I've stopped hiding the mail from my OH

fozzybear_2

Hello,

My first time posting, so a little bit of background:
I've had debts for as long as I can remember. My financial situation has yo-yo-ed for pretty much all of my adult life. For years now I've been mostly in the red, incurring charges from my bank and having my CC limits upped.

About 8 months ago I gave up a well-paid job in London, because it was seriously affecting my health. I moved to a remote part of the country with my girlfriend. Fortunately, she was able to transfer her job, so we still had her wage coming in.

However, I spent the next six months looking for work. I could have done a lot more to find bits and pieces, but my confidence was shot to hell. During that time, I paid virtually none of my bills, put nothing into my bank account and used up all of my meagre savings.

Then, in the middle of April, I managed to get a job. It pays a fraction of what I used to earn, but it means so much to me. It's boosted my confidence ten-fold, means that I know I've got money coming in, and, most importantly, gives me time to spend with my OH.

During those six months of unemployment, I'd been ignoring telephone calls, hiding letters (without opening them) and generally avoiding contact with the outside world. I realised just how bad this had got when my first paycheck was bounced back to my employer with a note saying my account had been closed. :eek:

Anyway, long story short, I'm starting to get myself back on track (helped by reclaiming some money from a house sale a few years ago). Last week and this have been spent calling creditors, finding how much I owe, and arranging (or making) payments to them.

Here's a list of my debts as of last week (I'm not putting up a full SOA, as I haven't completely finished it yet).

Bank O/D - £411
CC1 - £12, 598
CC2 - £1080.27
BT - £69.46
Broadband - £78.17
Council Tax - £760
Vodafone - £286
Coalman - £33.75
Storage unit - £240
Npower - £131.87

Total - £15,688.52 - Ouch.

I've managed to pay off £1815.77 of that in the last few days. Additionally, Vodafone waived a £204 (!!!) cancellation fee, on payment of a reconnection fee of £35.

I have no idea why I owe Npower money, but I keep getting letters from Westcot Credit Services (who I've not heard good things about!), so I'm disputing that debt.

The biggest worry, though, was the bank closing my account. I called them to find out how much I owed on my overdraft and how I could pay it back. Turns out my overdraft had peaked at £411 (about half of what I thought it was going to be), but they had decided to write off that debt when closing the account. Actually, although it causes a few headaches, this is actually a bit of a relief, because I had grown increasingly sick of the charges and tactics of that particular bank. I'm now opening a Step Account with NatWest, which should do me for the next few years while I try to sort myself out.

However, I have a question regarding recovery of bank charges. I must have been charged thousands over the last few years. If the bank have agreed to write off the £411, could they come back for it if I start going through the process of recovering those charges? Also, CC1 (~£12k) is with the same bank. If I try to recover the bank charges, do you think they may demand that the CC be paid in full?

By the way, I stumbled across this place about a week ago, when looking for information about bank accounts for those with poor credit history. Reading through lots of posts and seeing how helpful you all are has also helped me try to get back on track. Thanks.

Making those phonecalls, paying some of those bills, getting my head around what I owe has helped me so much. I'm much, much happier. And I've stopped hiding the mail from my girlfriend.

taplady

Hi Fozzie!
welcome to DFW!
you've made a good move finding this site;) I'm glad you're sorting things out and that you are much happier now!:D

I hope all goes well for you!:D

fozzybear_2

Thanks for the welcome taplady.

I've just realised how long and rambling that first post was, and I didn't even cover half of what I intended to! Sorry.

postingalwaysposting

welcome fozzybear, looks like you have a plan already and thats just your first post :j congratulations on finding us and be asured if its a kick in the right direction/some support, these lovely lot on here will help please keep posting and i look forward to reading your post on you dfd

debtjourno

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=208445

If you fancy sharing your debt experiences further...

Thanks and good luck with it all. If there's one thing I've learnt from these boards it's that people have the most amazing resiliance and will power to get things sorted. I really hope I can develop the same kind of discipline some day.

In_Search_Of_Me

Just wanted to say welcome & send a big hug! Its a huge relief when you take your head out of the sand isnt it!! Unsure re bank charges but there is a thread somewhere on it (i never went over o/d as always just "bunged it on the credit card"!!) ...otherwise hang on & another wise DFW will be along shortly! Well done on telling OH...any way of you getting additional income or a better paid but not too stressful job...?

tesuhoha

With regard to your bank charges I think you should ask the bank for statements going back 6 years. They are obliged to send you them under the data thingy act, whatever it is. Then check through and find how much they have actually charged you. If it outweighs the £411 by a great deal then it will be worthwhile pursuing even if you do have to pay that money back. But if they have written it off, surely they dont have a leg to stand on.

domesticgoddess

Hi welcome

I've just started the frst step to reclaim bank charges, my charges this months were over £200 and thats after informing them of my DMP !!

Good luck

beanielou

Fozzybear
think that was a great first post and it dident come across as rambling at all.
hope that you get everything sorted out.
welcome to MSE by the way as well!

Mrs_Sparkle

Welcome Fozzy! You won't look back now you've joined us. I only joined a week ago and look how much I've posted already (I'm a gobby mare, I know...!) These people on here are blunt but non-judgemental, helpful but non-patronising... you'll be addicted before you know it

fozzybear_2

fishface-69 wrote:

any way of you getting additional income or a better paid but not too stressful job...?

Thanks for the welcome fishface. To be honest, there are very few jobs in my field in the local area, and all of them pay poorly (compared to national average). I could get a high paying job in Edinburgh or Newcastle, but that would involve at least 3 hours of travelling a day, and I'm through with that after recent experiences. I'm told that I might get a £1k payrise after my probation period at this job!

With the time I save on travelling, I'm hoping to pick up little bits of work. Website design, mystery shopping, selling my body, that kind of thing....