Oh god I am in so much of a mess!!

xoxlauraxox

Hi.

I don't come on here often but really could do with some advice/support. I have got myself in such a huge mess and I am so worried now I'm sat here in tears.

I have debts of approx £15000 from about 4 years ago, i stupidly stopped paying them about 3 years ago when I lost my job, I haven't paid anything on them since.

recently they have all caught up with me and me been stupid again I have racked up another £1000 in debts on catalogues, I bought things from the catalogues and sold the items to get money for the debt collectors to keep them off my back, so now I have even more debts, am back to having no money left and have so many people on my back.

I need to go bankrupt but have no way of getting the money, I did save up some but I have been struggling so much lately I needed it. plus if I go bankrupt now it is going to look very bad because of all the things I have bought on catalogues recently.

I have just had one of the catalogues calling me up saying I am fraudgelent bacause they have discovered an unpaid debt which I have registered at a different address from years ago.... I never meant for all this to happen and I don't know what to do, I have a baby girl and and live with my partner, I'm so scared I am going to lose them... I just don't know whats going to happen now.

We have no spare money. my DF works fulltime but all the money goes on household expenses.. I have contacted debt charities before who have given me the only option of bankruptcy but thats impossible to do when you have no way of getting the fees together..

I have tried offering token payments to debt collectors etc but its just not working

Merlot

Welcome to Debt Free Wanabee.

Firstly, don't panic.

Can you post an SOA (incomings and outgoings) and we will see if we can help you reduce your outgoings a wee bit, if bankruptcy is the right option for you, we will see if we can save enough money from your outgoings to get the fees together for you.

You are not alone, there are plenty of others in a similar position to you, and we will do all we can to help, but we need more info.

Merlot.x.

Waspeze

Hi Laura.. are you on benefits? If so you should be exempt from the court fee £150, so will only need the £345 OR fee .. I know it's not a big help but it might be something?

Merlot

Just having a thought, could you E-Bay anything that isn't stuck down, maybe a carboot sale at the weekend, it may take you a couple of months to get this money together but anythings possible.

xoxlauraxox

Incoming (monthly)
Wages/Salary
£0.00
Wages/Salary (partner)
£1020
Child Benefit
£72.40
Tax Credits
£235.19


Total income
£1327.59


Outgoings (monthly)
Rent
£365
Contents Insurance
£15
Council Tax
£115
Electricity
£100
Water
£25
Food/Housekeeping
£400
Travel
£45
Telephone
£40
TV Licence
£27
Maintenance Payments
£125
Sky
£24


Total
£1281


We are also saving a bit each month toward Christmas because if we don't we will never manage it. I have ebayed/sold absolutely everything I can, we literally have nothing left. The amount of time it would take us to save bankruptcy fees... I just can't go on like this for that length of time, I am just down in the dumps 24/7 and hardly even step out of the house because I'm just losing hope. It must be having an effect on my daughter too, shes only a year old but she must notice that somethings wrong.

We aren't on benefits so won't get the court fee waivered unfortunately, I looked into it a few months ago.

Thanks Everyone.
Laura

Waspeze

Might be worth a go trying one of these if you're a customer of any of them?
http://64.233.183.104/search?q=cache:e70XbhYXr5sJ:www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/files/Guidance%2520for%2520advice%2520workers.doc+utility+trust+fund&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk

though they haven't seemed to be so helpful with BR funds recently

Merlot

xoxlauraxox wrote: »

Incoming (monthly)
Wages/Salary
£0.00
Wages/Salary (partner)
£1020
Child Benefit
£72.40
Tax Credits
£235.19


Total income
£1327.59


Outgoings (monthly)
Rent
£365
Contents Insurance
£15
Council Tax
£115
Electricity
£100
Water
£25
Food/Housekeeping
£400
Travel
£45
Telephone
£40
TV Licence
£27
Maintenance Payments
£125
Sky
£24


Total
£1281


We are also saving a bit each month toward Christmas because if we don't we will never manage it. I have ebayed/sold absolutely everything I can, we literally have nothing left. The amount of time it would take us to save bankruptcy fees... I just can't go on like this for that length of time, I am just down in the dumps 24/7 and hardly even step out of the house because I'm just losing hope. It must be having an effect on my daughter too, shes only a year old but she must notice that somethings wrong.

We aren't on benefits so won't get the court fee waivered unfortunately, I looked into it a few months ago.

Thanks Everyone.
Laura

Laura, I can see straight away where you can get the money from within 2 months, cancel sky today, its a luxury you cannot afford, and the food at £400 could be half easily, its far too much for 3 people, pop over to the Old Style Board and get meal planning, As for the telephone at £40 per month, does this include internet, if not, stop talking on the phone and look at Martin's advice on the telephone board to get free weekend and evening calls.

Do not lose hope, you can get this money together within a couple of months, it will take a wee bit of effort.

I think you need to increase your income, can you work in the evenings or at the weekend for the time being to get the money together?

bank_of_slate

Hi Laura and a big welcome!
Can you change to a cheaper electricity provider?
Also, is your partner aware of the full situation?
...Linda xx

mrsbez_2

Hi Laura, firstly don't fret the most important thing is to sit down, give your daughter a great big hug and tell yourself you are going to get out of this problem you're in.

Having looked at your SOA you are paying £115 in council tax, considering your partners income per month, i am sure you would get some help with council tax benefit. it's worth having a look on entitledto.co.uk or go onto the benefits board, they are full of knowledge over there!!

Don't worry, might be worth giving the Citizens Advice a ring and see what they can advise regarding the court fee. Even if you have to cut back on your food by £100 for a few months, you would soon have the court fee.

xoxlauraxox

We have got the electricity to the cheapest we can, we have no gas just electric and its working out very expensive. We are having to turn the heating off 24/7 to save a bit of money.

My partner is aware of the situation but I don't think he realises how serious it is, to be honest I think its just getting between us and he doesn't know how upset I am about the whole thing.

smashedbooboo

Hi, and welcome honey. The best thing you can do right now is go and make yourself a cuppa, sit down for a little and then come back and post. One way or another you can sort this. I know it all looks like a mountain. But on the way up the mountain there are little hills. So we tackle the little hills one at a time. And if you follow the great advise you get on here you will get to the top hun. Stay with us babe. Fretting is not productive. It gets you no where at all. xxxxx