Can't cope any longer

peachblossom_2 · 28 December 2008 at 8:59PM

I have massive debts of around £36000. I was on a DMP with CCCS until 2 years ago when I had to give up work due to a long standing illness. Because I now live only on benefits CCCS said they could no longer help and advised me that bankruptcy was the only answer. I don't want to go down this route as my elderly father has cancer and the shock would just about finish him, no one knows about any of this and I can't risk my father finding out. I have been making token payments to my creditors of £1 a month but they are now saying they won't accept this for much longer. At the moment I have no money at all, not because I've spent any over Christmas, i didn't even have food for Christmas day. There's just me and my cats and they are my priority to feed etc. I have enough food for them till middle of the week and then I don't know. I am in arrears with rent and council tax and have pre payment meters for gas and electric. I have aound £8 credit on the electric and am on the last bit of emergency credit for the gas. I can't cope with this anymore and can't see any way out of this mess. I know I have only myself to blame for this mess but don't know where to go from here or where to start.

Caroline73_2 · 28 December 2008 at 9:05PM

Hi Peach

Your father is going to find out unless you do something soon. Does he live with you? Will he find out if you go bankrupt? You live in rented accomodation so it isn't like that will get repossessed.

Can you post your statement of affairs so people can see where they can help? It probably isn't as bad as you think. I'm no expert but there are plenty of people here that will be able to help. You taken the right steps.

Good luck.

optimisticbutstruggling · 28 December 2008 at 9:10PM

Hiya,listen you are not alone....I have £42k debt & am really struggling & could face going BR.
I also have four cats & really understand that they are you priority.
Try not to worry too much as I was the other night,once I came on here I feel that I can tackle the situation bit by bit...
Make some tea & before long one of the brilliant people on here will try to help you...
Your cats need you to get thro this xxxx

Buffythedebtslayer · 28 December 2008 at 9:12PM

Hello Peachblossom

You have come to the best place ((((hugs)))). I am sure some one here will have a idea of what to tell you to do but my first response is probably one you don't want to hear but is there no way you could bankrupt without telling your Father? You have kept it all secret so far?

You have already done the CCCs thing, (could you try Payplan? they are the other charity?) and you cannot sit there starving and possibly still ill? its bonkers.

Is there any chance of you going to back to work soon? are you better now

You don't only have yourself to blame - you were doing the right thing and you got sick that is not your fault at all.

I hope what I said at the start doesnt sound harsh I honestly don't mean it too, I just believe you have done the best you can with it all.

Please post again

xxxxxx

edinburgher · 28 December 2008 at 9:12PM

If you're on benefits without any sort of regular income coming in, bankruptcy may well be the only viable option unless you are able to find some work that can fit around your illness, or family can help you out.

There are some situations that we just can't handle alone - is there no way you can broach the subject and minimise the stress to your Dad? Alternatively, do you have any other family who you can turn to? It might hurt your pride, but could be worth considering if you think your Dad's finding out could have dire consequences.

10past6 · 28 December 2008 at 9:14PM

What is it that's stopping you ging BR apart from your father finding out?

whitewing · 28 December 2008 at 9:15PM

Peach,

You're in the right place. Do you live with Dad? Could you live with Dad? You do need to speak to someone. People on here will help you see what your options are. www.makesenseofcards.co.uk for the statement of affairs.

Hang on in there.

Miss_Piggy_2 · 28 December 2008 at 9:17PM

Hi Peachblossom and welcome to the site

First of all, sit down and take a few deep breaths.

Have you tried talking to the CAB? They may be able to advise and assist.

To be honest, if you have no money coming in the bankruptcy may be the only option. It doesn't carry the stigma it used to. Its designed to help people such as yourselves.

I hope you manage to find a solution. I would try talking to your Dad. He must know you're struggling?

Miss P
xx

peachblossom_2 · 28 December 2008 at 9:29PM

Thank you to you all for your replies.

My dad doesn't live with me and has no idea of the situation I'm in. If I went bankrupt it would be in the local paper which he reads from cover to cover and would certainly see it in there and I would never be able to live with myself if anything happened to him because of it.

I have a son who lives locally and he knows money is tight but no more than that. How do you start to tell anyone how bad things are? Things are tight with him at the moment as he works in the construction industry and works very slow at the minute.

I will do an SOA tomorrow, my concentration isn't good enough at the moment to deal with it, thank you all once again

chevalier · 28 December 2008 at 9:45PM

Ok here are some practical things hope they help

1) check with the water board about vulnerable persons tariff. this is less than the usual might save you a few £s

2) Are you just on job seekers, or have you applied for disability living allowance if you are NEVER going to work again? Reason i ask is that you can do a bit of work on this I THINK (you would have to check) so you might be better off

3) Can you talk with your Dr's/consultant about whether your illness will be improving or not

4) If you are being charged charges on a current account that has your benefits paid into, then you can ask for them back because they are not allowed to take benefit money WHICH IS SEEN AS BEING THE MIN YOU CAN LIVE ON for charges. Also any bank or credit card charges you can ask for them back on hardship grounds you don't have to wait for the test case to be sorted out.

5) Are you mobile enough to do mystery shopping? Or there are lots of sites on the web that you do surveys for money /points/vouchers etc. They would all up your income a bit. Pm me if you want a list.

6) Ask your Salvation Army for a food parcel to tide you over. This is not the time to be proud. If you have no food to eat then any illness you have will only get worse.

7) I would start gently telling your dad that all is not well with you financially. Then over the course of a few months you could build it up until you tell him you are going banckrupt. that way it will not be such a shock.
best of luck in 2009

chev

peachblossom_2 · 29 December 2008 at 7:44AM

Hope I've done this right. At the moment all creditors have stopped interest and charges and are accepting token payments.

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 1
Number of children in household......... 0
Number of cars owned.................... 0
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 836 (Incapacity benefit, DLA, Industrial Injuries disablement)
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 836
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured loan repayments................. 0
Rent.................................... 120 rest covered by housing benefit
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 45
Electricity............................. 48 both gas/electric on pre payment meters
Gas..................................... 60
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 28 meter
Telephone (land line)................... 30
Mobile phone............................ 0
TV Licence.............................. 11.27
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 0
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 100
Clothing................................ 10
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 0
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 5
Other travel............................ 179 DLA used for car
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 20
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 65
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 11
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 10
Haircuts................................ 20
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 13 maintenance and batteries for wheelchair
Total monthly expenses.................. 875.27

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured Debt
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
barclaycard....................2000......1.........0
barclays loan..................16000.....3.........0
apex credit managemen..........357.......1.........0
next...........................1230......1.........0
capital one....................1540......1.........0
Smile bank loan................12000.....3.........0
M&S store card.................2500......1.........0
M&S loan.......................5000......1.........0
tesco credit card..............1500......1.........0
Total unsecured debts..........42127.....13........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 836
Expenses (including secured debts)...... 875.27
Available for debt repayments........... -39.27
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 13
Amount short for making debt repayments. -52.27
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total Secured debt...................... -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -42,127
Net Assets.............................. -42,127
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission.

Can't cope any longer

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