How did I get in this mess...my stupidity!!

donlste

Hi All,

I'm after some help on my current stupid situation.

Firstly, I accept it's my own doing, but I'm just confused. Let me give you some information.

Presently, I'm in debt to about 11k. It's alot, but I appreciate that it's not a massive amount. However, it's over about 30 creditors.

I really don't know where to start to be honest.

Most of the debt was taken out years ago, but at most five years ago, at an address I moved from four years ago. The creditors I had at this address, I never advised them that I had moved with some, though I was on a debt management programme with them.

In short, none of these creditors have been paid for three years. I've moved to another address, and did change it with most, but not all. Not sure why. My intention wasn't to get away from them at time. I just didn't do it.

My situation has changed now. Moved in with my OH, who is totally debt free. He doesn't know the true extent of history. He knows I have debt, but doesn't know it hasn't been paid for that long.

Naturally, we are talking about our future, and I realised at 33 I need to start sorting it. I understand I have defaults etc, so things aren't going to change over night.

When I moved in with my OH, my landlord forwarded on my address to some of my creditors, and I've even had someone come round to discuss payments. This has given me the kick up the !!!! that I need to get this sorted.

I've started going through the debts I've ran up. Mainly the ones that have contacted me at my current address, and paid a few off, and set up repayment plans.

However, my issue is this. I have 30 odd debts from unpaid gym memberships to dvd clubs to loans. Only 14 are registered with the credit agencies, which are the loans / catalogs / credit cards.

What about the others? Do I just deal with the ones that are showing on my credit file first? Or all? I've borrowed the money and have been irresponsible, do I contact them all. I really don't know?

I want to sort my past. I understand that it will take years to get the defaults off, but to say I'm working on my debts would be great. I'm a such a loss at to where to start.

I don't know where all my debts lie, I'd have to contact companies from years ago, as about 9 I haven't heard a bean from for about 5 years.

Sorry for the waffle, if anyone could give some advice, it would be appreciated.

xx

LannieDuck

Hi donlste. Best thing to do would be to give us a list of what you think you owe to whom (as best you can remember), and some idea of their repayment rates/interest rates/when you last heard from them, and also fill out a SOA (Statement of affairs - hopefully someone can provide the link). That will help us to see what your incomings/outgoings are.

It would also be helpful to know what your financial arrangements are with your OH - do you have joint finances, do you split bills etc?