bit of help please :(

JMcD

i am in debt of around £15,000 - £16,000 & i am having problems paying it back.
my hours at work got halved this year & being split from my partner i stil have to pay child mantainence & rent.
i would love to get it all sorted in the correct manner but can see no light at the end of this dark tunell .
i have fell way behind with the payments and am now receiving letterers from debt companies threatening home visits & court action , while i dont mind the court action, i stay with my eldery father & wouldnt want any hassll at his home.

does anybody have any advise on what i can do? it is getting to be a scary time .

i live in Scotland


thanks in advance for any help

J

JMcD

forgot to add that because i am so far behind then i have no option to consolidate the monies .

i have a personal loan outstanding - around £13,000
2 overdrafts equalling apx £1700
credit card just over £2000

RuthnJasper

J,

I am so sorry you are having these problems. I'm sure someone with greater knowledge than my own will be here soon to advise you. In the meantime, have a look at the Citizens' Advice Bureau and 'phone them if necessary. Here is a link to the page for Scotland - http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm. It might be that you are entitled to benefits that you're not currently receiving (like a carer's allowance for looking after your father?) - or they can advise you on getting an IVA or declaring Bankruptcy (sorry; I know that sounds scary, but sometimes it really can help. I have an IVA, arranged through the CAB, and it was the best thing I ever did for my finances).

Also, if your hours are being cut, I would imagine that you can get the amount of child benefits you have to pay reduced accordingly. Not sure about that though.

But you have been very brave in facing the fact that you have a problem with money that needs sorting out, and you're asking for help and trying to deal with things honestly and realistically. That takes guts - and you should feel proud of yourself for that.

I know that you probably feel sick with worry at the moment. But you will be alright. You just have to be brave, face what's coming, and tell yourself that, once you've started on the road to financial recovery, things won't ALWAYS be this bad.

Good luck - and keep going. Please keep the forum updated with your progress; there are LOTS of lovely, helpful people here, who can offer support, advice, or even some fun stuff to make you smile.

You're going to get yourself sorted, OK?
xx

spursfan14

RuthnJasper wrote: »

J,

In the meantime, have a look at the Citizens' Advice Bureau and 'phone them if necessary. Here is a link to the page for Scotland - <<I'm a new user, so wont let me post links!! :-p >>.
Good luck - and keep going. Please keep the forum updated with your progress; there are LOTS of lovely, helpful people here, who can offer support, advice, or even some fun stuff to make you smile.

Couldn't agree with this more. Citizen's advice are a great first port of call.

Anther couple of websites that might help you out are-

National debtline-<<I'm a new user, so wont let me post links!! :-p >>.

They give free and impartial debt advice.

Debt Line- <<I'm a new user, so wont let me post links!! :-p >>.

They provide a paid debt management service, will talk to your creditors on your behalf etc.

The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone and there are plenty of really good people out there that will bend over backwards to help you out.

All the best.

x

mr.ton

As far as the debt collection companies are concerned....
They have no legal powers to any money off you - only a county court does.
They have to legally make an appointment for a home visit (you are within your rights to not make one) and even then can simply to told to go away.
It will cost them money also to take you to court & wont be worth their while just to get back £1 per month or something like that.
Tell them all to get lost otherwise you'll get the OFT & trading standards involved.

podperson

Firstly it would be helpful if you could post an soa showing your incoming and outgoing so people can advise on any saving that can be made and see whether you have anything left over for the debts.
Have you informed child maintenance of your reduced income so they can take that into account?
When you say you're paying rent, is that to your father or for your ex-partners property still? If the former ask him to do a tenancy agreement (can be very basic) so you can look at claiming housing benefit due to low income. If it's the latter then they need to start sorting this out themselves and they should be entitled to benefits for it if they don't have the full income themselves.
Definately worth contacting one of the debt charities such as CAB, CCCS or National Debtline to get some free advice on what options are available to you.

mr.ton

You should not need to make any cutbacks or savings in order to pay off debt companies.
£1 per month is too much for these rogues in my view.
Only a county court has any legal power to obtain money off you - no one else.