Debt-free wannabe

If you need help with your debts, this is the thread for you. This is a new thread, as the old one was getting a tad long. Trained advisers from StepChange Debt Charity are here and waiting to answer your debt questions. They're a friendly bunch so please don't be shy! There are three ways to get in touch: 1 - Simply post…

Welcome to the DMP mutual support thread Part 13 !! Here you can find help in starting and running your DMP, self managed, Stepchange, Payplan and any other DMP all welcome here, but we do encourage you to use a free service, not one you pay for. There is help on getting interest and charges stopped, how to start with an…

I feel that this is so important that I thought a new thread should be made to highlight the importance of understanding the law on Charging Orders and how many people are stuck with their property in the false believe that they have had a Charging Order put on their property. In particular the thousands of Northern Rock…

Update December 2018. We started this Debt Free Roll of Honour back in 2006 and since then there have been some fabulously inspiring stories, which you'll see if you read below. To read the most recent debt-free announcements click the double arrow above to head to the last page of the discussion Back to Martin's original…

People post on this board looking for advice on many different debt topics. However its sometimes difficult to post in the right place, so, if you are wanting general advice from our panel of regulars on your debt issues, and how to go about solving them, you create a new thread using the big red "create new" button, top…

Hi all just wanted to share some good news regarding payday loan companies..... From early 2011 until mid 2014 I too was caught in the payday loan trap, all my own fault may I add, I borrow the money and in the end paid every penny back, would estimate 15000 over the years maybe 20. Early this year I saw all the news…

This thread provides guidance about some good first steps you should take if you are in debt and want to get debt-free. It doesn’t matter how big or small your debt is, or whether you are comfortably paying your debts and looking for advice on where to cut back further or struggling to cover your basic needs - we are here…

Martin (Lewis) made the following announcement a few years back. But the link in the stickies is broken. Anyhow, here is what Martin said: "Dear Money savers..... Debt Free Wannabe is one of my favorite boards on this site. It's also one which runs a delicate balance. Many people who have serious debts have hidden them for…

Debt-Free Wannabe Sticky - Please read for links to important topics and help Hi folks :) This is the Debt-Free Wannabe Sticky where links to all current important tools and information will be posted. Links: (1) Those who are new to debt, and want to know where to start, check out these first steps :…

Statute barred debts and the Limitation Act Statute Barred debts. A debt will be "Statute Barred" if there has been no acknowledgement of the debt by you making a payment or in writing within the relevant limitation period. The debt would then be legally UNENFORCEABLE, unless the creditor has already taken legal action…

Long post… thank you if you get to the end! I'm hoping there may be people here who have been through something similar and can offer both practical advice and a bit of support. After many years of nose diving, about 6 months ago, my family ended up in severe financial difficulty and were eventually evicted from our home.…

Hi! I’m finally in a position where I can start making offers to my creditors. I have been on my DMP 4years and I still have 5y left on it. this is the letter I’m thinking of sending PRA group regarding my account. This is 30% of the total. Would you add or take away from it? “Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to you regarding…

I’m not sure if anyone has any experience or can signpost me in the right direction. Being chased for a Capital Contribution order of nearly £150k that I knew nothing about regarding Legal Aid from a company called Advantis. Thought it was a scam but unfortunately it’s not. All relating to a historic court case (don’t…

I'm exploring a tactic: Breathing space Setting up DMP via Stepchange If interest and charges are not frozen by the creditors, self managing and then defaulting What I would like to know is if anyone has experience of deploying this sequence (or similar), either accidentally or on purpose. As per my original thread, my…

Hi all Thank you in advance for any guidance or advice you can offer me as I begin my journey to becoming debt free. I am intending to enter into a DMP as I find myself drowning in debt after a change in circumstances and honestly years of bad choices. I was planning on doing this via step change but have been reading the…

I want to check if the following emails that I sent in 2022 constitute anything that would count as acknowledging the debt: Can you please double check your records as to my knowledge I have paid this outstanding amount in around June or July 2020 after the outcome of my appeal for a fee reduction. and then: Thank you for…

Hey all, I've just spent hours and hours and hours reading a lot of different threads on here. It's put my mind at ease slightly as it's been affecting me a lot mentally recently. I feel I know the basics but just wanted to see if there was any advice for my specific situation. Nothing unique about how I got here.…

OK so ive decided i really need to get a hold of my finances, i work part time earn roughly 900 a month then get UC as a couple with a dependent child and one on the way in April. We need to save a buffer for when i go on maternity as I'm only eligible for MA not stat mat plus we have house saving goals and we want to move…

Hi, I've been getting stressed about debt for a while now, and even though I've been subscribed to the MSE newsletter for ages, somehow didn't even think about checking here for advice! I moved into my first house a few years ago, and as I'd only rented furnished places before, owned basically nothing, and that combined…

Ive been trying to get clear advice from a few places but it has been conflicting. My income has recently dropped by £1000+ pm and is now made up of benefits alone. I have a mortgage 3.75% remaining term: just under 7yrs. Currently £170k equity No secured debts No arrears on priority debts Unsecured debts of £34k After…

I’m in approx 70k of debt. I have been looking at a dmp and have mentioned this to my partner, however she is not keen. She thinks it may affect my position in regard to an opportunity with the company I work with. The risk as far as I can see it is if I get credit checked however that won’t be pretty without a dmp if…

I would appreciate some help. Background In 2007 (or it might have been the year before) I got a credit card with M&S. To try to help with my debts that were starting to build, in 2008 I applied for a credit card with Halifax and they sent a card and then another card days later. I don't recall asking for a second card but…

Hi - I'm grateful to have read so many posts here that are very helpful. I have c. £80,000 of debt. I have always paid the minimum amounts and have never missed a payment in 35 years. I had considered 're-financing' 'again' but I didn't do it. In the last 4 months, this has become more and more unmanageable. This month I…

Hi I can't seem to comment on my original post but have just received the attached Default Notice from MBNA gor my credit card. Is this the one I ignore and wait for something else? Thank you

I have managed to settle all of my accounts over the last 6 months through negotiation even a mainstream original lender with the exception of one debt with Link Financial. Despite numerous offers they have countered with a figure which only represents minimal discount way off what my other creditors settled on. When I…

Hi everyone. The only place I can start is from the top . I'm currently in £9000 worth of debt with 5 credit card companies. I’m currently receiving 3 benefits of esa cont based , pip and iidb . I have a long term permanent bsck condition which I’ve had multiple surgeries for the last one being 3 months ago . This has been…

Hello. I hope that I am asking in the right place? I am self employed and currently have approx £25,000.00 in credit card debs with 6 different cards. This all came about after my partner suffered an awful illness and neither of us could work for a long time. I have been making the payments ever since (6 years now) I have…

Hello all, I've embarked on my becoming debt free journey a few months ago after struggling with it for years. In short - a bit over of 30k debt over multiple CC'd, a couple of cash loans, and then Klarna and to top it of a few payday loans, 11 lines of credit. I've then started to fail behind on payments as the 0%…

Hi I am just after some advice around an email I received today around a debt I apparently have, I believe this is not genuine as I have not had any contact from the 3 companies mentioned but I am just wondering if anyone can confirm this, it lacks a reference and a company address and contact details so to me I think it’s…

Hi I am just after some advice around an email I received today around a debt I apparently have, I believe this is not genuine as I have not had any contact from the 3 companies mentioned but I am just wondering if anyone can confirm this, it lacks a reference and a company address and contact details so to me I think it’s…