Can anyone advise me what to do?

jlobby0-7

Hi everyone,

Due to a seperation from my wife, loss of overtime at work and a load of other things, a couple of months ago I found that there was more going out than coming in!. I ashamedly contacted a debt management company who have sucessfully negotiated with 6 of my 7 creditors. The 7th credtor, the Halifax who I owed 3300 to an overdraft claimed not to have recieved any correspondance or contact despite a recorded conversation with them on the 24th Sept when they promised to put ahold onto my account to await written information. Meanwhile, my new lloyds tsb account had been activated. I asked lloyds to takeon my direct debits and I advised them of the fact that I was on a DMP. Lloyds have since took it upon themselves to close my Halifax acct despite me never authorising them to do so and yesterday paid the halifax £3250 leaving me with no money for this month, no way to pay my direct debits and no money for food etc etc. LLoyd say I have signed a form authorising all of this, but they never explained they would pay all this money to the Halifax. The Halifax refuse to help me stating my debt has been paid in full, thanks very much.
So, in a nutshell, I have approx £1700 worth of direct debits inc. mortgages and secured loans to pay for and no money in the bank to pay. As I am on a recent DMP, I cannot source any credit so am basically stumped.
Can anyone give me some advice as what to do next?. The only thing Lloyds have advised is to cancel all my direct debits, sit tight for the month and pay double next month!

Thanks in advance.

LCT

I can't offer much advise other than;
1) cancel all your direct debits so you don't get charged for each failed one
2) ring your mortgage company tomorrow and explain what has happened. the sooner you call the more they will be able to help
3)ring your council re council tax tomorrow as above

I'm afraid it'll probably be a big ringing round job at the weekend to explain everything!

L
x

jlobby0-7

Cheers,

It would appear there is help on the horizon. The halifax has today reopened by acount to allow me to take back the money and clear the overdraft via my DMP. I think the tears helped!!

Just a word of warning to everyone - my debt management co. were useless with this - no help whatsoever!

MrsTinks

a - you used a fee based DMC right? I shall say no more...

b - Lloyds allowed a payment to Halifax for funds you hadn't authorised??? HUH??? Have Lloyds and Halifax joined without me noticing? (possible... I often miss stuff like that)... if not then I'd have some pretty serious words with Lloyds about it... Wether or not you have managed to get Halifax to cough up in the mean time doesn't matter - I'd be getting pretty shirty with Lloyds...

jlobby0-7

Hi Mrs T,

Yes, you are right, I have used a DMC with a fee to pay. £220 p/mth, they take £30. I was just so desperate at the time, I realise now that there are non fee DMC's and I was wondering if you can switch to them? Do you know if you can?

Lloyds are basically saying that when I signed a form with them to xfer my direct debits over it also covered them contacting Halifax to close the account. They said that Halifax demanded the money in my acct and as I owed 3300 they were "legally bound" to pay it. Yesterday was a very grim day indeed, the tree in my back garden became very tempting. Luckily, I appear to have survived this. I am taking it up with Lloyds, I have to send them a letter, so I am in the middle of composing it. Suffice to say, I will be moving my account again very shortly. Intrestingly enough, it was my DMC who advised me to go with Lloyds!

Thanks for the reply :T