Wescot/CapQuest

Bimp · 21 January 2012 at 9:32AM

I am being hounded!

I had a personal disaster back in summer 2009. I had to move home suddenly with little cash and stupidly left most things unpaid. This has left me with severe panic disorder and I eventually had to give up working altogether in May 2010. I am 23, but before then had worked full-time since the age of 17. Anyways...

Between then and summer 2011 My new address was bombarded with debt recovery mail... understandably. My benefit claim was backdated (Because ESA claims are a nightmare to get approved for and it took me a very long time) and with this money I paid off my council tax debts in full and my BT phone bill in full. Both of which were through debt agencies.

Since then... Orange have passed on an outstanding phonebill to CapQuest, and Lloyds TSB passed on my small overdraft to Wescot. These people are calling and writing to me on a daily basis. Earliest so far was 3 calls in a row at 7am on a monday morning. I know roughly how much I owed these companies and it is now hugely inflated.

I just don't know what to do! I cannot afford to pay them... at all. Not one single penny. But, I am also frightened to communicate with them and land myself paying their ridiculous charges.

I have been so ill these last few weeks with worry and stress. I haven't been able to leave my own home for some time because of my panic disorder but now I don't even feel safe here! CapQuest say they wills send people to my house.

I realise this is probably a similar story to many out there but some specific advice would be great... do I acknowledge their letters/calls or ignore? This debt is nearly 3 years old and I really am spot on with my bills. But this crisis I had back in 2009 is still haunting me!

Rant over!

nottoolate · 21 January 2012 at 9:41AM

there is a letter to stop telephone calls somewhere

can you pay £1 a month? put you circumstances in writing and offer that if you can. if you cannot afford more then they shouldnt be hassling you for more.

how much do you owe in total? are you ever going to be able to pay more?

Bimp · 21 January 2012 at 9:50AM

I actually owe about £80 to orange and £350 to the bank.

Between then the debt collectors want over £850

I could spare £1 a month yes... but then what? I don't see myself being able to work any time soon so my income will not be increasing.
I don't spend anything on 'luxuries' as I said, I haven't been able to leave the house much in over 2 years... but as a result of that, and living in Scotland, my electric bill is £150 a month.

Off-topic but had to laugh -
I called up my energy supplier to see if I was eligible for one of their 'social tariffs'. And, nope I'm not. As my benefit is 'contributions-based' not 'income-based'. This doesn't mean I get any more money that anyone that hasn't paid NI... it just means that the DWP didn't look at any savings I may have had when I claimed (which, I didn't have!)
So... I call up DWP to see about being changed... and the only way they can do that is by coming off the benefit and reapplying (Another year of medicals and being treated like dirt!)