New here and need some advice

GDGD

Hi everyone, I've just joined up and am in major need of debt advice.

At the moment i have around £4000 of unsecured debt and don't know where to start clearing it. I've also gone from earning 1300 a month to 700 a month. I have 2 small children and have recently had to move back in with my mother (who is on JSA) and would like to save to move out but can't with all this debt.

I owe money to maybe 10 different creditors, most of the payments are less than £100 each. The main 4 I owe money to are Lowell, Vanquis, Wonga and now a company called Robinson Way are chasing me for a £800 debt to Santander which has never been chased until it was wiped off my credit report?

Robinson Way are now stating that they will be sending bailiffs to my mother's address to clear the balance from Santander, this is the first letter I've ever received from Robinson Way and in 6 years Santander have never attempted to reclaim the money. I find it weird that after all this time I'm being threatened with bailiffs, I don't own anything at this property for them to take and don't want bailiffs coming to the house when I'm out & my mother's home as she has no real idea I have so much debt. To be honest, I really don't want to pay this debt. All the others I take full responsibility for but this one was due to my ex partner and if Santander never asked me to pay the money back for 6 years, I don't see why I should have to pay it back now.

I have a very poor credit rating which I have just begun repairing; I have a JD Williams account which is paid in full and I have a sim only deal with O2 which is also paid on time and in full. Most of debts aren't actually on my credit report for some reason, only Vanquis & Lowell show as outstanding; Wonga shows as settled even though I get debt collectors letters about the balance.

I find the whole thing confusing and don't know where to start, it doesn't help that my income has greatly lowered or that I have to financially support my mother quite a bit. I claim working & child tax credits and child benefit, but don't think that I'm entitled to anything else as I work 20 hours.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

longtermplanner

Bailiffs? Do you have a CCJ? If you don't then debt collectors are just bluffing. you won't see bailiffs unless they take you to court for a CCJ and then you fail to to keep up with the payments the court orders (which would probably be very low in your circumstances.)

If you are unsure if you have a CCJ, you can search online here http://www.trustonline.org.uk/index.php/search-yourself . It costs £4.

I suggest that you make a list of all your debts, do the CCJ search then call National Debtline for advice. there are a few debt options that might be useful for you (Debt Management Plan, Debt Relief Order or Administration Order) but for some of these it is essential to have a complete list od debts and know if you have a CCJ.

National Debtline: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/Pages/default.aspx

DanFish

It may be Statute Barred if its over 6 years and you haven't acknowleged it. Check your credit file for a default date on the santander account. HAve you checked your report with all 3 credit reference agencies?

Issue the 'prove it' letter to buy you some time. theres a link on here somewhere i'll get it for you once i find it.