Wonga/Payday Express - Why don't they play ball?

2sides2everystory

Why are you hounding the OP ? Especially you Apples2 who has engaged with him before ? He was in the forces, you were in the forces - is there some kind of reverse US Marine Code of Honour now evident amongst British Forces ? Perhaps 'Everyman for himself and if anyone shows signs of being left behind then give him another kick and if he gets up kick him again so he remains in the dirt as a failure where he belongs? And how dare he show any sign of failure or weakness in the first place?'

Be cruel to be kind perhaps ? Sink or swim ? Stop snivelling you poor excuse for humanity ? Is that it ?

Were you some kind of Windsor Davies / Company Sergeant Major or perhaps Petty Officer in your own 23 years ? Or are you really the OP's best mate ?

Not pretty at all to see this.

michael1983l

Apples2 wrote: »

Just going by your own profile, the one which you wrote.

Besides the point anyway, there are more than enough Forces charities who would have helped guide and advise you, serving or veteran, for free.

I can't help but feel that if the clocks were turned back, you would have done exactly the same thing.

If the clocks were turned back and I knew what I knew now I would never have done what I did. In fact I'd probably be pretty well off now. The majority of my debt that I currently owe was accrued during the age of 18 - 23, ever since then I have been paying it back. The Military lifestyle can place you into a position where you are tempted to over spend and the Military actually has quite a high rate of servicemen struggling with debt. The reason why I am still in debt now is because my debts were so high that I pretty much have been marking time since. I had been paying off a considerable amount for the last 5 years to the tune of around £800. Unfortunately since I got married and had a couple of kids and the recession hit we have been pretty much reborrowing what we were paying off, meaning we were getting nowhere.

I admit now that ?I didn't get good enough advice to deal with my debts and I was held back from taking real action because I owed my parents alot and I thought that if I went into any debt management that I would have to cease to make these payment and that would drag them down with me to. So I grinned and beared it and hoped that something would come along eventually to change the situation, you could say that is naieve and I'd agree. When the cost of living has been rocketing since 2007 I found that our situation was getting worse, but you can't say I didn't try to do something about it, in a last ditch attempt during 2010/2011 I did over 500 hours overtime, thats nearly an extra 10 hours a week. I didn't see my kids growing up and I ended up having a mental breakdown that had been building up over many years.

I got in debt originally through poor education, poor advice and irresponsibility but I had tried my damndest to get myself out of it. I failed, I wouldn't be the first to fail as it does happen. I can at least explain how my situation happened to myselft at least, I do not expect many others to understand, but during my treatment for my breakdown it has become apparent why I was a little more seceptable than most to getting into this problem in the first place.

I do not think I should not pay my debts, I just want to be treated fairly and not be prejudiced against by people that make a judgement based on their own steriotype of people that get into debt. I had many events that lead up to me getting into debt that were a catylist to it, I got into debt and that was ultimately my responsibility. But I have made my mistakes and I have tried my best to correct them, they are mistakes that won't be made ever again. What is unhelpful is when people that I see in a situation similar to mine come and ask for help and advice. It really grates on me when people focus on how they got into debt and seem to take great pleasure in pointing out the errors of their ways. People came here for help, that is the first step to recovery, Embrace them, share your experiences with them and most of all give them adive.

Crippling debt situations are painful enough without getting riddicule and judgement from the very people you have come to see for help. There is a complete lack of understanding by most people about heavy debts and the effect it can have on a persons personality and decision making process. There is nothing in this life worse than being in debt, it is a weight around your neck witholding you from acheiving your potential. Help these people do not hinder them.

michael1983l

Mara69 wrote: »

A pay day loan is supposed to be a very short term solution to an immediate need. If they are used correctly they work well. If people are too stupid to realise this, well you can't legislate for stupid people. Besides which, if people didn't use pay day loans they'd use loan sharks - and they'll break your legs if you don't pay up. CCJ v broken legs. I know which I'd prefer if push came to shove.

A 14 hour shift that includes posting on MSE multiple times since 5.45! Nice work if you can get it.



A TV licence and Sky are not priority debt. Admittedly, nor is a pay day loan. In fact, if you don't owe on your TV licence or Sky, they're not debt at all!! Rent, mortgage, secured loan, council tax, service charges...they are priority payments and/or debts.

You and I will never see eye to eye so yes, best put this one to bed.

Good luck with all your debt and give the pay day loans a miss eh?

Yes your right I had a slip of the tongue there, I meant to say Priority Payments, not debts.

As for not letting your standard of living slip, then I find that offensive especially as you have no idea how we live and actually what sacrifices we have had to make as a family.

I drive a 9 year old car that I bought from an auction for £900 that has bumps all over it with some rust.

We do not have stuff like a dishwasher or ever a tumble dryer, we cannot afford it.

I have no playstation or games consoles as far as entertainment goes I have broadband that costs me £9 a month, sky TV that I get free from work and a TV and DVD player. We have nothing else.

I do not even own a wedding ring any longer.

Our house needs a rewire but we cannot afford.

Our kitchen is falling to pieces.

Our bathroom is in desperate need of an upgrade.

We shop at Aldi's

We rarely ever get to go out to say a restraunt or a pub for a bit of relax time.


How dare you look down your nose at me and make judgements based on your feelings about an emotive situation like this. When are you going to learn to look at facts not steriotypes? My situation is painful and every day our family spends just living a basic life with little extra pleasures. Sometimes it doesn't feel like it is worth living, but other days you meet people who make you realise that there are good things in this world. You my friend are not one of these people.

nogoodwithmoney11111

Michael, I hope the following advice helps you in any small way towards a new start for you and your family. I have never had a payday loan as thankfully they were not really around (or prevalent at least) several years ago but have come back from a LOT of debt so have been there when there seemed like no light at the end of the tunnel.

I am now going to make the assumption that you would benefit from some advice on getting you and your family debt free. I dont post much now but that last post about your house needing work all over, and not having any spare cash for enjoying a break really reminded me of our start to being debt free and has moved me to type. Get yourself another user name and start again over on the DFW boards, full list of debts and outgoings. Get advice on whether you need to use CCCS or not. Use the snowball calculator (and this is very important) as it will show you a day that you can be debt free. The difference that this date makes to your way of thinking is immense. Knowing that you are not going to be stuck in the debt trap forever and a date your family could be debt free (which you then try your best to beat!) is much better for your whole family. This could be years by the way, but don't panic.

I hope you read this post in the spirit it is written in,

all the best.

antrobus

michael1983l wrote: »

Fair enough, you know more about the US banking system so I will take in what you have said and digest it. I am willing to accept where I am wrong and in this case it appears I was wrong. My opinion on the current UK PDL situation is unchanged though.

No problem. And in any case, arguments about the US banking system and the extent to which US states have either, (a) taken action to prevent payday loan companies for operating, or (b) provided them with 'safe harbors' to allow them to operate, shouldn't really determine the nature of the debate here in the UK. We should, after all, be capable of making our own minds up.

michael1983l

Thanks notgoodwithmoney, I am actually half way through what you suggest. I have already done the CAB/National Debt Line/CCCS thing and ended up taking help from the Royal British Legion - who have been great to be fair and I hope to do some voluntary work for them when I am back on my feet.

It was an unusual situation really because the National Debt Line actually advised bankrupcy but the RBL talked us out of it and have refered us to an IVA practicioner instead.

I now know what my sentance is, it is 5 years, possibly 6 depending if we have capital in the property worth releasing of paying £257 / month. That is a hell of a lot less than paying £800 a month and at least we now know when the end date is.

The good thing is that during this 5/6 year period it is against the law for me to take further credit. This should give me ample time to get used to having to save for things over time rather than use a credit card and pay much extra when you take interest into account.

It is going to be a difficult 5/6 years but we have been struggling with debt for the past 10 years and I suppose I will only be 33 when we become debt free. So it is not the end of the world.

Thanks for your constructive advice but thank you even more for not judging me.

phoebesmum2105

I am appalled by the bad attitudes some people have on forums, again, I ask very, very nicely, if you cannot, or do not want to add something helpful or constructive, please say nothing. Ok everyone is entitled to their opinion, but please have some respect, these snide comments are very embarrassing and insulting to people who have had problems, not by going getting drunk on the PDL money, or anything else so mundane. It appears some people are just horrible for the pat on the back they get, from like minded, insular people. Think about the harm you could be doing.

I have a good job, well paid, but through poor financial savvy, I ended up with PDL's, I have been able to pay mine back, but fully understand how hard it is to ask for help. I joined this forum for support, I have had it in bucket loads, but this bad, bad, sportsmanship is truly upsetting.

Please feel free to find spelling or grammatical errors!!!!!!

DCFC79

Blimey the threads taken on a new twist.

phoebesmum2105

I agree, but no one asks to be ridiculed, ever.:( I am fairly new to this site, and as already stated, it has put me on the right track for the future, but I felt awful taking out a PDL, and thought long and hard before pressing the submit button, but at the time, I felt I had no other choice, (I probably did) after all, as someone said, it wasn't a matter of life or death, and took out the loan. Yep I struggled to pay back, but did so. Some people are just not that lucky, and who knows what problems people may have, so I choose to support anyone who is on this site, trying to tackle their problems, not make them feel as low, as low can be. A new year, a new start, give people a break, and find some solid, positive advice to give.

If you feel people are weak or wrong in taking PDL's that is their choice, you have the choice to give support or not. However, we are all human beings, with feelings, so think about the other person, and what they might be going through. Sorry to go on, but I felt like I was at the absolute end of the line a short while ago, and some very kind people on this site helped me through, so I will always try and do the same for others, who are not so fortunate.:)

CHR15

phoebesmum2105 wrote: »

not make them feel as low, as low can be. A new year, a new start, give people a break, and find some solid, positive advice to give.

I don't think that is the case at all, remember, this is the loans forum, not the DFW.

Cuddling, hugging and supporting someone whilst they wallow in self pity blaming everyone else is not going to help anyone.

This original post has been answered, a few times, with good advice, but it has been dragged off on a tangent.
Dragged off by someone who simply blames every lender who was prepared to lend money.

The particular poster has had the correct advice and is working through his problems, with an end in sight (and good luck to him), but persists making lengthy posts blaming anyone/everyone for the fact that he has been forced to take the measures he has.

There are no options available today, which weren't there 5 years ago. It isn't everyone elses fault it took so long to find them.