i need help with debt

lrey5

my husband has been out of work since december. We have over £40,000 pound debt between us, i work full time and also have a part time job. We are working with CCCS, little money left over £189, after paying morgage, bills ect which is divided between debts. The credit cards still keep phoning and now Nationwide have said they are taking me to court added lots of costs onto my bill. I am worried what will happen with this, as i cant pay more, i am trying. Some credit cards have offered good deals to settle, but only wish i could pay to take away all this worry. Is there anyway i can sort this out.
Please help

ebonylight

The first thing you need to do is a SOA (Statement of Account) and be really honest with it. Work out how much you owe to each company and how much you pay. Then see what you have left.

The reason I stress you need to be honest is because it's no good saying "Oh I only spend £100 on food a month" if it's nearer £200 because you'll be left with minus figures every month.

It's very good of you to be working two jobs. Has your husband been looking for work ever since?

You should also get the CCCS to ring the companies and explain that you are struggling to make repayments - unless you're comfortable with telling them yourself. Usually once they realise the situation they freeze all cards and interest.

Hope I'm helping - we've all been there to some extreme or the other.

dancingfairy

They can't have what you haven't got. You are definitely doing the right thing by working with the CCCS and if Nationwide don't like it (or anyone else) then tough. Hopefully Nationwide will realise you are doing you best and are just not yet in tune with what's going on - they may then decide that adding charges isn't really going to help you although it can take some companies a while to get organised and accept you are in trouble before agreeing to a repayment plan - some are better than others. Hopefully they will stop the charges soon but in the meantime - keep paying what CCCS are saying to pay them - don't pay them any more because they are shouting the loudest otherwise the others will think you are not being fair.
With regards to the credit card companies phoning there is a letter on here somewhere telling them to only contact you in writing(as some debt companies can be nasty and threatening on the phone).
With them offering reduced settlement fees - well that's good but if you are not in a position to take them well you're not in a position to take them and you just need to plod on - as time goes on no doubt you'll get more offers.
Take care -it's only money after all and you are obviously doing your best to pay it back.
Don't worry about court - often these things are used as a threat and not carried out but if it gets that far then you can think about it - if you are following advice from CCCS you should be fine and no judge is going to expect you to magic up money you don't have so don't worry too much.
df