Help for debt in scotland please

Steshaleeza

Looking for help and advice for a friend that has got into debt with bank loan and credit cards. Some of these passed to collection agencies. Think total about 15k. Not always in work and lives with parents. 
Cant see a way out and affecting mental health. 
Have read better not to do arranged payments through stepchange etc as these can last many years over the 6 that seems to be the norm. 
Is it advisable to contact debt collectors and credit cards to ask for decrease or freeze in interest?
Not in work at moment. 
Wants to protect their credit score as best they can. 
Already been refused for other credit to consolidate or to pay off some debt. 
Grateful of any advise. 
Be mindful in scotland and some rulings different. 
Thanks. 

Corbiac

Citizens Advice 

peb

If you, or better still, your friend posts on the main board (you are in the diary section) you will get better advice 

@enthusiasticsaver could you ask for this to be moved please?   

enthusiasticsaver

peb said:

If you, or better still, your friend posts on the main board (you are in the diary section) you will get better advice 

@enthusiasticsaver could you ask for this to be moved please?   

I have asked this to be moved to DFW

RAS

Your friend needs to do two things

Get all three of their credit records; which they can do for free. If these debts are with collections agencies and they've already been refused credit, chances are they already gave defaults against their name. In which case a) there's no credit record to protect (credit scores are made up rubbish) b) defaulting on the rest as soon as possible will reduce the number of years their credit record is impaired.

What they will be getting if they are missing some payments and paying less than demanded are getting AP markers. Those damage your friends credit record for longer than defaults.

Put together a Statement of Affairs, detailing their essential spends and income. Base their income either on their average over the last 3 months, or use their P60 for last year. 

Then we can see the extent of their problem and think about solutions.

sourcrates

If they are not in work, write/email advising creditors of this, not much will happen if not working and living at home.

No income, not much can be done.

If/when circumstances change, then talk again.