Debts from mental illness?

robots_2

I'm 23 years old and living with my husband to be. I'm a college student (starting nursing next year hopefully) and he works part time because he has physical disabilities from birth. Over the last two years I've racked up about £6000 of debt from impulse spending while hypomanic and manic from my bipolar disorder. I'm getting it down very very slowly and I was wondering if anyone could help me with ideas on how to speed up my debt reduction? I'm mostly living off credit and overdrafts because I don't have much income apart from benefits and my overdraft is so low I keep going over it and getting fines from it. I'm attempting to get my bank charges back soon (with the template from MSE!) and I've applied for assist from the water board for a medical condition I also have, as steps to reduce my outgoings.
I'm sorry I haven't looked very hard yet for help and I don't want to go to a debt advisory company or anything like that, I'd like some tips from real life people who have maybe had some experience like me. I don't want to mess up my credit score for life =(
What kind of outcomes have people had from shopping companies like littlewoods, very and fashion world when they ask for help or inform them of a condition similar to mine?
Thanks!

Flutterby83

Hi, my sister has bi-polar and did the same as you, only she had access to a lot more credit and owed over twice the amount of debt that you currently do. The best thing would be to post an soa so the good folks here can have a look to see where you may be able to cut back. Does your partner know about the debts? If he does, is he willing to help?
I'm afraid my sister didn't have much luck with any companies when she finally got back on the straight and narrow, but that's not to say that you won't as I'm going back about 7 or 8 years when she sorted everything out (she contacted Christians against poverty and went on a dmp) your credit score will only be shot for 6 years after the defaults are recorded as they 'drop off' your file after that time. I do have to say, though, if you are struggling to meet repayments or struggling to pay in other areas (such as rent, food etc) because of meeting debt repayments then it may be in your best interest to contact a debt company....just make sure they are a non fee paying company like Christians against poverty or stepchange. I'm sorry I can't be if any more help x

bargainbetty

If you inform them of the condition, they may be more willing to enter into a repayment agreement/DMP with you, and freeze the accounts that you have with them. They are highly unlikely to write them off, but any agreements other than the fixed terms are going to damage your credit reports for some time.

Are any of the purchases recent enough to return them? Can you sell unwanted items to raise money to reduce your overdraft dependency?

Closing off lines of credit might help - if you can't access it during an episode, that may help you avoid more debts.

sourcrates

Unfortunately shop direct group have not got a good reputation in this area, there have been a few recent posts where debts from mental health issues have been chased quiet rigorously by them.


There is plenty of advice on the National Debtline website for you to look at, you don't have to speak to anyone, and it may be helpful to you.