Credit card debt advice please.

Maharishi

Hello all, 1st timer here so please be gentle...

I have a problem with my plastic (who doesn't?, I hear you chorus). I have 5 cards all of which I cannot currently make the minimum repayments, and I don't quite know what to do. It all began a year ago...

I haven't worked full time for the last 12 months. In Aug 2005 I finished a contract with a media company. I have been, (and still am), a musician all my working life (from 1982 anyway). Yet with the music work diminishing in the clubs and pubs, the media work offered me a welcome and much needed change of direction. When the last contract finished I had another offer to start a new contract, with a different company, in March/ April this year. This meant a spell of at least 6 months with little or no income. I wasn't too bothered because I had made provision and set aside enough cash to look after my outgoings for that period. However, the new contract was deferred time and time again and now may not happen at all until early 2007!! My funds ran out some 8 weeks ago and now I cannot pay my creditors anything at all. Up until then I had paid on the nail every month, but now I am in arrears with all 5 of them. I have spoken to them all on the phone several times to keep them informed as much as possible but the calls from 2 of them are morning, noon and night. And they always pick times when my wife is home. She doesn't know that I owe them anything, so I don't want them harassing me evenings and wekk ends.

I have been to the local CAB twice for an appointment but they are always fully booked up and won't take a date further ahead than 7 days, so it has been a wasted 14 mile trip both times. I tried calling but they never pick up and the answer service won't let you leave a message.

Today I tried the CCCS. They were helpful to a point - BUT - because I don't have enough coming in to leave any surplus for the cards, they couldn't do anything except send me a self help package. (coming via email tonight).

My total debts are between £14.4k and £15k.

My total sporadic earnings from odd gigs amounted to £300 last month.

My monthly outgoings all in are exactly that (£300), so I need to get above £300 to make money available for the cards.

In the meantime, apart from the calls, I am getting late payment and arrears charges along with the interest (of course). What should I do to:

1) Stop the calls at embarrassing times?

2) Get them to freeze the interest charges and stop hitting me with other charges whilst I am in this state?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

lynzpower

hi there

first things first, could you get "any-old" temp job to do in the day time, just until this contract comes through ( if and when)

your best bet is to do an SOA so we can see what your outgoings are.

Could you not get any benefits?

linniestorm

You could also write to the companies ringing you at embarrassing moments and ask them to amend their records that you no longer wish to be contacted by phone and want all communication to be in writing for now on. That could take some time to kick in, and sometimes they don't pay attention but they should comply, so might be something to try!

Maharishi

Thanks Lynz.

Firstly I haven't claimed any benefits as I have no dependants.

Secondly, the any old temp job is pretty tricky as I have only been in the music industry for 25 years plus, and other stuff is ruled out as I am currently nursing a broken finger sustained in a slip 5 weeks ago.

As for SOA, well:

£100.00 food
£ 75.00 council tax
£5 TV licence
£22 electricity
£23 phones
£25 life insurance
£50 heating oil

£300 Total

There is nothing for mortgage as it is my wife's house and she is taking nothing while I am out of work.

lynzpower

Check out https://www.entitledto.co.uk

Its not only those with dependants who are entitled to benefits, however, in sayingf that you may not be entitled as you are living with partner and I know that they have to broadly support you. You may be entitled to tax credits though? Do check it out

Some part time work would be fine with a broken hand, such as stewarding at events. Clearly you can still type ( probalby slowly) when will your hand be better?

Where abouts are you. Check out https://www.gumtree.com theres loads of part time work on my local one, you might have some luck there

nrsql

You should be able to get something I would have thought.
You used to be able to get NI paid (or credited) if nothing else.

xlesleyann

Also have a look on here:

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

There are template letters which you can use to ask companys to freeze interest and arrange a token payment each month.