Help with a 'script' for speaking to creditors

Djonma

Hi everyone!

I have BiPolar disorder, and have always had issues with talking to people on the phone. I have major avoidance issues regarding anything important, which has led me to hide bills from myself even when they weren't overdue, and just ignore them and spend the money on other things that I didn't need and didn't use.
I'm trying to address my spending / responsibility issues at the moment but I'm at the stage where I'm getting threatening letters, loads of phone calls every day...

What I want to do is ring each company, explain that I have been in and out of hospital recently and so unable to even read the letters until they got bad (I started having seizures in December, and became paralyzed below the waist for a week, myhealth has been pretty bad and I knwo I've ignored things too much).
And I want to ask each company for a statement of what I owe, and to sort out a payment plan in line with my very low income (I'm on DLA and Income Support).

But... whenever I even think of ringing these people, I just freeze up and panic.
So I want to have a kind of script in front of me that I can just read off to them, I think that would help me feel a bit more secure.

But I'm really bad at communicating, especially on the phone... can anyone help me?

Thanks!

Nicola

DGJsaver

Why dont you spend some time using and editing templates on here , and send recorded , along with the dont ring ones , explaining what you have said above....they only need and require ONE way of contacting you , and in any case but especially yours , they only need your address.....

Dont be phoning ANY OF THEM

DarkConvict

Even those well prepared can find talking to debt collectors difficult, they will lie, bully and abuse your lack of knowledge and confidence.
I strongly advise you keep all communication in writing, do not ring them.

Stop them ringing letter (read post in full) - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=11571485&postcount=4

For mental health problems, MIND can help with general and debt related issues.
National debtline and CCCS can over the most specific help in debt management. I would advise giving all 3 a call and see what they have to say, they are free and give professional advice.

As i said, draft up a letter explaining your circumstances and that you will only communicate in writing, and take it from there. In some cases they can write of debts due to health issues, but i do not believe bipolar is covered. If you have brought lots of items recently can these be returned to lower the debts?

RAS

Please speak to one of the debt charities. In your situation CAp may be most help as they can arrange visits to see you

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

We advsie against phoning the creditors as they will bully and upset you. Also, you then have no audit trail to prove what you agreed with them.

Djonma

Thank you everyone. The letters kept saying to ring them so I was panicking so much. It didn't even occur to me that I could write to them!

Wow just saying that makes me feel so dumb!
I hope they won't mind letters printed in blue... My black cartridge is out and I simply can't afford a new one for a few weeks.

I'll look into all those organisations and ask them for help.

Unfortunately nothing I've bought can be returned or sold on as mostly I went for binge eating whilst terribly depressed about it all and bought lots of food that I didn't even eat because I regretted buying it and got depressed about it.

So nasty the tricks the mind can play.

I am determined to sort this all out now, including getting a much better grip on my mental health. I think getting this sorted and at least getting the people off my back will help that a lot anyway.

I think there's a sub board on here where we can make our own threads about our road to becoming debt free.
I'll have a look and start my own :-)

Thanks again everyone!

Nicola