had some bad luck, cant pay bills

jasperconran

hi guys,

not sure if in right place but basically here is the gen.

just found out late last night that my OH and his company have been taken for alot of money.....3 companies have gone bust owing him alot of money. I work alongside him too, so basically we've got very little money due this month.

Mortgage and secured loan is paid for, dmp already gone out so cant change that. we need to eat right?

But I cant pay the following bills:-

House insurance
council tax
life insurance
electric/gas (already in arrears one month)
Anglian water
BT
Sky tv

so my question, shall i write to them all telling them I can pay a little something until we get sorted out?

never been here before........will the companies understand??

thanks

staffie1

You must speak to them and sort something out.

NorthernLas

I would prioritise the bills using info from National Debtline ... I think council tax is highest priority.
Then I'd work out what is left after you take into account essential items (like food).
Then I'd take advice from CCCS.

And I'd keep repeating to myself 'I'm doing the best I can for the situation I'm in'
It doesn't matter whether they understand - they have whole departments whose job it is to credit control and they simply follow a script. They may be more helpful if you tell them early and with a potential significant drop in income it is hard to see what else is possible.

chin up

2johnies

Depending on the company will depend on how they will react...some are ok...some aernt... I know this as I wrote to RBS and Barclays when I was having a few difficulties...as soon as they received my letter, RBS completely blocked my card and Barclays reduced the limit....i hate banks...

merlin68

Your main priority is council tax, the rest can wait.

daytonababe

I really would try and pay the house insurance if you can... I know it might not seem a priority but should something happen then what would you do?

I went out for the day last yr, came home 5 hrs later to find the tank in the attic had over flowed and caused about £25k's of damage, without insurance we would have been stuffed big time.

flossieflipflop

Hi,

Can't give any advice really but just to second what daytonababe says about house insurance - most mortgage companies insist on having buildings insurance and you could get into trouble with them if it's not paid.

Hope you get it sorted

MiaowMiaow

Hi :-)
so sorry to hear about what has happened.
I agree with prioritising council tax and insurance
Then contact all the other companies ASAP and explain the situation
you need to eat - check what you have in the cupboards and what meals you can make up with little purchases.
do you have any items you can ebay which would help later this month?
not great on advice but hope you get a lot more
best of luck and you are doing well already by just facing the situation head on xx

miggy

While food bills don't show up on the list, as you say, you have to eat.
Have a look through your cupboards and freezer then stock up on basics - pasta, rice, mince, baked beans, frozen veg, bread, milk, tea etc... there will be a list somewhere of what the government considers a basic shopping basket and I guess you could use that as a guideline as to what's considered reasonable.

Thinmgs like Sky may well have to wait though I agree to try to make contact with them - but if Sky gets cut off it won't have the same impact as hunger would.

It make be a while till you gt anything back from the companies that have gone bust so you will need to be making longer term plans too.

I'm sorry to hear about all this and I hope you get something back from what you're owed.

RAS

Sky you really need to get rid of; with this level if hit, you simply cannot afford it.

You can go over tot eh moneysaving oldstyle forum and list the contents of the fridge, freezer and cupboard and they will help you put together as good a menu plan as possible.