light at the end of the hole i've dug

villageidiot_2

Hi everyone,before i start can i just say what a life saver this forum is.I've been reading all the threads daily for the last 3 weeks,and just knowing you are not alone,and that there is such great support and advice out there has given me my first full night's sleep in months,and made me realise that the future is not going to be all about stomach pains,unbelievable stress which makes me feel like my head will explode,and avoiding telling my new wife the actual figures due to shame.
I'm a 40 year old minicab driver living in london,i've had debts for years but always paid on time until now,even if it was only the minimum payment,and always felt in control.Anyway,to cut a VERY long story short,due to work drying up with various firms i've worked for this year,and not being able to work due to expensive vehicle breakdown,3weeks and this month another two weeks,and for another 3 weeks due to a crash,i'm in debt to the tune of 56k on credit cards mainly.
I'm self employed,and at one point last year was working as a chauuffeur earning £1000p/w before running costs so felt i was ok to pay everyone back.Anyway,after 4 weeks with this firm,i crashed the car,and whilst i wasn't workingthe firm i worked for lost their biggest account and i went down to £600p/w.
I work for a minicab firm now earning £600 approx,but my outgoings including all my expenses,fuel insurance,servicing,tax etc are about £600p/w.Until i actually sat down and wrote everything down after visiting this site i hadn't a clue it was this much.
My BMW i used for chauffeuring was on finance,and as i can use a cheaper car,i've sold it,paid back the finance company,and bought a 5 year old mondeo for £4700.Does this seem too expensive for a cab?
I had a meeting with CAB and they recommended BR as embarassingly,at 40 years old,i have no assets of note,except my car.I've been into the RCJ on the strand today to pick up the forms,probably petition next week.
I'm feeling really guilty about not paying this money back though,especially to my bank,the Halifax,as i've been with them for years and have always been good with me.Not so much mbna and egg,who i'd never missed a payment with over the years,they'd made a lot of money out of me,but when i asked for an interest rate cut,refused,mbna even sent me a letter 2 weeks later saying they were putting the interest up!lovely people.
Only married 18 months ago after 6 months of meeting(i don't believe in long engagements)and my wife knew i was in debt but doesn't know by how much as i'm so ashamed.She's been stressed as well,by not knowing,but she's happy i'm going BR,as she can see how much happier i've become in the last couple of weeks,even though i'm still stressed about it,but mainly through the guilt of not paying my debts.We may even be able to think of kids at some point,which would definetly not have been possible before.
Anyway,thanks for listening guys,you must be bored stupid now so i won't tire you out even more with my i/e list now to check,will post it in a couple of days.
Cheers THE villageidiot

LesleyL_2

thought Id come by with a hug just to say thank you for posting and to wish you well

so many of us feel guilt and hopelessness before arriving at this forum and I am glad you have been helped by all these lovely people here, as I have too, they are an amazing bunch of people :T :T

tigerfeet2006

Well done on taking the first steps to admitting you have a problem and taking your head out of the sand and doing some thing about it.

If you have been lurking you probably have read the threads of the people who have been to the RCJ. If not just shout and I am sure someone can find them for you.

If you have any questions just yell and we will try to help you. Oh! and welcome to the board

Notgotapottoweein

Well done village.

The hardest bit is taking the first step now you have done that your life will get easier.

LesleyL_2

My BMW i used for chauffeuring was on finance,and as i can use a cheaper car,i've sold it,paid back the finance company,and bought a 5 year old mondeo for £4700.Does this seem too expensive for a cab?

bumping this up so that hopefully someone can help with your car question

tigerfeet2006

I would of thought that as the car is for your job and you need a car that is reliable or you can't do your job then this should fine.

I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong.

baby_balloon

i dont have any words of wisdom for you (some other clever bods will though, dont worry!) but just thought id say hello and welcome. There is loads of information on this site and if nothing else, we all know what you are going through and how you are feeling. Things can only get better! x

dalip

You think you have had your first nights proper sleep in months now:D ,just you wait till it's all over. You will be gone the minute your head touches the pillow and will know nothing until that alarm goes off the nxt morning.BLISSSSSS.Keep posting so that we can help (when asked/needed)and follow how it goes for you.Dalip

villageidiot_2

Thanks everyone for your messages of support,it's amazing that there are so many nice people out there giving up so much of their free time to offer support and advice.I'm sure everyone else who visits this site would agree that it is SOooooooo appreciated, villageidiot

direstraites

Might be wrong m8ty but make sure you at least see cab or similar before going br as the judge will ask if you have sought professional advice:o

villageidiot_2

I spoke to CAB last week,advisedto go BR