Time to seek help - broke down in tears talking to CC company

keigh

I broke down in tears yesterday whilst phoning a credit card company to tell them I could no longer afford to meet the minimum payments. I am welling with tears even as I write this. I rarely sleep through the night and debt is at the forefront of my mind during all my waking hours. I realise it is time to seek some help.

My wife died in March 2003 just six months after we were married. I gave up work (full time health professional career) to be her full time carer. After she died I have been unable to face returning to work. I have been living off a house sale and credit cards and a pension I took early. I now owe £50000 on credit cards (there was £16500 on them at the time of her death) and have been unable to meet my minimum payments for the first time. I have written to them asking for a final statement of account etc but I do not know what to do next. Any help and advice would be gratefully received.

Income - Which is made up of the following:

pension - 500 per month


Expenditure -

Mortgage 165pm
council tax - 95pm
house ins - 30pm
car ins - 30
gas - 30pm
Electric - 30pm
Water - 50pm
Telephone - 10pm
"Living" bare bones costs - 150pm

No tv, do not drink, smoke, gamble or treats.

debts

Goldfish - 12500
Egg - 16500
MBNA - 9500
Barclaycard 10500

Thanks

whatatwit

You sound very down, have you spoken with your doctor about this.

If you still feel unable to seek employment, then you must get some professional help.

Well done on taking the hardest step and posting on here.

Storm

Hi Keigh, and welcome to DFW.

Adding up your outgoings I make it £560 a month before any debt repayments, and there's not much that can be shaved off apart from maybe your water bill - this looks very high!

I think you probably need to go to CAB/CCCS/Payplan to talk through your situation because at the moment there's just nothing spare to pay your creditors.

Are you entitled to any benefits at all?

Sorry to read about what happened to your wife, and I wonder if you have tried counselling as it still appears to be affecting your everyday life.

Wish I could be more help

Storm x

HairyHandofDartmoor

You poor thing! I can understand why you can't face going back to work as you are obviously very depressed.

And this is why I am seconding whatatwit's advice to go to your doctor. You can't possibly cope on such a small income. The first thing is to deal with is the depression. Good luck!

lynzpower

I tihnk the most important thing is that you find peace for yourself and counselling is likely to offer some support.

Otherwise I suggest you call CCCS or Payplan

Id also think youd be entitled to housing benefit to pay your rent too.

tobedifferent

Big hugs to you. I agree that you need more support it can be very hard to admit to ourselves that we need help, I spent a large portion of the last few years determined to be strong and deal with it my way and its only in the last couple of weeks that I finally accepted that I needed help, talking to my doctor has made such a difference. My heart goes right out to you.

I would recommend getting onto PayPlan or the CCCS regarding your debt. They can help you deal with it and take a huge weight off your shoulders.

I'd also contact Welfare Rights, look on your councils website which is always the same layout in https://www.yourcouncilsname.gov.uk, i.e. https://www.reading.gov.uk and look in the a-z index. If you are under 60 based on your income and council tax you will be entitled to some help on your council tax. If you are over 60 its looks like you will be entitled to full council tax benefit and pension credit and possibly extra help for your mortgage. Welfare Rights can help you deal with all of this.

Take care,

TBDx

rog2

A very moving thread, Keigh.
First of all - try not to worry - it is, after all, only money and you can not be sent to prison for debt any more.
Do as suggested - speak to CAB, CCCS or PAYPLAN and get a 'professional' to talk to your creditors on your behalf.
Check your benefit entitlements - council tax help etc.
Counselling, for your grief, also sounds a good idea as it will allow you to see your problems from a fresh perspective.
I wish you the best of luck.
Rog2

oops_a_daisy

well done for putting all of that down in writing Keith. I can only echo everything that has been said already but just wanted to wish you luck. All the best - OOPS

BlondeHeadOn

I just wanted to say: do keep posting and asking for help on this site. There is so much support and good advice here - and a lot of laughs along the way. Believe me, once you have found the courage to post here you are not alone!

Many hugs and welcome to MSE.

whatatwit

Keigh, I can't see that you have been back here.

We all seem to have focused on your grief, has any of this helped.
You may find it easier to talk to a bunch of strangers (like us).

Hope you are OK, :grouphug:

sheraz2

he probably used the computer at his library or some other local place^^