Debt is ruining my life....

Lillyella_2

Sorry to hear about your problems.
Please go to the Citizens Advice bureau, I know they won't be able to help with problems getting into the Police Force, but they will be able to stop the hassle with some of your creditors who seem to be pushing their luck. It is illegal for a credit company to apply this amount of pressure or harrassment.
believe me, I know what I am talking about, I am in much more debt than you are and the CAB have helped me no end with negotiating on my behalf to get interest stopped, in fact they have been fantastic in taking the presssure of me.

I know how awkward being in debt is when you are trying to get a new career, I temped at a Banking Institution for months and although I was offered a perm job, I couldn't take it as I know I would have been credit checked and that could have been really embarassing for me, so I lost out.

Re Catalogue debt, I assume you have read about sending off for your Credit agreement? well, why not give that a try?, doesn't matter who the debts been passed on to, you are still entitled to your signed copy and if they can't send you it, how can they pursue you for it!!!

Good luck, I hope things get better for you.

homersimpson_3

the list of incomings and outgoings is not detailed enough-
1. what is apr on loan from hsbc- look on statement or original agreement you signed with them. if you can't find it ring them up and ask.
2. did you return a signed copy of credit agreement to grattan- catalogue company.
3. how much are net wages (i.e. actual amount you take home). look on payslip. if you can't find payslip check bank statment to find out how much was paid into account by employer. if you can't find this ask bank or employer.
4. please confirm how much you pay for insurance, gas, electricity, telephone, mobile, tv, sky/ntl, council tax, food, clothes, children's activities, car, petrol, water rates, bus fares , tv licence, savings etc. use martin's budget planner - it lists most of the items. if you don't know find out. who are your providers? (e.g. bt, ntl, british gas or whatever)
5. how many children - are you buying nappies? if so how much do you spend?
6. child care costs?
7. whilst this forum is good i agree with other people you should seek professional advice from cab. if one of companies is requesting statement of account just saying i have just over 850 (from wages and benefits) and pay rent and council tax is not enough. preparing statement of account will show you where you can cut down and be the first step to taking control- the fact you don't know how much apr is on one of the largest debts suggests a lack of control. sorry it's sounds harsh but if people are to suggest things they need information.

jennifuffle

good point homer. point taken, noted and will update tomoro. new job see so waiting on exact figures on rent and c tax and wages.
Thank you for the imput

$17mma

re: Your water bill rates. did you realise that they have a hardship fund to help people in your situation? you will have to enquire at your local CAB and they will be able to provide you with a form to complete.

Basically you have to list your in and out goings and state good reasons why their help will make a difference to your current and future financial situation.

They will then assess your application and pay off all or some of any arears that you have on your water rates. They will then access your situation and arrange payments that you can afford for a period of time without cutting your water allowance.

Also consider getting a water meter ( think that is what it is) I believe that this way you only pay for what you use.

Dont give up hope... things will soon get easier. Take each day at a time and you will get through it.

Quasar

black-saturn wrote:

I was unaware that some job applications require a credit check. I think that's so unfair. How does the state of your finances affect your work?

Some institutions such as financial ones, police etc. are very sensitive to potential "classified information selling" and employers want to do all they can to avoid taking on someone who "needs the money badly" no matter in what capacity. No, it's not paranoid, it's actually quite reasonable.

I'm not suggesting for a moment that jennifuffle would be a risk to them, but the rules are the rules and they would also apply to you and me.

jennifuffle

Yes Quasar,
They think that debt problems could lead to you being suceptable to accepting bribes and all that!

lush_walrus

I cant help with advising on your debts, but with regards to the Police have you thought of applying for the community officers and office based civilian jobs? Although it isnt directly what you want to do, it will give you a partial insight, and help you get through the application process when you do come to applying. I probably havent got the actual job positions names correct but they are something like that. A friend of mine did that a few years ago to help them get into the Met, as at the time they were told that due to a drive to recrute ethnic minorities they would be on a long waiting period so they did that in the meantime.