Help with catalogue bills/interest?

stclair

Mae85 wrote: »

I was just thinking about this. I have had the catalogue for 5 years at least. At one point my outstanding balance was over £1000 so the fact it!!!8217;s now just over £600 shows I have payed a fair amount off.

Yes so it might be worth challenging. If you drop me a private message ill explain more.

fatbelly

I was going to post a letter from National debtline (this one - https://www.nationaldebtline.org/EW/sampleletters/Pages/Pro-rata-offers-%28sole-name%29.aspx) but if you have no surplus you can't make an offer.

How are you affording to pay the £61 per month now? Do you want to post the soa here so we can work through it?

Have a look at this for a guide about making a complaint

https://debtcamel.co.uk/refunds-catalogue-credit-card/

Mae85

I would rather not as I don!!!8217;t want people picking at things etc. It will just open me up for being judged etc. The basic things we pay for are food, 2 phone bills, 2 catalogue bills, child maintenance, internet bill, tv liscence, gas, electric, water rates, extra expenses for kids like clothing, uniform and school trips etc, transport money to get the kids here every week as the ex refuses to drive them here, and my OH HMRC child tax credits over payment which the ex hid letters for years and now they owe 12 grand between them so we are having to pay £50 a month which is a massive struggle. But it!!!8217;s gotta be done.
Oh and council tax.

stclair

Mae85 wrote: »

I would rather not as I don!!!8217;t want people picking at things etc. It will just open me up for being judged etc. The basic things we pay for are food, 2 phone bills, 2 catalogue bills, child maintenance, internet bill, tv liscence, gas, electric, water rates, extra expenses for kids like clothing, uniform and school trips etc, transport money to get the kids here every week as the ex refuses to drive them here, and my OH HMRC child tax credits over payment which the ex hid letters for years and now they owe 12 grand between them so we are having to pay £50 a month which is a massive struggle. But it!!!8217;s gotta be done.
Oh and council tax.

If you write or email them offering X they will just accept it and signpost you to play plan or stepchange. Just make sure the offer is below 3 of your balance then the interest will stop. If ask them to stop it they will just say the account will be reviewed. My OH works in their collections dept.

Mae85

Right ok so if I make an offer they will accept it? Like I said I owe over £600 to them and £515 to studio (I checked yesterday, it!!!8217;s gone down) I pay &£27 and £33 a month so what would you recommend I offered? Ideally no more then £10 is all I can afford (£20 in total)

stclair

Mae85 wrote: »

Right ok so if I make an offer they will accept it? Like I said I owe over £600 to them and £515 to studio (I checked yesterday, it!!!8217;s gone down) I pay &£27 and £33 a month so what would you recommend I offered? Ideally no more then £10 is all I can afford (£20 in total)

I can only speak for fashion world but you could offer a £1.00 and they would accept it.

enthusiasticsaver

If you don't have a surplus how are you managing to pay the catalogues? Personally if I were you and had not used the catalogue for 3 years and still have £600 on it I would default if they won't accept your token offer of £10 each month and won't freeze the interest. They will ask to see an soa though. I would do the request in writing. Have a look at the links fatbelly has put up.

On DFW judgement is frowned upon but people will suggest ways to reduce outgoings. They are suggestions only and only you know your circumstances so just brush those off.

Catalogues are the very worst when you are in debt almost right up there with payday loans.

Mae85

That!!!8217;s Including me paying for my catalogues, leaving me with no surplus.

stclair

Mae85 wrote: »

That!!!8217;s Including me paying for my catalogues, leaving me with no surplus.

Offer what you can afford make sure it’s below 3% of the balance though as it will go interest free then.

[Deleted User]

OP you need to look at all your income and all your spending, then see where you could save some money to throw at these debts.