Newbie to Debt-Free Wannabe... All help or advice welcome

d_brat81

jacobia wrote: »

Is your car on finance? Have you looked into the difference between selling the car and surrendering it to the finance company. Look at the terms and conditions of the finance and consider is it worth handing that car back to the finance company ( it will depend on how far through the term you have paid up ) and that may free up the £140 per month for a more economical car. It seems a bit drastic but I did it myself with a car I was trying to sell and I was offerred £4000 but I owed £4700 on the finance company. I contacted them and within a week the car had gone and the remaining finance with it at no charge. Just a thought.

Yes it is on finance, last month was a year since we've had the agreement.

How long were you in you agreement when you contacted them?

Thank you for the advice.

With regards to my previous post... any suggestions or ideas please?

jacobia

Hi, sorry for the delayed reply. I think I was greater than half way through which may be the key to being able to hand it back to the finance company. Have you had any good fortune this past couple of weeks?

d_brat81

jacobia wrote: »

Hi, sorry for the delayed reply. I think I was greater than half way through which may be the key to being able to hand it back to the finance company. Have you had any good fortune this past couple of weeks?

Thank you for replying. Its only 1 year into the contract so I doubt it very much but will try all the same.

No good fortune... just more stress and hassle. One semi good thing is that MBNA has agreed to write off 6556 from a 10000+ debt if we pay 88 a month and 3600 at the end of 5 months. My aunt has offered to give us the money at the end of the 5 months so thats one sorted.

British Gas has sent us a yearly bill of 344 when it was supposed to be billed quarterly... I have tried to explain that we signed up for quarterly billing but they are not having any of it. I also tried to work out a payment plan with them but they want 95 upfront!!

I have just received a letter stating that on 15 September they are coming to disconnect the gas and they are going to charge 50 for it and that they are adding 14 for having to write to me. They are also threatening legal warrant to enter the property...

I have written to them 4 times now and they are ignoring my letters.

I am not coping at all this extra stress is making me more depressed..

d_brat81

Well Dh and I have finally split because I couldn't handle the stress of dealing with him not dealing with things and leaving me to carry the burden on my own!!

Had a letter through from Lloyds regarding the 17, 000 loan. They are asking for property value, place of work, telephone number etc as well as wanting to know some monthly outgoings they have listed and how much are we proposing to pay them a month...

Anyone had anything like this??

oxondaemonfeurer

hon, I feel for you. It sounds like you've been practically single in terms of this anyway but its still awful when you split from someone.

I hope you've managed to sort out the gas etc...

d_brat81

matureoxstudent wrote: »

hon, I feel for you. It sounds like you've been practically single in terms of this anyway but its still awful when you split from someone.

I hope you've managed to sort out the gas etc...

British Gas are not accepting anything less than 95 a month which obviously is impossible... However, I have set up a standing order and paying them 20 monthly.

I have now told them that my husband an I are separated and therefore they would need to close his account and send him a payment card and open a new account in my name... They said they cannot do this until he writes... so I have typed a letter for him to post off

It is going to put an extra financial strain now that he would be renting his own place and paying his own bills:(

d_brat81

jacobia wrote: »

Is your car on finance? Have you looked into the difference between selling the car and surrendering it to the finance company. Look at the terms and conditions of the finance and consider is it worth handing that car back to the finance company ( it will depend on how far through the term you have paid up ) and that may free up the £140 per month for a more economical car. It seems a bit drastic but I did it myself with a car I was trying to sell and I was offerred £4000 but I owed £4700 on the finance company. I contacted them and within a week the car had gone and the remaining finance with it at no charge. Just a thought.

I have just found the car documents and its actually a HIRE PURCHASE and not FINANCE I am sooo mad because I told dh to make sure its finance and in no uncertain terms to agree to a HP but I was away at the time and thats the result....

August 25 was a year since the agreement was made so I guess there is nothing much that can be done outside of handing back the car....

RAS

Hi

have you explained to the creditors that you have PND? They should not pursue a vunerable debtor - OFT guidelines for debt collection.

Have you asked for the single person's council tax reduction, working tax credit and child tax credit, see www.entitledto.com.

Please get help for a debt charity ASAP and ask them to deal with your creditors.

oxondaemonfeurer

don't forget to contact the tax credits people, as a single person you may get more money....
I'm sorry, I haven't read through all your posts - do you have kids? If so, the tax credits will be a bit higher and don't forget to apply for as many other benefits as you can - it may be worth it - including housing benefit and if you are the only adult in the property you should also get 25% discount on the council tax... not much but every penny helps...
I remember when I split from my ex a few years back it took me a month or so but with the help of this site and endless googling I managed to ensure that I got all the income I needed and then became really tight with the expenses at home, after all its up to you if you can't be bothered to cook a full meal and just want cornflakes for dinner! Its hard but you'll be amazed how much you'll be able to save - I'm in the reverse now with a new hubby but I'm trying to follow sss's advice and train him up!

Keep going!:j

d_brat81

RAS wrote: »

Hi

have you explained to the creditors that you have PND? They should not pursue a vunerable debtor - OFT guidelines for debt collection.

Have you asked for the single person's council tax reduction, working tax credit and child tax credit, see www.entitledto.com.

Please get help for a debt charity ASAP and ask them to deal with your creditors.

They know that its the main reason for financial difficulty my PND but I guess that since the debts are in DH name and not mine they overlook it?

I would check out the site thank you.

Do I just google Debt Charity?