No Way Out, Please Help!

khalid302

Hi all,

I really don't know where to start, or where to begin to be honest. I guess like a lot of people in here I just ignored my problems and now the debts have started to pile up, and to be honest I can't see any way out, sounds melodramatic but it was only after my trip to beachyhead last night that I decided that either I sort this out or I jump. I'm so depressed. I'm not looking for sympathy or anything, its my mess just advice as I have no one to talk to.

My situation is as follows, I have recently (one month) split up with my wife and as a result she moved out with our two young children. All bills were in my name but my salary was paid into our account. She was due to pay all the bills but never did and as a result I only knew about it when I found all the letters. Foolish I know but I had no reason not to believe she was paying the bills. I live in a council property and currently have rent arrears of £1200. I had a court agreement to repay the amount which I stuck to for a few months but now havent paid anything as I am on statuory sick pay. They are now in the process of applying to the court again to have me removed from the property. My credit card is maxed out, I owe £1756.49 there, am over drawn in my bank account by £456, my limit is £400. THe rest is as follows:


Sky-£134 debt
Friends and Family £4000 debt
Gas Bill- £400
Elec- £350
Water - £500
T mobile £150
Council Tax- £400
BT- £350
Littlewoods -£ 300

I am aware that this is not the correct was to do a SOA but I can only list my debts as I have not been paid any SSP yet. Hope that makes sense.

I am employed however for the last 7 weeks I have not been able to attend work due to sickness and am on a sick note, my illness is under investiagtion. I am on ssp but did not get any funds this months as they over paid me last month. I have poor credit, am not aware of any companies who could offer me a loan to pay it off. I really dont know where to start. Please advise.

Apologies if I have posted this in the wrong place.

Many thanks

ltm07

Welcome khalid,sorry but i can't help much but there will be some good people who should be able to help,you've come to the right place. Keep your chin up & good luck.

LandyAndy

khalid302 wrote: »

Hi all,

I really don't know where to start, or where to begin to be honest. I guess like a lot of people in here I just ignored my problems and now the debts have started to pile up, and to be honest I can't see any way out, sounds melodramatic but it was only after my trip to beachyhead last night that I decided that either I sort this out or I jump. I'm so depressed. I'm not looking for sympathy or anything, its my mess just advice as I have no one to talk to. You do now :j and there are lots of people here who will try to help you.

I am sure someone will be here v.soon to give advice.

Good luck

LA

Seaxwyn

Hi Khalid

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling so low - and very glad you decided not to jump.

There certainly is a way out - there is no problem that can't be solved. Have you tried contacting the CCCS? They can be really helpful with problem debts.

Hang on in there and you will get lots of support on this board whenever you want it.

khalid302

Thank you for caring.

floss2

Hello, sorry to hear of your situation.

Firstly, have you told the Council that you are now off sick & "receiving" SSP? They may be able to sort something out re housing benefit & council tax benefit (at least 25% off if you are on your own).

You also need to contact the utilities to let them know.

Have you contacted your bank & credit card company - do you have PPI on the credit card to cover for sickness?

Also, look on www.entitledto.co.uk to check how much SSP & other benefits you should be able to claim.

Hope this helps, chin up...x

ltm07

Any friends or family you can talk to? It may look bad but i think with a little help from people you will soon be on your way to sorting your situation out. Don't bottle your feelings up,you must talk to someone you can trust. Also stick around on here,as there will be people who can give you alot better advice than me. All the best.

khalid302

Thank you all for your replies. I just left a call back option with CCCS and hopefully they will call me. The utilities I arranged with them a repayment plan before but since being off sick I have not contacted them, just didnt want to deal with it. I will contact them today. The council situation is complicated as when my wife and I split it was I who left the property and moved into a friends house. She then applied for housing benefit and income support, I advised the council that I was not living here anymore and they said that she would have to be rehoused as the tenancy was only in my name. I tried to arrange for the debts to be cleared however whilst this was being processed we had a brief reconcilation and I moved back in. She then moved out a few days later, became homeless and is now living in another council property with my children, so applying for housing etc. I contacted Income support office this morning and was advised that I could claim DLA but only from the today even through I have been off sick for seven weeks. I picked up a housing benefit form today as well and have completed it.

khalid302

I have borrowed as much as I can from friends and family thus I owe around £4000 to them. So I cant ask any of them. I am also concerned that the council might take the property from me. I am hopeful that we may try again so if i advise them that I am living alone that might say well a three bedroomed house is not suitable for me and ask me to leave quicker..does that make sense,

floss2

You make be able to appeal for a backdate of Council tax & Housing benefits to when your SSp started, 7 weeks ago. Apply & then if they say no, sak to appeal - it's a quite an easy process, and you may get more money.

Have you asked the council if they can swap you to a smaller property more suited to a single person - bear in mind that a 3-bed house will be sought after & they may be happy to do it.

ltm07

You probably wouldn't be able to borrow any more money off them(and it wouldn't be the right thing to do in my opinion),but it sounds like you have got a great family & friends who have helped you out. Just talking to one of them to get things off your chest can work wonders. OH & i are £31.5k in debt(lbm was £32.5k), & we didn't tell anyone(my Mum knew we were in debt but was staggered to discover how much) my brother found out who thought we were quite well off,& although we felt ashamed at first,it was a massive relief to get things out in the open.