Rabbit in headlights :-)

katch22

Hi,
This is looooooooonnnnnnnnggggggg! Sorry.

I have been reading through this site for months now and finally have decided to try and get my life back on track. I am ashamed to say that I'm not exactly sure what my debts are. I have a mortgage, credit cards (3) and an overdraft.

My overdraft is reducing (currently £650), and my mortgage payments are getting easier (not easy enough though now at £1050 a month), my credit cards are all 'on hold' I have contacted them all with a letter from my specialist and asked them to help. Have had lots of threatening letters from debt collecting agencies but no sign of help yet.

My marriage brokedown in October 2006, (I lost my beautiful daughter November 2003 and in fairness I wasn't very good to be around). I set up my own business January 2007 and sunk myself into work, got breast cancer May 2007 and everything has slowly gone downhill..... ex applied for and recently got half of the critical illness money that I recieved from my personal payout (which I had paid into prior to marriage but hey that's the law for ya), I had used this money to support my business. Had to lay off all 8 of my team which hurt. Now off work as I have a new 'lump' my life sounds like a soap opera..... planning on sacking my script writer any day now.

I have finally decided to get my finances in hand. No idea how long it will take but I must keep my house, its where I lived with my Jo (my daughter) and it would finish me off to leave here. Ex who got rather abusive wouldn't move and wouldn't pay so eventully I moved out. Nationwide got 'us' out with a repossession order and then I moved back, I have been in touch with them throughout and they have been very supportive. Ex has to pay only 7K of the 23K arrears at £100 a month but the important thing is the house has been transferred to me. Which is all I cared about for along time.

I will find out if I have more surgery pending on 27th so I am going to use the time between now and then getting on top of everything. Starting today I have written to Experian and Equifax for a copy of my credit file and I am going to tackle it all when I get it back.

I just wanted to say that it has been inspirational for me reading everyones posts. Thank you. We all have personal reasons for being on a site like this and I am so pleased I have somewhere that I can come to for help.

Time to get out of the headlights and sort my life out...... I'm ready.... I think.

Wake up at the back........ I'm done.

anh1904

Welcome aboard.
A full SOA will help for starters, but not knowing exactly what your debts are will not.
You mention "a specialist" - could you expand and confirm it is free of charge help?

bank_of_slate

Wow, you've been through more than many could ever fight through!
I don't know what to advise, my head is still spinning from that lot but my god, you've got some substance about you to go through all that and still be 'hey ho' about things.

Stick around, I'm sure others can help you, welcome to the forums.
...Linda xx

BeautyandtheBeast_3

Hi and welcome,

You have been through an awful lot - and well done for coming through (intact i hope!) Just wanted to say hi and give you a huge hug!!!!!!!!!!

katch22

My God you guys are fast!! I have started this twice...no idea where the last one went

Sorry i didn't explain myself very well, the specialist I mentioned is my breast cancer surgeon/angel. I sent his report with my letters as I thought it would help for them to know why I had suddenly stopped paying.

Cards - Mint - they have told me to pay £1 a montn until my situation improves.
HSBC - the back I was with forever and never missed payments with until now have passed the Platium card onto debt collectors. The debt has grown alarmingly. The wrote yesterday offering £25 a month for the next 3 months.
A & Leicester this debt has gone nuts. £7800 from about £5600.... no idea how or why, I suppose not paying might do it though. They asy that if I pay them just over 2K they will cose the account but I just don't have it at the moment or I would be paying my bills.
Overdraft £643. Down from £1200 in February. It's with Nationwide and they have been very good to me.
Mortgage - HUGE - was £2051.12. Had to pay 6 months at this as contractutal payments plus money towards arrears. They have now released the strangle hold and are extending the term from 11 years to 23 years 6 months so we expect the payments to be £1000 to £1050 a month .
CTax £129
Water £66
Gas £50
Electric £45
Phone & BB £31
Insurance £24
Car Ins £25

I have a partner who lives with me, he earns £400 a week. He has loans and Credit card payments of £312. I have no personal loans. Thank God. Just enormous credit cards and a mortgage the size of the national debt. But hey, I'm here so I'm not complaining.

Thanks for your fast replies. I feel like I have had a hug

dancingfairy

Hi. Glad to hear it's a medical specialist and not a debt specialist as they can rip people off (the debt co's) or just be an expensive waste of money.
Your SOA is a good start but you really need a much more thorough one. There is a thread for new people which has a link in it so we and you get a much clearer picture.
If you can deal with all the above I am sure you can deal with the finances and straighten them out as well.
Good Luck
df

bank_of_slate

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Here's the link to the SOA calculator
...Linda xx

katch22

Thanks for the very speedy replies. I must brush up my typing skills as the keys have obvioulsy moved since my last use of the laptop.

Thanks Linda for the link, looking at that next.

It's all scary stuff but I'm determined to sort it all out and give my wonderful partner a bit less to worry about.... as well as keeping tabs for my own peace of mind. Can't bury my head in the sand any longer... it's just not right.

I will post all my news as I get it.

Thanks, Lynne x

bank_of_slate

It is scary but it feels better once you can see all the figures and the true situation rather than guesstimated figures, at least you know exactly what you're facing then.
...Linda xx

schoolrunmum

Hi Lynne-not really any help to you except to say well done for sticking around and keeping your sense of humour!Wishing you the very best of luck,why not pop over to the daily chat thread? There's plenty of humour there, and if you're having a bad day plenty of hugs n support too....love, SRM xxxxxx

bank_of_slate

Agreed, post in the daily chat as well and get to know the 'regulars' we're a friendly bunch and it's great for sharing good news, bad news or just having a general rant!
...Linda xx