Help! No idea where to start!

Dribbler

First off, I'm an idiot and I'm ashamed that I've managed to get myself into this situation.

I don't even know how much I owe, I've been burying my head in the sand for about 2 years and it's all about to blow up in my face.

I don't work as I went back to Uni to do my MA and then depression forced me to leave the course and I never managed to find another job (apart from the odd bit of mystery shopping which was about all I could handle). I was keeping ontop of my HSBC credit card payments (I owed about 2 grand) but then the money I had saved in my HSBC current account ran out and I stopped paying by credit card. I soon went over my overdraft and then the letters started, most of them I didn't even open, I could tell by looking at them that they were demands from debt companies. I've been ignoring and avoiding the phone for all this time too, they never leave answer phone messages but I know it's them. My current account went dead about a year ago and I've been surviving on selling things on eBay, at carboots, eeking out Xmas money from parents and about 3 grand I had in an ISA which is still functioning but practically empty. I've been too ill/scared to try and look for work as I don't have a bank account to pay any wages into and I was worried what would kick off when awkward questions would be asked. I'm so stupid.

Today I got a 'postcard' addressed to me that just says 'I confirm I will be calling within the next 7 days. If inconvenient please call 0845 605 4203, regards Jo'. A quick Google shows it's from a debt collection agency in Leeds. I'm literally terrified. I live with my BF (he has a good job and it's his house/mortgage - he has no debt problems) and he has NO idea about all this. I've been too scared to tell him but now I'm worrying they'll turn up and he'll freak out.

I just don't know where to start - I know I should have done something earlier but I didn't.

On top of this, my grandad died a few months ago and left me 5 grand - I should get the cheque anyday now but I have nowehere to pay it into as I can only pay a maximum of £3,600 a year into my ISA. I'm terrified that if I try to open a bank account they'll find me and take all of the money. That's if I can even find a bank that will let me open an account. I could really do with that cash to start paying off what I owe, but I don't even know how to access it.

I really don't know what to do. PLEASE can someone point me on the right path to get this stupi mess sorted out?

dancingfairy

Hi. First off you're in the right place.
You need to open a basic bank account with no access to credit and one which is not realted in any way to anyone you owe money to - I think there is a list around here - hopefully someone will point it out to you.
Secondly I think you need to go to the doctors and get some help and counselling with everything that's happened. Presumably your BH knows something is wrong and would help you in getting help and support from the doctor?
Do you know how much money you owe and who you owe? that would be a good place to start.
Also if you are unable to work you should be able to get signed off from the doctor and get some benefits?
Don't forget National Debtline,CAB,CCCS are all there to help you and are free to use and will give you the best advice.
Take it one step at a time and you will get there.
df