21 and in a mess! please help

biv

I was really shocked to hear you're paying a total of £2424 for a £1000 loan - is that true?

I wanted to say that if you definitely can't meet your monthly payments even after cutting everything back - seek advice. http://www.cccs.co.uk is a good place to start and they're free.

I deal with with debt management companies day-in-day-out. I personally don't have good experiences with dealing with Citizens Advice, as they're closed half the time and often have incorrect contact numbers on their letters. They never respond to e-mail.

Beware of companies which charge fees for their services. Most of these are set out to take advantage of people in debt. There are a couple which I feel really do work for their fees (Gregory Pennington is superb), but I'd never encourage anyone with financial difficulties to pay more than they have to.

Another tip if you take this route is not to expect any sympathy from creditors if you're telling them you have sky subscriptions etc.

I've seen couples claiming over £2K in benefits and have over £80K in debt (without a mortgage) - so don't feel bad about your situation. The fact that you're doing something about it is really positive.

Good luck.

hooty2001uk

Thanks peeps for all the advice etc..

As for work.. I get £40 extra for each on call i do and i usually do at least 1 sometimes even up to 3 a week.. We do have an on call car but as I have not being driving for over 2 years I cannot drive it till Aug 08, so I claim for my petrol back as i have to drive my own car...I dont use my own personal phone for anything work related either. x

boredofbeingathome

ok- itwas worth a thought though.

cupid_s

Hi hooty
Can I ask how your contact lenses are £22? I get mine from specsavers and they're £10 a month with easycare (includes all solutions, half price glasses, free lenses if you lose a pair and free 6 monthly check)

hooty2001uk

Contact lenses are £66 every quarter so I budget £22 a month...I have worn glasses since I was 18 months old as I have really bad eyesight..I have a stigmatism and very strong presciption.. think this is the reason y this is so much..I have to have them as i dont think i could really do my job without them..x

Xeno

RE: The Welcome loan, having worked for them in the past if you speak to them there are things they can do. At first they will refuse as the account managers have to hit a target for delinquent accounts, but be strong with them and you'll get the interest frozen and payments reduced for an amount of time (3 - 6 months) which may get you a bit of time to focus on other things (search 'snowball'). They also don't report to CAIS for 90 days.

hooty2001uk

ok thanks.. i do really need to speak to them as the ppi is ludicrous x

Xeno

If you were sold it by someone other than the brach manager (highly unlikely) just claim you were mis-sold it. ("He/She said it covered me if I was fired") That always works for a refund.

hooty2001uk

yes will do..am i best phoning or putting it in writing? Will i get my ppi back that i have already paid?

Xeno

Everything in writing, as so few people bother to do it they actually sit up and listen when someone does. Should get a 100% refund, but it will be taken off the balance not put in your pocket, ie same payments but for less term.