Hello - starting from scratch today

ostrichnomore_2

Hi

I have been a member here for over a year and have just set up this ID as I'm too embarrassed to discuss my debts generally otherwise, silly I know, but I have my reasons.

I've been a typical 'stick my head in the sand and ignore the problems' person as I've not had any money to pay off my debts, my attempts to sort things out in the past haven't helped (i.e. I phoned one bank with an offer to pay off what I could afford to clear the debt in 6 months, they refused and said it had to be 3 months, and then advised me to go and get a consolidation loan off the telly!), so I don't even open all those brown envelopes any more. I don't even know who I owe or how much, I've completely lost track. I know I have bank overdraft on account I no longer use, one credit card I no longer use, council tax and rent from somewhere I left about 3 years ago, water and utilities for the same address, and other than that I'm not sure, probably a couple of things I've forgotten about, also maybe some money owing to HMRC and suppliers from a very small business I gave up a couple of years ago. It's not been consumer type debt, it's not that I really wanted to run away from it, I was just not being able to afford daily living and bills, and couldn't see a way out, and tried to pretend it wasn't there. I estimate probably owe around £5-£6k on the original debts but goodness knows how much with interest etc now.

But now I'm expecting a lump sum in a month or so which I want to use to pay off some of my debts, and I want to face up to the rest and sort out a regular plan.

The first thing is to find out what I owe who. I'm sure I must have a list of CCJs against me by now. Can I get a list without triggering a record of where I now live? At the moment I know I have to admit it eventually, but I'm scared of bailiffs etc turning up on the doorstep if it's confirmed. I looked at Experian but it said my search and current details would be recorded and available to others.

Any advice on how to get myself straightened out? I've got a stack of solicitors envelopes etc about 4' tall at home, and stuff everywhere, I just can't face opening it all and trying to work it out. I just can't. I want to cry looking at them all. I'd rather just be able to print off a credit report on myself and start working my way through one by one.Any advice on how to start getting myself straightened out?

I've seen the idea to do a budget. That's hard for me as my income is up and down all the time, it's always low, but sometimes there is a little bit spare so once I've used up my lump sum I'd like to start chipping away at the rest, but it's going to be hard to commit to anything regular. I'd rather save up and then go to one creditor and offer to pay the lot off. Do they give you a discount or let you off the interest if you can do that? The lump sum I'm getting I'm hoping will be about £3k.

ostrichnomore_2

also someone's told me that if you ignore a debt for six years, don't respond to them at all, it gets cancelled, is that right? If you do this does it still show up on your credit rating?

joolsybools

Welcome! Is there a friend or family member you can confide in who would give you some non-judgemental support and help you to tidy up and start to sort through your post? Sorry I don't know the answers to your other questions but at least you are making a start.

Love the username btw!

jonjamie1970

Hi, firstly well done for reaching your light bulb moment, as you progress now there will be a light at the end of the tunnel, I have been in your shoes. You should perhaps start by opening these letters and put them into piles on the floor in date order. If you have ignored stuff for so long then you will most likely have defaults and CCj's to your name, but it cant really get much worse than that unless Council Tax and HMRC are involved to.
Start with a clean pad and start listing the debts you have in that huge pile. Some may be statute barred yes after 6 years,

BILLIE

Hi - didn't want to read and run - there will be lots of useful advice on here before too long. I am not sure about checking your credit file without giving your current address. How about - and I know this is going to take a lot of courage. First of all sorting your 4' high pile into date order from the date on the front of the envelope, and then taking the oldest first, open say half a dozen and log the contents (debt owed) into to a table. Hopefully, after opening a few you will see they repeat and you may be pleasantly surprised at what you are being chased for. Once you have this list you can choose how to start paying off - if you know the interest rate they say highest should be paid off first, but you may want to get rid of low amounts to reduce the number on the list. You are not "silly" and believe me if the total amount of debt you owe is under £10K you are far better off than a lot of people on this site. I wish you lots of luck and hope that you can find the courage to start with what is facing you at home and making you ill - just sort the envelopes first - that is your challenge for today. Billie xx

BILLIE

Sorry Joolsy and JJ I must have been typing as you posted and we are all saying the same thing. There you go Ostrich - 3 of us have given you the same challenge so you can't hide from us now!! Billie x

BILLIE

JJ you have done brilliant since your LBM - Well done :T - see Ostrich it can be done. Billie xx

ostrichnomore_2

Thanks for the responses so far.

all those envelopes though...I've got a bin bag full in the cupboard under the stairs, a bunch in the desk drawers, some in the kitchen drawers, others in bags in random places...urk. Scary. I know that a lot of them are just going to be for the same thing I suppose so once I can find the most recent one for each debt that's a start, I suppose. I'm worried about having CCJs and things though, I think most of these letters (I do open the odd one) are solicitors and debt collectors rather than court. Is there anyway I can find out without them giving my current address to everyone?

Also - how is council tax different? I know I definitely owe a years council tax from a few years ago. Can i get in real trouble over that one?

I have to say I am inspired by everyone's debt listings in the signatures showing how much they go down, that's something that motivates me. If I can list them out and then see them disappearing or reducing, that'll help me feel a lot better. JJ you've done fantastic!

I HAVE to get this sorted out. I was in a bad position about 15 years ago and got it sorted and it felt so good not to have any debts at all for a long time, then it all started going wrong again a few years ago. Oh and I forgot to list that I also owe a family member £1600 from them helping me out in an emergency 2.5 years ago and so far I've only repaid £200, and I feel just terrible about that one.

I'm trying to earn more money by ebaying unwanted stuff but little is selling and only for low amounts. I've made about £50 total after all the fees and postage, and not much more stuff left to sell.

I just want to sleep properly again every night!

BILLIE

Ostrich you just have to make a start and with the opneing of the envelopes I am sure that before too long you will realise that most of it is just rubbish. Open a few and put them into relevant piles - if any are over 6 years old don't throw away just yet but keep them in a pile under "just maybe". I have never had Council Tax arrears but on this site it would appear that Council Tax will always catch up with you because you have to pay it wherever you are I think thats why. Open some of the envelopes that may help you sleep better as it will also get rid of some of the clutter around you. Billie x

jonjamie1970

BILLIE wrote: »

JJ you have done brilliant since your LBM - Well done :T - see Ostrich it can be done. Billie xx

Thankyou

jonjamie1970

You will sleep a whole lot better the night you get this done, its a step onwards and brings its own challenges but once you face those demons you will feel empowered and ready to deal with them. Once you have listed everything list it on here and we can discuss with you. I used to wake up at 12 or 1am worrying and pacing around the house, watching late night telly and choosing programmes that would make me feel better about my own position like Jeremy Kyle etc.

Get it done and take the next step in your path to recovery and freedom.