Need advice on how to help family member

adjoce

Hi there, I would really like some advice for my sister. She has two small children and has just been dumped by her boyfriend, she's an emotional reck and over the last few days has for the first time been honest with my parents and me about the way they've been living for the last two years. Basically they've borrowed a lot of money from door step lenders and its come to the point where they had no money at all and could not borrrow any more, this is the reason why he's left her as he would not hold down a job for more than a few months but liked a luxury life style. I don't know all the details but she owes about £6000 pounds, I've never had any dealings with these lenders myself so I'm not sure if she'll be able to negotiate freezing interest and setting lower monthly payments. She lives in a rented house and has no where near £6000 worth of goods in her house, she has only just started working and yesterday applied for tax credits as a single parent.
Has anyone made arrangements with people like this before, or has cccs or payplan dealt with them on your behalf, I would be very grateful for any advice you could give.

black-saturn

When he moved out did he take with him any of the things which the money from the debt bought (such as a car or anything) ? If so can she prove it? Was the debt in joint names or just in her name? If it was in joint names he is still liable to keep up the repayments. Any debts only in his name are solely his responsibility.

Other than that she should go to the CAB who will help her negotiate with the lenders to pay the amount back in a manageable amount at a time and possibly freeze the interest.

adjoce

He didn't take anything except clothes, ect. The £6000 is just her debt,she says he has approx the same amount in his own name, most of the money that she borrowed was taken by him to gamble away so there are no expensive items been bought with it, she says she's been blinded by love for him, why I don't know as he's a fat, ugly slob, the annoying thing is is that he's got no fixed address so they probably won't be chasing him.

lil_me

With these sorts of lenders, after finding out what she owes (what is in her name) I would agree with black-saturn completely and contact CAB, really feel for her at the moment, it's the same sort of situation a lot of my debt came from, keeping a bloke happy, but was unfortunately all in my name, have well and truly learned from that lesson now but it was a hard one. Hope your sister is ok.

tobedifferent

I know from experience that love really does blind. I can't think of a certain ex without retching as he is truly grim but at the time I thought he was a truly special individual and we were destined to be together.

But before I go and scrub myself with boiling water and bleach I would like to say at the very first instance I would suggest contacing CCCS, PayPlan or Citizens Advice for some clear advice on what can be done with regard to these doorstep lenders. I'm not sure quite how it works. I have read that the interest is front loaded so no matter how long it takes to pay it back the total amount owed is the same but this may not be true....

Get to the professionals in the first instance and then get back here for advice on cost cutting and budgetting and lots and lots of support from the lovely people!

adjoce

Thanks for your replies,I'll have to ring CAB tomorow for appointment and see if they can help. She's still very emotional at the moment but we've told her that we'll all stand by her and help out.

tobedifferent

Big hugs to her too. I know now that all my break ups where a good thing but at the time it felt that the sky had fallen on my head. Its never easy.