EDF debt question please help.

candyflosscloud

Hi everyone,

So I'm a n00bie. Ever since me and my ex broke up I've been doing VERY well with my debts infact I'm paying back everything....well until now. Yesterday I got letter through the door about my old house electric bill. I owe them about £200 now it ins't a lot and I could prob pay it off fairly quick....IF I had the money. Before my financial change I paid off Scottish Power for the same amount doing £10 a week and it was cleared within 3 months and I was very happy.

However my financial situation has now changed and well to put it short I've got more going out then coming in. My rent is £710 a month with only £20 housing benefit helping me (what's even the point) and then there's £50 I pay my uncle every month as I owe him £700. Also paying back my old credit card at £36.60 a month and that was set up looking at my financial state etc.

Basically if I phone them up and explain my situation will they hold me paying anything off until I'm in a better financial state as well I can't afford it with my rent, bills and debt I'm actually in a minus I only get £400 a month to cover everything and it doesn't take a genius to work out I can't afford to pay back EDF yet. Is there anything I could do? I'm not on JSA btw I can't as my partner earns too much (seems impossible considering how much we seem to be struggling >W<) we don't get CTB either because of this and that is £130 a month too! ga'h!

Tixy

Hi and welcome to the forum

If you now have a new debt then you really need to adjust the amount that you are paying to your other creditors so that all creditors are being treated fairly. Which would mean adjusting how much you pay the old credit card and the family loan and freeing up some for this utility debt.

That said if your outgoings already exceed your income then even without this debt you obviously cannot just carry on with your existing level of repayments.

Have you spoken to one of the debt advice charities at all yet?
Have you prepared a statement of affairs to see how much your monthly living costs are and how much of a shortfall you have compared to how much you need to pay towards your debts.

FireWyrm

EDF themselves might be the place to start here. Ever since the bad publicity of the winter with energy price hikes etc, all energy companies have claimed that they will listen to and help those in genuine financial difficulty.

Try following the procedure here and then work from there :

http://www.edfenergy.com/products-services/for-your-home/personalised-support-service/debt-advice.shtml

Which EDF Energy customers qualify?
You can apply to the Trust if you are an EDF Energy customer in need, hardship or other distress, and particularly if you are unable to meet or pay charges for your supply of domestic gas or electricity services.

http://www.edfenergytrust.org.uk/

How we can Help

The Trust awards grants to individuals and families to:

• Clear domestic gas and electricity debts and other priority household debts, e.g. gas and electricity debts to other suppliers.
• Purchase essential energy efficient household items, e.g. washing machines, cookers.
• Bankruptcy deposits / Debt Relief Orders (DRO).

candyflosscloud

No I haven't contacted any debt charties I don't know of any >W<. I really don't want to make the repayments to my uncle any lower then they are as he's family.

Tixy

Hi

You should find this thread useful Debt-Free Wannabe Sticky - Please read for links to important topics and help

and particularly IMPORTANT - Where to seek professional impartial advice about your debts. which has a list of debt advice charities that are recommended by this site.

You may also find it useful to work out a statement of affairs - using this link to have down on paper your income, your share of living costs and a list of your debts (that information will help when you make a call to one of the debt charities). This link will hep with a statement of affairs http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

FireWyrm

Just to second Tixy, if you need a budgeting spreadsheet, please feel free to take a copy from here : https://www.dropbox.com/sh/58m07i0jklqny0e/n3c1E0QUVw

candyflosscloud

Hi everyone thanks, I've applied to the EDF trust for help fingers crossed just got the scan in the evidence but ill have to do that when my son is in bed >W<