Deep in Debt

OneTrickPony2008

Okay, I am definitely going to do a spending diary. It will give me a much better idea of where exactly all my money is going.

On another matter, reluctant to do this, but I've cancelled my charity donation to Greenpeace so that will free up £45.

If I successfully cancel my Life Assurance policy then that will be a further £41.

Pretty sure that I can get a better deal on my cable/telephone/internet as well. Been checking it out and I've discovered that whilst I, as an existing customer of Virgin Media are paying £25 for Broadband, they are actually offering the same package at £5 for three months and then £14 from the fourth month onwards. So I'm being ripped off for £11 more than I should be. I think this is something that they do in order to entice new customers, but I reckon it's something of a liberty that they don't treat their existing customers the same way. Got to check out the TV package next, which is what I'm going to be doing shortly.

RAS

Hi

If you were buying a lot of CDs and DVDs, could you sell some on Amazon? raise some cash to clear the OD?

Numpty_Monkey

I think your getting the hang of this:A:T

Cutting the charity donation might seem hard , but its the old saying
Charity begins at home:o

Sometimes its worth a cal to cancellations/ customer retention:rolleyes:
use this site
http://www.saynoto0870.com/
I had a look at the Utilities and and phone tab
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/free-BT-line-installation
I haven't read it propperly

:rolleyes:
A quick tip if you ever sign up to anything sign up for the minimum package
easier to add things:rolleyes: then get rid of them;):eek:

Good point from RAS:A:T

OneTrickPony2008

I've just sold a lot of DVDs to a company that I've used regularly over the last few years. I'm expecting a cheque from them for £200, but it's been delayed in the post (they've sent a replacement out as well by Recorded Delivery which should have arrived today but didn't) so that will help me a little in the short term, but with some further payments due shortly iro my Life Assurance policy (hopefully that will be the last payment I make), my store card bill, plus the rent for the next two weeks and what I need for myself, then I fully expect to be over my OD limit again. I'm going to speak to my bank this week about what they can do for me, but I don't want to consider anymore debt consolidation as that is what has got me into this mess in the first place (plus the overspending on DVDs and CDs). The only issue with that is that because of the loan I currently have with them, they say that they are unable to do anything for me until November, which is still three weeks away. Frankly I feel very foolish to be in this position, why oh why did I keep spending on those credit cards when I knew full well that it wasn't what I should be doing.

Numpty_Monkey

Don't feel foolish, a good few people have been in the same situation


Have you got a Basic bank account?
not connected to any of your creditors

Ames

A word of warning about Virgin, I called them when they changed their packages round because I wasn't happy at losing my favourite channel, they actually told me that because I'd been a customer for so long (about 5 years) I had to pay more! So they might not let you have the lower price. It's still worth asking though!

brummiebabe

Hi there

Why don't you just cancel your Direct Debit for your life insurance - you don't need to wait for them to cancel your policy....you'll probably get a standard letter saying that the payment couldn't be take and that if you don't pay, your policy will be cancelled in so many days.....which won't affect you anyhow.

Just a thought;)

OneTrickPony2008

I have actually considered cancelling the Life Assurance Direct Debit, so I will most definitely be doing this before the next payment is due (next week). At least that will free up another £41 that I wouldn't have expected to have this month. I think that's the best route really because it may be a while before they respond to me and by then it will be too late and the next premium would have been paid.

brummiebabe

Just make sure you cancel it as soon as possible - I know my bank says that if a DD is due out in the next few days, then it's a bit more complicated to cancel

Your policy will probably run for 28 days from this missed payment then it'll cease - I did this before when I changed providers.

OneTrickPony2008

Well I've just gone and cancelled it, so with any luck this will take effect before the payment comes out next Wednesday.

Also cancelled the Greenpeace DD, because despite the fact that they told me it had been cancelled, it was still showing as active on my Bank Account.