them paid off before she was born... But when I told my employer I was pregnant they started bullying me at work till eventually I had a breakdown and was signed off work at 16 weeks I never fully recovered enough to go back to work and they signed me off till I started my maternity leave, my employers refused me any SSP and also wasn't getting ESA so I had no money at all really! Only the odd little bit here and there from OH.

So I couldn't afford the full £20 a week paying it off on top of getting little bits for LO! The lady who collects the money was nice at first but then started to get really shitty with me, and I thought the best thing to do is to phone head office and explain the situation and ask them for advice on what to do, so that's what I did. They were actually really helpful and nice about it, and said not to stress about it and when I start getting money only pay what I can afford.
Which is what I have been doing.

But now my MA is paid every 2 weeks and till LO is here and everything is settled, I can't start to pay the full £20 a week again till then, I can only pay £10 a week... But this women is really shitty with me when she comes round.... And she texts me asking me how much I can pay constantly. Which I know she probably isn't allowed to to do!

I feel guilty as I wanted to have all debts paid before LO is born and with the situation with work I haven't been able to do that :'(

Can I get into trouble paying £10 a week, head office said it was fine... But this women makes me feel terrible for it? I thought aslong as I showed I was paying atleast somthing I'd be ok

Xxx

 

[StarBound]

No you can't get into trouble because your offering them what you can afford.

I owe alot more than you and am paying off £20 a week to 2 of my debts which will get them paid off , but I have another 4 or 5 of lesser amounts to pay off & currently they are having to wait.
I'd ring head office & explain to them that this woman is harassing you

 

[nickibrum]

could you get a loan from the bank to pay it off? or put the debt on a credit card?
Provident loan interest is ridiculous- my mum works for them!

They work off commission which is why the lady is proberly texting you so much. tell her supervisior/area manager.

 

[suzib76]

she is badgering you because the agents get paid a commission on how much they collect, not how much they sell

just stay strong and tell her its that or nothing, she will soon realise she is better taking your offer

 

[highhopes19]

thankyou for the advice ladies, shes just left and it went really well tbh

i explained to her that untill the baby is here and untill our financial situation changes that i'll only be able to pay £10 a week, but if i can then i'll pay a little bit more off each week

she was surprisinly nice about it and said she completly understands and god she changed her tune.... she said atleast your making the effort to pay somthing some dont pay anything xx

 

[xxembobxx]

Unfortunately if a debt collector sense you might cave in and pay extra they will hound you.
Perhaps your OH could answer the door to pay her from now on? All he needs to do is hand the money over and get the book signed. Or could you make payments direct to Head Office?
You have the right not to be harassed.

 

[morayo]

hi, im sure since you have explained to her she will be more understanding..if not then have your OH give her the money when she comes as already suggested.

 

[CLH_X3]

Can your OH not give you the 80 a month to pay them?

 

[charbaby]

When you are out of work you dont have to pay large amounts back to debts, £5 is sufficient enough unless you can afford more x