On behalf of a friend

climbintheladderouttadebt

GEEGEE8 wrote: »

£20 a month on groceries? Is that correct?

Yes, she lives at home and just buys lunch and drinks at work. Although I fear she has been spending more than £20 and is wasting her money a bit!

Yes it does seem a lot could be saved by getting rid of the car but, in a way I cannot explain, she really depends on it. We have seen her mental health dramatically decline without her car previously.

For now, I will help her tackle what she is spending out on travel and car-related expenses. It's a shame, because this leads me to think she has not really had that 'the penny has dropped' moment yet in regards to her debts.

Tixy

climbintheladderouttadebt wrote: »

WELL

Even more info to boggle my mind!

ScotCall have been in touch in regards to an Orange debt - now this is not hers, it is not the mobile phone contract in which she is in, however it appears there's a contract in her name with a debt of over £1,000! Now I'm pondering, do we send them the normal CCA request letter, as she will not have signed for this? It appears the contract was taken out in 2008/2009 but it's only when arrears occurred that my friend thinks anything was sent to her (althoug she may have automatically thrown post out thinking ot was to do with her current contract, which she has had for years)

You can't CCA for orange as its a service contract not a consumer credit agreement.
I would go for a prove it letter first.

Have you looked at the MIND website at all, they I think have some info on debt and mental health, wonder if there might be anything of use in that for you/her.

Its great you are trying to help her but it can be hard if she hasn't really had the light bulb moment. I hope she clicks soon and lets you help her.

climbintheladderouttadebt

Prove it letter typed, printed and ready to send along with some CCA requests

I can't remember what sites I've visited anymore. Will search MIND later, though, thanks for the suggestion. Joined a support one awhile ago but as it was in USA it didn't quite have what I was looking for.

I sent off for a booklet from Rethink which was very full of info but sadly unless it's obvious to a lender that the person applying for credit is ill, which I really don;t think it was, then the debt still stands. Not so much info as such on how to deal with creditors but there is some.

Best bit - the booklet was totally FREE! :T

climbintheladderouttadebt

O dear, it seems my friend and trouble go hand in hand! Had a lovely bbq with friends last night. When we arrived she parked on double yellows! I immediately told her not to, to which she replied 'It's ok it's after 6pm'. I looked at the 2 nearby signs to point out that we were not allowed to park there 'at any time' and that the parking bays were allowed after 6pm. OH rang my phone at that point & I forgot all about the parking as had to help unload car & my daughter when I got off the phone! :mad:

It may not be my fault but I feel silly. Of course, on return to the car, a fine had been issued by the local council at 7.01pm. Of course, she can't afford to pay it, so she's decided to challenge it to give her a 14 day extention (they gave 14 days to pay it, thus giving her 28 days). She intends to pay at the end of July when she gets paid again. So that's her leftover wages eaten AGAIN.

She got worked up and then nearly pulled out in front of a car as we pulled out of the road! I'm so glad I pay attention to others driving, if I hadn't told her, she'd have carried on driving straight on front of the other car!

I told her not to get worked up, that we'd see how we could deal with it. She then admitted to having got 2 more fines back in Feb when she had her breakdown - 1 for parking in front of her house (the council put a new bus stop in last year and I guess she parked partially in it, though usually she doesn't!) and another for just leaving her car in the middle of a residential street when she was at her lowest. She says she plans to challenge these because she was so ill at the time.

I've asked her to bring me the paperwork she has for the fines. I just can't believe this. I am seriously worried about her, and her ability to drive etc. It's been so hard to get her to take her medication regularly ie same time every day, and to get her to cut down drinking (she drunk evry day, now she drinks 1 drink a week).

She's stopped smoking to save money, too. Sometimes she seems so with it, then others it seems she's completely shut off and unaware of anything including consequences.

It was her awful relationship and the breakdown of it that triggered the breakdown in Feb. Her ex plays so many mind games it was inevitable. Sadly, he''s still in the picture, now. Friend has kept a ring of his to keep something so he'll want to see her etc. He just uses her, he really is the most selfish person I've ever known. But she won;t help herself by leaving him alone. She sees a counsellor every week who helps. However, local support has been virtually nothing. They really don't see how ill she is. They cancel her appoinetments, don't follow through with the offers of help they make etc. IF my friend feels suicidal or wants to take tablets to numb herself for a few days, the mental health workers just brush it off and fob her off with 'well go to a&e'.

I'm growing more concerned by the day, because even if we sort this out, I don't know how we'll deal with future problems if she's not well enough to understand simple 'cause and effect'.

At least I have a 'diary' to write it all down in! It's nice to voice my concerns somewhere!

climbintheladderouttadebt

Another day, another update!

Friend has dealt with parking fines, it seems, and will be paying one when she gets paid (other 2 were dismissed by the court when she contacted them). She's job hunting closer to home to save on transport costs. Has an interview lined up for Friday for a good position. I'm very impressed! I think (though I don;t want to sound big headed) that my helping her out with her debts has lifted such a weight from her (which she has sort of indicated) that she feels more able to deal with other issues.

We have drafted letters of offers to pay debts, that we will send once credit reports arrive (in case we need to send CCAs etc).

Tonight we are tackling the persistant and harrassing calls her parents receive on the landline.

climbintheladderouttadebt

Thought I'd spend 5 minutes updating again. Always good to know where we are!

Credit report from Experian & Equifax ordered. Still awaiting Experian report after having to send off numerous documents! One arrived from Equifax, which, although hard to read, shows up some very interesting things!
Vanquis cc from 09 shows a default of £665, registered April 2010. Amount owing is still £665. Have written a letter with the help of a mental health charity to 1st Credit, who are currently chasing the debt, to ask for procedures in place to help deal with debtors who suffer mental illness and if, as a goodwill gesture, they'd write off the debt. I'm not expecting a positive reply, and from there I will offer payments of £1 a month. SOA was included with the letter (which was also sent to a few other creditors) which actually shows a truer reflection of her situation, which is basically -£2 leftover per month.

Very proud of 'A', though, she is trying to improve her situation regards income and expenditure. We'll get there!

Next is Lowell(!) for a catalogue debt from Kays. However, 'A' is being chased by Philips Debt Recovery for this now.
The prove it letter has been sent as we're pretty sure there's no enforceable CCA (it's from 2003). The time on this runs out on 25th August. 'A' has had no word so far...
Interestingly, the default (registered 12/2008) on the cr is for £51, yet the current debt is £120, so I'm assuming Lowell have added charges, possibly incorrectly? Maybe worth looking into this too...

There is a questioned/disputed Orange mobile debt, allegedly opened in 2007 and defaulted for £921. Again, the DCA chasing it is asking for more money... The prove it letter has been sent to Direct Legal & Collections (delivered on 17/7/10). The default registered, which we'll obviously have to challenge, is dated 06/2009.

There's a Natwest loan from 2006, delinquent 07/2010 (not sure what that means?). Balance £1277. CCA request sent to Allied International Credit, who replied with some drivel about having to request it from Natwest as they don't own the debt, only act on behalf of Natwest. So the follow-up letter has been sent. If no CCA supplied by August 27th, the account is officially in default.

There are some accounts that were run well and cleared/satisfied, which all look ok. Won't do much to repair 'A's credit report, though, I'm sure, but that may not be such a bad thing...

The Barclaycard account was opened in 04, so the CCA request has been sent. The latest statement shows interest is still being added by Barclaycard, but a new DCA is involved (Calder Financial), who we've not heard from yet. The entry on the cr is marked delinquent £126, currently owing £140 (though more up to date statement shows more).

'A's Nationwide loan was opened i 06, shows delinquent £3839 (07/10), currently owing £3095. CCA request sent and if no reply, account will be in default August 25th.

One Capital One account was opened in 09, shows default 01/10 with a balance of £640, which is still owed. The debt charity letter has also been sent to Credit Solutions who appear to be currently chasing the debt. Again, not holding out much hope, and will offer £1 per month if rejected. CSL were sent a telephone harrassment letter recently as they called 'A's mobile & her mum's landline constantly. Calls have since stopped, so I'm told. Always nice to get them to back off!

As I read through, I can see that over the past few years, Vanquis have actually given 'A' numerous credit cards. About half were run well and the others are still outstanding. Even Capital One issued 2 cards within a few years. Madness!!

There is then an entry for another Vanquis card, opened in 06. CCA request has been sent to 1st Credit, delivered 29/7/10. So if no CCA is supplied, that account will be defaulted on 11th September, if I've got it right. The default is registered 11/07 with a balance of £647, currently owing £443. Given that 1st Credit keep offering 50% reductions on most of these cards, I'm guessing CCAs aren't present, but we'll see...

The 2 accounts that don't show are 2 with the Money Shop and 1 with Cash Generator Ltd. 1 Money Shop account is now woth CRS Ltd who've threatened an attachment of earnings - oops! Think they might be misleading us a little! They have been written to pointing out their actions and how wrong they are... £419 is owed on this one, and the charity letter has been sent.

The 2nd Money Shop account is still with them, owing £325. The default notice is challengeable - the letter sent with the DN is dated 12/06/2010, the DN 12th July, and they give 14 days from the date of the DN to pay the money BUT WE KEPT THE ENVELOPE AND THE LETTER DIDN'T ARRIVE TIL 3 DAYS AFTER THE DATE ON THERE!!, but I'll leave that for now (sorry got a bit happy there! lol). The arrears are the full amount as that what was owed, being a payday-type loan, so I'm not sure what we could say, which is a shame!
We've sent the phone harrassment letter and followed up with the debt charity letter.

Lastly, RCM Ltd, chasing a Cash Generator Ltd payday-type loan for £145. First they sent a bright yellow postcard through the post and broke a few rules, see here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2614273
We've written with the charity letter, and pointed out which rules they've broken with their postcard. HOWEVER, a company called 'FIS' have signed for the letter. This has left me baffled so will be interested to see what happens next - I have no idea how to handle this one, or what is going on!!

The new, more relevant SOA reads like this:

23/07/10 'A's Financial Statement/Statement of Affairs


INCOME
Wages £630 (average)

EXPENDITURE
Rent £300
Clothing £10
Haircuts £10
Telephone £40
Travel £120
Car Tax £10
Car Insurance £40
Car Maintenance £10
Groceries £50
Medical £22
Entertainment £5
Presents £5
Emergency fund £10
Total monthly expenses £632

Available Funds -£2

CREDITORS
RCM (Cash Generator) £143
Moneyshop £325
CRS (Moneyshop) £419.08
CSL (Capital One) £640.67
1st Credit (Vanquis) £665.10
Philips (Shop Direct) £120
Barclaycard £154
1st Credit (Vanquis) £414.69
DLC (Orange) £1376.94
AIC (Natwest) £1310.04
Roxburghe (Nationwide) £3061.31
Crisis Loan £50
Rent Arrears £400

Total Debts Owed £9079.83

I hope I can help!!

climbintheladderouttadebt

CREDITORS
RCM (Cash Generator) £143
CRS (Moneyshop) £419.08
CSL (Capital One) £640.67
1st Credit (Vanquis) £665.10
Philips (Shop Direct) £120
Barclaycard £154
1st Credit (Vanquis) £414.69
DLC (Orange) £1376.94
AIC (Natwest) £1310.04
Roxburghe (Nationwide) £3061.31
Crisis Loan £50
Rent Arrears £650

Total Debts Owed £8354.83 (not including rent arrears)

Still awaiting lots of replies, more complaints going out too. Barclaycard replied to CCA request with a copy of their T&Cs so next step is to respond with the relevant letter. Next date is August 25th when the other CCA requests will officially be in default. I'm hoping the creditors I've contacted reply quickly now as 'A' is thinking of using PayPlan for a DMP and I'd rather she didn't pay any debts at the mo until the creditors I've asked to wipe off the debts have got back to us.

Watch this space...