Any advice greatly appreciated.

Kate48_2

We have a huge access credit card debt and are only just managing to meet the minimum payments.
The debt has accumalated through lots of reasons but mainly because I have been paying the utilities with the card. I only just found out we could have asked for help directly from the utility companies.
I am a pensioner and my oh gets incapacity benefits beause of bad health.
My oh will never be able to work again so the income we have will never improve.
I phoned access and asked for a reduction in the interest charges to give us a chance of getting the debt down a bit - they refused outright.
Is there anything we can do - my oh is distraught as he has never owed money in his life and this is causing us both sleepless nights and worried days.
Thanking you in advance for any advice given.
Kate

boredofbeingathome

Kate48 wrote: »

We have a huge access credit card debt and are only just managing to meet the minimum payments.
The debt has accumalated through lots of reasons but mainly because I have been paying the utilities with the card. I only just found out we could have asked for help directly from the utility companies.
I am a pensioner and my oh gets incapacity benefits beause of bad health.
My oh will never be able to work again so the income we have will never improve.
I phoned access and asked for a reduction in the interest charges to give us a chance of getting the debt down a bit - they refused outright.
Is there anything we can do - my oh is distraught as he has never owed money in his life and this is causing us both sleepless nights and worried days.
Thanking you in advance for any advice given.
Kate

Hi Kate and welcome to the forums. Please don't give yourself sleepless nights. One of the first things to do is look at your income and expenditure. You can find the SOA calculator in a sticky at the top of the forum.
The other thing is to make sure you are gettining everything you are entitled to. https://www.entitledto.com

Thirdly we will help with letters to debt company. I would never advocate talking to them on the phone and the fact that they talked to you in this manner shows how they treat customers.

It may well be beneficial to you to contact cccs and use their online debt remedy.

Please keep posting and we will do as much as we can to help.

BOB X

Kate48_2

Thank you Bob. I have just got up again as sleep evades me yet my brain is very tired.
I am so grateful to know there are people who can advise me and will be back on when my brain is in gear and do the soa calculator.

Help with letter to company would also be much appreciated - I just thought a phone call was the best way - bad move on my part.

Again Thank You.

poorandindenial

Hi Kate

We have all been there lying awake at night worring about our debts and it is horrid but as soon as you start to get a handle on the debt you will start to sleep easier. Do try to relax as much as you can about it - I can categorically say that I have NEVER seen a debt problem that can't be sorted out and I have every faith that we can help you to get ont he right track too.

Don't worry about calling them, you tried, they said no, no harm done. Going forward they may well start to try to use the phone to bully you and often they do this at times when youa re vulnerable so when things start to get sticky it is best to deal with them by letter where possible.

I asked one of my credit cards to reduce the interest rate they had applied, they said no (having insisted I apply for lower rate products to do it and then declining me despite the fact I had an 'excellent' credit rating) and the day I told them I no longer wanted to be a customer of theirs was one of the best days of my life. They offered me all sorts of deals and I still told them to stick it because I didn't want them getting another penny of my money - it might not have been very MSE rejecting amazing rate deals but it felt fantastic.

Before you start to pull together the SOA make sure you have all your paperwork about outstanding debts to hand (interest rates, current balance, minimum repayments) as well as bank statements and maybe receipts from shopping. This way you won't get half way through and have to go hunting for more info.

I wish you all the best in getting to grips with your debt. I know it is easier said than done but please do try not to worry too much, there WILL be a way of dealing with this.

belfastgirl23

Hi Kate

First of all just bumping this since hopefully some other people will be up and around soon

But also to say this is a lot to cope with on your own especially if your DH needs caring for as well. I'd suggest either going to your local citizens advice bureau or going to CCCS ( a free debt charity, see their website http://www.cccs.co.uk/) for help. Other people here are wiser than me but I think they will help you write the letters or indeed maybe even contact the companies for you?

Lots of luck and hope you get other (better!) advice, but you WILL get this sorted out, people on here are great help and support and you won't be on your own with it any more.

Kate48_2

Thank you - you guys and gals are great.
I am putting together my SOA - waiting for oh to get car insurance etc for me.

One I have done that I shall be back on and posting it and asking for help with writing to mastercard. Writing has gone all posh.

Once again - Thank you everyone who replied, I am very grateful and feel calmer about everything now.

poorandindenial

Oooh, get you and your posh writing

I am really glad that you have posted back and that you are getting on with your SOA. I am about to go to bed (absolutely shattered) but will check in tomorrow to see how you are getting on. It is great to hear you sounding better too.

Take care and I'll see you again soon!

Kate48_2

I am still waiting for oh to sort his papers out and give me the info needed.
I will post asap.
Thank you again for the support - it means more than you could know.

beanielou

Look forward to seeing your SOA