Sinking Fast And Dont Know What To Do

Kandipandi

Hi, dont fret is the first thing. I would contact CCCS after dealing with the CAB, they can help you get token payments out to your creditors to keep them off your back. You may be able to transfer to interest only payments on the mortgage until you get back into work, try speaking to your lender. In the meantime you need to get in touch with jobcentre for help and advice re money whilst looking for a job. Is it worth you looking for work in another type of profession (e.g. unskilled) just to get some cash coming in. As for access to your child, i would seek advice and whilst you are not earning you may get assistance (legal aid?) to deal with a solicitor to get 'proper' access sorted for you and your child. Good luck and dont give up, there is loads of help out there.

milliemonster

Blackclouds, firstly welcome to the board, the first thing you need to do before you worry about your debts is sort your income out, I appreciate you have been applying for loads of jobs and nothing is coming up but you MUST get down the job centre and sort some benefits out in the meantime, you cannot survive with no income at all and our benefit system is there to help, so get down the job centre without delay!

Next, have a look at other jobs in the meantime, even things like working in a pub, shops, cleaning, anything that is going to bring something into your household to put you on until you can find the job you really want.

Work out your priority bills that HAVE to be paid, mortgage, council tax, utilities, is there any chance you could take a mortgage payment break at the moment to give you a bit of breathing space?, if you don't pay these bills at least you will not have a home to sell!

contact cccs/payplan to discuss setting up a payment plan for the rest of your creditors, at the moment they will be unable to help you if you have no income so you need to get that sorted first

I know you feel you have no fight in you but you have to take control of this situation NOW otherwise it will only get worse

good luck xx

blackclouds

Update time ......

Went to CAB earlier and was told as I have no income they cannot help me in any way at the moment and I need to make a claim for benefits. Asked them what would happen then and they say that even if I was to get JSA due to my income being so low it is unlikely that they will be able to make agreements with my creditors.

Came home had a good cry to clear the system (blooming alsmost 33 y/o man crying into his coffee, not a good look :rolleyes:) and then got on the phone to Jobcentre Plus New Benefits Claim Line and spoke to a really nice guy who took me through it all and I qualify for Income Based JSA and council tax benefit, as far as I can see JSA is the princely sum of £60.50 per week.

I have my interview at job centre on Thursday, which happens to be my birthday - what a lovely present, doubt if I'll get a cake :rolleyes:

So other than qualifying for JSA I am no further forward, still no way of paying debts yet but at least I have done what I have been too embarassed to do for last 6 months and signed on.

My job search has been varied and I spend one day applying for jobs I want, am capable of and pay reasonably, the next day I apply for anything that is going, write on spec letters etc. Right now I would take any job regardless of the pay but as I see my wee ine every Sunday and cannot work this a lot of the lower paid jobs are out. My wee one is the only reason I carry on so just need to keep plugging away.

This is all so frustrating and soul destroying, even CAB and Benefits guy say I am in a catch 22 situation. Anyone got any ideas ??????????

Horace

Sorry that the CAB weren't any good. The jobcentre can be helpful, JSA is only £60.50 a week but its better than nothing. Get in touch with your local council too (don't rely on the jobcentre) to claim council tax benefit, I don't know if you will be able to get a payment towards your mortgage so ask anyway.

Good luck and keep posting as the folks on here are supportive and are mines of useful information.

MissShoes

Just wanted to pop in and say hi and keep your chin up. I'm sure lots of people on here have lots of useful advice, much more than a newbie like me, but wanted to let you know you aren't alone!

Good luck :beer:

Bismarck

hi...just a quick welcome from me and a suggestion that you pop over to the employment and jobseeking board as there are some great minds on there including some manager/HR/recruitment agency types who really know their stuff.

Have a little faith in yourself...you will come out of this and you're not the first male to shed a tear when it looks a bit hopeless.

blackclouds

Good to know there are people out there that care, means a lot when times are hard ....

Sarahsaver

If your income is below a certain level you can get working tax credit.
My hubby is in recruitment, what area of the country are you in and do you have any science qualifications!!! PM me if you want. good luck.

Sarahsaver

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/index.htm

have a look at that site;)
BTW if your access is sorted through the courts she cannot just change things like that, but hard as it is try and deal with one issue at a time.

Tosh1

Blackclouds,

Can I be nosy and ask what self-employed business you're in and how long you've been doing it?

You can private message me if you want.

But what I'm really getting at is, credit crunch or not, if you put in the effort and market yourself the best way you can, funds allowing, it's just a game of numbers and you will succeed.

Why has your business failed?