Seeking reassurance?

Spikeybird

Good day all and what a welcome find this site is!

As with all of you in the debt crisis nightmare (I have no doubt) my circumstances feel overwhelming and traumatic. I do appreciate that many personal details have unfolded on here about the whys and wherefores of individual predicaments, however, I've read through several threads and haven't had my main concern answered.

I hope you bear with me as I ask what is needed for me and mine

My husband has had 18 months of unemployment due to health issues. He was made redundant in Feb 2006 as a result of ill health and cannot return to his usual occupation. During this 18 months it has become apparent that he will never work full time again and most definitely will not earn anywhere near his previous income. Basically our household income has halved, but obviously our outgoings remain the same!

I also have health problems and until recently I worked part time. I have taken on full time hours but it is affecting me badly and I will definitely have to reduce my hours.

What concerns me is how the courts/OR view health problems...and will the fact that we tried to manage by using existing credit cards go against us in some way?

I feel so guilty that we built up more debt...but it was truly in the belief that my husband would be okay and find different work.

I have a decent income and can pay the mortgage and usual household bills (with the help of overdraught facilities) BUT we have a second mortgage and several credit cards that were paid from my husbands wage. We cannot pay these any longer...I am borrowing money from my children and a friend is buying our weekly groceries...

What's the first step...and will they take into account that I cannot keep working full time?

With slight relief at being able to write this down...

Spikeybird

Conor_3

Just as an aside...

If you claim tax credits, apply for the disability component of Working Tax Credit. You don't need to qualify for DLA but as long as you have a long term illness/condition that restricts what work you can do, you should qualify. You'll need to phone them and provide a letter from the GP/Specialist.

debtmonkey1

Hi Spikybird!

As posted earlier contact the charities on the link for proper advice. If they say BR is a solution for you I'd go for it ASAP. Why prolong the hardship & borrowing money, etc???

If the charities say BR is an option (& by my untrained eye it looks like BR would be a good answer for you) STOP PAYING YOUR CREDITORS straight away to get the fees-£130 Court Fee (I'd guess you may well be exempt from this-worth going to the Court pre-BR -or even better once appointment booked-with all bank statements/proof of income-they will say yay or nay straight away & you can bring the form stating you're exempt to the hearing) & the £430 odd BR fee.

My problem was I waited too long/too much faffing about & soul searching for 2 months after being given the advice to go BR!!!

As far as using the cards to live-as long as you're honest with the OR you'll have no issue I'm sure. It's only if you are insolvent/decide you are insolvent & purposfully use credit kbowing that you have no intention of paying it bac that the OR may become a bit suspicious.

But....Spikeybird, if you've only just decided NOW/NEXT WEEK that BR is an option then of course this won't apply to you.

Don't forget that County Courts can not 'turn you away'-so if you turn up with completed forms/money & say you have to go BR now they'll squeeze you in to see a judge.

If you decide to do it DON'T WAIT-do it as quick as poss-then you can start living your life again.

The hardest bit about it all is filling the forms in (lots of help on here & the court clerk checks it all through)! The staff at the Court & the OR are (certainly in my/other posters on here experiences) friendly & non-judgemental.

The 'physical' process (ie forms/going to court/or meeting) is EASY-the decision to do it & stick to your guns is not as easy!

Good luck & keep us all posted!

Spikeybird

Thank you so much for your swift responses

I'm going to call CCCS tomorrow...I must admit debtmonkey it's the filling in of forms etc that has me "bleugh" at the moment. Once it's got going I'll probably be ok...it's that first step you know?

Here's to tomorrow