Don't know where to start

shibbymcpot

Hi everyone,

I'm sick and tired of being in debt and i want to sort my finances out.
I have just started a new job and want to start clearing my debts but don't know where to start. I have a current account with Halifax that is £840 overdrawn (my wages are being paid into my girl friends account) I also have a ccj which I cannot pay as I've been trying to contact the debitor by phone and email to arrange a different way to pay the monthly installments because I have no usable bank account to set up direct debits. I also owe £1000 to Halifax credit card, £5000 from a loan with beneficial finance, and also have debts with catalogues etc.
I have between £250 to £300 a month to pay off debts. I have no bank account that I can use.

Can anyone please help me with what to do next as I don't have a clue.

If I spoke to Halifax would they allow me a new account for my wages to go into while an agreed amount goes towards my overdrawn current account and credit card? Or would I have to open an account with a different bank (my credit rating is ruined)?

I have been trying to contact Brian carter solicitors to arrange a payment method to pay off my ccj (I have the money to pay it now) but I am not getting through to them. Has anyone dealt with Brian carter/ phoenix recoveries s.a.r.l before and paid them without using direct debits?

Any help would be fantastic.

katsu

You should be able to get a basic bank account - go to Barclays or Co-op and be very clear you only want a basic account.

Steph_C_2

I have dealt with Bryan Carter in the past and they eventually sent me a card that I used to take to a paypoint and just pay with cash every month. This was a little while ago but it really helped me out and meant I could pay a little extra each month if I could manage it.

DizzyDizzy

Best thing to do would be to open a basic bank account, make sure you ask for one that has no overdraft facilties etc. Then work out all your incomings and outgoings. Then from that you can work out what to do pay each creditor. If you can pay more than the minimum payment then think about which one you would like to pay off first, and and concentrate on clearing that one.

If you find you cannot afford to make even the minimum payments, come back on here for advice. There are various routes you can go down, such as a debt management plan. This will ruin your credit rating for a while, but as you said yourself, it's not looking good anyway.

shibbymcpot

Thanks for the replies,

I will write up at letter to Brian carters asking for a payment card later today.
I've also downloaded an app on my phone called pocketmoney or something like that and made a budget on it for each month and also put in all my debts so I can see how much i have paid of my debts, which hopefully will give me extra encouragement to become debt free.

I have also had a look at barcleys basic account and think I will go with them. I have one question though (I feel a bit stupid asking this) I live in Birmingham but work in Evesham, on the barcleys web site It says to pop into your local branch to open a basic account, can I open an account in Evesham branch or would I have to go to a Birmingham branch as thats where I live?

Blueyes42

Hi there,

Also try to see if there is a local credit union near where you live or work where you can borrow smaller amounts of money with flexible repayments.. better than nothing!