Where to start?

Gaz127

First off, hi everyone!

Here is my story. I'm 26 and I've been pretty crap over the last couple of years with my monthly repayments of loans and utility bills, mainly due to the fact that a lot of the time my monthly outgoings have been not far off what I earn't in a month. Also over the last 2 years I've changed address 5 times due to losing a job having to move in with parents and then my parents moved to a different part of the country then they seperated then they got back together and now I live in London with my girlfriend.

I moved out from my parents house around 2 years ago into my own place with my brother, we where both pretty poor at paying the bills but if they where payed then I was always the one that sorted them out. I then lost my job in January of last year so I had to go and live with my parents again. I was out of work for 8 months, My mum and dad where in the middle of seperating and the house was up for sale as they where both moving to Glastonbury and Weston super mare as it was closer to where they both worked so I moved to Glastonbury with my dad where I eventually found a job. I didn't sign on until the last 3 weeks of being unemployed as I was too proud to so I could afford to even meet the renegotiated payments of my debts. So I haven't made a payment to my debts since march 2009 as I was out of work and had no money. When I did eventually find a job in Glastonbury I worked and saved my money to move to London to live with my girlfriend but made sure I had a job to go to before I moved as I felt this is where I would have the best opportunity to earn alot more money and more potential job prospects.

I've now managed to be settled and I really want to start sorting myself out. My girlfriends be talking about us buying a house and having kids in the future and it has made me seriously think about my financial situation. I'm so embarrassed and I fell so irresponsible that I haven't made any payments on my debts in nearly a year.My girlfriend doesn't know anything about my current debt situation as I have always kept it away from her and I also haven't told my creditors when I've moved address.......very bad I know.

I've today had a look at my credit report online and what concerns me is that not all the debts that I have are registered on it as most of my letters and paperwork have been lost in between moving house so much, so I don't know exactly what and who I owe what to I have a rough Idea

HSBC £4300 (gone to collection agency)

HSBC current account £300 overdraft (closed)

Welcome Finance around £4500 (dunno how much by the time they put their fees and charges on top )

Virgin Media £300 (Gone to collection)

T-Mobile £300 (gone to collection)

Swalec £400 (gone to collection)

Welsh Water £130 (gone to collection)

and around £500 more debt with various other agencies.

I want to sort problem out the thing is I just don't know where on earth to start. I was thinking about going along to the Citzens Advice Bearau to see if they could help.

Sorry for the long winded post hope anyone who is reading is still awake :P

Numpty_Monkey

Hi Gaz:hello:
welcome along, we'l try to help as much as we can:A:T

If you can fil out an SOA use this link

Wel done on starting sorting yourself and future out:T:T:T

nekosuki

Hi Gaz

I would write to your original creditors and ask them with regards to your debts (and state that you only wish to correspond via mail too so that they don't start phoning a gazillion times a day).

When you know the true picture then you can start making a repayment plan.

Follow Numpty Monkey's advice and fill in the SOA from the link. This is the first thing any creditor, original or collection dept will want to see when agreeing repayments.

Good luck with it all! This is a great place for support and advice, keep posting.

Tixy

Hi Gaz

If when you got your credit file you gave details of your previous [STRIKE]debts[/STRIKE] addresses you may find that your creditors start to find you (as you will have linked the addresses).

I would write out the SoA and just include a best guess for the debts, it'll be a starting point and you can amend as you find out more.

niccatw

Hi Gaz

Welcome along We've mostly all been through the feelings you are currently going through. It will get better, especially when you sit down, look through all the paperwork (that you can find) and start to pull together a plan. It puts you back in control and I can truly say, that does wonders for reducing the stress! That and posting on here to remind yourself you are not the only one!

Anyway, what I was going to say is, when filling out you SOA, you can do it jsut for your own circumstances if you like. So for example, you'd put your half of the rent, your half of the TV license, that kind of thing. People are very good at suggesting where you might be spending more than you might need (groceries, mobiles, utilities and insurance are usually top culprits here!) My SOA here if you want to have a nosey at one that's already been done (although there will be plenty more on the forum to look at!) http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2245393

I'd also suggest you tell your girlfriend as soon as you feel able. You might find she already has an idea, or has been there herself. If you do want to buy a house together, or even have a joint account, then she needs to know your situation. SInce you are here and looking at ways to sort it all out, I'm sure she will be very supportive. It'll also stop you stressing that you haven't told her and worrying that she might find out.

Come back with your SOA Ad I'm sure we'll be able to help.

Good luck and take care

savingmummy

As others have said do a soa. This helped me so much.
You need to tell your gf! If worst was to come she may find out via post, phone or by a visit!
Once she knows you will have her support and she can help you by cutting back to pay off debts x

chivers1977

For mobile if you really do need to make loads of calls what about http://www.tesco.com/mobilenetwork/paymonthly.aspx?page=5