I've bitten the bullet.

alisonjs

I've just called MBNA and the chap tried to flog me a loan and tell me not to go to the CCCS as it'll take far too long and screw up my credit rating for the rest of my life:( I started crying and he said 'Hmm yes, you are realy quite stressed, aren' tyou.' Understatement of the year. I feel like my nice life is crumbling around my ears.

In the end, after giving me the hard sell about a loan, he got me to agree to a direct debit for a fixed amount - still high - at a date after I next get paid, and the same for the next two months until I get stable again.

Just Barclaycard to go.

And I need to set up a new bank account too. Everyone says A&L is the one to go for, but I've already got one and it's in overdraft so I can't use that

I've applied for a smile one but I can't see myself getting it.

Any recommendations?

Crown

Hi again,

The Banks are like vultures, they are not really interested in helping you out of debt as this phone call shows. He is more interested in you getting into further debt with a loan :mad:

He is also totally incorrect to it screwing up your credit for the rest of your life and he has no authority to give out such advice! If you default on your accounts your credit will be damaged but the default notice drops off your credit record in 6 years.


Bank account wise I opened upa Abbey basic account. I have also heard excellent things about the CO-OP account as you get a electronc card with it that may be useful. (I currently only have a cash card)

Rout

I got an Abbey basic account, its just a cash machine card and direct debits, no frills, but it does the job.

Try not to agree to something you dont want to, I did go down the CCCS type route, and all of my 11 creditors warned me against it, (apart from cahoot who advised me to use them) but they did the business for me.

I got two defaults on my credit rating, which at the time I paniced so much it was unbelieveable, but am now going to set about having them removed by offering to pay off the debt a lot quicker than I first thought posible.

Put as many posts as possible on here, the advice is second to none.

Keep your chin up,

Michael.

jo1972

Well done Alison :j

You've taken the hardest step, now you can get on and sort it out.

Nothing bad will happen to you, you've just gotta be totally honest with them, not leaving anything out in order for them to help you.

You are on your way to debt-freedom, may be a little way off but you'll get there!!

Good luck!!

Jo.x

raq

well done. You will get there, please keep us informed and there are a lot of sound advice on this site.

Your company doesn't have to know the truth about your debt am sure you can tell them something else.

When we where heavy in debt I always thought of our problems and the one day just couldn't go into work. It was awful. Didn't even tell my closest friend in work. I was pregnant at the time so I put it down to this.

alisonjs

I'm going to have to take the morning off tomorrow too as my debt counselling call is in the morning at 10:30. I've told workI have a Dr's appointment. I'm going to just say I've had an ongoing issue which just climaxed yesterday and I had to get home and get to the Dr's. And that I'd rather not say what it was.

So. Barclaycard have frozen everything for 14 days which gives me a little time.

I've worked out my outgoings and incomings and I do have a manageable amount of money left over to live on once I've paid my debts and my outgoings etc.

I need to start fresh with a clean bank account. At the moment my account is so overdrawn that I'm spending heaps on fees and DDs and missed payment fees for missed DDs and etc etc etc that my account is swallowing up my salary before I can even get to pay my outgoings. Hence my situation this month where I can't even meet my minimum payments.

I need to fiercely budget and stick to it. I'm hoping that CCCS might at the very least be able to help me with that.

Do you think?

Crown

Evening Alison,

If you have put together a SOA already then please feel free to post it up and we can give you advice on where you may be able to to cut back.

The CCCS are great at explaining how it all works and will give you a idea of how to budget but not to blow our own horns I feel that we MSE nd DFW users or the real experts when it comes to budgeting and cutting costs

DawnW

Don't forget to claim back all those bank charges once you have sorted out what you are going to do with CCCS, and feel up to it. This will go some way toward clearing your debt.
Good luck, and try not to worry too much x

monkey22_2

Good luck tomorrow with CCCS.
You're going to feel so much better tomorrow, I promise you!

System

Hi Alison, well done for facing up to it - its painful I know! Keep that appointment with CCCS - it may be some time before you would get another one. Believe me you will feel loads better once you have spoken with CCCS. Good luck and let us know what happens. Lenny