Help please!

cmn1977

Hi, I am new to this forum, but wondered if possible to get some help/advice.

Just over 12 months ago my husband started having back problems and so was on sick pay, then in November he was sacked from his supermarket job and so is now on incapacity benefit. The main problem is that he hasn't had a lightbulb moment yet and doesn't quite twig that spending more than he has coming in will be a problem.

I believe he is near to the end of his £1000 overdraft limit, has 2 credit cards total of £1500 roughly, he has 12 left on a loan, £125 and only has £70.50 coming in a week.

I work full time and all of my money goes on the bills, I have a loan of my own and credit card bill that I'm slowly working through.

I have tried talking to him about this and have suggested ringing the card companies and the CAB, but his motivation is lacking and there seems to always be an excuse.

I'm pretty sure he pays for payment protection on both credit cards, am I right in thinking that he can call them and they'll cover his payment now he's unemployed? Providing obviously that he stops spending on them!

My other query is how, god forbid, these debts would affect me if anything happened to him.

Thanks

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Im affraid im no use on credit cards..ive never had one ..i wouldnt dare :eek:

Its so difficult when you cant get the othere half to face up to things isnt it... I would point out to your hubby that IB...can be stopped :eek: ..i am on it myself and last year when it came up for review i was turned down - even though i have had exactly the same condition for 5 years....i have it back now.. but it took 11 months in total from them stopping it to getting the amount backdated and returned to me.... i wasnt able to have IS as my hubby works, so i assume it would be the same for you....if that thought doesnt shake your hubby :eek:
Hope you can get him on side, it is so much easier when you are working as a couple to sort things out...
Im sure someone will be along soon with advice about the cards....so keep your chin up..you are heading in the right direction :T

kickstart_3

Not an expert , but how come your husband got sacked while off? has it something to do with it being 12 months? As for credit cards ,ACT now, the longer you leave it ,the worse it will be. Payment protection is a minefield, with all sorts of clauses to fullfill ! If the worst happens though and you are not covered , you can get them to freeze the interest on the cards (not sure about the loans though) The sooner you get onto the card companies and explain what has happened the more helpfull they will be. At worst ,you will return your cards and agree on a minimum payment between you , but only if you contact them !

cmn1977

He got sacked because of length of time he worked for them. As less than 5 years 6 months was the time, otherwise it would have been 12 months. They did offer him a sabbatical, but that had no guarantee of a job being available after the 12 months!

I asked him yesterday to do me a favour and call the credit card companies while I was out, but I don't think he did. I can't keep asking him, but what else, I can't phone because they're not in my name.

Thanks for help and support!

kickstart_3

Why wont he ring ? You are going to have to sit him down and tell him it cant go on . Honestly the longer you leave it , the worse it will get ! You are going to have to nag him to death or threaten to phone them yourself to explain the situation , even though they are not your cards ,he is your husband. Tell him you will do this then they will contact him and he will have to sort it out (call his bluff) Sorry not much use about the work side , but going off what you have written , looks like you wont have much of a case, in view of what they did offer him.

Bean_Counter

cmn1977 wrote: »

He got sacked because of length of time he worked for them. As less than 5 years 6 months was the time, otherwise it would have been 12 months.

Sorry, maybe I'm being thick, but can you clarify this bit as I don't understand.

Thanks.

Js_Other_Half

Bean_Counter wrote: »

Sorry, maybe I'm being thick, but can you clarify this bit as I don't understand.

Thanks.

I think he may have worked for a big organisation such as local government - if you have less than 5 years service then you get 6 months sick pay; more than 5 years then it's 12 months.Once sick pay has finished they can consider terminating your employment.

cmn1977

Sorry, if I didn't explain that right, it was the amazing Tesco that he worked for and it is as Js_Other_Half explained.

I'm gonna go and get my nagging hat on! Cheers

Bean_Counter

Js_Other_Half wrote: »

I think he may have worked for a big organisation such as local government - if you have less than 5 years service then you get 6 months sick pay; more than 5 years then it's 12 months.Once sick pay has finished they can consider terminating your employment.

Thanks for that!

Errata

If you've already spoken to him about the current and possible future money problems and he just hasn't got it - get up in the middle of the night whilst he's asleep and burn his credit cards. That should get his attention !