Advice needed please

shellb30

Hi I am in £17k of debt and it has never bothered me that much as I have always been able to pay for it and I know where the money went i.e car and holidays etc but now I am on maternity leave and my money will only just about cover my debt repayments for 3 months then I go to unpaid for 3 months. I have always had a good credit score but my husband is struggling with his business at present and I just got rejected for a loan to consolidate and give me some extra for the months of no money coming in! I have heard of these payment plans but you see I need extra cash to tide me over and I know the simple answer everyone would say is "go back to work early" but my son may need an operation and that is just not an option at the moment. Please can you help me? The loan I applied for was for 25K from Sainsburys who I already have a loan with and I have never missed a payment. The only thing I can think of is my husband and I have just really pushed ourselves on our new house/mortgage and that was only 4 months ago the day I went into labour!!! I know it may not sound like a horrific amount but I am worrying everydayand I have tried citizens advice and they said I am not in enough debt to be put onto a fanicial advisor?? My debt is £12K on a loan and £5k on a credit card.
Many thanks in advance

LittleMissGiggles123

Can I just ask, why do you go to 3 months unpaid? When I was on maternity leave back 2 years ago I had 3 months full pay (employer scheme) then 6 months SMP, then the final 3 months was unpaid.

I dont know what to suggest really. Could you speak to your creditors to see if you could maybe pay a reduced amount until you're back in work? That way you could spread your money out for a bit while you're on maternity leave.

Good luck

RAS

You need to check www.turn2us.org.uk to find out what benefits you can get when your paid mat leave ends and to do a Statement of Affairs.

See here http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

shellb30

Thank you for your help much appreicated!! I will look at those links asap. I had 6 months full pay and 3 months stat and then 3 months unpaid apprently after April this year or next it changes to 6 months stat!

RAS

You should accrue holiday leave whilst you are off, so your last month could be taken as full-time holiday.

shellb30

I didn't think of that, the only problem is I may have to take holidays if my son needs another operation but thanks so much!! I don't know whether to see if I can get more on my credit card even though i'm up to my limit??? And then write to them and ask if I can freeze it until i'm back on full time pay??

LittleMissGiggles123

I see, I thought it was that after I'd re-read your post. As for holidays etc, you could use that at the end of your maternity leave to be paid, then go back to work & save some of your wages every month, then when your son has to go in to hospital you have some savings to take some time off unpaid. Not ideal I know, but unfortunately there aren't any other things I can think of.

Hope your son is ok

CH27

Have you applied for Child Benefit & Child Tax Credits?

shellb30

I get the £80 child benefit but no i'll have to look into tax credit, thank you very much. On paper it looks like we come out with a lot (but with all the debts, out goings etc we certainly don't) so I dont think we are eligable but I will double check! Many thanks x