Was I misadvised and can I do anything about it??

lallyaya

Firstly thanks to all, this site has been a lifesaver - I can actually see light at the end of the tunnel. :j

I got in to debt when I was in an abusive relationship and suffering depression - although I take responsibility for my actions regardless.

When I moved into the shared house from hell my flatmate fles the nest leaving substantial unpaid bills that I was told pay up or get CCJ's by all the unhelpful providers (not lenders this was shared bills). I spoke to my bank twice during this time and each time I was encouraged to increase my debt.

Now I had heard about CCCS but didn't know much about them, I explained my problems to my bank and asked if CCCS were a good idea, on both occasions I was told in no uncertain terms NO, why speak to them when you can speak to us? They knew I had numerous debtors and my finances were in bad shape - I was struggling to keep my head above water and was mainly hammered by the banks charges.

If I knew then what I knew now I would have gone to CCCS in a flash. I estimate that my bank have cost me several thousand and a great deal of stress. They scared me off places like CCCS. :eek:

Now I know more, but feel aggreived :mad: , my bank scared me, but if I had gone I would have been far better off. I feel that this advice is a breach of the banking code and that their actions were irresponsible , the same bank also gave me over a years salary in unsecured debt - and offered me £5K more - thats not responsible, what I asked for was to keep my current level of debt and pay off the excess overdraft at £50 a month till I was in the clear - they kept saying are you sure that will be enough!! I had no defaults at the time yet incurred them because I was in so much trouble.

If I had gone to CCCS at the beginning I would have incurred defaults but they would have been a year further behind. I've worked hard and am damn near killing myself but am dragging myself out - on average I work 87 hours a week in two jobs.

I'd love your opinions, and also what can I do about it, I have a strong feeling that the advice I was given won't be on the notes so its my word against the banks but I feel strongly about this. I feel they encouraged me to borrow more rather than taking a cheaper and more sensible route because they knew that I was a sucker who would always do her best to pay up.




Lally
-X-

This is my first time using smilies - i'm getting there!

headchef

I missed this thread (and so have others by the look of it!). I think you need some proper legal advice because I can only guess. But then solicitors may only be interested if you are going to sue and I don't think that is what you are getting at - more of a acknowledgement that they were self serving and underhand. Some people could say 'you could have found out yourself' but I can understand why you didn't - all of us have shrunk away from contacting someone like CCCS until forced to. It's all to do with the stigma of debt and not wanting to cross that great barrier of being un creditworthy. Of course - once we've taken the plunge we all think 'if only I'd done this before'. Not much help but someone else might have some ideas...