Help Needed I'm desperate

natweststaffmember

You are doing the right things Gizmo, so don't feel like you are boring people(some of the forms I read researching stuff are enough to send you into a deep coma so in comparison it is great to read how you are doing to help yourself in this difficult time).
Chin up

gizmo1409

:o

Thanks for that, i do appreciate everything people have been saying and the kind words, i know other people are also in the same situation, some proably even more worse of then me, but i think it only really hits home, when it is yourself,, especially when i have been ignoring the fact that i should of done something before i got to this point...

even has i write this, i have a great lump in my throat, and tears, so to be trying to do something positive, i am searching my house, to see if there is anything i can do to try and get some money, and try and dig myself out of this big mess..

i've just got to make sure that my letter cancelling my direct debit reads ok, before i post it..

i also need to cancel the reseve as per previous posts, but what will happen then, with my OD, do i get charged more money then..

esmerellda

Cancel the reserve and you simply have to live within your agreed overdraft.
The reserve costs you £22 for every 5 days you are in it, even by a penny.

With it cancelled you will be charged £8 if you make a payment and its takes you over your overdraft limit, or bounces.

Re the charity payments, charity begins at home - give to others once you have sorted your circumstances out.

gizmo1409

I have sent my letter to the bank, to cancel my charity dd, and also to cancel the reserve with immediete effect..

I have since received a letter from the cc company, obviuosly unable to take there payment.. If i was to also cancel this direct debit, and also my mobile phone, etc what problems on top that i already have cause me..

sorry to be abitdense with this, i'm still feeling sick just thinking about how to get out of this mess..

I have also sent a letter to start reclaiming charges, but bot sure if i would be able to use the financial hardship route, has the only money that i am unable to get access to, would be for petrol to get to work, car insurance, without it i am unable to get to work, credit card payments, and my mobile phone..

i don't know where to start, i have constantly lived on my overdraft, reading some of the other posts, not too sure if i would be able to or not..


please can somebody advise, and thank you to everybody who has already posted, I really do appreciate it..

esmerellda

Okay - OVERDRAFT = LOAN

that is all. you can only use it once, thats it. Then its just a debt which you keep repaying and taking back out.

If you do get a new account, then don't get an overdraft.

I have sent my letter to the bank, to cancel my charity dd, and also to cancel the reserve with immediete effect..

good work, little steps

Did you see if you had any credit available on your card ? use this for petrol.

The credit card company - consequences of not paying, additional charges, hassle and a marker on your credit file, leading eventually maybe to a ccj. worst case scenario depending on your balance. however most can be sorted way before then, who is your card provider ? and you shouldnt get down that route as you have attacked this early enough before you have started defaulting so just keep in contact with the card provider, in writing, explain your problems and that you may have to pay lower amounts for a couple months.

Your mobile - contract phone? There will be loads of help on this site in the moneysaving bits about phone savings so hve a look.

Also I would post in the Debt Free wannabee forums about getting a more long term plan sorted to reorganise life to go with your reduced salary.

gizmo1409

Thanks for that Esmerellda, it's great to have people like you.. Thank You.. i had some change in one of my bags, managed to scrape about 8.00 quid, or just under to put some fuel in, but will have to try this weekend, has i will need some by then..

Will send a letter to Barclaycard, just to state that i have had a pay cut, and need to pay lower amounts for a couple of months, then hopefully that will get them off my back for a while..

I will also write to my mobile phone provider..

In the mean time do you think it would be ok, to reclaim charges back from the bank..under financial hardship.....

I have sent the first letter off, the data one..?

I'm sorry if I keep asking too many questions, and blabbing on...

The envelope arrived today for me to send my mobile off, and I have had a look round to see if I have anything worth selling, the only real item, is a piece of jewellery, so i will be trapsing round the jewlers at the weekend to see if i can get rid of it, hopefully if i can, i may be able to clear one or the other debt of.. but not counting on it..


gizzy

milly88

Hi Gizmo

In order to claim bank charges under the FSA rules for financial hardship, you will need the following:-

1. A completed Income and expenses summary, if you have a partner you will need to do this jointly.
2. Evidences proving your hardship, in your case a drop in income, do you have any documentary evidence to satisfy this. Also any other documentation showing that you are in arrears on your rent or mortgage, utilities, any court documentation showing that you are being sued.
3. A list of bank charges going back upto 6 years.
4. A letter enclosing the above and fully explaining your situation and why you quailfy under the FSA hardship rules.

We can help you with the letter, but you should not send a templated letter, we have found we have far more success when each letter is written individualy.

You are taking control now and this should help you manage for next months. Once you have completed and I&E and post it up we will be able to see what other savings can also be made.

Tuttsi x

natweststaffmember

milly88 wrote: »

Hi Gizmo

In order to claim bank charges under the FSA rules for financial hardship, you will need the following:-

1. A completed Income and expenses summary, if you have a partner you will need to do this jointly.
http://www.legalbeagles.info/forums/showpost.php?p=127903&postcount=7
Link above is to the Barclays I&E form that they use. You just need to register to get a copy printed out.
2. Evidences proving your hardship, in your case a drop in income, do you have any documentary evidence to satisfy this. Also any other documentation showing that you are in arrears on your rent or mortgage, utilities, any court documentation showing that you are being sued.
3. A list of bank charges going back up to 6 years.
The FSA Waiver allows for you to reclaim back to July 2001 since the clock stopped on 27th July 2007 with regards to limitations.
4. A letter enclosing the above and fully explaining your situation and why you quailfy under the FSA hardship rules.

We can help you with the letter, but you should not send a templated letter, we have found we have far more success when each letter is written individualy.

You are taking control now and this should help you manage for next months. Once you have completed and I&E and post it up we will be able to see what other savings can also be made.

Tuttsi x

Just a couple of points that might be pertinent to the OP

mmmuir

Hi Gizmo,

I totally understand what you are going through at the moment, I have been there too and it is a nightmare struggling to find the money to live, pay bills and cover the day to day expenses - but there are people who can help you.

You've had some great advice through the forum so far and you might also want to consider speaking to your local Citizens Advice Bureau because they have specially trained (and free) debt advisors available for you. They can work with you to review your income and expenditure concerns and develop a plan to attempt to get you back on track. They can also, with your authorisation, act on your behalf in approaching your lenders (i.e. your credit card company etc) to negotiate a reduced payment arrangement for a set period of time (please note this would be recorded on your credit file, though it is preferrable to missed payments or default information being recorded). In the case of financial hardship, the CAB can also attempt to negotiate the freezing of interest and charges for the period of the arrangement too. You've got nothing to loose from speaking to them.

In my case, I took on an additional part-time job in a pub at night to try to allieviate my situation. Although it didn't pay a great deal, it did give me the additional seed money I needed each week to keep me going and it was also social, so I kind of got to have a night out too whilst getting paid for it! I must admit I was knackered working the additional hours, but I definitely slept better knowing I could afford to live and had taken my debts in hand. Just something to consider.

Anyhow, you have taken the first steps to making your situation better and you should be congratulated for taking responsibility and not hiding your head in the sand. This will pass and things will come good again, you've just got to ride it out.

Keep in touch and let us know your progress,

Mx;)

gizmo1409

Hi everyone, haven't posted for a while, trying to sort my mess out.
My sister got made redundant, so i've been helping her trying to sort things out as well, which is kind of strange, considering the situation i am in..

Update:- sent a letter to bank, cancelling the reserve - done
sent a letter to bank cancelling direct debits - done.
Have managed to change my gas & electric, and with the savings, this pays for my car insurance, so no extra cost.
Actively looking to get a smaller car, currently have a 2.0l engine, likes the fuel, insurance is high and tax band is also high..
So have now advertised to sell it, so can get a smaller car... etc.

Still no joy on selling ring,but still trying to, have just got some details of somebody who does purchase, but just waiting for email back.. fingers crossed.

Had one extra charge this month, for my phone, has cancelled DD, this was taken for that.. Although next month, my contract is up, so will either go payg, or switch to a smaller amount..

No letters from the bank really this month stating charges, have not withdrawn any cash.. so hopefully can start to keep within my overdraft limit, till i can start to get back on track.

Yesterday received all my statements back from the bank, and they even sent me my cheque back for the £10.00, must of looked at my account, and thought no way...

With all the statements now, what do I do, just add up all the charges, and then submit with the next letter.. I'm not going to do financial hardship, has after reading everybody else's stories, my situation is not like that, has all my mortgage, council tax, bills, food is paid for, so not struggling there..

Just wanted to say to everyone again, thank you very much for all the advise, it has really helped me..

Gizmo