Introduction to my journey

rhcv0kte

Hi

This is the first time I am using this or any forum online.

I have had challenges with keeping up with payments and am unemployed for the past 5 months. 

Having had financial advice from Citizens Advice the suggested outcome is for me to apply for bankruptcy.  I don't feel to great about it but I understand how this is the most important decision I need to make not only for myself but for my family.

I don't have the funds to apply and have asked Citiizens Svixe to apply or some grants I found o  my behalf as the grants I identified require an advice agency to refer in.

So I an feeling like a sitting duck, I keep getting letters, emails and calls. I'm stressed and anxious most of the time and struggle to remain in contact due to fair of being judged, rejected or disbelieved. 

I do struggle with MH and have done since a teen. Only in the last year had I had to use medication.

I am married and have 4 children and 1 on the way. My significant other has health issues, has a blue badge and is working currently but has had to reduce hours due to health reasons, and will be on less income soon.

That's ina  nutshell about me and my situation. I have come to the forum to get help and support. I have many issues with creditors chasing, debt collectors calling and parking fines that it all feels to much. 

Happy to answer any questions and look forward to engaging with you. 

Faithfully,

RAS

There isn't enough information to provide useful answers.

How much debt? Secured, unsecured?

Priority debt like housing costs and Council Tax?

Meantime, make absolutely sure you don't try to save money by skimping on parking fees.

ManyWays

your debts are over £30,000?

are you in work - 4 children sounds like a full time job? 

rhcv0kte

Hi Ras and ManyWays 

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Creditor Owed
First Central Insurance Management Limited £88.01 (missed car insurance payments)
Royal Bank of Scotland Plc £300.00
HSBC Group £750.00
PayPal Europe Ltd £900.00
Future Finance £8,400.00
Sainsbury's Bank Plc £19,000.00 (will be placed in 'default' within the next 40 days)

Royal Bank of Scotland Plc £1,484.54
HSBC Group £1,900.00
Barclays Bank UK Plc £6,000.00

Thames Water Limited £150.00

— SubTotal non-priority debts £38,972.55

Other debts - 

Octopus Energy Limited £952.00 (elec+gas)

Council Tax £500 + £100 admin charge

DVLA £ £80 fine and 13.75 for failed direct debit (missed road tax payments)

Parking charge for dropping off wife at the hotel entrance and helping her with getting into the hotel. (has a blue badge).
£100 - Smart Parking
 
Parking fine as a customer at retail park - £170 (need to find letter for name of company)

MalMonroe

Hi, I know you said you have spoken with Citizens Advice but have you had a word with StepChange? In my experience they act quickly and they can also help you with contacting creditors and asking for some breathing space while you gather yourself in order to apply for bankruptcy - or whichever solution is suggested to you. They are not judgemental - none of the debt help agencies are. They will not reject you or try to belittle you in any way. They want to help. And they do help.

https://www.stepchange.org/how-we-help/bankruptcy.aspx

I used StepChange to get a DRO a few years ago and they were excellent. I was truly at the end of my tether. 

You need help not only to apply for and be granted bankruptcy but also how to manage afterwards and I really do think that StepChange can help you.

Citizens Advice are brilliant but they also deal with many other categories of problems, whereas StepChange focuses only on debt and financial help.

With private car parking charges, there's also help on this forum on the Travel and Transport Board under 'motoring'. There you can get advice on how to fight (if you feel up to it - there are some really great experts on that board) private car parking charges. If the charges are from a council car park they are a different matter but private car park charges can certainly be challenged and defeated.

Link - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/parking-tickets-fines-parking

I do hope some of this has been helpful - understandably you are feeling overwhelmed right now as so much seems to be going wrong. Most of us here know exactly how it feels. 

I wish you and your family all the best.

fatbelly

Sounds like you are struggling to find the £680 fee.

Are you paying anything now that is going to be covered by the bankruptcy? Because there's really no point.

I realise that some of your debts are going to be joint and so that needs to be thought through as those will move over to your partner. But they could also take advice.

I take it you are in rented accommodation?

Minkym00

Please look up Breathing Space, specifically mental health Breathing Space. Such as https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/en/managing-money/what-are-my-options-for-dealing-with-debt/what-is-a-mental-health-breathing-space/

This will give you a break from letters, calls and emails from creditors which appears to be distressing you. This break may allow you time to get the £680 together whilst you stop making any payments towards your debts. 

sourcrates

I know its difficult for you right now, but just keep in mind the very worst that can happen is you are taken to court and an affordable payment plan is agreed, that`s it, all these letters and calls really can`t harm you, so please try not to get stressed over this.

Fatbelly raises an important question, hopefully you are not a homeowner, as bankruptcy would not be a great idea if you were, can you confirm your housing status.

rhcv0kte

Hi all

Thanks for engaging on my post, with helpful comments and suggestions.


I still need to round up all my debts. 
I have a Notice of Intended Prosecution/Section 172 that has gone to court. I am requested to fill in some forms for the court.

I am in private rented accommodation.


I will complete the budget sheet online tonight and then follow up wit step change tomorrow.


The difficulty with seeking joint advice is that my spouse is concerned if we both have bankruptcy that we won't be able to find another home to rent if needed.

Thank you all.

rhcv0kte

Also I am not making any payments to any of my debts. There simply isn't room financially to do so.

A family member is proposing to help with the bankruptcy fee. I am waiting to see what amount they can assist me with. It may take a week to find out.

I have applied to British Gas Energy Trust to help with utility areas. I hope this will provide me with a grant within the next 3 weeks.

The mental health Breathing Space, did I read correctly as only if receiving crisis treatment I.e. committed to hospital for treatment?

fatbelly

1. Did you ask BGET about help with bankruptcy fee? 

British Gas Energy Trust provides local budgets to a number of the Funded Organisations to provide help including:

• Emergency fuel top-ups for prepayment meters
• Home energy efficiency assessments
• Boiler repairs / replacements
• Energy efficiency measures
• Emergency heating sources
• Bankruptcy / DRO costs

https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/faqs/

2. What is the Notice of Intended Prosecution/Section 172 all about? Driving? Speeding? This may not be covered by bankruptcy if regarded as a criminal fine.

3. MH Breathing Space guidance is set out here

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/975986/Guidance_on_mental_health_crisis_breathing_space.pdf

For these purposes, “receiving mental health crisis treatment” means that the individual:

• has been detained in hospital for assessment or treatment (including under part 3 of the Mental Health Act 1983);
• has been removed to a place of safety by a police constable; or
• is receiving any other crisis, emergency or acute care or treatment in hospital or in the community from a specialist mental health service in relation to a mental disorder of a serious nature. This can include services offered by community mental health services and crisis houses.

A “specialist mental health service” means a mental health service provided by a crisis home treatment team, a liaison mental health team, a community mental health team or any other specialist mental health crisis service that the AMHP considers appropriate.

A “mental disorder of a serious nature” means any mental health problem, disorder or disability of the mind that the AMHP considers to be of a serious nature.