Worried sick.......default notice

homeworkgirl

Yesterday i received a default notice from a company with whom my partner and I had a joint personal loan for which I have now become responsible. Unfortunately my partner died suddenly in May this year and when I contacted the loan company on the advice of the CCS they were willing to accept a token payment of £5 per month to be paid on the 1st of each month. Unfortunately I forgot to send the payment to reach them on the 1st November and now they have sent me this default notice threatening all sorts, forcing me to sell my house etc. I am so worried. I have never been in debt before my partner died and I just don't know what I am going to do. I put a cheque in the post to them today so they should receive it on Tues but of course in their eyes I have broken the payment agreement. Please can anyone advise?

Homework

Phone and see if it is too late to rescue the agreement, apologise as you have obviously not had an easy time recently.

If they are not nice and don't agree to set it back up contact CCCS again and see if they can help you.

Have you a long term arrangement in place to repay this, what happens after the token payment period?

homeworkgirl

Thanks Homework for your reply. I suppose I must pluck up the courage to ring them, though I am dreading it. No there is no long term arrangement in place at the moment because I have been off sick with stress/depression since my partner's death. I could not give them a return to work date as I do not know how long I will be off.

Homework

If you can't deal with a phone call write recorded delivery reminding them of the circumstances and that you will be in a better position to pay when your doctor allows you to return to work. If it doesn't work go to CAB or CCCS and they will help you.

Has the doctor referred you to anyone for counselling? Sometimes it helps to talk and more often it takes time to make things bearable again. It may help a little. I wonder if Cruse or a Bereavement group like them would have experience in dealing with loan/debt problems, I'm sure that this is something that happens often.

Don't think you are alone with this, come back on the site or contact CAB or CCCS to help you

tallyhoh

Have you double checked that you have not got any payment insurance? with the loan company or another. Did he have any insurance from work, or life insurance that might cover it. As a last resort if this is your only main debt, could you throw yourself on the mercy of someone to pay for you? What about his workplace or was he in a trade union that could help, some have a hardship fund.
Just a thought.