First time SOA - Please be gentle. Am so worried.

dancingfairy

Sim - I got a bit confused whether you were under or over the DRO figures to be honest (not my area I'm afraid) but would it be helpful to get a Pay as You Go phone and top it up when you can than to be paying 45 a month for a contract (which you can't afford ). The debt could then go into the DRO? At the moment it's just adding more debt and you can't afford it. What I mean is stop paying the phone bill and just go pay as you go.
The food bill could come down a bit - check out the OldStyle board but really you need to get your income sorted out and make sure the benefits are sorted and get your health sorted.
You need to think about whether you need to go into rehab or not - you may find that they have specialist workers to help make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to. Also you may find that food is less of an issue - I don't know whether you get food subsidised or whether they would help with learning to cook/shopping budgets or not?
I'm not saying this should sway your decision on whether to go into rehab but obviously it will affect other things as well so your priorities may be different.
Good Luck with everything.
df

MFWannabe

SimIsOnTheUp wrote: »

Thanks Re your comments on my SOA, they are most appreciated too!

Re Water Mater - I *think* I'm on one already! Im embarrassed to say, I'm not sure

Am looking at my "Charge Summary' from Severn Trent, and it shows 'Meter Number' etc, so I'm assuming it's on a Meter as we speak.

Just let the bill mount up sadly.

I was going to phone Severn Trent Water 'Billing Dpt' now, just to let them know I'm not ignoring things, that I can't pay anything yet, but that I'm seeng the CAB on the 10th of May.

Do you guys think it's worth it, or should I leave it and ask the CAB to call?

Thanks.

Ref phoning Severn Trent; personally i would wait til you see CAB.
Ref Vodafone; please don't worry about calling them; you need to get rid of this urgently. Just remember they probably get thousands of calls just like yours

bouncydog1

You are doing so well - keep being motivated and keep going. You will get loads of support from people on here - many have been through worse.

Alcoholism is a terrible disease and you need to get all the support you can, whether from books, online, AA etc. My sister is an alcoholic who several times thought she was cured. The sad fact is that it takes some time for individuals to learn that they cannot drink (although I appreciate that some can relearn their drinking habits). She now realises that she cannot drink and has been dry for 4 years. If she can do it so can you!

The very best of luck - you can get there and if you believe in yourself enough (which I think you do) you will do it. Remember debt doesn't kill people - there is usually a solution. Drink does kill and we don't want it to be you.

purpleheather2810

Waving hello from Telford
I have been following this thread and I just wanted to drop by and say hang in there, you are doing great. The most important part of beating addiction (and getting debt free - there are a lot of similarities I think!) is full and frank admission of your problem and willingness to change - both of which you have in droves. Seems like you have had some great advice on this thread and I will keep checking by to see how you are doing xxxx

SimIsOnTheUp

FREEZ wrote: »

Ref phoning Severn Trent; personally i would wait til you see CAB.
Ref Vodafone; please don't worry about calling them; you need to get rid of this urgently. Just remember they probably get thousands of calls just like yours

Hiya FREEZ

Thanks.

Re Severn Trent, good point regarding waiting until I see the CAB, before contacting them about the debt outstanding. However, I'm just worried that Severn Trent will escalate this to Court action, hence I think it'll be a good idea to phone them Tuesday.

I think I'll just give them a call, Tuesday, to let them know I'm not ignoring the debt owed, but that I won't be able to pay any money to them yet, and that I'm seeking help through the CAB.

Re Vodafone, I'm about to give them a call now, hoping to lower my monthly tariff! I don't hold out much hope though

My rather skewed logic, had me thinking that I really wanted to try and keep the contract, to have at least one 'good line of credit', and in turn at least one positive account, kept up to date on my credit file.

However, I have 3 / soon to be 4 Defaults anyway!:o

I would prefer though, to try and keep in good standing with Vodafone if I can.

£45 a month for a mobile, is ridiculous though!

Cheers,

Sim :T

SimIsOnTheUp

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

You are doing so well - keep being motivated and keep going. You will get loads of support from people on here - many have been through worse.

Alcoholism is a terrible disease and you need to get all the support you can, whether from books, online, AA etc. My sister is an alcoholic who several times thought she was cured. The sad fact is that it takes some time for individuals to learn that they cannot drink (although I appreciate that some can relearn their drinking habits). She now realises that she cannot drink and has been dry for 4 years. If she can do it so can you!

The very best of luck - you can get there and if you believe in yourself enough (which I think you do) you will do it. Remember debt doesn't kill people - there is usually a solution. Drink does kill and we don't want it to be you.

bouncyd!!!

Hi and Thank You so much for your kind message of support.

Congrats to your sister, for staying sober 4 years :A

I do believe I can get there, one day at a time, as they say

As you rightly say, there is usually a solution to debt. I'm just trying to do all I can now, practically, to deal with it.

All the emotional stuff I'm trying top also tackle, with the help of the counsellors I'm in touch with.

I don't quite know though, what to do about my flippin' noisy neighbour..who has decided to play P!nk, full blast, on a Sunday lunchtime! :mad:

I LOVE P!nk, but not constantly, for 2 hours a day, every day..

Did try knocking (4 times) on her door about a week or so back, to ask her to turn it down, but she didn't even answer the door.. and she's not too approachable!

She never plays the music loudly at night time. Only around lunchtime, usually about 1pm, for anything between half an hour / 2 hours.. but being an obsessive, with addictive tendencies, I find myself fixating on the noise far too much :rotfl:

Anyway, I'm about to check the Pepsi website, and see if I've won £1K, to chuck at my debts :T

Thanks again bouncyd!!! ..Love your username by the way.

Sim

SimIsOnTheUp

PS - That's hilarious.

The MSE naughty word - filter - system, won't let me type bouncy dog 1 all in one! *confused*

Cheers,

Sim.

SimIsOnTheUp

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

Waving hello from Telford
I have been following this thread and I just wanted to drop by and say hang in there, you are doing great. The most important part of beating addiction (and getting debt free - there are a lot of similarities I think!) is full and frank admission of your problem and willingness to change - both of which you have in droves. Seems like you have had some great advice on this thread and I will keep checking by to see how you are doing xxxx

Hiya purpleheather2810

Thanks for your support

Great to know I've got a friendly neighbour in Telford. You're just down the road!

They say at AA, about being 'honest and willing'. I have many faults, but at least I'm open about them, and am willing to sort them eh?!

Hope you're enjoying a relaxing Sunday.

Thanks again,

Sim.

SimIsOnTheUp

dancingfairy wrote: »

Sim - I got a bit confused whether you were under or over the DRO figures to be honest (not my area I'm afraid) but would it be helpful to get a Pay as You Go phone and top it up when you can than to be paying 45 a month for a contract (which you can't afford ). The debt could then go into the DRO? At the moment it's just adding more debt and you can't afford it. What I mean is stop paying the phone bill and just go pay as you go.
The food bill could come down a bit - check out the OldStyle board but really you need to get your income sorted out and make sure the benefits are sorted and get your health sorted.
You need to think about whether you need to go into rehab or not - you may find that they have specialist workers to help make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to. Also you may find that food is less of an issue - I don't know whether you get food subsidised or whether they would help with learning to cook/shopping budgets or not?
I'm not saying this should sway your decision on whether to go into rehab but obviously it will affect other things as well so your priorities may be different.
Good Luck with everything.
df

Hiya dancingfairy,

Thanks for your supportive, helpful post.

Regarding the DRO, with the Student Loans, I'm over the limit for the DRO ie = about £24K

However, according to one of the CAB experts on here (DebtDoctor I think his /her name is), I have to include the SLC debt, and then the CAB will deduct it = about £10K (ie - under the £15K limit) and result it me being OK with a DRO.

Re the mobile - it is way too high at £45 a month. You're right, in that I do need to take action regarding this pronto. I'm about to call them now. Wish me luck!

As for the food bill, this is something I certainly need to work on.

Regarding Rehab, this is something I haven't made on a decision on yet. I'll be discussing it with my Support Worker at the Substance Misuse Team on Tuesday.

Thanks again,

Sim.

SimIsOnTheUp

purpleheather2810 wrote: »

Waving hello from Telford
Next directory PAID OFF IN FULL 13/04/2010!!!

PS - Congrats on paying off the Next Directory debt!

I owe them about £109 I think.

Next have sold the debt on though, to "Debt Managers' / 'CallServe' ..Joy

Cheers,

Sim.