Ouch finally taking head out of the sand!!

climbgirl

bettyboop61 wrote:

Have decided we are going to sell house anyway, but need to keep up payments till we can sell. Will contacting cccs or payplan affect are chances of future mortgage?? Betty

It depends really - simply ringing them and asking for advice won't affect anything. But if you enter into some kind of debt repayment plan it will impact on your credit rating and thus, any future mortgages.

The thing is, you need to act pretty quickly if you want to keep your rating intact! You're at the stage where your credit rating is still ok (I'm assuming) and you're still making repayments. But from what you say, and from looking at your figures, this is all about to change and you're going to start missing payments and defaulting. And this will affect your rating.

Call one of the free advice groups and get advice for your specific situation. Tell the kids that they need to pay their own debts! You quite simply can't afford them and as harsh as it sounds, you need to pass them back to them. They built up the debts/use the mobile phones, they can take responsibility for paying them.

Switch to the cheapest utilties provider for your situation - read Martin's Switching article, the links are all in there. Make cut backs on food etc wherever you can. Shop at the cheap supermarkets, buy the value brands.

Look at extra income - can you take on temp work, part time jobs in pubs/supermarkets etc. ANything just to tide you over until OH is working again.

QueenOfDreams

Have you applied for council tax benefit? Depending on how many dependent children you have you may be entitled. Also any children who live at home and work should be contributing, whether they like it or not!

skintchick

What would your SOA look lie if you weren't paying the kids' bills? And you included all teh stuff you forgot first time round?

Best we advise on the real situation.

bettyboop61

Hi again,

Sorry have been busy, cooking evening meal as well as cajoling OH to ring NTL and negotiate a better rate, anyway he has done that, what a relief, bill down to 29.00 a month with an £8.00 refund??? Have contacted 02 re mobile bill, have cut that down to £19.00 for remainder of contract 6 mths I think, OH has found out that jobcentre ill advised him re benefits, he has got an appt tomorrow, we may be able to get some help towards our council tax and mortgage?? But am not holding my breath on that score, I will contact CCCS tomorrow morning re CC debts, I need to be rid of this once and for all, and yes, my children should be standing on their own 2 feet now, I'm such a pushover/doormat might be a better expression. How come we get lightbulb moments at inconvenient times of the day ie. just before you have to cook evening meal!!! I had already started shopping at Aldi and Lidl to try and reduce my grocery bills, need to sort out utility bills still...... I feel like i'm climbing a mountain here...
But i can't believe the amount of support you people offer, not just to me but all the others who ask for help, and the knowledge you have between you all is amazing, its a brilliant community.

Thankyou again sooooo much, I will be posting regular updates.

Betty

gingerfurball

Betty...you are not a mug...just a really nice mum!! But if the kids are now standing on their own two feet they should pull their own weight re: their debt...or they'll fall into the same trap themselves...so pleased that you are stating to get things organised.

bettyboop61

Thanks Gingerfurball,

Thats why I started to help my kids out because I didn't want them to be getting into financial trouble, but it seems to have back fired on me...oops...still they say you learn from your mistakes, so hopefully, they will learn a thing or 2 when I start to say no...a bit more...

Thanks

Betty

jackieb

Good luck Betty.

toontastic

Can I also just ask Betty are any of the children who you were helping who now have jobs still at home ? If they are and have jobs then they should pay rent.

ftbworried

Does your OH have a job?

toontastic

If I read correctly he lost his job but is looking and is looking into getting benifits.