no where left to go

heartbreak_star

Good luck CW - you can do this. Everyone on here is immensely supportive!

HBS x

WantToBeSE

Thats great curlywurly, well done.
Looking forward to hearing back from you soon

eyeopener2

curlywurly1010 wrote: »

Thank you so much everyone I can't believe how supportive everyone is on here I don't feel as desparate as I did so thank you. I have made the first steps and contacted the Co op for an application to open a basic account with them and I'm going to sit down over the next couple of days and try and write out a plan I will post back and see what you all think. I'm going to go and try and delete my contact numbers just now

Really can't thank you all enough xx

Well done!

If you need more formal help, you can contact Stepchange (was CCCS) or Paypal who will guide you. In fact, I would use their websites as they are full of info. National Debtline has some great template letters to use.

We are all here to help and have all been in the deep end wondering how the hell we are going to get out. Some have made it, some are getting close but we all started where you are now.

You were at wits end, now your thinking positively and moving forward.

Good here, in'it!

E2

ps When you open your new account your overdraft will be another debt to negotiate. Don't worry about that just yet, get the ball rolling first. And get all your benefits,wages or whatever moved over!

dancingfairy

I think it might be worth contacting StepChange as well. NOt because they will tell you anything different but more a) they can talk to you over the phone and provide reassurance and b) I think (hope) it helps when you contact creditors to say 'heres my Stepchange number, I'm paying as per what they've set up for me, goodbye' and then hang up (if you really ever HAVE to speak tothem on the phone) or you can include your reference number when writing. I think it gives a bit more authority to the process personally (and creditors HAVE to deal with any 3rd party debt charities on your behalf if you ask them to).
Payplan have mixed reviews - sometimes people love the, others over the many years I've been on here have had not such great success and National Debtline whilst an excellent resource provides you with the info and leaves it more up to you to manage and control I believe. It really depends on whether you want to manage the process more yourself (and can deal with the stressy letters etc) or whether you would want someone on the end of the phone to help you out.
I also think when you have a plan that it might be worth having a chat with your parents. Not to say exactly how much you owe, but more a case of 'hey I've got in a bit of a mess, I've spoken to Stepchange/payplan/NationalDebtline and got a plan and it's under control. I might get a few stressy phone calls but I'm setting up a payment plan to get it sorted'. Just to let them know that a) there's been a bit of a problem but b) that you're getting it sorted.
You are very likely to get threats of a) doorstop collectors (these hardly ever turn up and ifthey did then you wave them on their way - they have the same legal rights as the paperboy (that'd be non then ) b) that they'll tak e you to court (o.k so the worst that can happen here is that a judge will look at your paperwork and decide how much you should pay and tell your creditors you will be paying them x amount. There won't be a court hearing in terms of people appearing etc it's a paper exercise. c) you may also get threats of all sorts of rubbish but it's all just hot air (they can't do anything without a court order at all).
IF you do get notice from the court then you can deal with it but just ignore all the huffing and puffing and 'the world will end if you don't call us' type rubbish.
df

amanda_8t4

Hi there, I have been in the same predicament as you which has also come to a head over the past couple of weeks. I contacted Stepchange on New Years Eve and set up a debt management plan. Even if you did not want to set up a dmp I would suggest giving them a ring anyway as the advice and support they have given me is has really lowered my stress levels. Yes I only have myself to blame for getting in this mess, but these companies can't take what I dont have and thats that!!

LannieDuck

Although you feel overwhelmed, your situation is far better than many people on here. You've done brilliantly well to recognise the danger before you get in too deep.

You need to work out which loans have the highest rates of interest - pay them off first (I think there's a 'snowball calculator' on here somewhere to help with that...).

Do you have anything you could ebay? I'm a bit of a convert, having made £400 in 2-3 months just from junk I didn't want anymore. You could pay off a couple of your loans completely with that. It's a bit of effort, but it's basically money for old junk (one man's junk is another man's treasure...).

If you have a 3 year old, do they have any clothes/toys/books in good condition that they've outgrown? You could try selling them at a NCT nearly new sale. Good condition stuff will go for about half of retail price.

365days

Just popping in to say I openeda NATWEST basic aco!!!! online and it took me 15 minutes if that.

Well Done for where you've got so far

Matt-_2

Hi,

Have you have contacted the Payday Loan Companys to ask for a payment plan? I was in the same situation as you owing £1000s of pounds and suprising I found most of these companys very reasonable to deal with. I used different sites to you except for Wonga. My advice would be
Wonga - Call them on the morning the loan is due out and ask to set up a repayment plan, they will instantly freeze the account and send a income/expenditure form on email. Fill this in as best as you can and on the last section you put how much you think you can pay and over how many installments. I owed £1152 and they froze the interest and I paid £96 over 12 months.
Rest - Send an email explaining that you are looking to enter a payment plan and tell them what you realistly can afford to pay and that you are looking to clear this as soon as possible.
Maybe some of the more experienced posters can provide more details however if you need any help with emails / letter writing then drop me a PM and I will try my best to help.
All the best

harrys_dad

Brilliant curlywurly, you have made all the right first steps and now have the DFW family on your side, and all those Payday lending sharks quake in their boots at the knowledge

It does take time and organisation but keep posting here and telling us each time you have taken a step forward, and look forward to the day, before the end of 2013 hopefully, when you can post to tell us all you are debt free!