Westcott Debt Help

craig_rotherham

Hi

Way back in Oct 07 I naively transferred my wage payments into a TSB account, as at the time i was after a consolidation loan and it would be quicker/easier for them to ascertain ability to repay this loan.
They didnt really seem very helpful, i had to keep going into the branch to chase up how this was progressing and leaving non the wiser... anyway shortly after this my wife and i lost one of our joint evening jobs, and a little after that I lost my other evening job...anyway i rerouted my wage payments back to the original account as i wasn't having any joy with TSB ...to try and pay some off the accrued debt, my parents helped me out by transferring a sum of money across and i transferred this to my tsb account to drastically reduce the overdraft, as i also had a TSB credit card which was a bit behind, they almost immediately took over 50% of this to make payment on the card. I made contact with them and said I was trying to pay off this overdraft and told them my parents had given me this money and taking the money had drastically reduced my ability to pay this off, so they returned it back to the current account plus that months charges, i came to some agreement and was able to start paying off £5 a month and due to getting a little extra money was able to increase to £7, i think back in april/may 09, i ceased to receive any statements, or have any communication from them which is around the time they started piling £75 a time "unplanned o/d fees" (Westcott DCA, supplied statements recently confirming proof of debt), i think this was around the time my wife and i started having financial difficulties, and unfortunately this one got overlooked as it was a relatively small amount. anyway mid january 2010 (as supplied by the statements) this account was closed and transferred to "CDR" between then and now I don't believe I received any communication regarding this account.
Unfortunately at the beginning of this year my wife and I separated, and i moved back up here to my parents as it was the cheapest option, i am currently on JSA aprox £260 a month. I am currently paying £135 a month out of this to my wife as it consists of joint catalogue/loan/and a card payment of £20 a month(payment plan), er, £100 a month 'board' and also I am paying approx 20-25 for my mobile which still has quite a bit of the 18 month contract to run... which doesnt really leave a lot of spare cash per month...
I am wondering what my options could be, i'd probably only be able to offer £1 or £2 a month from this, i guess they wouldnt be happy with this...
I hope someone can offer me some good advice as what to do next, it would be very much appreciated
Sorry for the length of this post, once i got started i couldnt stop LOL

coolpaprika

Hello Craig,

I'm not sure I can help with the TSB problem, but why are you paying anything to your wife for board if you're on JSA?

Any hope of work in the near future?

Check out Martin's letters for reclaiming bank charges. I seem to remember him saying that even if they tell you they'll charge extortionate ammounts, that doesn't mean it's fair or that they have the right to do it, rather like a bully telling you he's going to punch you in the face!

You'll find all the help you need financially here, and a bit more

Keep going, one step at a time

dancingfairy

O.K it's a bit confusing your post but as far as I can make out the situation is as follows:
1) you owe TSB some money that you made an arrangement to pay back but you stoped receivin statements and you've had loads of late payment fees added on?
2) you're on JSA and currently paying 20 a month to your wife for joint debts? 100 pounds towards family/friends as a contribution to rent/board and a mobile bill?
3) Is the debt joint or singular?

In summary as you are on JSA then yes 1 or 2 pounds per month sounds reasonable for now. Have they approached you about it or something recently? If so who and what have they said?
Best of Luck
df

craig_rotherham

Sorry about confusing everyone lol it just all came out in one go
1) yeah had loads of unauth o/d fees added... wasnt aware how much etc until Westcott provided statement as i say just stopped sending statements and never had any contact off them, that i am aware of..
2) im on JSA, am paying parents board and also 3) the debt im making payments for to my wife is for joint loan and catalogue debt, the TSB a/c is mine...

Westcot have tracked me down to my parents address, i assume my wife let them know, i'm not sure, so far they have provided statement and said to contact to arrange repayment either whole amount or agree some payment plan, i've read on forums to not contact by phone but to make contact in writing etc... so do i just need to write to them explaining (more concisely what im getting and what im paying out and what i have left and "have been advised to pay £1 a month"?