Newbie who needs help please

Deb2008

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1375
Benefits................................ 272.20
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1647.20

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 475
Secured loan repayments................. 315
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 105 ( includes arrears )
Electricity............................. 30
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 24
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 37 For 2
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 43 and includes phone and internet as a package.
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. .........................180 ( Including animal foods )
Clothing................................ 40 includes hair cuts
Petrol/diesel........................... 35
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 50
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
Hire purchase vehicle................... 104 Up to date
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings and contents insurance..................... 33
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1538

Unsecured Debts
Yorkshire Bank Credit Card......£411
Argos Credit Card...............£1166
B & Q Store Card................£443
Homebase Store Card.............£656
Abbey Credit Card...............£1516
Cap 1 Credit Card...............£175
Marbles Credit Card.............£937
Accessory Credit Card...........£3650
Sky Credit Card.................£644
Littlewoods Catalogue...........£3440
Yorkshire Bank Loan.............£14721 Taken in 2005
Argos Store Card................£515
Fashion World Catalogue.........£835
Total unsecured Debts..........29109

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1647.20
Expenses (including secured debts)....... 1538
Available for debt repayments........... 109.20



Ok here we go – have been in touch with National Debt Line for the past few days – there are a number of questions I am hoping you can help me with.
1. Our mortgage is due on the 28th of each month – in October of this year we just didn’t have enough money in the bank to cover it – hubby rang them and was told to cancel the direct debit and pay on the 13th of November when we would have enough to pay over the phone but to set the direct debit back up for the 28th of November to continue payments – we just cannot do this – we asked if we could set it up for the 12th and carry on but was told no – there is only 2 weeks between payments but as its another month we would be a month behind on payments. We have never missed in the 6 years we have owned the house nor do we plan on doing so again – they don’t do payment holidays – the company is Leeds Building Society – how can we move the payment date to the 12th – can we offer say £2 per month to repay the month we would be behind??? Please help with suggestions on what we can do as we have been told today we have till the 5th of December to make the arrangement.
2. Council Tax – we have fallen behind a few times this year on tax – we were told by National Debt Line to phone and arrange a payment scheme but as we have failed before they wont do it and we today found out they have sent an attachment of earnings to head office of where hubby works, problem being that he works for a franchise of that office and basically the letter will not reach who it needs to reach –hubby asked the Council tax office if they could take a payment over the phone to lesson the debt while it was being sorted – they told him no you will have to wait for the bailiffs to come once we cannot get an attachment of earnings – we don’t know how long this takes but don’t want a bailiff to come calling so adding extra debt onto what we already owe. Do we just pay online? I have calculated how much we would need to pay for the next 4 months to catch up ready for the next bill and have added that to what I pay out an the above soa. If we pay each month online and lesson the debt will this help any with the attachment of earning and bailiffs? If they take a few months to sort this out we would have paid half of the debt off.
3. Now the next is a bit of a shock to me – hubby rang National Debt line tonight to see how to get the ball rolling on a DMP – he was told that our housekeeping bill is too low and that a DM Company wont touch us unless we pay out £270 per month on housekeeping – I pay £180 for the 3 of us and that more than fairly feeds us all. Infact some months I can spend less when buying deals and offers etc……the problem is this – if we up the housekeeping to what they are wanting us to it actually only leaves £19.20 to pay all of the debt off. Thus they wont set one up. Anyone else had this problem with a DMP? Any tips or ideas as to what we could do next please.
I know this is my first post concerning my debts but I have been reading the forums for a long while now and had it all ready to start – now we face not being able to go on a DMP and trying to sort it all out ourselves – for months we have had calls upon calls – the silent ones etc…..letter after letter – I really don’t think I can face dealing with them all again – nothing you offer is ever good enough regardless of what you tell them!!!!
Help please – and nice to meet you all although not under the best of ways :beer:

terri72

I just wanted to say to say hello and well done :T for posting your SOF. I am only starting on my debt free journey, so don't have the knowledge to answer your questions but I'm sure there will be loads of people around tomorrow (or rather later today) to help.

Have you had a look at the CCCS website? They have a on-line debt remedy service that you may find useful.

I'm surprise that you've been told that you don't qualify for a DMP as you're not paying £270 on housekeeping. I pay less than that and am on a DMP with Payplan. Maybe it might be worth having a chat with CCCS or Payplan to see what they think.

elsie52

Hi,

First of all, well done for taking the first step and posting on this board......We started a DMP in March of this year, and touch wood, things are going okay. Its very scary starting out, but once you are going things get better, an at least you can sleep at night. We are with payplan, and there are just 2 of us in our household, but Payplan gave us a budget of £320 a month for food. I don't use anywhere near that, so it gives me a bit extra to sneak away for xmas and unexpected things. I am afraid that I don't know enough to help you, but someone with a lot more knowledge than me will read your message. Good luck, with everything...

Deb2008

Thankyou - I took my head out of the sand and posted - I just wish we were paying it now - at least I could sleep at night and at least know I am paying the debts no matter how small the figure it comes down by each month.
Look forward to more replies :T

monitorsit

just wanted to say we are all here for you and to wish you all success. As elsie says you have taken the most difficult step which is the first one and once you start getting to grips with your debts it turns from being something that keeps you awake and in tears to something that gives you pride and enjoyment as you see the debt slowly start to come down. Good luck.

monitorsit

also a lot of people on here suggest you talk with the citizens advice people, they would be able to advise on things like the 270 housekeeping and advise on the best way of doing the DMP. it is free so why not!

insider66

Hi there,

If the dmp company say you need that amount for groceries, let them put that in, if you feel you can afford 100 per month, then take the appropriate amount off the mortgage or secured loan payments - they will not ask you to prove these figures.

Deb2008

Some head way made:j

Mortgage company will put our mortgage on a 6 months interest free payment then after 6 month we will actually be just over a payment ahead :j Still paying what we normally pay each month - we can then put our direct debit to the 12th of Each month and carry on without any further problems.

Council tax have finaly agreed to us paying each month what we owe, offering to set up a direct debit - the attatchment of earnings form came back from head office and they had on the system to send another to the office he works at - but that has been taken off the system now as a DD has been put in place.....YES!!!!! 2 good results today :T
Now just to takle the DMP We are looking at phoning Payplan to see if they can help us....
Thankyou all for your kind words - it actually does make a difference knowing there are people on here who understand what you are feeling and going through. :beer:

urg123

Deb2008 wrote: »

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet

Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 1375
Benefits................................ 272.20
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1647.20

Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 475 Can you go interest only?
Secured loan repayments................. 315
Rent.................................... 0
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 105 ( includes arrears )
Electricity............................. 30
Gas..................................... 30
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 24
Telephone (land line)................... 0
Mobile phone............................ 37 For 2
TV Licence.............................. 12
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 43 and includes phone and internet as a package. Go down to the cheapest package you can for the moment.
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. .........................180 ( Including animal foods ) See if this can be shaved a little more. HAve a look at the O/S board.
Clothing................................ 40 includes hair cuts You need to cut this out as much as possible for now.
Petrol/diesel........................... 35
Road tax................................ 15
Car Insurance........................... 50
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 10
Hire purchase vehicle................... 104 Up to date
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 0
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 0
Buildings and contents insurance..................... 33
Life assurance ......................... 0
Other insurance......................... 0
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1538

Unsecured Debts
Yorkshire Bank Credit Card......£411
Argos Credit Card...............£1166
B & Q Store Card................£443
Homebase Store Card.............£656
Abbey Credit Card...............£1516
Cap 1 Credit Card...............£175
Marbles Credit Card.............£937
Accessory Credit Card...........£3650
Sky Credit Card.................£644
Littlewoods Catalogue...........£3440
Yorkshire Bank Loan.............£14721 Taken in 2005
Argos Store Card................£515
Fashion World Catalogue.........£835
Total unsecured Debts..........29109

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1647.20
Expenses (including secured debts)....... 1538
Available for debt repayments........... 109.20

Hi Deb,
Welcome to the Boards. You'll find a lot of good advice here.
I've made a few comments above. I think you also need to think about ways to make some money. What can you sell on ebay and amazon. Are you able to take on part-time job? There's information on this site on raising some money through clicks.
Keep going - you'll find lots of ways to help you to get debt free here.

URG x x

Deb2008

Hiya Urg

Thankyou for your comments - we are as my earlier post explained going on to an interest only mortgage for 6 months to pay off the months arrears.
As for the Grocery bill we have been told that it isnt enough for a DMP to take us on - so shaving any more off would be defeating the object - it is over what we actually do spend as it is...
About the cloths and hair cuts - we have been told also that it does need to be included by National Debt line - we originaly didnt have it on so we had more to pay the debts with - we are happy to lower it but will National Debt line then tell us to add it again? Although with having a child we have been told that this money could also pay for her school trips or school clothing etc.
We are actually looking at other companies for a lower package and asking Virgin what we can lower etc at this time too.
We have sold every thing we possibly can over the last few months to keep somewhat afloat - nothing left to sell LOL
As for me getting a part time job - I suffer from depression and panic attacks so the thourght of it actually has my pulse raising.....I have joined some sites - Onepoll and a few others to see if I can get some money that way.
Thankyou very much for your comments - its made me think and check I have been or am doing as much as possible to sort this out....:o

urg123

Hi Deb,

You really have done loads.

I guess many of my comments are based on the fact that I am not on DMP and don't understand the requirements behind it. I'm also sorry about
missing the mortgage comment.

I'm sure that there will be others to come along and help too and give you some great advice.

URG x x

Just another thought - are you entitled benefits related to the depression and panic attacks.