I am desparate for help...

chloe1

Hi

I have 2 debts on credit cards that are now with collection agencies. One is for Capital 1 - with Capquest and another from Halifax that is now with Blair Oliver and Scott.

I was unable to pay the full agreed payment last month and telephoned to tell them this. They were ok and are expecting a payment in a couple of days instead - £200 on each of them. I cannot pay this again - I have just changed jobs and am finally getting on my feet, but I have to work for a month before I receive any pay - I thought I would receive a salary when I first called them, but my employers have informed me it wont be until the 25th May.

If I call them now and tell them I cant make a payment (despite me promising I would after last months missed one) what will they do? Can I call and offer a tiny amount just to show some payment, as small as £10. I know that they will speak to me horribly and make me feel crap, they did this last month.

I am so scared that they will send me to court or even worse - I can make payments next month and even a tiny bit more than I was paing, but I am so scared of what to do. Shall I leave it and not pay and wait for them to call me (will this buy any time?) or would it look better to call them in advance about it?

Any help or advise would be really appreciated (and would help me to feel less sick!)

RAS

chloe

How long ago did you start your new job?

chloe1

I started my job in March but I need to have worked a full month before I receive a payment - we are paid in arrears so I don't receive payment until end of May,

Eager_Elephant

Hi Chloe

It is always best to keep them informed of your circumstances, if you don't feel able to ring them why not write to them first clas enclosing a cheque of an amount you can afford so they know you are not messing them about.

I'm not sure they will do much except ring you and send you letters for a few weeks at least.

EE

chloe1

Thanks EE - I don't mind ringing them to keep them informed, I did this last month so they knew I wasn't just ignoring it and was keeping them updated.

I can pay them a very small amount each, I am just worried that they will say that I have broken my arrangement to pay and will demand the full amount or issue me with court summons.

If you think they will only ring me for a few weeks then I am ok with that - I can make a payment on the 25th May and every month thereafter.

I am really worried that they will take this further though.

chloe1

Hi RAS, could you offer any further advise based on my work start date?

Sorry to bump this but I am sat here at work really worried - I don't know what to do.

RAS

chloe1 wrote: »

I started my job in March but I need to have worked a full month before I receive a payment - we are paid in arrears so I don't receive payment until end of May,

Please go and talk to personnel. In this day and age making people wait 7 weeks for their first pay packet is appalling. they may ba able to roganise an advance.

chloe1

I have already tried that RAS - there is nothing at all that they can do - I have to work a month before they will release any money.

If they gave me an advance they would take it back anyway on payday and this would leave me in the same mess next month too.

handyman123_2

Hi, I see that you joined MSE back in 2008, how long ago did you open these accounts? It sounds to me like your credit file could be messed up so if the accounts were older than 2008 (check with never-in-doubts) unenforcability thread. You could get a delay by asking to see a copy of the CCA for these accounts. The other thing I have to say is when I have been in a similar situation, is that they can't get blood out of a stone. If you aint got it they will have to wait. Unpleasant as these people are, by the time they react you will probrably be in a position to square up anyway.

Its easy to say but try not to worry, and good luck with the new job.

Regards handyman123.

Nukumai

Chloe - you should follow the good advice given by Eager_Elephant in post #4.

chloe1

handyman123 wrote: »

Hi, I see that you joined MSE back in 2008, how long ago did you open these accounts? It sounds to me like your credit file could be messed up so if the accounts were older than 2008 (check with never-in-doubts) unenforcability thread. You could get a delay by asking to see a copy of the CCA for these accounts. The other thing I have to say is when I have been in a similar situation, is that they can't get blood out of a stone. If you aint got it they will have to wait. Unpleasant as these people are, by the time they react you will probrably be in a position to square up anyway.

Its easy to say but try not to worry, and good luck with the new job.

Regards handyman123.

I am not sure what this means? Sorry to sound so thick but am not great with this kind of stuff. The accounts were opened before 2008, I know that for sure.

Thanks for all the help you have given. I have decided to bite the bullet and call them both tomorow to explain that I can't pay this month. I am absolutely dreading it - they are awful and I am scared of how they will speak to me and what they will threaten. But I feel that at least if I let them know then they can't accuse me of ignoring the payment.