Advice needed for struggling brain...

Newgrass

Hi,
I recently started a new job after having 10 months off due to very poor mental health. I've been treated for depression and anxiety for close to 8 years now, but only in the last year have I had treatment that really works and is making me feel better (moving into an area that had better mental health care helped).
Over those 8 years or so I have had reasonably good jobs, but way too stressful and basically I burnt out and and went from one job to another and finding after a few months that I couldn't cope.
In that time I have racked up debts in the form of two loans with my bank and a well know online provider. At the same time I also went overdrawn numerous times and have paid out hundreds in penalties and late payment fees. Back in the summer I put in a claim with my bank (Nationwide) following advice from here but I have been put on hold along with most people. Now that I am working full time I would really like to be able to put all my eggs in one basket and try to get my loans and cards down to one lump sum and start again. I would also really like to see if I can get other charges back from past credit card companies, but most of them have been bought out by other banks and I haven't a clue who to write too.
The current problem I have is just not having the mental ability to do this on my own, I'm not thick, I just get anxious and lose concentration on what I am doing. Its not helped by the fact that my first 3 monthly wages from my new job have all been taxed with an emergency rating and so I am being paid less than I should which leaves me in the red again each month (this is being sorted at work, but it doesn't help with the way I feel, that nothing is quite right at the moment) .
Can anyone offer any advice as to who I can go to, as, as I say at the moment my brain isn't in good enough shape for me to handle this by myself, but at the same time if I can get my money sorted it will go some way to continue my recovery.
Sorry if this is rambling...

vikki400

Maybe you could put some more details on here and your SOA and we can see if we can help you. I am fairly new, but there are people that know the site better than me and will be able to tell you the letters to use and who to write to about you bank that has changed hands.

Jesthar

Hi, newgrass, and welcome!

Don't worry, you just landed in one of the best places in existance for helping chase the debt worries away! The people here are a fantastic bunch, and a databank of very useful information...

...and I'm sure some of them will be along very shortly to help. In the meantime, I'll offer what advice I can to get the ball rolling:

Credit card/store card charges - yes, you can reclaim these! And even better, they are not on hold like bank charges are, so you can claim them right now for as far back as 6 years (5 in Scotland).

I know how you feel about the tax code - every time I've changed job they've managed to stuff up my tax code! :rolleyes: Hope yours gets sorted soon - keep pushing until it does.

Finally, would it be possible for you to scrape together the courage to post your Statement of Affairs? This is a sort of summary of your monthly finances, and can help the good folks here help you save what money you can on your bills and outgoings. The calculator we usually use is here:

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

If you fill out absolutely everything you can, you can use the 'MSE' button in the 'Format results for discussion board' section near the bottom to copy and paste it into a post here for people to help you with.

*hugs* Hope that helps, and don't worry - now you're here, we can do some of the thinking for you!

~Jes

insider66

Hi Newgrass and welcome,

Jesthar is spot on, you couldn't be in a better place for support and a huge amount of knowledge to assist you.

Any details you have would be helpful, doesn't matter if they are a bit jumbled, everyone will try and sort them with you

Newgrass

Many thanks for the replies, I am working on my SOA now, shall repost details soon.

ElizabethJH

Newgrass - I know exactly what you mean about it being mentally exhausting sorting things out. I suffer from anxiety and I find that when things make me anxious sometimes the only way I feel I can deal with is to forget and concetrate on something good... cheer myself up! It's a horrid spiral as the more money you spend cheering yourself up the worse the situation becomes. You'll feel really good if you deal with it though... and I'm hoping that once my debt is sorted the worst of my anxiety attacks will be over (I suffer in social situations as well but am addressing this with working in a bar which is building my confidence) Coming here is a brilliant place to start though, It's only been about a week but everyday coming here and talking about the little things I've done makes me feel that more positive and when something big comes along and kicks you to the ground then you'll get advice on how to deal with it, one step at a time!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/credit-card-charges

Here's a guide to reclaiming your credit card charges

Good luck! :T