Advice on which way to go

mitsygirl79

Hi guys, you may remember I posted a few weeks ago when I was in dire straits after the attachment of earnings. Well I still am but it feels a slightly better situation.

Hubby has a 3 month harvest job with a chance of full time work (nothing guaranteed) so everything is crossed. I am full time employed anyway. Eldest son will be starting on an apprenticeship so we are due to have a reduction of approx £60 for that and with hubby's earnings which I need to estimate we will have another reduction if not a complete loss of ctc/wtc.

Anyway we've sat and wrote all our debts down between us there's a rough total of £17/18k. Looking through our credit files many defaulted in 2011 so unsure when they would be statue barred as although we have not paid or admitted since then I can't remember when I last paid them before that date and don't know if I can find out without acknowledging.

We've have rent arrears which are on a payment plan now, we've decided to leave the council to do the attachment of earnings knowing its 2.5 more payments and hubby will anytime start work so we're accepting things will be tight. Our son will be taking over his phone contract so another bill gone and offered to pay £50p/m towards his keep actually impressed he offered.

Am I right in concentrating on our normal bills and the rent arrears, sorting my water rates back out, the main council tax bill, the ccjs we have on monthly payment first?

secondly the ones that have had recent contact is there a letter I can send them explaining after the normal expenses and priority bills there isn't actually any money left over to pay them or do I leave them until it gets to a more serious stage where I will need to acknowledge it all? For example Lowell have sent some letters about old shopacheck accounts that defaulted in 2011 (possible last payments were 2010 but I've no record/statement) offering reduced payment to close the account (still out of reach to clear though) do I respond now or just wait a bit longer whilst I get the priority ones sorted.

Think Ive waffled a bit so hope it makes sense.

timetosayenough

Hi, I'm fairly new, entering a Debt Management Plan so am not that experienced but what I have learnt from the guys on here is that priority debts should be sorted first i.e. rent, council tax, utility bills, then I think it should be being able to feed yourself and lastly unsecured debts.


I'm sure that others will be along who are more knowledgeable than me but didn't want to read and just run.


Good luck.

sourcrates

Hi,
You can let Lowell whistle, for now, if they were to take you to court, they would be obliged to inform you in writing first, it's called the "pre-action protocol" they would write and say "unless you pay this now, or agree repayment terms, we will take you to court".

That is how you tell a threat from an intention, it will say "will" rather than "may".

So until you get that letter, your pretty safe, you will always have an exit strategy just keep an eye on the post, and hope they keep overlooking you.

Sort your essential debts first.