Help please (SOA)

wayout84

Hiya,

Right I need help

My husband is very sadly terminally ill:( We have 3 children and he has about a year left:(

I am on a DMP with payplan (£90 a month) but I just cannot afford it (see below) as I have had to give up work to care for him and our children

It has got to the point that today I have 0.95p left in my account

My husband receives some disability money but tbh that all has to go on his care and any he has left over is HIS for him to spend as he pleases (which he should do and I'm NOT giving any of his cash to creditors when he has so little time left:mad:) He does not have any debt

Our grocery bill is quite high as it includes special food for my husband, and 2 of our children are in nappies

I really cannot handle the stress of creditors chasing me - i simply can't:( i tried to explain my situation to Halifax and there was not even a thread of empathy - they said "it's black and white, you need to pay us" (and they add late fees and charges every month.....I pay them £10.20 and they charge about £30....I have been on the DMP for a couple of years

ANyway, what an I do?? I would SO love this to just disappear and them to say "oh don't worry about it:o but clearly it's not going to happen".... very sadly I do not qualify for a DRO as my pension is £546 and you can only have £300 assets:mad:

Can I offer them token payments, or would they harass me month after month??

I CAN afford to live, but cannot afford anything extra or to pay them anymore

I never thought I'd be in this position..only 26 years old:( I get everything i'm entitled to - income support, tax creds and child benefit (and housing/council tax benefit)

Thanks in advance

Statement of Affairs and Personal Balance Sheet
Household Information
Number of adults in household........... 2
Number of children in household......... 2
Number of cars owned.................... 1
Monthly Income Details
Monthly income after tax................ 0
Partners monthly income after tax....... 0
Benefits................................ 748
Other income............................ 339
Total monthly income.................... 1087
Monthly Expense Details
Mortgage................................ 0
Secured/HP loan repayments.............. 0
Rent.................................... 339
Management charge (leasehold property).. 0
Council tax............................. 5
Electricity............................. 85 (this is gas + electric)
Gas..................................... 0
Oil..................................... 0
Water rates............................. 40
Telephone (land line)................... 60
Mobile phone............................ 10
TV Licence.............................. 11
Satellite/Cable TV...................... 24
Internet Services....................... 0
Groceries etc. ......................... 300
Clothing................................ 0
Petrol/diesel........................... 100
Road tax................................ 0
Car Insurance........................... 23
Car maintenance (including MOT)......... 0
Car parking............................. 0
Other travel............................ 0
Childcare/nursery....................... 10
Other child related expenses............ 0
Medical (prescriptions, dentist etc).... 0
Pet insurance/vet bills................. 20
Buildings insurance..................... 0
Contents insurance...................... 18
Life assurance ......................... 24
Other insurance......................... 12
Presents (birthday, christmas etc)...... 20
Haircuts................................ 0
Entertainment........................... 0
Holiday................................. 0
Emergency fund.......................... 0
Total monthly expenses.................. 1101

Assets
Cash.................................... 0
House value (Gross)..................... 0
Shares and bonds........................ 0
Car(s).................................. 0
Other assets............................ 0
Total Assets............................ 0

No Secured nor Hire Purchase Debts
Unsecured Debts
Description....................Debt......Monthly...APR
CO Op overdraft................90........0.........0
Virgin credit card.............60........0.........0
Virgin loan....................4500......0.........0
Halifax........................1600......0.........0
Egg............................1000......0.........0
Total unsecured debts..........7250......0.........-

Monthly Budget Summary
Total monthly income.................... 1,087
Expenses (including HP & secured debts). 1,101
Available for debt repayments........... -14
Monthly UNsecured debt repayments....... 0
Amount short for making debt repayments. -14
Personal Balance Sheet Summary
Total assets (things you own)........... 0
Total HP & Secured debt................. -0
Total Unsecured debt.................... -7,250
Net Assets.............................. -7,250
Created using the SOA calculator at www.makesenseofcards.com.
Reproduced on Moneysavingexpert with permission, using IE browser.

WASHER

I am so sorry to read your husband is terminally ill, I cannot for a moment think how you are coping with this never mind the creditors as well.

You really shouldn't be speaking to the creditors if you are on a DMP, simply give the creditors the Payplan number, and change your home phone number too.

You can always go back to Payplan and ask for a review, if you are struggling, they should help you work out something which is a little easier on you.

I see you have life insurance, I hate to ask this, but does this pay out on diagnosis of a terminal illness? Or it death only?

WASHER.x.

wayout84

Payplan have said they won't be able to help me if I pay any less than I am now:(

The life insurance is sadly for me only...my husband couldn't get any (well only accidental death) due to his health condition (which is now terminal)....he has NEVER been able to get any

I *should* get the widows payment when he passes away...but this is only £2000

WASHER

Ok, if Payplan can't/won't help, the CCCS may well help you, you cannot carry on struggling like this, phone the CCCS (a debt charity) they may help you.

Please remember, do not speak to any creditor, you have no need to, Payplan should be doing this for you.

wayout84

Thanks Washer....only trouble is, their debt remedy tells me to go BR, which a) I can't afford and b) I don't want to really:o
Should I speak to them anyway??

WASHER

Yes, do speak to them,

Also you could phone Christians against Proverty, a charity who may help you too. (you do not have be a christian to use this charity) they are highly recommended by Martin Lewis.
http://www.capuk.org/home/index.php

wayout84

just looked - CAP not available in my area:(

niccatw

Oh honey, big hugs! I really don't know how you are coping and really admire you posting, it must have been a very difficult thing to do on top of everything else.

I agree with Washer, I'd give CCCS a call and see what else they can offer other than BR. And Payplan should be dealing with your creditors - definitely not you!

The other things I point out would be the cost of your telephone line. Any chance you can change providers or look into reducing the cost of calls (there's a few threads somewhere on this sit that talk about sites such as http://www.saynoto0870.com/ etc)

And your sattelit TV. Don't know who you are with but if it's Sky, try cancelling and waiting for them to call to "retain" you. My friend just did this and held her ground (as she really couldn't pay). Eventually they offered her 4 packages for £10 per month for 12 months. Worth a try whoever your provider I guess (especially since you'll have freeview in the meantime as you've a digibox already)

It hardly seems enough and I wish there was more I could do to help you. Try to remember and take care of you too xx

smileyt_2

Hi

If you tell me where you live, I will do an internet search for you and see if I can find any agencies or charities which might help. I am so sorry you are in such an awful situation. Please pm me.

Also, are there any charities which deal specifically with your husband's condition? Could they provide any financial or practical assistance to help you cope? Again, if you want to pm me this information I don't mind seeing if I can find anything out. It sounds as if you have enough to do just coping with your husband and your children.

If I had the money I would clear the debt for you but I don't.

Take care.

Love,

Smileyt

smokybabe

wayout84 wrote: »

Payplan have said they won't be able to help me if I pay any less than I am now:(

The life insurance is sadly for me only...my husband couldn't get any (well only accidental death) due to his health condition (which is now terminal)....he has NEVER been able to get any

I *should* get the widows payment when he passes away...but this is only £2000

I am sorry to read about your husband. Hugs to you all.

I lost my husband nearly 2 yrs ago and we have 3 children. Yes you will get the 2k there was no hassle to get it and they were very quick.

I know it is of no help to you now but you should get a widow's pension until the youngest child reaches 16 - I currently get £109 per week. Just something for you to keep in mind.

I'm sorry I can't be of any other help with your current problems.

Smoky. x

wayout84

awww thanks so much, I'm touched by how kind you're all being:) nicca, thanks, I'll have a look into that and smiley i'll pm you:)

do you not think even if I send a letter off from his hospital with his condition/prognosis that the creditors would be nice and accept a £1 token payment each month without harassing me? I know it doesn't matter but i didn't get into this debt friviously...it was because i have had to move lots/move to a disabled place etc and care for my lovely husband

I keep thinking of writing into TV shows/magazines/all sorts of places for help:( That's how low and desperate I have got:(:(