Debt Consolidation

Jo4

meer53 wrote: »

Leave what you have with your friends. They're grown ups. They know what they're spending.

What you MUST do is to tell them that you cannot do anything more for them, it's up to them now.

What were they expecting you to do exactly ?

Get their monthly repayments reduced to were they could afford them.

meer53

I cannot for the life of me see why they expect YOU to do this. It's crystal clear from the SOA that THEY have to contact someone for help. Cutting a bill here and there isn't going to help this family. And neither can you. TELL them they need professional advice as their situation is very serious.

DCFC79

Jo4 wrote: »

They need the mobile phones because they have so many children and one of her jobs means that she is in the car so if she didn't have her phone then she couldn't be reached if needed but then that is only my opinion.

You can get cheaper contracts eg sim only deals

Lay it out in front of them what they need to cut down on or get rid of and give them various numbers for cab and the charities and leave it at that. Its not your debt to sort out, I do commend you for trying to help.

tlh858

Jo4 wrote: »

Apart from the car maintenance, home insurance, clothes and shoes (which are normally hand me downs from aunts, uncles, cousins, presents) what is missing

That's the most of it, but there is also water, car parking/travel, medical/prescriptions and entertainment.

But as others have said -you can't really do any more.

Unfortunately, THEY have to be the ones to seek help, and it is apparent that they are not yet willing to admit to themselves just how serious the situation is.

To summarise:
1. They have unsecured debts in excess of their annual salary.
2. They are £100+ short every single WEEK :eek:
3. Without drastic changes to both their lifestyle and attitudes to finances, the situation will get much worse.

Jo4

tlh858 wrote: »

That's the most of it, but there is also water, car parking/travel, medical/prescriptions and entertainment.

But as others have said -you can't really do any more.

Unfortunately, THEY have to be the ones to seek help, and it is apparent that they are not yet willing to admit to themselves just how serious the situation is.

To summarise:
1. They have unsecured debts in excess of their annual salary.
2. They are £100+ short every single WEEK :eek:
3. Without drastic changes to both their lifestyle and attitudes to finances, the situation will get much worse.

Water is not charged for here in Northern Ireland unless you are a business, they do not have car parking fees and their travel is the fuel money. In Northern Ireland prescriptions are free. The only entertainment they have is Sky. If the children go out for the day it is aunties/uncles/grand-parents that take them.

Heffi1

Is there a chance either of them could register on here so people could talk to them directly, there are reasons why they are not dealing with it and I suspect they will not tell you. It is not your place to sort this out for them.

If they do not take their heads out of the sand then there is a real risk that bills will not be paid and then they may be taken to court, CCJs could follow and then bailiffs could turn up. If they take the time now to sort this out, most of it can be avoided.

Ask the question, why do they want you to sort it out.

Is it because you appear to be good with money and they can trust you?
Or are they too lazy to do it themselves?

You need to know the answer to this question.

Also what happens when your husband gets sick of hearing about their problems and asks you to step away from it.

Jo4

Heffi1 wrote: »

Is there a chance either of them could register on here so people could talk to them directly, there are reasons why they are not dealing with it and I suspect they will not tell you. It is not your place to sort this out for them.

They know that I have helped others with their finances and resolved their problems and think that I will be able to wave a magic wand which unfortunately I cannot not.

Heffi1 wrote: »

If they do not take their heads out of the sand then there is a real risk that bills will not be paid and then they may be taken to court, CCJs could follow and then bailiffs could turn up.

There are no baliffs in Northern Ireland I am gald to say.

Heffi1 wrote: »

Ask the question, why do they want you to sort it out.

Is it because you appear to be good with money and they can trust you?
Or are they too lazy to do it themselves?

You need to know the answer to this question.

Also what happens when your husband gets sick of hearing about their problems and asks you to step away from it.

They think I am good with finances and they know I can be trusted although I think they are ignorant to the position they are in but again this is only mho.

God love poor hubby he puts up with a lot but he thinks I am doing right by highlighting to them where they can make cutbacks!

Jo4

I am at their house now, so wish me luck!

Oh and I did get hubby's phone set up, now I just need to add apps to it after it is charged.

dealer_wins

Jo4 wrote: »

I am at their house now, so wish me luck!

Oh and I did get hubby's phone set up, now I just need to add apps to it after it is charged.

Show them this thread, and explain that they are in a serious situation and the options posters have recommended.

Then let them get on with sorting it out.

Jo4

They have the Unlimited evening & weekend plan costing £48.27, Friends & family mobile £4.65, calling features £9.45 & £5.67 processing fee.