Cant pay CCs due to illness - can anyone help please ?

captaincoombes

Hi,

I am in a bit of bother, and was hoping i could get some advice please from the forums. (I am also going to the CAB tomorrow, so getting some advice from here first will be useful !).

I have been unable to work due to illness since last summer, and my only income is Incapacity Benefit. Up until March, i have been able to make the payments for my three Credit Cards from my savings, but they have now run out, and i cannot make the payments anymore. I am hoping to get back to work in the next 3 to 4 months, so things should be better then, but the time between now and then is becoming tough, as i am being hounded by the 3 CC companies.

I glean (from reading other posts), that some CC companies will be amenable if you call and explain the situation, but is this true? I also have PPI on them, but am unsure how long claims take and whether it will be 'worth it' in this instance ? The companies are MBNA, Virgin, and Capital One.

If anyone can offer any advice, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance all.

Andi.

emzig123

Hi Andi, I can't help you, but thought I'd bump you up before you disappear off the page. I'd read all your paperwork about the PPI and take it all to the CAB tommorrow

Good luck xxx

taxi73

Can't help much but if you have PPI on these cards..then why didn't you claim as soon as you were sick as this is what it's for ....not having a go ..just wondering

captaincoombes

Hey folks,

Cheers for your replies. The simple reason i didnt claim when i became ill, was that the doctors kept telling me it was something simple, and a short term viral infection, but it turned out to be PTSD which has taken a heck of a lot of work to get over. It should be settled soon enough, but i am a bit stuck financially now. I guess in hindsight taxi, that you are absolutely right, but i was hoping it ouldnt take this long. Still, s*** happens etc.!

Cheers. Andi.

joeblack066

Ring the credit card companies, explain that you are on IB, ask for claim forms for your PPI. You will be much clearer where you stand afterwards, and that will put you back in control. I would do it before you go to see CAB. Good Luck!!

sammy115

Personally I found Capital One to be very understanding and immediately put me on a payment programme of £1 per month, and stopped all charges and interest for six months. Twice! the first time I had lost my job and then just as I was getting back on my feet OH lost his job.

I found Goldfish to be equally amenable (run by MBNA) but I don't think everyone has had such positive experiences.

I am worried that as your illness has been around for some time you will have great difficulty claiming on your PPI. You should really have done it as soon as you stopped earning money, but nothing ventured nothing gained. You can only try to make a claim now. If you do claim and they turn you down cancel the PPI straight away (and I would ask for a refund).

Good luck at the CAB - take all your paperwork with you (do an SOA as per southern scousers sticky) and they should be able to help you.