A little cross but generally relieved!

lilian1977

Just wanted to share my thoughts on this board and how helpful it's been to me over the past few months, but also a little niggle that's, well, niggling at me!

I had, for several years, been defaulting, missing payments, not paying bills etc, as I thought that I was invincible and above the law. Turns out I wasn't. I received many letters demanding £250 here, £80 there, and I paid them all, eventually, after working out lower monthly payments. When I first joined this board it was because I had received a letter from a DCA demanding around £1000 - I had no idea what for. After a few days of phone calls it turned out it was from a Barclays overdraft I had when I was a student, that I had stopped paying back. I have no recollection of whether I did actually pay this back, and as far as I was concerned I had closed the account in full. However I panicked and agreed a F&F settlement for 75% of the value (took out a loan with RBS, my current bank, to do this). I was very pleased at the time as I had managed to save a little money, however I now think that, had I been more clued up, I may have been able to dispute if not this debt, then a lot of the older, smaller amounts from other DCAs.

Ah well, I guess that this whole process has helped me as I have learned some invaluable lessons about handing money and banking legislation!

I now save into an account that will be used to pay off my loan early (the way it's going at the moment I will reach my DFD around 5 months before my hoped for DFD in my signature - which was 18 months earlier than it should have been anyway :T). I also save into an ISA, a mortgage savings pot with OH and a small amount into a holiday fund. I also separate my food money into a separate account, and put all spare change into a pot.

So - the general jist of the ramblings is that, had I been more clued up I would never have got into debt. Had I then been more clued up, I would perhaps have been able to pay off or dispute the debts in a different, better way. However, now I am clued up and I can honestly say I that once this year is over, I will NEVER have debt problems again (unless caused by something I can't control) :beer:

So, thanks to everyone on here, and to Martin and his team. Anyone else think they deserve a medal?

:money:

xx

Barneysmom

They do, and a big cake too. :cool:

lilian1977

Let's start a campaign!

TismE_3

Hind sight is a wonderful thing!! Think we would all echo pretty much the same thing, about not getting into silly debts and doing things differently if only we'd known what we were really getting ourselves into, before signing on the dotted line!
Tisme x

lilian1977

Exactly my point. I try and direct people here when I can see them starting to flounder, and I think that's why Martin and the MSE team are so wonderful. The amount of people they must have helped is probably a staggering amount.

xx

jak

I couldn't agree more. Now i've paid my debt- approx: 12k!!! I know that i'll never get in to that mess again. I'm less careful than I could;'ve been recently which is why i'm browsing on here, but I learn't SO much!
I can see friends going down the same route- and I jst think nooooooooo!
Actually, I think I may be starting to bore people to tears....

lilian1977

I worry about that - a friend came in to work this morning a bit annoyed cause he'd gone out for a drink last night and spent £10 - he said he felt guilty cause he knew how much food that could have bought! And it's my fault...hehe