Who Should I Pay First?

Miroslav · 11 July 2005 at 11:54AM

I'm £160 behind with my water bill as my benefits were being sorted for 2 months!

They are now through, so I offered £120 to Water Company and said I would likely be behind by a month each payment (Payments end In January) so I asked if one could be carried over until February.

Got a miserable response, saying if I haven't caught up by August 15th, they will start court proceedings for the full amount and cancel my installment plan, even if I paid £120 of my £160 arrears today.

Now, the other money is being used for CCJ (£20) Gas (£20) Credit Card arrears to a Debt Collection Company (Owe £175 but was going to pay £50 rather than the £10, as I am behind with payments - no CCJ yet)

Should I just pay the £10 to Debt Collection and pay the extra £40 water bill?

I though my offer of £120 was reasonable as I have always paid my bills in the past and I only get £56 Income Support per week (Flatmate gets £80 disabled premium)

Any advice welcome

Turning_into_scrooge · 11 July 2005 at 12:13PM

Have alook on the https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk web site. your ccj and utillity bills are your priority debts, your credit card comes right at the bottom of the list. If you've already made an arrangement to pay £10 off the credit card then pay that for now as you can alsway increase it later when you have a little extra and pay the water bill off. Usually they do come to an arrangement with you without threatening court proceedings. I am paying one months bounced direct debit over this 10 month period from the last years bill. It was just added on, no hassle but don't allow them to intimidate you and pressure you into paying more than you can afford. Draw a budget up to show them all what you have to live on and what you have free at the end of the week which if your in bennefits wont be a great deal

Miroslav · 11 July 2005 at 12:24PM

Turning_into_scrooge wrote:

Have alook on the https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk web site. your ccj and utillity bills are your priority debts, your credit card comes right at the bottom of the list. If you've already made an arrangement to pay £10 off the credit card then pay that for now as you can alsway increase it later when you have a little extra and pay the water bill off. Usually they do come to an arrangement with you without threatening court proceedings. I am paying one months bounced direct debit over this 10 month period from the last years bill. It was just added on, no hassle but don't allow them to intimidate you and pressure you into paying more than you can afford. Draw a budget up to show them all what you have to live on and what you have free at the end of the week which if your in bennefits wont be a great deal

Thanks

I will look at that site and ask people to send me budget sheets. I'll have no money to eat if I had to pay full amounts.

I was told not to worry about credit/bank debts by my advisor, who I can't get hold of right now, but it's hard.

Turning_into_scrooge · 11 July 2005 at 2:51PM

Hi Miroslav

If you're not already with national debt line or consumer credit councelling service then give one of them a ring and arrange a meeting with them as they will deal with all your creditors for you and take the worry away from you. Then phone the companies concerned and give them your ref no. which cccs or ndl will give you and you will find that they will put your account on hold and give you enough time to have your meeting with them and sort things out. Remember what you haven't got you can't give, simple. No matter how much they push you into paying more money than you can afford don't do it, you have to live and put food on the table. Also you are entitled in your budget to have a clothing allowance, hair cuts hobbies and crafts to name a few, in other words ok you're in debt but your still entitled to have a quality of life, debt is not a crime today and please try not to worry, with the rules set down by the OFT your creditors have to listen and help you to find a balance with a re payment plan:)

xela_17 · 11 July 2005 at 5:25PM

Turning_into_scrooge wrote:

I am paying one months bounced direct debit over this 10 month period from the last years bill. It was just added on, no hassle.

I am doing the same thing with our gas bill. We were behind one month's payment so they just spead it out throughout the year and we just pay a few pounds more each month, rather than having to pay a lump sum. Maybe if you get a sympathetic customer service person, they will be willing to do the same.

Miroslav · 11 July 2005 at 5:32PM

Turning_into_scrooge wrote:

Hi Miroslav

If you're not already with national debt line or consumer credit councelling service then give one of them a ring and arrange a meeting with them as they will deal with all your creditors for you and take the worry away from you. Then phone the companies concerned and give them your ref no. which cccs or ndl will give you and you will find that they will put your account on hold and give you enough time to have your meeting with them and sort things out. Remember what you haven't got you can't give, simple. No matter how much they push you into paying more money than you can afford don't do it, you have to live and put food on the table. Also you are entitled in your budget to have a clothing allowance, hair cuts hobbies and crafts to name a few, in other words ok you're in debt but your still entitled to have a quality of life, debt is not a crime today and please try not to worry, with the rules set down by the OFT your creditors have to listen and help you to find a balance with a re payment plan:)

Thanks again

That's made me feel a little more comfortable.

I'm not an expensive person, but I do like my Internet and a couple of other small bits and pieces. I don't drink, smoke etc so I can survive on very little, plus I don't drive, so that's more saving!

I'll look into those 2 organisations

Miroslav · 11 July 2005 at 5:33PM

xela_17 wrote:

I am doing the same thing with our gas bill. We were behind one month's payment so they just spead it out throughout the year and we just pay a few pounds more each month, rather than having to pay a lump sum. Maybe if you get a sympathetic customer service person, they will be willing to do the same.

Sounds great, just gotta hope I find someone decent to deal with my problem

Who Should I Pay First?

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