Advice please- I'm really worried

wonderemxx

Hi all,

My ex boyfriend got me into debt a couple years back. It was the first time anything like this had ever happened to me. I was only 19- no excuse i no! Fast forward to now (im 21 now). I had a letter from 1st Credit about my outstanding balance with Lloyds of around £2200. I have only recently been made aware of the debt, so i asked the woman if i could set up instalmets. I explained that i am being made redundant at the end of the month. she asked if i could pay it with my redundancy money, i explained that because i have only had this job for around 9 months i am not getting any redundancy. She was so rude to me. She said it basically wasnt her problem and i should have paid the debt before. I was only 19 and thought if i ignored it, it would go away. Anyway she said that i am not allowed to set up instalments, i can only either pay in full or be taken to court. She wouldnt let me get a word in edge ways. When i finally explained how i didnt have that sort of money she said "well we will have to advise that Lloyds take you to court. In short she put so much pressure on me that she made me leave a deposit and told me i had to call back in a weeks time with the payment. I just dont no what to do. It feels like i have faced up to the debt but nobody will help me!!! I cant ask my friends to lend me the money because they are at uni and in debt themselves and i dont want to worry my mum as my stepdad is in intensive care with a paralysed diaphram and cancer. I just feel like everything is against me!!! Im in desperate need of help and advice!!!

laineyc_2

I am afraid I have no advice but wanted to let you know that I am sure there will be someone around soon who can help you.

RAS

Hi
Love got to run but contact one of the debt charities

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

1st Crudit are well known for being absolute S.................

bargainbetty

Write back to them explaining your circumstances and enclosing a token payment of £1. Offer a monthly payment that you can afford (£10 or so) and include a statement of affairs explaining your reduced income. Request that the interest is frozen on the account, so the debt does not increase faster than you can pay it off.

Explain that once you find regular employment again, you will increase the payment accordingly (and do so, when you find some).

Tell them you cannot afford more, and that the threatening behaviour of the staff member who called you was offensive and upsetting. State that all further communications must be in writing, and that any further phonecalls will be deemed harrassment under the terms of Harrassment Act and will be referred to the police.

Even if they take you to court, once you have offered to make reasonable payment the worst the judge can do is reinforce it - prove to them you can't afford more, and they can't take more.

Chin up love, it took me a lot longer than 21 years to have my lightbulb moment : )

Good luck x

debtlady

Hi Wonderemxx

Have a look at the First Credit thread. It's really useful.

Chin up

Here's a link
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1134207

Deep_In_Debt

I would suggest not speaking to these people on the phone. 1st Crudit are the biggest bunch of bullies that you could come across, just search this forum and you find that out.

Don't panic. I've had dealings with the lovely 1st Crudit too. They do accept instalments eventually but you will find that you will go round in circles with them for a while. I wrote to them with a payment offer and sent them my income and expenditure and paid them what I could afford each month by Standing Order (not direct debit as they can have control over how much they take). They say they don't deal in writing - well, they can't bully you by letter but they can on the phone which is why I keep everything strictly in writing. For the last few months, they've been quiet (although it's taken 6 months to get there!) and accepting my payments but I'm expecting it all to kick off again soon so I will just continue where I've left off with them. Just ignore their calls.

There are some good letters on the National Debtline website that you could use asking them to freeze interest and offering them an amount you can afford - just amend it to your circumstances. Send all letters recorded delivery as they will deny receiving them otherwise.

Good luck and keep posting on here.

Peekay32

wonderemxx wrote: »

Anyway she said that i am not allowed to set up instalments, i can only either pay in full or be taken to court.

This is complete b*llocks (but in all fairness you weren't to know that). If you're taken to court the judge will set instalments at a fair amount according to your income and expenditure. People who say stuff like this are scum and deserve to be sued themselves. Unfortunately they know how to line-step.

Ossireo

As everyone has already said hun its just pure bullying tactics. I even have the same BS from HSBC! You just need to remember they dont care about your circs, they are most likely being paid commission based on what money they can force you to pay and they dont care where it comes from. Dont deal with them by telephone, if you dont have caller ID just leave the phone ring and 1471 after to see if you need to call back a friend or family.

wonderemxx

Thanks everyone. After leaving a £50 deposit to hold the account for 7 days, the girl said they would automatically try and take the remaining £2200- can they do this?? Sorry if im a bit niave on this!!

stapeley

Never ever give card details to these people . I strongly suggest you cancel this payment and get a new card . Is the debt with the same people you bank with ? There have been cases where unauthorised payments have been taken . So please if you need to pay for things before you get your new bank card take some cash out now and cancel the old one .

wonderemxx

Thanks- no my devt is with Lloyds and my account/card is Barclays.