despair.....

spangles39

Hi all,

Had a really tough time,...got made redundant in July from full time job...but cos i broke the 8.5 years last year for 3 months i did not get any redundancy. Thought it was better to take any job rather than be unemployed so have spent the time since working at a kennel for 94 quid a week. Applied for housing benefit...which cos i was filed in wrong tray took 8 weeks to process. In the meantime i am drowning in debt, ignoring phone and door and just feel thankful that my home does not have a loft hatch. My kennel work has decreased so have applied for temp work at tescos..should know friday but job will only be until jan 1st. I am so depressed and dont know where to turn. Housing benefit told me if i got tax credits i would not get housing....which was infact incorrect. They took so long to process my claim i received bailiff charges for my council tax of £100. Since July i had week off work with no pay...it all adds up. Am thinking of contacting payplan. I just feel that no matter what i do and how hard i try im sinking in quicksand. In july had interview at DWP, and passed all their standards,..got success letter but since found out the chances of a job is remote....feel helpless and lost. Am a single working mum that has always worked,...as my good old dad said.."doesnt matter if you shovel S**t for a living as long as you do something....well i am shovelling.....but feel more down as the days progress. Not even bothered about xmas....thats a write-off but getting to the point where even every day bills are gonna be impossible to meet. Sorry just needed to get it off my chest

honeybear_2

Hi Spangles :wave:

Firstly a huge well done for coming out from under your sink & posting. It is really hard so give yourself a pat on the back for taking that step.

A DMP might be what you need but could you first post an SOA (statement of affairs) on here. People on here can do wonders at helping cut costs etc & maybe a fresh pair of eyes (or several ) will give you a better perspective.

I know it seems like you're drowning now but it does get better. I'm really glad you started your own thread, well done

DarkConvict

Hi,

Im sorry to hear you are having a hard time, but you have come to a good place for help. As mentioned above you can get free professional help in confidence from PayPlan, but also from CCCS, National Debtline and CAB.

If you have little to no hope of paying debts, and no assets such as a house or saving, with the stress of debts chasing bankruptcy maybe an option. if you read the sticky topic, you should post up an SOA and see what we can advise to save you money - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=107280

spangles39

thanks honey...you have no idea how hard it was,....sobbed as i did so. I have so many unopened letters.....cant sleep,...need to open them before i call payplan. Im nearlly £600 quid down on housing benefit,..have juggled til i have nothing left. Scared, embarressed and stressed....in equal measure....your comments are kind thank you.

spangles39

DarkConvict wrote: »

Hi,

Im sorry to hear you are having a hard time, but you have come to a good place for help. As mentioned above you can get free professional help in confidence from PayPlan, but also from CCCS, National Debtline and CAB.

If you have little to no hope of paying debts, and no assets such as a house or saving, with the stress of debts chasing bankruptcy maybe an option. if you read the sticky topic, you should post up an SOA and see what we can advise to save you money - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=107280

Thank you dark,...i never know what my income is going to be so hard to do and soa. If i get the tesco job it will only be until jan 1st and although interview went well and am hopeful of job they do not recruit in jan, and kennels close in jan so no chance of income there. I have applied for basic bank account as i know payplan will advise that as first step. I have shaved my expenses to the bone ,ie no life/contents insurance, no sky.and dont buy new clothes. I just need a break. Will work anywhere doin anything......I hate the situation i am in.

honeybear_2

However horrible it is to do, you do need to open the letters, get an idea of the scale of all your debts & draw up your SOA. That will be needed for any calls to Payplan etc, even if you don't post it here. I'd recommend posting it though as people on here help so much.

You will feel better for facing it, even if it's tough to start with.

DarkConvict

I would definely talk to National Debtline and CCCS too, for 2nd/3rd opinions. May i ask how much debt you are in total, your total assets (cash/property). If you have little income and little assets there is little you can really do, physically impossible to spring cash out of mid air.
There are always options open somewhere, but as above i knew someone who was stressed, 40 hour weeks at work and not making a dent in his debt, then landed with a £4000 tax bill due to taxcode issues over 4-5 years. So he went bankrupt and overall i would say it was positive to him as whilst credit is a no-no for sometime it meant he could focus on life not money.

p.s. remember over the phone and internet, you are anonymous, we don't know who you are so do not worry.

spangles39

Thanks honey,

I will post on here.....I just want peace. Its hard applying for jobs when u cant answer your phone.....i dread having to go on jsa in jan as i know they take weeks to process. I guess i have to take one step at a time...although i wish the ground would just swallow me up.....its so hard.

DarkConvict

If you answer the phone, refuse to answer security questions, as it means they can't talk to you. Also you can tell them not to ring and force them to write - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11571485&postcount=4

spangles39

DarkConvict wrote: »

I would definely talk to National Debtline and CCCS too, for 2nd/3rd opinions. May i ask how much debt you are in total, your total assets (cash/property). If you have little income and little assets there is little you can really do, physically impossible to spring cash out of mid air.
There are always options open somewhere, but as above i knew someone who was stressed, 40 hour weeks at work and not making a dent in his debt, then landed with a £4000 tax bill due to taxcode issues over 4-5 years. So he went bankrupt and overall i would say it was positive to him as whilst credit is a no-no for sometime it meant he could focus on life not money.

p.s. remember over the phone and internet, you are anonymous, we don't know who you are so do not worry.

In total my debt is around 11K. £7k of which is with my bank. I did contact them but all they could offer was extending my loan (adding £1200 to my debt) and only reducing my payment from £157 to £114 per month. When i finally applied for housing and council tax benefit i was behind so brother lent me 500 quid on credit card, and when i asked that they put my account on hold until my benefit was on hold they refused, when my next payment bounced the bailiff called. Was told if i didnt pay £484 that day then i would incur charges.....the minimum he would accept was £100 but that was only charges so still owed 484. Paid the £100, through my account into chaos. The bailiff told me the mistake i made was a) working part time.and b) paying anything. Just feel that i am trying my best but keep getting knocked back and sinking deeper/

EssexHebridean

Sorry to hear what a tough time you're having, but well done on having the courage to post on here as a first step.

As said above, you do need to open all that post to see what you are dealing with. I promise you, once it's all opened and not staring accusingly at you you WILL feel better about things. Why not get yourself a cup of tea/coffee/hot chocolate and tghen start dealing with it? First off get rid of all the junk that's nothing to do with any debt, then sort the debt stuff into priority (Mortgage/council tax/heat, light, water) and non priority (everything else). Once the junk mail is weeded out and all the leaflets etc that come in with proper post, that pile will look so much smaller and more manageable.

One thing I did notice from your posts about - you mention having stopped your contents insurance......please, you really must reinstate this. If the worst should happen you would be in such a terrible situation - to not have satellite TV and not buy new clothes is a sensible step, but cutting back on vital insurance like this is just a step too far.

Above all, try not to panic. Get your SOA posted up based on a "worst case scenario" and let people make suggestions on how you mnay be able to make reductions here and there - there is lots of help and support available on here.