My 'light bulb' has just come on....

Clacka2010

Hi everyone, been browsing this site today. I have to say that everyone seems really helpful and to be doing really well with their 'debt issues', which has definately spurred me on to try and ask for help. This site is brilliant and seems to have a real community feel, and also, it is nice to know that i am most definately not alone in what i am experiencing, as sometimes you feel you are.

My situation isnt terrible to be honest, but it still causes me stress. Just to explain (so people can give me exact advice) I received a bill for ONE MONTH on o2 of £630, which is obviously ridiculous, i have an Alliance and Leicester chasing me for £750 (for an account which went £100 overdrawn) and i owe another bank about £550 for an overdraft which i closed down. I do have a credit card debt of just under £3000 but the card has been cut up and i have been meeting minimum payments, i just cant afford the repayments on my other three debts due to my wage going down because of a job change. My girlfriend is very helpful, having been through a similar situation herself and is coming up with some solutions.

I was wandering if anyone had any suggestions? I would really appreciate any kind of feedback.

Many Thanks.

KipKip_2

hiya

your definately in the right place and welcome!!!!

first things first so these lovely people can help you on here, you should post up a Statement of Affairs, not too sure how to post links I will search for it and getback to you....
(unless someone beats me to it!!)

crapwithcash82

Hi Clacka2010, have you done a Statement of Affairs? This lists all your incomings and outgoings - if you do this and post on here, then people will be able to advise where you could cut down on spending etc? It also gives you an idea of exactly what you have coming in and going out.

Well done on realising you need to pay off your debts, and I'm sure you'll get lots of good advice and support on here!

penniesonly

Have been in similar position with my partner too.
Firstly, can i suggest that you contact the banks to discuss a payment arrangement? maybe just £50 a month to each will keep them happy, but check if they are charging fees/interst on it.

As for the mobile phone, ask for full breakdown of the calls made, as an itemised list might show up why the bill is so high. They may have charged you for calls you thought were free.

good luck.

KipKip_2

here's the link
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

fill all these details in with your income, expenditure and then your debts then you can format it to post it on MSE here where the lovelies on here can help you see where you can cut back and what to pay off first etc to help you get debt free asap :j

The_Last_Chance

Hi there Clacka2010,

Regarding the issues of debt, if you could go more in detail RE the Alliance and Leicester I may be able to offer some assistance to point you in the right direction. I have some past experience (employed for the last year on telephone banking with A&L) *cough *cough in this sort of issue and would be happy to give some details of how to get through the complaints process and try and remove some of the hefty charges of £5.00 per day unauth overdraft charges or £5.00 underfunding fee on the account etc.

Thanks

Clacka2010

Many thanks to you all for your mega quick responses, much appreciated,

Kip, i have entered info into the caluculator, some of them i had to leave blank, such as the repayment box for the 3 debts as i havent resolved anything yet.

Last chance, I opened an accoutn and had a £100 overdraft facility, i used this then changed bank accounts to Coventry as i thought having a bank book would stop me from spending so randomly. They then sent me letters which to be honest, ive buried my head in the sand, as a lot of people do, it is now with a recovery team... how would you suggest dealing with this?

Again, many thanks for all your responses....

The_Last_Chance

Well looking at the details it does look like they will still use the fact that you have gone into the overdraft facility to charge you. First of all what i suggest is that you look at the advice i've dispensed here if relevant to the problem because it basically lists the ins and outs of the system.

Oooopps not allowed to put links in .......

so search:Battling Alliance and Leicester - HELP!!

I've posted there anything that might point you in the right direction.


If the details are with a recovery team i will take it this may be the CCU team. What i would advise is that team is basically like a debt rehabilitation centre, they will most likely advise to set up a standing order into the account to regularly pay off the overdrawn balance and some of the charges and then they can put it through compulsory closure or simply offer to keep you as an account holder with the account being back in order.

What I would advise is that due to the fact that you seem to be refinancing multiple debts it may be worth making sure the complaint has been put through to the Group Customer Relations department "use the terms I am struggling financially due to the amount i have accrued" this is then logged as financial difficulty and they may be able to refund some of the charges. If not then alternatively make sure you have at least recieved the token gesture of goodwill of £25.00 which is dispensed once in every twelve months to account holders.

If the account that was originally set up accrued any overdraft usage fees then complain these as a bank error and quote the first 12 months are fee free overdraft - any additional charges caused by these fees should also be refunded as an error.

Also check the account to see if any Direct Debits where claimed from the account which shouldn't have been there ESPECIALLY Homecare Insurance - If under £10.00 then if you say that you didn't set this up the bank just refunds it at a loss.

Any direct debits you do not recognise can be refunded under the direct debit mandate and charges can be returned. You can have the details passed onto the fraud team (who sit and eat cakes all day and are actually advised NOT to answer their phones) and they will get the details refunded for you.




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I DO NOT ADVOCATE LYING IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FOLLOWING SHOULD YOU ACT UPON IT
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Now it may make the issue work or it may resolve everything in one easy go for you. Alliance and Leicester is renowned for it's lack of branches and also its lack of communication between telephone banking and the branch network. On a regular basis the branch staff seem to get it wrong and "misadvise" people. Due to the lack of communication you could place a complaint with GCR and quote you were advised in branch that should you open the account you could make use of the overdraft for up to a year before being charged. This in turn caused you to believe that you could make use of the overdraft and pay it off a year later - by what you were told you felt you had been misadvised due to the underfunding fees accrued on the account.

What then happens is it is logged as a complaint and nine times out of ten the Group customer relations team simply refund the underfunding charges and subsequest unauthorised overdrawing charges as benefit of the doubt

Once again i do not advocate lying - however knowing the system and if all else fails its worth a shot.


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I DO NOT ADVOCATE LYING IN ANY SHAPE OR FORM AND WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FOLLOWING SHOULD YOU ACT UPON IT
*******************************************************



:TGood luck :T
:A :A :A :A :A :A :A :A

firestronaut

You've come to the right place for help, support and even friendship!

Most of us are in the debt boat and know what you're going through.

Post a SOA and we'll see what we can do to help