Credit Score 000

I'm_not_going_into

Please no nasty comments!

This time last year (or maybe a little longer ago) I had an Aqua credit card. The balance was about £4300 (I had nothing to show for it)! It was just essentials that we were using it for as my husband was out of work so food shopping etc
I was paying about £175 a month minimum payment but it got to the stage where it was just impossible to carry on.

This was in August last year. In the July before hand I was accepted on a £2000 sofa and then in March 16 we bought a new car from Ford (not brand new but still about £9600)

All of this happened while we were both working. Then he lost his job and everything went downhill.
We have NEVER missed a payment on the car or sofa (we make the car a priority after priority bills etc)

We have now finally been accepted to have the help of StepChange so we are sorting things out - slowly!

I recently had my Experian credit score and it's 000!!

We have everything we need but it's just a little embarrassing that's all that's it's all fallen apart and all from getting in so much debt with Aqua and then going on a payment arrangement plan!

Pixie5740

I'm_not_going_into wrote: »

Please no nasty comments!

This time last year (or maybe a little longer ago) I had an Aqua credit card. The balance was about £4300 (I had nothing to show for it)! It was just essentials that we were using it for as my husband was out of work so food shopping etc
I was paying about £175 a month minimum payment but it got to the stage where it was just impossible to carry on.

This was in August last year. In the July before hand I was accepted on a £2000 sofa and then in March 16 we bought a new car from Ford (not brand new but still about £9600)

All of this happened while we were both working. Then he lost his job and everything went downhill.
We have NEVER missed a payment on the car or sofa (we make the car a priority after priority bills etc)

We have now finally been accepted to have the help of StepChange so we are sorting things out - slowly!

I recently had my Experian credit score and it's 000!!

We have everything we need but it's just a little embarrassing that's all that's it's all fallen apart and all from getting in so much debt with Aqua and then going on a payment arrangement plan!

It's not clear from your OP what you want help with as you've not actually asked any questions.

Are you concerned about your Experian credit score? If so there is no need.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-rating-credit-score

[Deleted User]

Obviously just ignore the score on the basis that it's gibberish.

And will still be gibberish when it's 999, and anywhere in between....

I'm_not_going_into

Pixie5740 wrote: »

It's not clear from your OP what you want help with as you've not actually asked any questions.

Are you concerned about your Experian credit score? If so there is no need.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/credit-rating-credit-score

No sorry, didn't need any help I was just concerned and embarrassed more. Especially after seeing so many people on here who are saving etc

Sorry! Maybe a silly post then by me.

Pixie5740

I'm_not_going_into wrote: »

No sorry, didn't need any help I was just concerned and embarrassed more. Especially after seeing so many people on here who are saving etc

Sorry! Maybe a silly post then by me.

No need to be embarrassed. Only you can see that score and worse things happen st sea.

I'm_not_going_into

Pixie5740 wrote: »

No need to be embarrassed. Only you can see that score and worse things happen st sea.

Thanks Pixie, it's just a bit gutting really as it 'was' up to about 780 I believe but 'things happen' like you say worse things happen at sea!

[Deleted User]

At least it shouldn't drop much further...

PixelPound

Please don't take this the wrong way.
You had a fairly high minimum payment on a card that had been used for living with "nothing to show for it" and then go on and get loans for a sofa and a car. The focus then seems to be on husband losing his job as the cause of the fall, rather than the fact you were building up unsustainable credit (using cards for living expenses and only managing to repay the minimum) is the problem that needs recognising. Maybe your husband losing his job is a blessing in disguise, as maybe you would have just gone on and continued down the spiral of debt.

Sure, you may feel embarrassed but really, have you recognised your lifestyle was living beyond your means, and really this is now a chance to turn it around and change your habits.

I'm_not_going_into

nic_c wrote: »

Please don't take this the wrong way.
You had a fairly high minimum payment on a card that had been used for living with "nothing to show for it" and then go on and get loans for a sofa and a car. The focus then seems to be on husband losing his job as the cause of the fall, rather than the fact you were building up unsustainable credit (using cards for living expenses and only managing to repay the minimum) is the problem that needs recognising. Maybe your husband losing his job is a blessing in disguise, as maybe you would have just gone on and continued down the spiral of debt.

Sure, you may feel embarrassed but really, have you recognised your lifestyle was living beyond your means, and really this is now a chance to turn it around and change your habits.

I understand, but like I said the sofa and car were purchased before my husband lost his job. It was only when he lost his job that the Aqua credit card minimum payments started and in turn our 'problems' started.

YorkshireBoy

I'm_not_going_into wrote: »

I understand, but like I said the sofa and car were purchased before my husband lost his job. It was only when he lost his job that the Aqua credit card minimum payments started and in turn our 'problems' started.

It seems you're in denial. In summary:

March 2016 - you committed to a £9,600 car finance.
July 2016 - you committed to a £2,000 sofa on finance.
August 2016 - just ONE MONTH LATER you had an unserviceable £4,300 credit card debt because your husband lost his job. That's a heck of a grocery shop in one month!

You need to realise that prior to your husband losing his job you WERE living beyond your means. Agree? Only when you do can you move on from this. Otherwise it'll happen again, when either he, or yourself, lose a job again.

YorkshireBoy

Re your 000 "score", maybe that's what happens when you're in a DMP? Others who have been in that position will be able to comment. But what did Experian say about it when you asked them about it?