Problems with Very debt.

Harlowe

Hi there

I was wondering if anybody could give me some advice with some mess I've gotten in, I lost my job last yr and I'm on JSA and looking for work with little success at the moment, I've been unwell in the last couple of months and I stupidly let things slide, I'm in a lot of debt with various catalogues 3 with Shopping direct I able to mange and pay the min payment on all except one.

I have a debt with Very which is now with NDR which now stands at £2226, its got to this excess due to the various of charges they have applied to the account as I was unable to make the original minimum payment and it got into a lot of arrears, I've written a lot of letters to them explaining my situation, sent a expenditures sheet and ask for all charges and interest to be stop etc and have offered and been paying a reduced amount of £10 a month and have spoke to them on the phone in past, all of which never got me anywhere as they still sent letters demanding excess amount which I can't afford, I was advised not to speak on the phone anymore and do everything in writing, I was also told to send of for a SAR request which I did got back this all happen last summer.

but I've been ill in the last couple of months due to depression and stress and I've let things slide I still paid them the token amount but have not written to them in months or done anything with the SAR docs i got back a week ago I got a letter this week saying they will be issuing a Statutory Default Notice on this account with request for full payment of arrears and that if I fail to pay the the full amount they will register a default with the credit agencies, they said that further action could be taken by sending a debt collector to my house or court proceeding may be issued.

I a bit confused and scared at what to do now for the best, Its not my house as I live with my family and they have been really great but I'm just scared they will send bailiffs round or people start knocking on the door demanding money, Is there anyway I can challenge all the charges they put on it to reduces the debt, they refused to stop all the interest and charges so my £10 a month is making no difference what so ever.

Sorry to rant so long I know i been really stupid getting into so much debt and I am tackling it and it is coming down slowly but this one is causing a lot of probs and I just at a lost to what to do for the best, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

pitchepilla

Hi Harlowe,
So sorry you're in this situation - it's not nice! you know you're not alone - in the current ecnomic climate - it's getting harder for a lot of us. My advice to you would be to speak to a debt counselling agency - CCCS are absolutely amazing!! You can do a Debt remedy online if you want to and you can also speak to them on a freephone number. Your creditors should hold off proceedings if you have an advisor from there dealing with you - you will need a reference number so prob easiest to speak by phone to them. Look it up on internet but also - there are lots of threads on here with lots of great advice. search DEBT on the forum.
It'll be tough for a bit but - don't ignore it, talk to CCCS or other debt charity and you'll get through in the end,
Wishng you all the best:)

Little_Miss_Uni-Debt

Hi!,

Just thought I'd leave a quick note! I'm sure there will be lots more good advice coming to you shortly from others on here but I thought I'd offer whatever advice I can.

Do you know roughly how much on the Very card is purchases vs their charges? Would getting the charges removed be a big help? If so, it maybe worth going down that route again.

I've not had much experience with catalogues and how they are with dealing with charge reclaims. Sounds like they're not being too helpful. However that was a few months ago. Might be worth another go?

Would it be worth speaking to a debt charity like CCCS/PayPlan (make sure its fee free!) and getting letters sent out to all your catalogue cards showing your agreed token payments. Make the repayment plan official. Then they know you're speaking to a debt charity.

Maybe they would be more inclined to freeze charges/interest meaning your £10 per month does actually go to your debts. It's especially important considering that £10 is a high percentage of your JSA.

Please let us know how you get on!

CommitedToChange

from what I can see is it only very that you want to make £10 payments with - are you paying the other catalogues their minimum payment each month?

If so then its unlikely that very will accept your offer - you're best bet is what the others have said and contact CCCS or payplan for advice you would probably have to share your money available for debts equally amongst your creditors.

Harlowe

Hi everyone

Thank you for your advice and responses, I will contact CCCS and see if they help me, I'm also going to look in to getting all the charges removed as it why the debt is so big in the first place, I do pay the minimum on the other two as they are quite small compared to Very, I feel much more positive about tackiling this compared to last week, I will keep you all updated on how I do