Help!

forever_hopeful_2

Phoned CCCS on Tuesday eve, have an appointment with a counsellor in a couple of weeks but starting to panic.

Husband and i owe about £66K (cards and loans) don't know if i've done the right thing phoning cccs. Meeting min repayments every month but can't afford to buy food, fuel etc without credit. credit limits running out fast thought about extending loans but don't know if they'd let me.

cccs want me to open basic account with someone i dont owe anything to and make token payments to creditors but i don't know where to start. dont think i am brave enough to talk to them either. will they send baliffs? scared my children will lose their things too.

would appreciate some advice from you guys. i feel sick, cant sleep and are being really grumpy with the children.

jellycat40

First things first, approach someone like co-op, woolwich or Halifax for a basic account. Insist you want one that does not involve a credit check. These can be done on line or on the phone. The woolwich you just turn up with id and a utility bill and they do it there and then. You get a cash card and in a couple of months a cheque book but no guarantee card.

Do not panic, cccs will leave you with enough to live on. Be honest with them as to what you spend and they will tweek your expenses to accommodate most things you have to pay.

No one can touch the childrens things they belong to the children and not you.

Try not to be grumpy with the kids they are a good thing in your life and you will still have them even when this is all over.

Do you own a home, have you considered bankruptcy. A bit of a swear word on here but you do owe a lot.

Best of Luck

Louise :grouphug:

forever_hopeful_2

We don't own our home we have a private rent. Can't believe how much we owe either or how stupid we have been to let it get to this amount. Very scared about the thought of going bankrupt is there another way?

pixie1

I didnt realise the woolwich was an option, i have applied to the natwest i think its called a step acount. That was recommended to me by the CCCS

Good Luck!

bank_of_slate

Hi Spikey,
It probably feels like ages until your cccs appointment.

Ask yourself can you do anything else at this point in time?
Have you worked out a realistic budget that you know you can stick to? have you cut back wherever possible, do you have the support around you to help you get through this?

If you have done all this, then you can do no more right at this moment!

You are stressed enough without adding to it by worrying about what hasn't happened yet.

Make this your motto..... Do not stress about anything that you can't change.
Good luck hunny!
...Linda xx

Tondella

CCCS are the good guys in this and will take on alot of the negotiations with your creditors who would otherwise be knocking on your door. I'm sure you'll feel much better once you have had your appointment with them.
Have a look into the basic accounts and start to look through your old statements and receipts and work out how much you currently spend on everything per month. You might find it helpful to post up that statement of affairs on here before your meeting, as we've all had to do the same thing (look at our everyday expenditures) and find money from it. There'll be loads of advice on whether you are being charged too much for power, phone bills etc, and how you can tweak some of your other expenditures. It'll give you a flavour for the kind of amounts CCCS will be thinking of when they review your budget and you'll be able to walk into that meeting armed with some solutions. All the best, you are absolutely doing the right thing, so a big pat on the back. xx

Northernbird_2

Don't panic. You are doing the right thing. Other people will probably post better advice, but I think your action plan is:

-cancel all direct debits or standing orders you have with your creditors
-open up a bank account with someone you don't owe money to, and be careful as some banks are owned by the same Group, I think Mint are RBS and so on. If you've been keeping up with the repayments and your credit score is still ok the bank will probably go for a full current account first. If that's the case it's up to you whether you really feel you need a basic account or if you will be ok with a normal one.
-If you don't want to ring your creditors, write instead. Basically say you're awaiting an appointment with the CCCS to discuss your options as you're having difficulty keeping up with payments, in the meantime you'll be making token payments of £1 per month. Enclose a cheque for £1 and send the letters Recorded Delivery (so they'll definitely get them). You could also ask that they only communicate with you by letter, and they are not to telephone you.
-Wait for your appointment and see what the next step is.

It has to go pretty far down the line before it comes to Bailiffs etc. I would say at least 2-3 months, and generally if you have been not making payments and not contacting them etc. You should be fine as you're doing the right thing by calling the CCCS and telling your creditors what's going on.

Hope this helps, and if I've got anything wrong I'm sure someone will correct me!

Don't worry....

bumblebee_3

Sorry you are feeling like this hon.

You have done the right thing phoning the CCCS, they will help you to see a way forward from here.

As Louise suggested give the Woolwich a try and get that basic bank account opened to start the process off.

Check out the other forums like the old style money saving one - which has great tips on cheaper alternatives for shopping etc.

Think positive, you are doing something about this debt and you should be proud of yourself, keep posting and getting support from us, we will help you through this.

Northernbird_2

Wow, people type quicker than me!!

forever_hopeful_2

Wow guys can't believe how kind you all are! I will keep telling myself you are all right just feels like a black hole at the mo. I will sort my soa out tonight and will post for you all tomorrow.

If i look at the NatWest step account and the halifax basic do either of them need to look at our credit reference? will they guess what is about to happen to me?

bank_of_slate

Well spikey, when you're at the bottom of a black hole..the only way is up!!!
You CAN and you WILL do it, it just takes time
...Linda xx