national debt line advice

,hills

Just a general question (can supply detailed financial info if requested).

OH earns 28k, I get £30 per week child benefit (2 kids), no other income.

Gives us about £1780 per month.

Outgoings were nearly that until we spoke to National Debtline who said we should say to Company's we owe that we can't afford to pay them so hold off everything and don't pay anything.

Felt guilty so I wrote and spoke to all the Companies, Barclys bank, Mastercard, Debenhams card etc etc and offered them different amounts, a fiver here, twenty pound there etc.

All have nearly agreed now and have frozen interest but am still paying out £1200 per month.

Leaves us about £150 per week which sounds a lot but food, electric, nappies (2 kids 4&2), travel to work etc etc is a struggle.

Should I have offered to pay nothing to these companies as per National DebtLine's advice or are we well off and we don't realise it.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

ms_london

It depends on whether you can afford your proposed repayments or if like you say, you are still paying out too much?

Could you list your budget/SOA here for us to look at? Perhaps there is something you/National Debt Line may have missed?

Well done on dealing with the creditors direct though, at least they are accepting your repayment proposals. If you really are struggling then you might need to go back to them and explain this.

xx

fatbelly

Hi

I think Ms London's right - if you can give us a breakdown of the £1200 we might be able to make some suggestions.

Just looked at your previous post. Did you enjoy Gran Canaria? Were the cigarettes cheap?

Oh dear. Sounds like I'm having a dig. I'm not really. Just jealous - I'm just about to go on a £40 holiday to North Devon that was in the local paper.

I think you've made a brilliant start on your debts.

,hills

Will start on budget sheet for display

Grand canaria was great, paid last minute, expected poor accomodation etc but was brillient.

OH and kids loved it

Fags were 1/2 price.

Thanks

AGB863

,hills wrote:

OH earns 28k, I get £30 per week child benefit (2 kids), no other income.

Do you not claim / get child tax credits?

If you have not claimed you would be entiltled to get a payment based on the info you have indicated.

,hills

here's the list of in's and out's on a monthly basis

I've not gone into things like holidays,Xmas,Birthdays etc as I can't really budget for them because theres not enough money spare.

I have to depend on winning competitions for presents (get stored in the cupboard), wins I don't want go on Ebay, sold to friends etc, or car boots.

Some stuff keep, Kids toys, meals out to use for me and other half to get out,
If it wasn't for the wins (long may they last) i don't know how we would survive.
Been lucky over last few years, won a car (sold it), other decent things sold, even got a holiday win booked for this October in Gozo, off Malta, 5* Ta Cenc Hotel. Don't know if will turn up at airport, depends if any cash to go with. It's not transferrable so can't sell it.

Have arranged offers of payment to nearly all companies we owe but i know they will be back on phone soon wanting to re assess things.

Originally contacted National Debtline and their budget form we used and took advice from said don't offer anything but we felt guilty and offered them the below payments.

Same problem as most people with Family/Child Tax Credit, one month get something, next month stopped and being told overpaid, contest decision, wait for next letter, meanwhile receice nothing.

Not sure what to do now as getting sick of living week/month by month.
Should I offer them nothing ?
Should i pay for a debt amangement company to sort things out to get a bit of peace ?

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks


Outgoings per month

Rent (private) 695
Water rates 20
Poll tax 133
Tv Licence 11
Car Insurance 35
House Insurance 15
Email 4
Mobile Bill 60 (don't have land line)
Sky Tv 46
Poll Tax (previous yrs) 15 owe £1080 from when signed on
JSA (overpaid 2004) 15 owe £520 from when signed on
John Lewis Store Card 5 owe £1050
Debenhams Store Card 10 owe £800
John Lewis credit card 5 owe £ 1335
Barclays Visa Card 9 owe £701
barclays Master Card 14 owe £1131
Barclays Overdraft 56 owe £2700
Direct Line loan 20 owe £2580


Income

Salary 1670
Child benefit 120
Housing Benefit 2 awarded £32 but due to being overpaid in 2004
they are taking £30 per month off me and
giving me 50p per week !! Owe them £1,255
from when signed on

Total In 1670
total out 1168

total left 502

This has to feed and house the family (2 adults and 2 children (4&2).

If you add the below

Food etc 300
Car tax/maintenance 30
electric (pay meter) 120 (winter was a nightmare nearly £240)
travel to work 100

as you can see we are already in the minus

there is no allowance for clothes, Birthdays, Xmas, fags, drink, treats, and more importantly emergencies for household goods etc.

lynzpower

Hi there
For a start the first thing I would do is take some specialist advice as to whether the arrears that you are facing in respect iof your underpaid benefits ( ie council tax benefit) is attributable to you or to the local authority that was paying it at the time. YOu need to have catregorical evidence that YOU sohuld have been paying at that time when you were on JSA. This bit " Housing Benefit 2 awarded £32 but due to being overpaid in 2004they are taking £30 per month off me and
giving me 50p per week !! Owe them £1,255 from when signed on" I just dont get it, why should you be paying for HB when you were on benefits at the time

2) cancel sky, its pretty obvious at the moment, that you really cant afford it.

3) I think you could cut down on your food shopping too, can you dso a storecupbards challenge?

4) whats email - 4 ?

5) any chance of bringing in extra money, only one of you working, co0uld you do some babysitting or an evening or weekend job?

Lynz