All My Debts...Pls Be Gentle With Me

pixie1

OMG can you believe this, i was just writing all my bals down etc ready for my call tomorrow and I noticed an unopened barclay card bill. I missed Nov's & Dec's payment to them and so in early Jan made an arrangment £54 for three months.

Guess what they have done????????????????????????????????????????


INCREASED MY CREDIT LIMIT BY £3000 :eek: AND THIS IS AN AVAILABLE NOW BALANCE!

Its no wonder people like me who have problems controlling their spending get into so much debt (Im not blaming anyone else totally for my mess, please believe me I KNOW this is my doing)

This is not responcible lending at all! :mad:

bank_of_slate

You're right pixie,
but the truth is, banks and lenders LOVE the minimum payment brigade, that's how they make the most money!
...Linda xx

Turning_into_scrooge

May i just come in here on the food bill issue. There are 2 of us and 1 dog and CCCS gave me a food allowance of £50 per week, £200 per month plus £25 extra for toiletries and cleaning products. I have got my food bill including the dog down to £30 a week including lunch out for my son at uni. could you cut down on the food bill or would your partner start to smell a rat if you do? I understand you not wanting to tell your partner yet as it took me 7 months to own up to mine -we don't live together-, silly worrying really as he just said ok no problem, but i still haven't told my family such as my father etc as i don't want to worry them. I hit major problems Feb last year and started my DMp with CCCS in June

jellycat40

Hello Pixie

How are you today? I read your message and feel so sad for you that you have to cope with this burden without your partner knowing. I have a really supportive husband and that makes it slightly easier.

All I wanted to say was that when the time is right and you do tell him he can easily disassociate himself from your debts by contacting experian and equifax and telling them that it is not his debt. When you speak to CCCS tell them you need to know how to do this. So whilst his credit rating may be affected in the short term it will not be in the longer term.

If you want to private mail me I will do all I can to help you through this.

Louise :A

fairylights_2

Hello Pixie!

It sounds like you're getting really going on your debts, so well done on making a solid start. I have just two things to add:

1. My OH hid our debts (and they were ours, I just didn't know about it) from me for a couple of years. I found out this time last year when I just got sick of finding unopened bills tucked here there and everywhere, and got the fright of my life. Thankfully we could still dig our way out, and are nearly there now, but it's been a real fight, and in a way has brought us together as we realised what we could do if we just got ourselves organised and clear. I don't know how much longer it would have gone on if I hadn't found out. He'd stopped spending on the cards, but on his own just couldn't clear his debt very fast. I wasn't cross with him because I knew he did it to let me work from home with our two children, but don't feel like he shouldn't have lied to me either. When you're ready, you tell him, in the meantime you're getting yourself sorted, which must be a blessed relief. At least when you do tell him, it'll be a definite situation rather than a bundle of uncertainties.

2. What's the BT rate on your Barclaycard? I have one (now paid in full each month) with a not too bad bt rate. You might find you could transfer one of your other debts into that new space they have so kindly given you ... This is only to be done if you promise to destroy the old card though.

Good luck :beer:

pixie1

Im just talking to the cccs now The lady has been really helpful so far.....will keep you poested. Thanks for all the support I REALLY couldnt of faced this all with out you.

MoaningMyrtle

Well done for facing your problems Pixie, it's easy to put your head in the sand for a long time isn't it?

My husband and I were in denial for a long time, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, of course the totals were adding up, we faced it a couple of years ago now and it has put a terrible strain on our marriage as we really struggle each month.

We are lucky in that all our family and a few friends are aware of our problems, this means we do not feel pressurised to spend much on people at Birthdays, Christmas etc or when we go out (very seldomly) we do a cheap night out or in at someone's house.

My MIL pays our Council Tax for us and my Sister cuts my hair free, my other Sister gives me things to sell on ebay. Every penny helps. An example is that I have £20.00 to last till next Friday, I need petrol and food but I'll do it somehow.

We just have cash cards, no debit or credit cards. I'm going to put our debts on my signature later when I feel up to it. :eek:

Roll on the Car Boot Sale season :rotfl:

pixie1

Well Ive just got of the phone with the cccs and they were extremly helpful.

I feel so much better just for making the first step. :j

They have gone through my income and outgoings and we have agreed the amount I will pay them each month starting from the 1st March.

Ive applied for a new basic bank account, which i hope i dont get turned down for and Ive been told to make some kind of payment to all my creditors when i get paid on the 30th as a goodwill gesture, along with a letter which will confirm Im going on a DMP. The letter will be contained in the pack the cccs are sending me. I also need to include in the letter that I dont want them to contact me at work (as one creditor has :mad: ).

I dont think many have my home number, should I give them my mobile number and say that this and by mail is the only way to contact me? I dont mind them having my mobile number as I always have it with me and Hubby doesnt ever answer it as most of the time its work

I have to say that if my creditors agree the amounts, the amount Im left with each month sounds like luxuary to me. Not thats its a lot please dont get me wrong, but because Im always robbing peter to pay paul for so long, I never know how much I will have for food, or if I will run out of petrol. It will be nice to know I have a set amount each month.

I know things arent sorted completly and it will take me NINE YEARS to clear up my mess (I do normally get good payrises so Im hoping to bring this down a lot over the next few years) but Im really looking forward to being frugal, saving for things so I appreciate things more and generally living life and not just existing.

Thanks again for all your support, I will continue to keep you updated.

Stay strong everyon :T

fairylights_2

Good for you Pixie!

It sounds like you're so much happier with some amount of resolution - and nine years isn't really that long a time, is it? You'll find that extra payments here and there whittle it down to the point where you suddenly realise you're nearly free.

Do you have to give them a contact number at all? Surely it's best saying DO NOT contact me by telephone, that way you have written records of everything just in case they try to argue with you at a later date?

Just a thought ...

ozzyfan_2

hello pixie

I'm so pleased that your appointment with CCCS went well & thanks for letting us know what happened in your phone call as I have to speak to them in February & was wondering what they would do!

Thought you might like to know I have just opened a NatWest step account on CCCS's advice and have had no problems, I applied about 2 weeks ago & its all up & running, even had 1st tax credit payment in yesterday, just waiting for internet banking pin code now

Have a good day xx