Advice Please

Bertboy7

Good Evening People! 

I don’t know how to start but here goes. I have always had debts but have always managed to stay on top of them until recently. I have 8.5K with Barclaycard these being multiple balance transfers paying £400 a month but due to be charged more interest as coming to the end of my 0% offer. I have 3.5k with Virgin paying £175 a month 2.5K with PayPal paying £100 a month and 1.8k with M&S with just paying the minimum which is between £50-60 a month. I lost my Mum Aug 2023 due to the dreaded c word, to cut a long story short after a while I found out she had racked up 3.5k debt in council tax debt all built up over 3 years but unbeknownst to myself and my Dad, we honestly don’t know how she was able to hide this for so long without repercussion from the local council? I.e bailiffs, We also found out she had rent arrears which after speaking to the landlord he accepted £200 a month to cover what has been missed and after talking to the council they would accept £200 per month on top of the normal rate as I can’t afford the total amount. I am concerned that this will take 18-24 months at the current rate and I am really getting restless especially about the council as I believe they have higher authority to take up court action and my interest rates on the Barclaycard are about to sore! I have been considering just stoping/ defaulting on my payments to my creditors and focus on getting these priority debt I have inherited payed off faster and off my back. After what I have read I would default and enter a DMP? Would I have to wait until all creditors have defaulted me before entering a payment plan? I don’t know what to do? 

enthusiasticsaver

You are not liable for your mums debts. They either come out of the estate or are written off. 

peb

I read this as the OP and his father live in the property so it won't be that simple.  More information is needed though 

Bertboy7

peb said:

I read this as the OP and his father live in the property so it won't be that simple.  More information is needed though 

Hi Peb, yes this is the case me and my father live at the house so are liable for the council tax. 

peb

https://www.lemonfool.co.uk/financecalculators/soa.php

Ok, however you're best posting on the main debt free wannabe board where people are more likely to nelp- you are in the diary section.

You'll be asked for your full statement of account and I've popped the link above - format MSE

I think you will be stuck with the rent arrears as otherwise you'd need to find somewhere else to live though obviously I don't know who is on the agreement.  I don't know the legal position with the council tax situation 

enthusiasticsaver

Do you want me to move the thread to the main DFW section? 

Rent and council tax are priority debts so if you cannot afford to make repayments to Virgin, M and S and PayPal you are best defaulting and exploring a DMP.