I don't know what to do anymore :*(

pinkladymel

Hi
I'm Mel, 24 mother of two children aged 30 months and 16 months. My husband was unexpectedly disabled overnight we lost our jobs as I had to give it up to help him and then i found out I was pregnant. Once the child was born (and don't get me wrong he was very wanted and he is my life) the doctors advised we had any more children now as my husband has scoliosis and he would need the operation soon (TMI WARNING: scoliosis is curvature of the spine which eventually will crush the internal organs. To cure the spine needs to be broken then reset and takes 5 years to heal. After this it will take a further few years to learn to walk again.) SO this is why we have 2 children so close together. My husband is in a wheelchair and I care for him and the children every hour of the day and night.

So now you know who I am my problem is this, Recentely I asked LLoyds for an increase on my cc. They agreed and I went on to spend the extra 500 immediately. The credit card never lets you overspend it always says "card declined" in the past. Anyway, I received a phone call with someone foreign speaking really rudely to me telling me i had gone over my limit by 448 and i had to pay it IMMEDIATELY. I felt sick to my stomach and said I couldnt but they kept repeating. I put the phone down and rang the english call centre. They said that there is no comment on the account and there is no way this could happen and I had to pay the money immediately. At this point I was sobbing and I have no way to console and get myself together. I dont have ten minutes to think in the day. Since then they have rung repeatedly at 10pm when I have just got my youngest to sleep at 8pm this sunday the worst times and they ring. i have tried to talk to them and they dont understand a word I am saying so they just repeat I owe the money. I am too scared to answer the phone now because everytime I do I am harrassed until I cry and I dont know what to do anymore. I have paid £50 which is what I can afford but the late and overlimit charges eclipse this.

I don't have the confidence to sort this out myself and the charity debt help are too busy. I have emailed no end of times. I feel like I am just in a downward spiral and my family are relying on me and I am letting them down.


I in total have 5500 of debt 2448 with LLoyds
I know you need more info then this but I dont know if its relevant at the moment.

I just dont know who else to turn to

tealady

Right Put up a SOA (see Southernscousers sticky) so that the wonderful people here can make sure that you are getting every penny you are entitled to and that your budget balances. The next time the bank ring tell them you will only deal with them by letter or get call barring on your phone.
I don't know where you are but have you tried CCCS or the Citizens Advice (CAB). Try your Council as well (Birmingham have debt counsellors for people who come under them for Council Tax).

cold_angel

Hi Mel,

Who have you tried contacting by email?

pinkladymel

cccs is that the one with the red website? its the one I have tried emailingI know i get every penny I am entitled to just to let you know that for a starter but I'll write my list out here for you now xx

KatrinaC_2

First up - take a deep breath and give yourself a hug. Go make a cup of tea (and maybe something stronger to go alongside it!) and lots of people will come along and make suggestions in a minute. They will ask for an SOA (Statement of affairs) which lists all the income and outgoings for your family. A lot of stuff might seem unimportant, but you'd be amazed at how quickly the members of this board can find ways to save money! Take your time over this - it's better that you get a proper statement when you are in a better state of mind than something a bit wonky cobbled together when you are panicky and scared.

As for the credit card company, when they call, tell them that you will only correspond in writing. Follow this up with a letter to the company which states that you will not be corresponding with them by telephone and that if they want to communicate to do it by letter. This may not work (sorry) but it is worth a try. If it gets too bad, unplug your phone. There are rarely phone calls between 8 and 10pm which are more important than your sanity.

Oh, and I am the single most disorganised person on the face of the earth. I managed to get out of debt with the help of the people on here. If you can run a household single-handed with 2 children under 3 you can manage it too.

Kat

cold_angel

MEL,

CCCS are open 8am till 8pm Monday to Friday 0800 138 1111 give them a call. They will book you in for a phone appointment to look at your situation and will help you as much as they can. The appointments take about an hour.

If you cant stay on the phone for that long you can go through tho same process on line at www.cccs.co.uk you will need to clik onto Debt Remedy. This take about half an hour, you will need your income and expenditure and details of which creditors you owe and how much and it will give you a reference number, full financial statement and details of your options. if at this point you have any queries, CCCS have a team of the counsellors that do phone appointments working as web support for debt remedy, give them a call 0800 197 1407 mon-fri 8-8, give them the reference number and they can bring your details up and answer any questions you have.

I hope this helps you....

cold_angel

MEL,

CCCS cannot advise you from an email they will actually need to speak to you. You should have had a letter from them asking you to call the Helpline, 0800 138 1111 Mon-Fri 8am-8pm

cold_angel

Also Mel,

If your creditor is continually calling you demanding payments and you have written to them asking to contact you by post that can be classed as Harrassment and you can report them to your local trading standard under section 40 of the administration of justice act.

Usually gives them a good reason to back off a little and give you some breating room.

Definitely call CCCS though, they can go through a lot more with you and help put your mind at rest and give your further advise regarding you creditors.

pinkladymel

Income
Child Benefit 30.20 pw
Child Tax Credit 320.65 e/4w
Carers Allowance 48.65 e/w
Income Support 8.95 e/w
Incapacity Benefit 196.90 e/2w
Disability Living allowance 168.10 e/4w

We have the car with the mobility component of disability allowance.

OUTCOME
Overlimit charge £4 p/m
Water £25 p/m
Gas 10 p/w
Electricity 20 p/w
Petrol 20 p/w
Food 70 p/w (this includes nappys and milk)
Egg £45 p/m
Argos £30 p/m 27.9% interest
LLoyds £45 p/m 1.24% interest p/m
Insurance £13 p/m
Three Phone contract £20 p/m 17 months left
Cable, Internet, Phone £40 p/m
T.v License £10 P/m
Creation card £30 p/m 30.9 % interest

DEBTS
Argos £1200
Creation £250
Lloyds £2449
Studio £26.30 - balance owing is charges
Vertbaudet £15.00
Egg £1200
Overdraft £400
Loan from friend which needs paying urgent £175
Things in red are what have charges made on them, I have sent letters and they said they wasn't bothered and to contact my local financial ombudsman

pinkladymel

oh i forgot to add personal spending hang on a sec

I did the cccs online and at the end it said i need to phone them. There was an option to email instead so I did.

In_Search_Of_Me

Lloyds bank are a flipping nightmare! Just in the process of transferring all accounts from them! Ring CCCS and go from there. While you're waiting sit down & work out whats what and post on here & people will be able to advise meanwhile. You are among friends here and we all understand what debt feels like so you're not alone. Do you get any practical help with the care of you OH & the children. Just a thought...have you been making any payments to the card at all because CCCS wil tell you to make at least a £1 token payment I think...