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…

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 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 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…

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some guidance on my debt options because I’m getting conflicting advice and I’m feeling overwhelmed. My situation: I’m a shared ownership homeowner with a mortgage and rent (50%) No dependants Single household Full‑time employment Recently assessed by PayPlan They said I have £56.32 surplus per…

Hello everyone, I have been loitering for a few months - gathering knowledge/reassurances regarding dealing with our personal debt and the different ways to manage it. Firstly, thank you - the guidance I have read so far has really calmed my worries after years of just about managing to pay minimum payments but then using…

Sorry for jangled info its a bit complicated so will bullet points. -Got a letter saying I owed money to a leccy company (that I am not with) -Used a template (from these forums) to email the law firm people thingy asking for proof -Emailed me back saying they had no evidence of my complaint. -2 weeks later got 3 emails…

I'm at the beginning of the journey and still weighing up options. I wonder if people who have been through this before would mind answering some questions as I don't know anybody in real life who has been through this. How long did your DMP take beginning to end roughly? Did you put in affordability complaints and if so…

Hi all - I am finally facing my debts head on and want to take meaningful action. I'm at my breaking point, my mental health is suffering and I have never felt anxiety or stress like this before. I'm looking for some advice on what the best option is for me. I have completed a SOA which is showing a monthly deficit - will…

Hi All, I've just found out about a debt (small amount) of my partner's (over 20 years old) and has been passed from one company to another. I thought that he'd been paying £1/£2 nominal amounts on all and we have addressed the others (paid of or stopped paying when no CCA could be produced). This seems to originate from…

Hi all, Bit of a two pronged question here. I accrued a number of debts in 2024 and followed this forum's advice to let them all default. I have been ignoring all attempts at contact in the hope of riding it out for more agreeable settlement offers or making it to statute barred status. One of the larger debts (approx…

Hi, I recently sent a CCA request to Advantis who are acting on behalf of Next. I’ve received this reply so I presume I do nothing until I get any further correspondence, is that correct? I’ve had the account since 1996, so whilst it is a long time, it is still with the original creditor. Sorry, I can’t seem to rotate the…

Actually asking for a family member. They are a blank slate to all lenders. They have not had a credit card ever. No loans or a mortgage in well over a decade. Where do I start with trying to get them on the ladder to a credit card? My thought process so far is to use alternative payments? They have a mobile phone contract…