In need of advice

robsmum_2

Reidy: I sympathize having been through exactly the same! One of the things that helped me was to contact the national association for whatever condition you have. Mine is M.E. These organizations all have welfare departments and will help you to sort out all the help you can get. PM me if you would like to discuss more privately/

oldtractor

Hello Reidy and welcome to the board. Have you been to Citizens Advice and asked about the debts and what to do. I think they can contact the companies and organise things,maybe paying less over a longer period of time. I think it is very important to not buy any more stuff fro catalogues or use the cards any more. Its justs making things worse. I'd contact Citizens Advice,they are very good and may be able to sort things for you fairy straightfordwardly.

red_scorpian

Hi Reidy, didn't want to read and run your starting off in the right place lots of good advice on this site . I am on a dmp it was the best decision I have ever made ,it might work for you as well.please make sure you give yourself enough money to live comfortably,it will be hard at the beginning I'll not pretend it wasn't but it is oh so worth it.As for phone calls,I wouldn't call anyone ( at least until you feel strong enough) do everything in writing, as you can then go over details at your own pace and makes it much more clearer for you to understand,I know how I felt when I started out I would talk to them on the phone then come off and couldn't remember a single thing that was discussed doh!!!Just take everything a wee step at a time keep coming on here and ask questions someone will come along with an answer for you, take care of yourself big hugs xx

elaine12022

Hi Reidy, just want to give my best wishes to you. Benefits can be a nightmare! (we've just spent 3 months trying to get Housing Benefit, and both I and my partner have failed to get DLA).

My main point would be that paying debts is less important than being able to eat - that woman from the catalogue sounds like an absolute ***(insert as appropriate). Good food is essential to health & well being. I have found that using smaller shops is more economical than going to the supermarket (less tiring too), less temptations! Also sometimes smaller shops may give a bit more than the minimum if you go regularly (well, our local butcher has since my OH lost his job).

Just wondering if you are entitled to Bereavement Benefit in regards to your father?

Reidy1982

Hi oldtractor
I tried to get help from citizens advice in our local area and was told if i wanted to make appointment first one they had avaliable was 6th of september. I could use the drop in clinic if need be which i tried to on the same day sat there for such a long time only to be told they wouldnt get through everyone who was waiting as they were due to shut soon and could i come back on the next drop in. Thats not till tuesday so i have to twiddle my thumbs on that one for now.

Hi red scorpion i have gave up calling everyone for the sake of how high my phone bill will be if i keep going, especially my catalogues because they are all the same company basically there not intrested in sutable amounts and was to raise it so im paying out over 500 a month to them for all three. He then said to me how did u get the three accounts. In all honesty i couldnt remember how i got the littlewoods account i had always had the other 2 from when i was 18 and he said by rights i should never have gotten the third one that was asking for trouble finacially and i said i know that now and there option buy now pay later played a big big role in why the amounts are so high. He was pleasent enough but didnt help me try to fix the situation and i was on phone that long i'd hate to see my phone bill in the end.


Elaine we have been fighting on and off for last 3 years to try and find out what my partner was entitle to and it has been a losing fight. no-one could give us straight answer we even went to our housing as they have someone in there bit like benefit officer who i was told could help us work out what or if hes entitle to anything at all but the person is on holiday for two weeks so we have to wait till they come back and see if they can help us.
I do have to reevaluate the amount of shopping i do because even though i cut it down to the lowest of the lowest its beginning to make me suffer with my stomach because of the cheap brands were using and i am feeling sick with them.

Reidy1982

Oh i do have a quick question in regards to one of the catalogues if anyone could answer it. My late father purchased a wide screen tv from one of them on a buy now pay later option they have running. Basically how it works u have the year off paying it but if u do pay of the balance of the item before the buy now pay later kicks in your avoid paying intrest, my father choice the option to pay it off before hand and was giving me 25 pound every few weeks and had paid of half of it obviously now he is not here that wont continue. Ive tried to tell catalogues about this but they weren't intrested my question would be if i go on a dmp will they try to take the tv or anything. I want to be aware of all the situation as my mother is grieving badly right now and i dont want to upset her even more as u can imagine shes now on a very low pension herself and is struggling taking over all the bills to her name and there just now way she can give me they money for the tv. shes struggling to get all her own benefits sorted. They even said she may not be entitle to the berevement benefit because they were both on pensions. I know if my mum could pay for the television she would but there just noway she can. So any advice on this???

Reidy1982

Just recieved my post and got the first letter from arrears collection for one of my catalogue saying to pay them 274 before 15th of july. Got bit upset but no-one elses fault but mine so i deserve it.
All legal jargon saying if i am having difficulty paying it to call a 0844 number and speak to them. Well ive tried that on and off and they wouldnt help me. Basically says any special rate offers that i have on charged item have now been disqualified and intrest is being added. Whatever that means guess maybe the buy now pay later schemes i had on two large items. Asking me to call them to setup direct debit to keep my payments on time. So what do i do now????

dancingfairy

Hi Reidy I'm sorry you are having such a horrid time right now. The way you have been treated by your creditors (well one in particular) is absolutely appalling.
If you don't have the money they can't have it. You absolutely need to prioritise the health and wellbeing of you and your family first. You NEED to allocate a sensible amount of money per month for food - at least 150 pound per month for 2 of you (minimum). You can't keep up payments to your creditors right now.
I'd also stop talking to them on the phone as it just gives them an excuse to bully you and fill your head with rubbish and you don't need it.
Phone the CCCS and get them to help you - you will need to set up a payment plan with your creditors - if all you can afford is 1 pound per month per creditor then that's all you can afford.
Firstly write to your creditors, tell them that you wish to be contact in writing only and that you will report them if they continue to phone, tell them you are seeking help and advice from the CCCS and you will be in contact with them.
Cancel all non-essential payments ie the to your catalogues etc.
I'd really recommend getting a new bank account so YOU are in control and can pay the creditors what you can afford - make sure you get the benefits transferred across.
Write to your creditors and tell them what you are offering and pay them by standing order or cheque only - DO NOT give them bank details for a DD as they will just take the money regardless and leave you struggling.
The creditors will most likely send letters threatening this that and the other but a lot of it is hot air or there is the tinniest tinniest tinniest chance they could possibly do something (ie 1 person once had that happen to them but they will chuck it in anyway to scare you - do not let them scare you).
Take advice from the CCCS and take it steady.
Best of Luck
df

dancingfairy

You need time and space to go through your options - the first letter to your creditors is basically aholding letter telling them to back off and it gives you a little time to consider your options.
CCCS should be able to explain the differnces between a dmp and a DAS to you.
A dmp is an informal agreement where you split any spare money after bills are paid between your creditors and you ask that they stop interest and charges to allow you to get back on your feet.
A DAS is for Scottish people (I'm guessing you're in Scotland). It appears to be a more formal version of a dmp whilst also giving you protection from your creditors. It does appear to be more restricted in that you have to commit to the payments as far as possible though but for the peace of mind of having protection from your creditors it may be worth it.
df

Reidy1982

Thank you for the advice i just got off the phone from arrears collection department, same one that sent me the letter this morning, they actually called me asking me to make a payment and if i was having difficultys. I explained again same as i had previous few times and again it was like revolving circle, i said it was on my account or so i was told note would be placed he said nothing was on there. I mentioned to them i was taking action to try and resolve the whole situation so they would still get paid but in smaller amounts since they obviously had no reasonable way of doing it one on one and of course he said u will be adversly affecting your credit and you will never get it again (Started to get little nippy with me). I simply told him i wasnt intrested in future credit after the mess i had gotten myself into this time. i couldn't pay what i didnt have he again pressed on at me. I said i was no longer going to continue the conversation as i am still grieving and bullying technics from there company wouldnt not make me spit out money any faster because i didnt have any to give them. i said contact would be made in future and placed phone down. I was very shaky when i came off phone but i refuse to be bullied.

i did a remedy thing on the csss website but it let me save remedy onto my desktop so i could read it but my browser closed down by time i had finished reading. Does this mean i will have to do it all over again and then go from there???