I need help so badly

dancingfairy

With regard to the electric meter - they haven't got confused between metric and imperial have they? I think it's they take imperial measurements and mulptiply them by a number to work out the metric number - this is fine - but if your meter is already metric and they multiply it it multiplies your bills by a ridiculous amount. It does sound like there may be some problem with your bills -somwhere - although quite what and where I don't know. Hmmmm.
Anyway hope you get things sorted soon.
df

lilyb131

Hi Littlemiss skint

Just wanted to say hi I am pretty new to this myself so not really any advice I have similar debts to yourself and am dealing with it without a DMP at the moment.

I have 2 small children as well and understand how hard Christmas will be cancelling it is not an option!! I am going to make it as special as I can within my budget and as they are only small I am hoping they won't notice that we haven't spent as much this year.

Good luck there is lots of good advice on this web site. Take care do not worry yourself sick its really not worth it.

Arwen

Hi littlemiss skint

I work for a free Debt Advice agency in Scotland and suggest that you go and see an advice agency listed on one of these sites to discuss your options. Money advice workers have seen it all before,so please do not worry that you will be judged.All they want to do is help.

The links below are to money advice agencies and the Debt Arrangement scheme, so are legitimate sites so these should be ok to post.

If your debt can be paid off in under 10 years, a DPP may be viable for you, but it must pass the "fair and reasonable test". The difference between a DMP and a DPP under DAS is that , an ordinary Debt Management plan does not guarantee that creditors will not take action, or that interest wil be frozen (although most do).In a DPP, interest will be frozen, and you will be protected from "diligence" ie creditors taking enforcement action against you.Your house will also be protected.

Howevere they will look at ALL options for you.

http://www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk/debtadvice/find_agency.php

https://www.moneyscotland.gov.uk

LittleMissSkint

Hi all!

Quick update is that after getting all of our exact facts and figures done (after I calmed down) We went back to the CCCS and they have suggested a "Low Start DMP". This means that although our payments would be lower than they would normally accept at first they will let us pay less for the first 12 months as we know our surplus income will increase. This is because we currently pay £574 to the mortgage but in a few months this will go back to £499 once the arrears are cleared. Also our car loan is £272 just now but this will go to £222 in 3months time. If I can get a part time job even better (I have an interview on Monday to be a room attendant in a hotel - 15 hours a week Sat and Sun £6.10 an hour - praying I get it!!).

So they have advised that we now cancel all our non secured DDs and wait for our DMP pack coming through. I'm so nervous!!! Can anyone advise how long it takes for a DMP to get set up?! I just want it to be done!

Huge thank you to everyone who offered me advice on here.

LittleMissSkint

luckylynda wrote: »

Hello,Just wanted to say that I was in your position 4 months ago,huge debts,mortgage arrears lost my job and OH really didnt know how bad the situation was so I done a really awful thing and ran away.A coward I know but I could not handle the situation anymore, OH wanted me back(thank god) and we faced up to it and sorted it out together,we went to citizens advice for debt and they were wonderful they sorted everything.Went to shelter for help with the house,as we had received an eviction notice,they came to court with us and have helped us every step of the way,we are still in the house and now paying reduced mortgage thanks to them.So I just wanted to say that I know how you feel but please believe me there are people out there who will help you,they helped me.I am starting to breathe again and it feels good,you will to soon.Best of luck and hang on in there xx:hello:

Thank you for sharing this, it was a comfort to me to know I wasn't the only one who just couldn't cope. I considered just running so many times - but I couldn't bear to leave my children, and couldn't afford to run away with them. I knew it was time to seek help the other day when I was in the bathroom fresh out the shower and spotted the harpic bleach bottle and actually considered drinking it. Seriously I thought about it for a good 10 minutes - this is how bad I was. Now, in clearer mind I realise debt will NEVER be worth leaving my daughters without a mother. Like someone said earlier - it's only money. I will survive this. I'm so glad everything worked out for you, here's hoping mine will be at least on the way to getting sorted very soon! xx

dancingfairy

Hi LittlemissSkint - glad to hear things are progressing for you - hopefully you will be able to sort out the electric thing as well and any spare when that is sorted can go to your dmp - it's kind of like a snowball - you start small and you gather momentum as you go along.
With regards to Christmas there have been a lot of people on here worrying about it -so you are not alone there - there have been some great threads on it recently about how to enjoy it as cheaply as possible -I will try and find the link for you.
In answer to your question I quess it depends on which organisation you are dealing with how long it takes to organise - it also depends on how quick you are at getting all the paperwork in as well - just a note of warning - it can take some creditors months to accept you are with a debt charity so you will need to be tough with them - they can't have what you haven't got - you will just need to repeat to them - I am with CCCS - client number blah and put the phone down. They should all get the idea eventually but they can be a little slow.
df

Edit: one of the Christmas threads is here: hopefully it'll give you inspiration.

LeeSouthEast

See... the light at the end of the tunnel is in sight Well done for sticking it out and just keep telling yourself - it's only money! It doesn't even begin to compare to the wonderful gift of motherhood you give your children.

LittleMissSkint

Good Morning! (til the postie arrives lol)

Thought I'd give a quick update - we're still waiting on our paperwork coming through for our low start DMP.....just wanna have done with it! :rolleyes: Anyway I called npower and practically begged them to reduce my £188 a month, no they said. Plain and simple. So I called The Home Heat Helpline and a very nice lady called Npower for me while I waited on the line and they have agreed to reduce my payments to £100 per month! :j For anyone struggling with utility bills I strongly recommend you give them a call. The council called me regarding my council tax arrears and said they were going to arrest OHs wages but I managed to get her to put the account on hold for 30 days while the DMP gets set up....phew! Not much else to report really, haven't heard back from my job interview yet, but have applied for a few others (lots of xmas temp jobs out there just now for evenings) so fingers crossed for one of those to come through. I feel so much better for just taking some positive action, still have bad days of course - but getting there!

lossed

out

LittleMissSkint wrote: »

I have reached this same conclusion, they are just very persistant and they caught me at a weak time. I couldn't bear to be called again.

Hiya i cannot advise you on much as i am new here myself, but i dint want to pass you by without sending a big hug and saying stay on this board every day for the rest of your life. Its such good advice support and therapy

I was being harassed via telephone, i rang bt and told them the truth, they changed my number there and then and took about 5 dys for new number to kick in and they didnt charge me either.

jo xxx hang in there

lossed

LeeSouthEast wrote: »

Been there, done that. Where do you think my debt came from? It's certainly not flashy cars, HDTV's and lavish holidays. I wish!

My point: You are not alone in this. Keep smiling. It's only money.

Me too Im am the original money waster, but this site will teach you different

jo x