Help, outgoings are more than incoming :(

gembo69

So, I have spoken to stepchange who have advised to go down the DMP route and all debt will be paid in 4 years and 1 month. We just need to clarify if it will affect husbands job, as some of the debt is with his bank. If it will affect his job, obviously our options will change.
Paid all the monthly unsecured debt bills yesterday, which I shouldn't have really, as they will all go into default anyway.
I know there is still a long way to go, but I'm feeling a lot better about it, and appreciate all the advice given

Pixie5740

gembo69 wrote: »

Can’t do anything with my contract until sept 2018, other than lowering it to £37 but that gives me a new 24 month contract.
Any advice?

£37 is still too high. If you're going to start defaulting on your loans and credit cards would it really make any difference to default on your mobile contract as well? You could get a replacement handset (if necessary) and new contract for as little as £8 a month.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/mobile-phone-cost-cutting

gembo69

Pixie5740 wrote: »

£37 is still too high. If you're going to start defaulting on your loans and credit cards would it really make any difference to default on your mobile contract as well? You could get a replacement handset (if necessary) and new contract for as little as £8 a month.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/mobile-phone-cost-cutting

I never thought of that. What would happen to the handset, would they request it back? It’s an iPhone 7, due to finish contract in sept. I’ve got my husbands old Samsung I could use.

Kogvos

You’ve taken positive action in recognising and confronting your gambling & debt problems, Gembo, and discussing possible solutions here and with Stepchange. Continue along that path and stick with it and you can resolve this over time. One cost we generally don’t talk about as much as we should is the cost to your health because of the stress arising from all this. Seek professional (GP) help and advice on that if you need to - just as you are doing on money matters. Secrecy and bottling things up can be really stressful, it might be an idea to just come clean with family members and close friends about your financial problems, the reasons for them and what you’re trying to do to deal with them. Not easy, I know, and far easier to say than do. If a one-Off family ‘meeting’ isn’t viable maybe take a weekend soon to travel around and talk to the key family members and friends, get the ‘revelations’ over in a short space of time and move on. That old saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is often actually true, you know. You never know what might arise in terms of additional support from those conversations. If nothing else, just coming clean - not having to bottle things up and pretend any more - can only be good for your health. I am very supportive of you and I admire you for confronting and starting to manage your problems. Continue with it. Go you!

travelman86

So the phone contract is due for renewal in September 18? Which means it was taken out in September 16, im sure you were in the same position back then.


Some times people baffle me.

Elliesmum

gembo69 wrote: »

So, I have spoken to stepchange who have advised to go down the DMP route and all debt will be paid in 4 years and 1 month. We just need to clarify if it will affect husbands job, as some of the debt is with his bank. If it will affect his job, obviously our options will change.
Paid all the monthly unsecured debt bills yesterday, which I shouldn't have really, as they will all go into default anyway.
I know there is still a long way to go, but I'm feeling a lot better about it, and appreciate all the advice given

This is great news after reading the entire thread. I'm really glad you are feeling better.

EM x

Monkeymonster_3

You mentioned you live in a new build........
We live on a new-build estate and the roads have not yet been adopted (I say new, it's 13 years old now!!). The sewers, in turn, have not yet been adopted. For the first 11 years many of the households were being incorrectly charged Surface Water Drainage (SWD) by Severn Trent Water. Some of those were also being overcharged on an incorrect banding. Band 01 = terraced, band 02 = semi-detached and band 03 = detached.
We ended up being refunded for all of the SWD charges already paid and the charge was removed from the ongoing bills. We may become liable once the sewers are adopted.
Please check:
> your banding is correct.
> Have your roads / sewers have been adopted?
> if not adopted, are you being charged for SWD?
> if not adopted and you are being charged, please contact your water company to dispute this.

I know it's a long-shot and may not apply to you, but figured it's worth checking everything you can think of!
Best of luck to you with your finances.

gembo69

travelman86 wrote: »

So the phone contract is due for renewal in September 18? Which means it was taken out in September 16, im sure you were in the same position back then.


Some times people baffle me.

Well of course I was, that is the problem I have just carried on...living beyond my means, gambling etc. I didn't see it was a problem then, I always thought i'd have a big win and pay it all off, yes silly I know and i'm ashamed. I am confronting my situation and all the problems...and i'm proud of myself for doing so!!

gembo69

Monkeymonster wrote: »

You mentioned you live in a new build........
We live on a new-build estate and the roads have not yet been adopted (I say new, it's 13 years old now!!). The sewers, in turn, have not yet been adopted. For the first 11 years many of the households were being incorrectly charged Surface Water Drainage (SWD) by Severn Trent Water. Some of those were also being overcharged on an incorrect banding. Band 01 = terraced, band 02 = semi-detached and band 03 = detached.
We ended up being refunded for all of the SWD charges already paid and the charge was removed from the ongoing bills. We may become liable once the sewers are adopted.
Please check:
> your banding is correct.
> Have your roads / sewers have been adopted?
> if not adopted, are you being charged for SWD?
> if not adopted and you are being charged, please contact your water company to dispute this.

I know it's a long-shot and may not apply to you, but figured it's worth checking everything you can think of!
Best of luck to you with your finances.

Thanks for that, Checked with the council, the road is adopted. I'll check on banding.

Bellisima

Hello, I haven’t read all the comments as so many, but your tv package can be cancelled and subscribe to Now TV instead (owned by Sky anyway!). You pay a monthly amount starting at £7.99 a more month for Entertainment package. There is also a movie package for an extra amount and then, this will please your other half, there is a Sports package which can be rented by the day, the week or the month. There is no contract so you can leave and rejoin whenever you like. It will save you a fortune! We got rid of Sky years ago. If you want to PAUSE, RECORD, REWIND you need a Personal Recorder Box which cost about £150 but pays for itself in 3 months. I’m sorry to hear about your dilemma but you really have come to the right place. I hope all goes well for you.