hopeless

alvyda.g

Hello everyone
my story will be probably a long and probably not a first one. In 2005- 2006 I was ahppy debt free person everything changed when I left my job in 2007 to have my baby. Since then seems that everything just keep going down. My partner had his own serious debts he even thought to go bancrupt, but then he took another way of IVA. He is self employed and unfortunately our income not only quite small,but also it comes not every month. I noticed that all of the sudden I do not have enough to meet my credit card payments,but also that my regular account keep growing overdraft as well as charges keeps growing strting from 25£to 75£ at once. All my maternity pay went to regular account and obviously it would just disapear. Now i counted that HSBC charged me nearly 1000£. I wrote them a letter a year agoasking for charges back,but got a responce that its all legal and me is wrong. I gave up to write again just to the fact that saw on the news that banks are winning about charges so i still don't know am I right or not. Since then this account was passed to debt collectors as our life got just worse. My partner found IVA companies extremely slow barely helpfull. They kept taking his money,but credotors just kept chasing him. I came back from my maternity leave to work and I was asked to leave as I was not flexible enough. We lost the only one regular income. I have another regular account with Nat west so at least i do not have overdraft for now...Our financial situation its just getting worse. My partner just had to close his buisness as with this financial climate made his buisness immposible. He has been aplying for jobs,but he already had response that some of the positions are freezed. we both desperate.We living so badly that somedays we know we might not have food on the table. I feel sorry for my child what i'm gonna give to her in month time,what Christmas we will have? Neither me neither my partner are not able to scrape a penny fot debt collectors. What will happen tomorow? We already had bailiff coming for a council tax,we made an agreement,but we failed to pay again. I just don't know how to crawl out of this hole. Waht to do. I got a job,but its with NHS and probably will not start till after holiday season its part time too so it won't be a lot that i bring. We both are so tired so upset its hard to live on when you do not see the way out

Buffythedebtslayer

Its not hopeless,

It is never hopeless do you hear me?

Its late and you are frightened but I promise you it won't always be like this.

You need to ring the CCCS tomorrow. they will help you.

I'll find you the numbers in a minute.

You must know from reading here you aren't alone. it will change hon, I promise.

I 'll be back in a sec
xxxxx

Buffythedebtslayer

Consumer Credit Counselling Service (aka CCCS)
Wade House
Merrion Centre
Leeds
LS2 8NG
Tel: 0800 138 1111
http://www.cccs.co.uk/

Payplan
Kempton House
Dysart Road
Grantham
Lincolnshire
NG31 7LE
Tel: 0800 917 7823
http://www.payplan.com/

Citizens Advice Bureau (aka CAB)
http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Addresses websites telephone numbers, they are very helpful

you need to make a list of your debts, all of them

the CCCS will advise you, it sounds like your fella had a fee paying company before- AVOID them completely they are parasites.

I have to go to sleep now, but I will be back tomorrow night to check on how you are doing.

So tomorrow, you list your debts scary but must be done, you phone the CCCS or pay plan,

then you find out what benefits you are entitled, try entitledto.co.uk

Its a lot for one day but it will make you feel better. Honestly I know its scary but you will feel better each little thing you do will help you feel more in control xxxxx

RosaBernicia

Hi alvyda.g

Buffy is right, things are never hopeless and you are in the right place now. Please do call one of the advice services Buffy has listed as soon as you can, they will be able to help.

Also there are good things about working for the NHS (honest), congratulations on your new job and I hope you enjoy it when you start.

Sending you a hug and I will also be looking out for you to see how you're doing.

Rosa xx

10past6

There are many, many people in the same situation as yourself, remember that, you're not alone, the difference being, you've found a safety net within this site, many, many others are not aware this site exists.

Now, take a deep breath, and take everything one step at a time.

a) Call National debt line for advice re the bailiffs attending, this is YOUR FIRST PRIORITY

b) Call one of the debt charities to see what help / assistance they can offer re your other debts.

c) Go to “reclaiming Bank Charges” on this site and explain what's happened with trying to claim back your charges.

Use the link within my signature to contact National Debt line & other debt charities.

The members on this site will give you as much help / advice / support as you require, continue to post.

So_Sad_Angel

Hi & welcome.

Please do not feel the situation is hopeless. You have posted here a cry for help & you will get as much support as you need. Ring the debt charities tomorrow (numbers on toolbar at top of screen) get a large cuppa tea / coffee & start talking the situation through. Whatever the situation..as Martin always says....there is always a solution!!!

I wish you well...

Take care Honey & lots of <<<hugs>>>

Angiexx

(ps .I am from the BR board....even though I`m not BR myself .. I am affected by it !!! if you need us then just post!!)

kittyscarlett

I don't have anything practical to add here only the reassurance that you are not alone. I know how frightening and hopeless things can seem when you feel you are sinking under debts and no place to go, well, welcome home, you will find lots of friendly support and advice from people here who have been through the same thing. Keep reading and keep posting.

You will get through this. I became debt free the other day after over 4 years of solidly working to get nearly 9 grands worth of debt shifted. Me, all on my own, I did it. So can you and your partner.

chevalier

You are never alone on this site.

here goes
1) As others have said your absolute priority TODAY is to talk to National Debtline about the bailiff attending due to non payment of council tax. You can still, even at this late stage. go to the council (in person) and ask for them to take the debt back, and make A REALISTIC repayment offer.

2) These are your priority debts
Mortgage/rent
Any debty secured on your property
Council Tax
Electricity/Gas
Water
Phone

ANY OTHER DEBT IS NOT A PRIORITY. They can't make you go to prison, for example.

Therefore when you talk to National Debtline about the bailiffs coming, look on their website for template letters to send to your creditors.

So whilst you are sorting out your finances you send them a letter with a £1 in it saying you are experiencing financial difficulties and are seeking advice. You enclose the £1 as a token payment and that you will contact them soon.

c) If your baby is young DON'T BE SUCKED IN BY CHRISTMAS. A young child will quite happily play with a box decorated with pretty paper and tinsel, as they will with the toy inside it. THEY ALSO don't know if a toy is bought from Argos new, from a charity shop/ebay gently used, or from www.freecycle.org for free (you have to sign up but that is free too). So don't think you have to spend £100's on her YOU DON'T.

d) Is there any family you can front up to about your debt and ask them to pay the council tax for you? That is probably the debt that is frightening you the most at the moment, and it would be a great weight off your mind.

e) Ref working. Try something radical. How about hubby staying at home and looking after your child and you asking to go full time in your new job? Or getting a second job so that you are effectively doing full time hours? If he can't get a job then may be this is the way to go. By the way has he tried everywhere? Ie Royal Mail for postie work. Anything manual up until Christmas. Even with the credit crunch there will be some xmas recruitment.

Don't forget that you can push to start before xmas, ie show you are keen. As long as you are doing more than 16 hours a week you can then claim working families tax credits to help out.

If you are both not working now, are you both claiming JSA, council tax benefit, housing benefit. Surely you are entitled to something of these beneifts.

F) I know that you will not have the energy initially now to deal with this. But being asked to leave because you are not flexible enough BECAUSE YOU HAVE A BABY, could well be called constructive dismissal, ie they shouldn't have done it, and so COULD OWE YOU MONEY. Have a look at ACAS website when you have a moment, as they may be able to help you fight this.

G) Yes i know this has gone on a LONG while, and you are probably falling back to sleep by now. But finally please post up a Statement of Affairs on here, if you go to www.makesenseofcards.com I think it is you can fill it in there and then format it for this website and we will help you see if there are cut backs you can make.

IT IS NEVER HOPELESS. If the worst comes to worst you go bankrupt.

best of luck
chev

alvyda.g

i THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR GOOD ADVISE AND SUPPORT! I will take on board all of it. My partner already srtarted to write some letters for creditors while I am looking after little one and we wil ring to Job Center too. You see we were waiting till friday,because My partner was so expecting to get position, only yesterday he foud out it was frozen. I probably cannot do full time at the moment for a simple reason,because I am getting all psychological and mental support with my depression and this time i really want to sort it out. I still do not feel anything can realisticly help us due to the fact that we both gonna be now on benefits and (as we tried already) none of IVA bothers with us. It is scary. We will try to ring to national debt line about bailff hopefully they can give us advise. We have been to CAB still waiting for a second appointment,but its no fun to wait when creditors and bills are not waiting. I found out yesterday about CCCS we will try and ring them. I did try to get advise about my ex job,but in CAB they said that because they claim that i resighed i will not prove otherwise even if i never signen anything and my last formal letter says that i feel like I will be forsed to leave. I wasn't clever at that time and I haven't recorded what my matron was actually saying in my face so not a lot I can do. I am so glad for all these people who managed to become debt free I hope we will be one of you one day but a the moment the future looks very bleak

Honky_tonk

Hi Alvyda,

I shall begin with my standard phrase "I'm no fiscal whizz"

However lots of folks on here are really, really clued up. I struggle with the stressful side of debt too(and I am a rough, tough cowboy:rotfl:) but I can safely say that this site and its inhabitants can literally save your mind! :A

Even if you only take half the advice/support offered then you'll feel loads better and, dare I say it, slightly in control of the situation!

Keep your chin up.

HT

Buffythedebtslayer

Hey hon, glad your second post sounds more positive and you are getting out there and doing stuff.

The cccs people will help you.

I will be popping back again tomorrow let us know how it is going ok

(((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))

xxx