Credit Card Debt

Penfold77

Hi, thank you for all your help with my issue, I have been so impressed that I have decided to see if you can help my friend who is too worried to post herself.

She has recently lost her partner and had to move back to this country as a result of the reduction in income.

The amount she recieves now is just £500 p/m in a pension from husband.

She ran up £5k in his last few months providing everything he could want when he was very ill and getting back to this country. But now cannot pay it back.

She cannot get any real benefits as she has not paid enough in to the system as she took time off to have children and when she came back the council messed about for 12 months trying to help her (one dept. to another), but in this process she lost the ability to claim her husbands stamp.

So after the little she gets towards housing (she is in sheltered housing now - having lost everything)

She is now really worried about what to do with this debt. Can anyone help?

Tixy

Hi

Is she certain she is getting what she is entitled to? Has she looked at whether she is entitled to pension credit? which she might be assuming she is a pensioner and based on what you say her income is.

What form is the £5k debt in? all credit cards? just to one place or different lenders? She'll need to write to her creditors to explain her circumstances and that she can only afford token payments towards the debt.

IMPORTANT - Where to seek professional impartial advice about your debts.
She may be best seeking advice from one of the debt advice charities with this - CAB if she could get to her local office, CCCS could help via the phone, or she might want to try to see if christians against poverty (CAP) operate in her area. They'll come to the house to visit her which some peope find easier (you don't have to be christian for them to help you, its why they help not who they help). Any of these should also be able to help advise what other help she may be entitled to in her circumstances.

Penfold77

Hi,

She is not a pensioner (she feels like she is but, she is only 56 but cannot find work, she has been out of the country for 9 years and has been repeatedly told that she is too old for a proper job.

Her husband retired early and that is another reason why she hasn't got the required stamp.

She has just told me that she has actually just found part time work to start soon but at on £300 a month, which will take away her little housing help.

What do you think she could possibly been entitled to?

As even with the new job £800 a month doesn't seem like enough to live on - pay rent, council tax, bills & food etc.

It is annoying for me as she & her husband have paid a lot in to the system and now it looks like it is failing her whilst others thrive.