Please help - in debt and ashamed

JoeHel

debtman2007 wrote: »

should i phone or use the website?? i dread to think what they will say to me.

I would just ring them mate. Get it all out in the open and over and done with. I know that, to you, it's all horrendous, but believe me they will have heard a lot worse!!! You don't want to send something online then be biting your nails waiting for a reply. And lots of people on here have said they have been so friendly and helpful they've really made a difference. You honestly have nothing to lose and might have the first good night's sleep in a while.

chevalier

Phone them
They will NOT judge you. They are not there for that. They are there to help you find the best solutions FOR YOU. They are on YOUR side. I am sure you will be so relieved once you have done this call.

good luck
chev

Scarlett.1974

You've had some good advice already and until you post your SOA there isn't a lot more people can do to help you

I just want to add something that might help though. I remember, as clear as a bell, the day I rang Payplan. I had my SOA all ready but I was beyond terrified. I faffed about all morning, putting it off, having just "one more coffee", "oh, i'll just pop this washing on", "oh look the machine is on spin, can't phone now, they won't be able to hear me" etc etc etc.......

Then, I could put it off no more. My stomach was churning, I was sweating, I was fighting back the tears at the very thought. But I did it, I picked up the phone and I called. For the first 5 minutes the poor lady on the end of the phone was subjected to my sobbing, then she said "it's okay, it will BE okay, I promise, I will help you " (cue more tears from me). It was like the biggest weight off my shoulders and my only regret was putting it off for as long as I did.

You CAN do this. They will NOT judge you, I promise. Go on <little push> do it now, it will be like the weight of the world taken off your shoulders I promise.

Here, I'll even throw in one of those slightly kinky 3-some group hugs for you :grouphug:

Go on, we'll all be here for you when you get back.

Love Scarlett xxx

itsnever2lateisit?

debtman2007 wrote: »

should i phone or use the website?? i dread to think what they will say to me.

Phone them, and make an appointment. If you think they are going to call you all the names under the sun and be-little you, then you are mistaken.

They are non-judgemental, friendly and above all eager to help you on your way to a debt free future, after all there is nothing they (or you) can do about the past. All the solutions are in the future, or as I prefer to label it, IN FRONT OF YOU.

So go on, do youself a favour and grasp the nettle. Once you have you will wonder why you were so fearful of it.

I look forward to you post tomorrow recounting you contact with them

debtman2007

Ok so have been through the CCCS website as I’m at work and can’t phone them. It doesn’t look good though. I have £33k of unsecured debt and only £340. I actually feel worse now than before. A few questions.

1.) There was no reference number or e-mail confirmation. What happens now?
2.) £340 is going to go round all my creditors is it?? Surely this is not enough for CCCS to work with??
3.) What do I tell my creditors in between time?? I have a financial discussion arranged for 5.30 tonight with EGG.
4.) If they suggest an IVA do I lose my house??
5.) i have a lloyds credit card and an overdraft. do i need to move bank accounts??

I was hoping it would feel like a burden lifted but the waiting for them to call is just as bad.

As always any help is appreciated.

debtman2007

anyone??

4littleone

Hi,
you don't lose your house with an iva. It's an arrangement that must be stuck to however so unless there is absolutely no option at all i'd avoid going onto one at this stage.

When you have the discussion with egg, you could ask them for a short period of reduced payments perhaps? ie make an offer to pay x amount for the next three months and then up it back to whatever should normally be paid.
You really need to call someone on the phone and speak to them hon, it sounds like you're having bit of a panic there and i think you could do with getting some concrete answers.
have you managed to write down a statement of affairs yet? You need to do this as you will be asked to go through it with who ever you choose to call for help.
The point of letting everyone look at your soa is so that you can have suggestions about how to reduce your monthly bills, leaving you more to pay off your debt with. If you reduced your monthly bills surely that would benefit your partner as well.

How much should the monthly payments on all the cards be and how much are you currently paying?
This should give you an idea of what needs to be done.

You can get a basic bank account from plenty of banks, co operative are good. It then means you have a "safe" bank account that money won't be taken from without you allowing it or setting it up.

Is there any way you can make that phone call this afternoon or this evening to cccs or payplan?

debtman2007

payments should be £820 a month. and to be hinest i have no idea what ive actaully vbeen paying, just a bit here and there where i can.

Will CCCS phone me back about teh website account or should i phone them?? Hopefully i should be able to phone them tonight.

BAsically my outgoings are £800 for the mortgage, my partner pays all bills etc. The debt are in my name only and it will be a DMP in my name.

What exactly is an IVA, is most of teh debt written off??

4littleone

An iva is an individual voluntary arrangement.
You would have an agreed amount that has to be paid each month to your creditors.
I'm nowhere near an expert on these, but i believe that it would be administered for you by payplan or cccs or similar if you wished, also i believe you have a regular review but i could be completely wrong.
The iva lasts i think for 5 yrs but will wreck your credit rating for 6 yrs. Again, i may be wrong on that.

I think you should phone them to be honest. At the moment you're sat there worrying about it all, bite the bullet and have a chat with them, it will help i promise.

Your outgoings are more than just the £800 for the mortgage, you've already said that you pay £50 a month on the cc for fuel, what else do you spend on? You seriously don't go through each month without spending a penny?

In order to get this sorted, sit down, be brutally honest with yourself and list everything you spend, even the 25p bar of chocolate adds up over a month.

another thing to consider is could you get a second part time job to supplement your earnings? The extra income would help.

Where does the £300 odd come from? Is that what is left after the £800 mortgage? Because if so you in reality have less than that, ie consider fuel etc.

Jacks_xxx

debtman2007 wrote: »

What exactly is an IVA, is most of teh debt written off??

Read this sweetie:

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/pdf-iva-guide.pdf

I got a ref number when I put all my info into the CCCS thingie so I can't help you there, but please ring them and speak to a person.

It'll help.

Love Jacks xxx