EEEEKKKKK......... Mother-in-Law in Debt....HELP

fletch3163

You read my mind Talana, I do plan to get her below her unauthorised limit, and I do plan to get her to cancel her direct debits. It's tricky with her though, she clams up. I just keep telling her the genie is out of the bottle now. She feels like an auld failure, it's a shame. She's telling me Lloyds TSB have been trying to help, giving her more of an overdraft, etc. Help? So they are:mad::mad::mad: Och, do they not have a fist shaking smiley?

DH is away to work now and I've sent him with the letters to be signed by her. He's hopefully going to be picking up as much paperwork as she's gathered by now.

Oh, to think my biggest worry with money until a couple of hours ago was how much I spend on the Grocery Challenge and will my DS figure out I'm fooling with his Coco Pops :rolleyes:

gettingbetter

hi

it might help to show her this thread and show her that there is people in same circs as her and that there is help
i am so glad i found this place every one is kind and happy to help where they can

SHE IS NOT ALONE

kas xx

fletch3163

You're absolutely right kas, there are millions in similar positions. And look at everyone here. Different levels of everything and all with a common aim, to make each other feel/work/live that wee bit better. I think this site and you all are just fabulous.

Just had a wee wander to Greenwoods, get a load of this snipped from their site

Example: Loan amount £200,
33 weekly repayments of £10,
total amount payable £330,
Typical 433.4% APR

fletch3163

Think am going to do the Hardship route with MIL. I can't believe that bank has taken over £200 from her account in one day on charges. What have they taken all those other months too. It's a disgrace.

So, do I ask for statements or do I just pay the tenner and send the letter. Or, do I just go straight for a give her it back without knowing how much they took off her in the first place?

gettingbetter

fletch

all we can do is give advice
if i were you i would send the letter
and look at the reclaiming bank charges thread on here
you get all the template letters on here

good luck what ever you decide

but do come back and let us know how you are getting on

remember the only silly question is the one you dont ask

kas xx

Fire_Fox

fletch3163 wrote: »

Think am going to do the Hardship route with MIL. I can't believe that bank has taken over £200 from her account in one day on charges. What have they taken all those other months too. It's a disgrace.

So, do I ask for statements or do I just pay the tenner and send the letter. Or, do I just go straight for a give her it back without knowing how much they took off her in the first place?

Why don't you set up internet banking on her behalf (with permission I mean), then you'd have access to all her statements?

tealady

Hi. I know what you mean about being "old school". Please tell her from all of us that it's not a shameful thing being in debt, she is just the victim of circumstances like a lot of us.
Could you get her a benefit check to see if she is getting everything she is entitled to? Also I'm sure she could teach a lot of us thrifty ways, after all times were a lot harder when she was young. Perhaps if you ask her for a few tips she may not feel so beholden to anyone, then its a 2 way street.

fletch3163

I've a bag of nonsense to look through but I need to get going for work. I'm so grateful to you all for the advice received. I've been reading on here for a long time, but obviously in a very detatched way:o. When it came down to it I was all thumbs trying to remember everything.

I'm asking MIL to contact her bank today and cancel everything except the mortgage. Then I'm going to get her to phone Co-op to open a basic account where her pension can be paid. We can take it from there but at least we stop the rot

fletch3163

OK, am drowning in paper. Can't get MIL to stop crying to help. This might help focus me. Insurances are lumped together (but still high) as her car insurance (high I mean).

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household.........
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 1007
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 0
Other income............................ 0
Total monthly income.................... 1007
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 238
Council tax............................. 26
Electricity............................. 40
Gas..................................... 78

Telephone (land line)................... 66
TV Licence.............................. 11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 20
Road tax................................ 20
Car Insurance........................... 41
Buildings insurance..................... 37
Contents insurance...................... 0
Life assurance ......................... 10
Total monthly expenses.................. 587

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

Secured & HP Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Mortgage...................... 51560....(238)......0
Total secured & HP debts...... 51560.....-.........-
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
Loan...........................2000......82........18.8
Overdraft .....................1800......
Greenwood......................200.......40.........144
Total unsecured debts..........2200......82........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,007
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 587
Available for debt repayments........... 420
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 82
Amount left after debt repayments....... 338
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -51,560
Total Unsecured debt.................... -2,200
Net Assets.............................. -53,760
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

donny-gal

I think you need to look at the landline quickly, do they not have a package to use the phone set up or are they calling 0870 numbers £66 is very high you can get bb and all UK calls for much less.
DG