I need help and advice from Martin and everyone

Teenie_D

Hi manicboy
Well done! One of the hardest parts is over now, you have acknowledged your problem and you are doing something about it, it can be very difficult to pick up a phone and talk to a stranger about your problems but you did it.
As for those other people you phoned forget about them, I was going mad a couple of months ago when I had to phone them about my credit card, they were extremely rude and arrogant and all I was asking for was a b/t which they had offered me! grrrr.

Take care and let us know how you get on.

auntymabel

Manicboy

Have you thought of speaking to Mind? They were very helpful and sympathetic when I contacted them. You can find your local one by phoning 0845 766 0163 or on the website there is an A-Z list. http://www.mind.org.uk/help/mind_in_your_area You will have to copy and paste this into your browser as I can't do links.

Keep swimming

manicboy

Hi apologies for not replying sooner but I have been having massive panic attacks and have not wanted to leave the house..Ok update on what has happened, firstly i got anew bank account with another bank i got a flexi account as advised by the wonderful friends i have made on here and the people at cccs. I put in my letter to the bank i actually took it in to the bank manger and handed it to her, that was nearly 10 days ago and i have not heard anything Im still getting charges though and its odd even after i explained to them on the phone that by constantly charging me it was making things worse, they did not care so I handed the letter given to me by the cccs with a full detail of my postion i do not know what the technical word is for this form.
I used experion and got a credit check, it also has one of my loan payments up on there though how i use this to get my insurance payment back I have no idea. As the original one was not on there just the second one i took out and paid both off on time.
So now i have to print off the experion and add it to the forms the cccs gave me and then I have to apply for a DRO.
Im told I have to phone the DWP and get my money transfered from my old bank account to my new this im very wary to do as I'm not up answering loads of questions. And I have to transfer any exsisting direct debit such at my dent plan and tv.
What else ok still really dont understand the credit card bit though as if i was paying insurance on the card why is it that my insurance has gone up to £50 and they are only taking £50 in payment when I thought it was £100, So what did i pay insurance for all that time Im not sure.

Yes i was seeing someone about my depression but I was only allowed under NHS a number of sessions, and was then told that I could no longer have any more as I had used up all that i was allowed.

Hope that answers your questions I think I have put in everything but Im still very confused on most things.

whitewing

manicboy,

It is all confusing when you start to sort out your muddle.

Have a chat with MIND (someone put their details on a post above). You can do that now. They must have experience of your sort of situation.

sunnymoneytree

Hi Manicboy, Have just read this thread and just wanted to offer some encouragement. It can seem like a mountain to climb when you are sorting out a muddle but try to get help from people if you can...I think MIND are always there for people who need them regardless of money. This may sound very simplistic but I find that if I try to keep my home very tidy and clean it somehow helps me think straight, and a simple routine helps too. I know I'm more tired in the evenings so I try to do money stuff in the mornings, but not too early! 11 o'clock with coffee is good if I'm not working. If I try at night I don't get anywhere. Also at night everything can seem worse and you get paralysed and it all seems too much, whereas in the day it's not so frightening.
Depression is sometimes called 'the curse of the strong' as often people who get it struggle on without looking for help. i'm glad you've found this forum, it has helped me a lot just to know that there are other people struggling but finding solutions.
Your situation does look involved but have faith , you will get there , you are already more in control than you were. Good luck.

manicboy

Hi have not posted for a while due to massive panic attacks now on top of my manic depression and have not been out of the house in eight weeks. Most of the time i just want to curl in ball and sleep as when im sleeping i dont have to worry...

Ok this is as far as I have got so far and right now think that its unlikely Im going to find a way out of this mess. As bills keep mounting.

I phoned the CCCS and they had a nice man who advised me to change my bank account straight away which i did and transfer my incapacity benefit to it, and any bills like my dent plan. I was given a letter to take to the bank about my bank charges, and B*******s then sent me a letter some twelve days later saying a sthey are in court right now fighting this and think that its ok charging that they would not be giving me the charges back until the case was over and that was unlikely even then.
I still cant figure out why all the years i paid insurance on my credit card that Im know out of the £100 they are taking at B********Card that they instead split the money only taking £50 for the payment and the other £50 in insurance so what did I pay Insurance for.

Now I have opened a new bank account as advised by cccs and they have said to make sure my money goes in there, so got a flexi account with N***********e, but know im starting to worry as i what will happen to my old account it will still be overdrawn and the payments still have to be made for the bank charges and credit card, Now i have followed the advice Im not sure a sits looking worse as know no money will go into my B**********s account this month.
Its a mess I have tried to talk to the CCCS debt relief order people but they are always engaged... Im now sinking fast and im now in a bigger mess than when i didnt get the advice so what do i do know. with mounting bills and debts not much left for me.
Im really starting to panic I really do not know what to do anymore.
I read the pack but they sent me but still have no idea what to do. I get worried that creditors will call as i live with my mum who is very old I really dont know what is left for me to do. And dont know how much more i can take.

misspoppy

Hi

Firstly stop worrying about the old account, once you stop using it they will write to you but ignore their letters once the DRO goes through it will be done and dusted, you won't have to pay them.

You will need help with claiming the charges back to try CCCS again.

It will be ok just remember that the DRO will deal with all this old debt just keep following the advice CCCS gave you.

dancingfairy

Hi ManicBoy - firstly you are moving in the right direction - you may not feel like that at the moment but you are taking the steps.
You seem to have several issues so maybe we can break it down into the smaller problems and sort one bit at a time
1) B"***s are in court sorting out the whole bank charges thing - however if you are in hardship they can't wait until the result of the bank charges thing in court and have to sort it out now.
2) you have a new bank account and when you get your benefits etc transferred into there it will be yours to spend and sort out - not for B****s to just help themselves to - that's why you needed to get yourself a new bank acccount.
3) B****s can keep adding on charges forever and a day if they want to - you will have your money in a seperate account well away from them- the DRO should sort out all these debts and you may be able to get the charges back (see point no.1) - what's more important is your health - it is only money at the end of the day - so don't take any rubbish from them
4) credit card insurance - either they need to pay out or you have been missold.
5) do not worry about them coming around to take your stuff - unfortunately debt collection people like to lie to people and scare them by threatening that they will come around to your house etc ,etc - do not be threated by them - it is very easy for them to tryand scare you - after all they just want their money - well if you haven't got it they can't have it. The chance that they will come around is very, very small and at this stage is likely to be threats. If they do - then tell them to get lost and call the police - do not let them in.

I hope this helps - by breaking it down into smaller more manageable sections.
You could really do with an advocate - maybe someone from Mind or your social worker etc who can deal with the banks and CCCS on your behalf for a while.
Take care and look after yourself first and foremost.
df

Actiongirl_2

I agree with the last post, you should find an advocate - perhaps a friend or relative, or even someone at the Citizens Advice Bureau to help you.

It doesn't sound like you are currently capable of dealing with what must seem to you like an awful lot of administration.

If this is making your illness worse, you do need some help on a practical level, not just for advice.

If you can, try and deal with people face to face. It is not that the Banks don't care, the people that work for them do. However when you open a Bank account, you accept the terms and conditions as they are laid out to you. The people that work there must enforce these terms and conditions. If you go via the right route - eg. Citizens Advice, you will find people who are in a position to support you. Getting through to call centres in Mumbai will not help, those people have been trained on basic account adminstration only. If you need to speak with someone at a Bank, you must see them in person at your local branch.

I hope you are able to find someone to take care of your admin for you and in the meantime you should return to your Doctor as your attacks sound like they should be treated. If your Doctor is not responsive, you have the right to see another GP.

GeorgeUK

Changing your bank account is a good start - this puts you in control of your money instead of the bank taking what they want from you account.

One thing i would point out is that bank charges and credit card charges are 2 seperate things. The court case is dealing with bank charges - if you are also reclaiming credit card charges, this is not part of the case so they shouldn't be putting this on hold.
creditcard charges - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/credit-card-charges

If you are considered to be in hardship then they cannot just push your claim to one side although alot of banks seem to be trying to do this. Have a read of this article and see if you are classed asa hardship case and if so, follow the advice to make sure your complaint gets dealt with.
Hardship - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges-hardship

If you have told them to stop taking money for insurance and they have not done so, make a formal complaint. Make sure everything is done in writing and that you have proof that they received your letter. Use this guide to see if the PPI has been missold, especially if they refused to allow your claim.
PPI - http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/ppi-loan-insurance

Not sure what's in the pack, but one of the first things to do is an income and expenditure sheet. The SOAcalculator is a good tool to use for this. Just format for MSE and post this here - hopefully we'll be able to offer some advice on it.
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html