I'm finding it impossible

StressedHuman

Hello

I'm grateful for any advice you can please give me.

I have a range of debts with payday loans, bill arrears, catalogue and overdraft. I managed to get interest frozen on my payday loans and have been paying them off for about a year. I'm not getting anywhere because with each loan repayment I am broke and my overdraft increases and I have now reached and exceeded the limit.

I also have council tax arrears being paid through bailiffs at a rate I can't afford, I've not been eating, or missing other bills to meet their arrangement. Last week I begged them to lower it and submitted a financial statement and paid a lower amount so now they have cancelled my arrangement and are planning a bailiff visit.

I also have water bill arrears and catalogue debt.

I switch phone/internet to get new customer deals, I cook on a budget, I have no subscriptions to anything, don't smoke or drink or ever go out. A bus pass is a luxury to me. I don't know what to do.

It's come to a head this week what with my overdraft being used up and bailiffs upping their action and I have no idea where to turn now.

It's honestly making me sick and suicidal because I have been trying so hard to pay everything and yet it's only getting worse.

Please help

StressedHuman

I also forgot to even mention my housing benefit has been cut drastically to pay an overpayment. I feel like I'm drowning.

Oakdene

I didnt want to read & run on this but someone else way more qualified that me will be here to help/support/advise soon but rest assured there is help for you.

determined_new_ms

I think you need some help can you call christians against poverty and set up a meeting?

sourcrates

Ok,

Statement of affairs comes first :

http://www.stoozing.com/calculator/soa.php

Next, stop paying your unsecured credit debts, the debt with the bailiff is now your priority, however, you should only pay them what you can afford, despite what they might tell you, or threaten you with.

Put the amount you can afford in writing to them, and just pay it, do not look for there approval, just pay it, stay off the phone to them, do everything in writing only.

If they visit again, assuming you didnt allow them access last time, dont let them in, or converse with them, refer them to your letter, and leave it at that, they cant do anything else to you, and cannot force entry.

Once you have that under control, and your essential bills are been paid, then look to dealing with the non priority debts such as the PDL`s etc, you may find advice from one of the free debt charities in my signature helpful. you must take control here, pay priority debts first, the rest can wait.

Its only money, and budgeted the right way, it can be dealt with.

CIS

I also have council tax arrears being paid through bailiffs at a rate I can't afford

Look in to applying for a Section 13 A discretionary relief.

Craig

enthusiasticsaver

Concentrate on priority debts only - council tax, food, utilities and rent or mortgage.

StressedHuman

Thank you so much for your replies

The bailiffs haven't visited yet. What has happened is I was paying their arrangement to begin with, but last week submitted to them a new financial statement and lower offer of payment, and made that payment instead. They sent a letter saying they would be visiting to sieze goods. I phoned them and they said they wouldn't negotiate, as I didn't pay enough last week full payment is now due or they'll be siezing my goods.

So I continue to make the payment I can afford? Will they still visit me and charge the £235 fee?

What do I do about my overdraft as they're charging £5 per day and have said they won't freeze or refund it?

Thank you I appreciate your help

DCFC79

Call 1 of the free debt charities, you need to get it sorted before it gets worse.

enthusiasticsaver

If the bank wont freeze the overdraft charges then I would move to a basic bank account with no overdraft and move your salary to go into the new account essentially defaulting on the overdraft and treating it as another loan or credit card. Depending on amounts you may have to consider either a DMP or bankruptcy. Contacting stepchange may be a good move as they can advise the best route for you to take.

Grazeley

I dont have massive experience and am new here, but we were in a similar situation in reference to your overdraft. We were £1500 overdrawn, salary come in, bills out, back to £1500 plus £150 per mth overdraft charges,
I called my employee helpline for advise and was told to open a basic bank account with another bank. We then had all our wages paid into here instead and were able to start chipping away at the overdraft. It honestly worked for us.

Good luck, sorry couldnt help more.