Mental Illness & Debt

Mrs_Ryan

Yes. I had a good job as an NHS healthcare assistant. Then I got diagnosed with cancer and went off long term sick. I lost my job eventually as I was diagnosed with my mental health problems and now fibromyalgia.
I didn't actually take on these debts knowing I was going to become unwell. I've worked since I was 18 thank you. I'm not like my mothers son who is too lazy to work and took out a load of debt in my mum and dads name. These debts are about five years old and were getting paid regularly until I got ill.

billywilly

whambam wrote: »

What letters did you have to send them?
Who is SOA? were the 8 debts written off credit cards or loans or overdrafts or a mix?

I just wrote to Lloyds Bank, enclosing a list of my debts with a list of my assets (didn't have any) confirming that i was not going to go back into paid employment and enclosed a couple of letters that confirmed that I was receiving treatment.

Lloyds wrote back stating that under the circumstances they were 'writing off' the debts.

Apart from those two (overdraft & credit card - £7500) my wife paid off the rest for me which amounted to about £200.

Shortly after I sold our home (1989) which left £12,000 of debt. I tried the same thing but they refused. I had to 'disappear' for the next 12 years. On paper/voters list etc my wife lived on her own in her own house for those 12 years.

MUMZ2BEE

I currently have debts with Halifax.

I too wrote to them stating my health problems and also asked the debts to be written off.

Halifax have refused.

They lent me nearly £10K, and there is now way I can pay that back.

I was in an IVA which has since failed.

Halifax are very uncaring bank to deal with!!

National_Debtline

Hi all


We do indeed have letter templates for those who wish to ask their lender to write off a debt. They can be found at:


https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/sole-letters/Pages/Write-off-the-debt-(sole-name).aspx


and, if they have refused but you want them to reconsider:


https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/sole-letters/Pages/Write-off-the-debt-second-request-(sole-name).aspx


Dennis
@natdebtline

micky2phones

whambam wrote: »

Hello,

I have been recently reading about how some people can get their debt reduced or even written off if it disturbs and worsens their mental illness? Many just declare themselves bankrupt, however there is an alternative:-

http://www.rethink.org/living-with-mental-illness/money-issues-benefits-employment/options-for-dealing-with-debt/write-offs

Anyone been down this path?

Thanks.

Hi, A friend of mine passed away, i found out later his son had " door step lender loan "

I wrote a letter to them stating they have given a loan to a person with Mental Health problems, and they should have been refused a loan.

The main reason was he had no sense of money, what things were worth.

It took a few letters and one meeting but nearly 1000 pounds were written off

MUMZ2BEE

It also helps if your creditors are cooperative.

Halifax are a very uncaring bank.

They lent me nearly £10k worth of money without any questions asked.

The FOS said they did nothing wrong, so I rejected the decision.

Halifax are a nasty bank, and will not accept responsiblity of lending money to a vulnerable customer.

Their attitude to me was to go and get a debt relief order, why should I!?

Mrs_Ryan

A

tomtontom wrote: »

Apologies, a 5S is such an old heap of a phone! And you only got it in Feb, long after you finished work. Now you're letting your mum pay for it, which seems very unfair when she is apparently also in debt. I do feel for your situation, but you seem to be perpetuating your financial issues through buying non essentials.

It is a shame that those in genuine financial difficulties struggle to get the help they need because others take advantage

I didn't buy the phone. My mum is in debt through fraud which we have proof of and are dealing with. And should I perhaps have a basic phone on PAYG which is no use to me? my laptop is broken so I've been using my phone for my uni work. Or perhaps I shouldn't be studying and should just lie in bed staring at the ceiling as that's what I would do without my phone) you have no idea where my money goes and you know nothing about my life.
don't pretend you feel for my situation as it's clear you think I'm a workshy scrounger who would rather waste my benefit money on a phone which I don't need than pay my debts. For your information I am still paying some of my debts. I couldn't pay them all though. I'm doing my best. Like enabledebra on another thread who told me the fact I'm bedbound is no excuse for me not to work. You're a nasty troll. I suppose you think I should be working too.

TBagpuss

tomtontom wrote: »

Does it not make a mockery of the system when someone claims to be unable to pay their debts, yet has the latest iphone? Sorry, that doesn't sit right with me

Why assume that they do?
Even people who are ill may be given gifts, or tied into a contract from before they became ill, or have need of a reliable way of contacting the outside world.

TBagpuss

OP, there is a sample letter on the CAB page, here https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/sample-letters-to-creditors/Request-to-write-off-a-debt---letter/ which you may be able to adapt to fit your situation.

Mrs_Ryan

TBagpuss wrote: »

Why assume that they do?
Even people who are ill may be given gifts, or tied into a contract from before they became ill, or have need of a reliable way of contacting the outside world.

Thank you. I have this phone as I do in fact need a reliable way of contacting the outside world as well as doing other things as I do spend a lot of my time confined to bed.