Urgent - need advice for my son please

mardatha

Son been to visit today in a state. He has 7 DDs due out tomorrow and he hasn't got enough in to cover all of them. He is at his overdraft limit. One of the payments is to the CSA, the rest are 4 credit cards, mobile phone, and Sky. What can he do, if anything? I'm worried the bank will bounce the payments and hit him with charges. Also not sure what the CSA will do,
His wage goes in on the 25th - ten days time. The charges will come off that wage and leave him short for next month's DDs.
What can he do?

fatrab

Given that you've not got much time he has 2 choices in the short term to avoid the additional charges.

Increase his overdraft or borrow money and put it in the bank. Neither is a particularly good option unless he can borrow money from a relative/friend interest free.

MallyGirl

I suggest you get him to come on here and ask for advice. fatrab has listed the only options for today but he also needs to sort himself out for the long term. If he is that close to the wire why is he lining the pockets of Sky.

mardatha

I've got him organised to contact StepChange next week, just wanted to know what to do about tomorrow. He already asked me for the money fatrab and I haven't got it - I'll tell him to try the bank and ask them if they can give him a bit more overdraft. Thanks both.
EDITED- What would happen if he cancelled some of his DDs before his payday?

fatrab

He would be better to change all his DD dates to the day after payday to begin with. That will buy him a few weeks next month. Instead of coming out on the 14th May they'll come out on the 26th.

Cancel Sky DD at the bank. He doesn't need it.

Stepchange will be able to advise him better than I can regarding the rest of the CC's etc.

nmlc

Afternoon everyone

Good advice already given by the previous posters.

Just a thought regarding his accommodation costs - does he own his own home or is he in rented? If he is in rented does he have an entitlement to some help via housing benefit if he's only earning a low wage? Also is the amount that the CSA is taking correct and in line with the guidelines based on his current wages and personal circumstances.

Hope this may be of some help.

Keep safe and well x

nmlc x

sourcrates

mardatha wrote: »

EDITED- What would happen if he cancelled some of his DDs before his payday?

Cancel the non priority ones, just pay what he can afford, you may of left it too late now, as it normally takes 3 working days to action.

One sure fire way is to withdraw what cash he has, let them all bounce.

They are all non priority debts except maybe the CSA payment.

Or another thing, ring the bank the day the payments come out and ask them to reverse them, they will do this for you if asked.

That way no charges will be accrued.

mardatha

He did say the CSA should be taking a lot less as he is on min wage, but says he can't get through to them and when he does they are rude.
I'll keep on at him re Stepchange, they seem to be the only answer. TY.

John-K_3

mardatha wrote: »

Son been to visit today in a state. He has 7 DDs due out tomorrow and he hasn't got enough in to cover all of them. He is at his overdraft limit. One of the payments is to the CSA, the rest are 4 credit cards, mobile phone, and Sky. What can he do, if anything? I'm worried the bank will bounce the payments and hit him with charges. Also not sure what the CSA will do,
His wage goes in on the 25th - ten days time. The charges will come off that wage and leave him short for next month's DDs.
What can he do?

It’s a bit late now, but what on Earth is he doing paying for Sky when he’s running so close to disaster?

Can he sell anything? Will the bank extend his overdraft limit?

Is he particularly attractive, and does he live close to a working dock?

This late in the day his choices are extend the overdraft, sell something for cash, borrow off family, or fail to pay.

Are you able to help him out?

If not, have a sit down with him and work out why two generations between them can’t handle even the slightest cash-flow problem.

That will not help this time, but could be the thing that when you look back on in ten years is the turning point.

Most of our lives have a few critical moments where you have a revelation and change, or continue down the wrong path. Is this one of yours?

sourcrates

He can complain about the service he has received from the CSA if he is unhappy with the situation :

https://www.gov.uk/child-maintenance/complaints-and-appeals

mardatha

I'm not on any wrong path thankyouverymuch, I don't have any debt and I don't intend to pay his. He is in his late 40s and only told me about this problem because I asked him why he looked so ill and so tired. I'm not here to fix things for him, only to advise him how he can do it himself. And I'm not entering into any discussion here.