Serious thread, advice needed.

[Ninja Elephant]

No prob's, let us know how you get on. Get down to the CAB as early as you can btw, as they're swamped these days (funnily enough).

Top advice from Vulture about the crisis/budgeting loan too. Get onto your local SS office & get them to send you out a form.

Good luck with it hon.

I presume they open at 9? I'll be there at quater too at the latest. I will post in this thread tomorrow, hopefully with a solution sorted out.

SS office? I'm not familiar with that abbreviation. It was good advice, and I'm greatful to Vulture, we've had a couple of disagreements on here and I'm touched that he's given such advice.

Thank you very much, I feel better already, honestly.

 

[Pot noodles for everyone]

Me to, but I am using the excuse of gambling as an illness/disease and showing proof of recovery and a plan of action. Its no different to drugs and alcohol I think.

Using the "excuse"? Nice turn of phrase.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

We once got taken to court by a dopey landlord because we didn't clear our stuff out in time ( we left two bags of rubbish for a weekend after we should have moved out) The pratt took us to court claiming about two weeks extra rent. We counterclaimed and went to court by ourselves he took a solicitor. We lost because technically we hadn't moved out but the judge was well pissed off with him for bringing the action and allowed our very weak counter claim which meant we only had to pay about £100. Best still was that he never got costs so we reckon bringing the action probably cost him £700 as his solicitor must have charged him £500

 

[jordanseagull]

Unfortunately i have no idea. But im very pleased that you're feeling better already. PLease, please let us know asap. As for now, get some sleep, get your head sorted for tomorrow

 

[Ninja Elephant]

We once got taken to court by a dopey landlord because we didn't clear our stuff out in time ( we left two bags of rubbish for a weekend after we should have moved out) The pratt took us to court claiming about two weeks extra rent. We counterclaimed and went to court by ourselves he took a solicitor. We lost because technically we hadn't moved out but the judge was well pissed off with him for bringing the action and allowed our very weak counter claim which meant we only had to pay about £100. Best still was that he never got costs so we reckon bringing the action probably cost him £700 as his solicitor must have charged him £500

Ouch for the landlord! I'm so looking forward to moving into my own home at some point... so much to sort out and alot to keep an eye on! I don't think it'll be happening for a few years in my case though, luckily...

Unfortunately i have no idea. But im very pleased that you're feeling better already. PLease, please let us know asap. As for now, get some sleep, get your head sorted for tomorrow

More good advice, now that I have a plan of attack for tomorrow, I'm ready for it. Thanks, I'll be going along there in the morning and I'm getting some sleep now!

 

[Chicken Runner61]

To which quote were you referring? Whichever, it's not a problem with anyone adding interest or costs, so long as I can get this stuff sorted out and then get a job sorted out, I really don't care!

Going to Cab and doing a debt plan is a good idea. Especially if they accept it and don't go to court.

Its a bit of a pain if you get £50-80 costs added to a £170 debt - something you want to avoid.

Try not to worry its not that much money and I'm sure you can sort it

 

[1066gull]

Using the "excuse"? Nice turn of phrase.

The important thing is that I wanted to change.

 

[1066gull]

To overcome any addiction you have to overcome the root of why you are addicted in the first place.

First their was problems at home.

Escape pressures.

Which creates loneliness.

Than to get back your losses.

Its a never ending hole. Only you can get yourself out.

 

[Easy 10]

The CAB should be your first port of call in this, as has been mentioned. They will go through your income and expenditure, work out a repayment plan, and if necessary write to creditors on your behalf with an offer of x amount per month. The offer will be accepted, as taking you to court and getting a CCJ would basically amount to the same process, ie working out what you can afford to pay back on a regular basis - creditors would prefer to avoid the time and expense of this process if at all possible. Its only if you then default or take the piss on an agreed repayment plan that they may decide on this route. But get a repayment plan together and STICK to it, and you'll come out the other side.

Don't get too down on yerself anyway. OK, owing family is never nice, but you've not got yourself STUPIDLY into debt, these look like very managable figures, its not like you owe thousands. You're addressing the problem right now before it gets out of hand, you're not ignoring it, so you've clearly got your head screwed on.

You'll be fine.

 

[Chicken Runner61]

If anyone owes any money to a bank up to £3k I think it should be wiped out seeing as thats what they say each taxpayer has given to the banks to bail them out.

Any bank taking someone to court for owing money has a nerve to say the least.

 

[BrightonBiatch]

yeah but chicken runner i got in this mess buy borrowing in the first place so i dont want anymore x

 

[Garage_Doors]

I can't offer any advice, but hope you get it sorted, you say your only 21, but a very mature 21 in the way you are dealing with this and accepting your responsibilities, for which you should be applauded.
I hope you get all the help you deserve as you clearly not the normal, "the world owes me a living" generation.

Good luck NJ, if i had any jobs going, (of which i don't unfortunately) your the sort of person i would employ, so head up and good luck ?

 

[sam86]

I'm busy, but I like to help, so sorry if this has already been said on the previous 30 odd posts. EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, has stuff stashed away at home (sometimes not even stashed away), that if added up could raise a few hundred easily. You need to spend a day or so rummaging your house and collecting all YOUR items that you don't NEED (note: need, not want) and either putting them on eBay or taking them somewhere similar (Cash Converters or even an auction house). If your that serious about getting rid of the debt, then you should also consider some items you don't really want to get rid of. I'm obviously not talking items with sentimental value, but items such as a computer game you play once every few months. When rummaging don't pick up an item and think although you don't want it, you can't imagine anyone else wanting it, because there more than likely will be someone. If you've got no idea how much something is worth, search for it on eBay. Unless it's an incredibly bizarre item, they'll be a few for sale already.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Good luck

 

[beorhthelm]

Some good advice, get to the CAB is the long and short of it though. seems you've nipped it in the bud, learn and move on.

some not so good advice:

Debt collectors cannot force you to give or take anything, you have to stay firm

until they send in the Baliff then you are f***ed, and often they are one and the same. do not ignore them.

If anyone owes any money to a bank up to £3k I think it should be wiped out seeing as thats what they say each taxpayer has given to the banks to bail them out.

Any bank taking someone to court for owing money has a nerve to say the least.

as for that, well how is the Taxpayer going to be paid back then?

 

[Brian Potter]

There is some good advice here. I was in debt (and like others here, I tried to ignore it). The most important thing to do is get some sort of dialogue going with the firm you owe money to. Do not just ignore the letters, they will not stop. With most you will find that they will want to means test you, and then you can come to an agreed re-payment schedule. You may get a default notice against your credit rating ,but that is not as bad as a CCJ. Once you have a re-payment plan, KEEP TO IT!

Also, one thing I found usefull to do was to open a different account, then when money went in, it wasn't automatically snaffled up by the bank to clear the overdraft. Again, speak to your existing bank and come to a repayment plan. Any money you do then get, you can allocate out properly to pay your commitments and you will know exactly what you have got left to use.

With regards to your sister; sit down and have a chat, then like any other debt, arrange some sort of payback schedule. She will then appreciate that you are making the effort, and if you are really strapped one month, she might give you some lee-way.

Hope it all works out for you. Debt can be frightening, but you will find once you start dealing with it, that the pressure eases.

 

[The French Mistress]

Take a walk on to Palace Pier and .........................

 

[Pavilionaire]

If anyone owes any money to a bank up to £3k I think it should be wiped out seeing as thats what they say each taxpayer has given to the banks to bail them out.

Any bank taking someone to court for owing money has a nerve to say the least.

That post is SOOO Naughties.

Using the economic downturn as an excuse for basic financial mismanagement is pathetic.

I know, I'll spend £2,999 I don't have and can't repay, then when the bank ask for their money back I'll point them in the direction of Fred Goodwin...

 

[Ninja Elephant]

An update from the Ninja Elephant, just before I refer to individual posts made in here. I went to the CAB this morning but when I got there they weren't giving out any more numbers to people to be seen. So I'll go tomorrow instead, and get there even earlier!
After CAB I walked along to the job centre but they informed me that I don't qualify for the crisis loan, but they advised me to apply anyway because they do make exceptions depending on circumstance so I might get something from them, it's up in the air a little bit. I'm going to raise some money in the meantime by selling all the DVDs I have (I'll cheekily post a link to them on Ebay later on! ), and I'll see where I go from there. I've been applying for jobs today and been dishing out my CVs aswell, that will carry on tomorrow. I spoke to the people I owe £172 and have agreed a weekly repayment scheme with them which is good. It's a start atleast, and things are looking up already.

The CAB should be your first port of call in this, as has been mentioned. They will go through your income and expenditure, work out a repayment plan, and if necessary write to creditors on your behalf with an offer of x amount per month. The offer will be accepted, as taking you to court and getting a CCJ would basically amount to the same process, ie working out what you can afford to pay back on a regular basis - creditors would prefer to avoid the time and expense of this process if at all possible. Its only if you then default or take the piss on an agreed repayment plan that they may decide on this route. But get a repayment plan together and STICK to it, and you'll come out the other side.

Don't get too down on yerself anyway. OK, owing family is never nice, but you've not got yourself STUPIDLY into debt, these look like very managable figures, its not like you owe thousands. You're addressing the problem right now before it gets out of hand, you're not ignoring it, so you've clearly got your head screwed on.

You'll be fine.

Thanks for the advice, Easy. Unfortinately I wasn't able to see anyone at the CAB today but that certainly sounds like the ideal help for me and ideally I shall see them tomorrow instead. I'm hoping having my head screwed on is going to be enough to be honest! My sister is ok, she needs her money back as soon as possible, but she's not going to be threatening me at any point which is good!

I can't offer any advice, but hope you get it sorted, you say your only 21, but a very mature 21 in the way you are dealing with this and accepting your responsibilities, for which you should be applauded.
I hope you get all the help you deserve as you clearly not the normal, "the world owes me a living" generation.

Good luck NJ, if i had any jobs going, (of which i don't unfortunately) your the sort of person i would employ, so head up and good luck ?

Thanks mate, I'm doing what I can. I've worked since I was 14 and I thought I had a fairly good appreciation of the value of money, but I think it's *slightly* improved now!
Thanks for the sentiments aswell, keep me in my mind for a job in future though please buddy!

I'm busy, but I like to help, so sorry if this has already been said on the previous 30 odd posts. EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE, has stuff stashed away at home (sometimes not even stashed away), that if added up could raise a few hundred easily. You need to spend a day or so rummaging your house and collecting all YOUR items that you don't NEED (note: need, not want) and either putting them on eBay or taking them somewhere similar (Cash Converters or even an auction house). If your that serious about getting rid of the debt, then you should also consider some items you don't really want to get rid of. I'm obviously not talking items with sentimental value, but items such as a computer game you play once every few months. When rummaging don't pick up an item and think although you don't want it, you can't imagine anyone else wanting it, because there more than likely will be someone. If you've got no idea how much something is worth, search for it on eBay. Unless it's an incredibly bizarre item, they'll be a few for sale already.

I could go on, but you get the idea. Good luck

Thanks mate, I'm going to be listing all my DVDs on Ebay later this evening so I'll be back with the link, as mentioned in my paragraphs above. Hopefully I can raise some quick cash that way, and that'll tide me over for the time being. Unfortunately, the most valuable item I have (the first ever Scooter single, released in 1993) is devalued by the fact I don't have the box it came in. I only have the CD, with the box it would have been worth £50 and upwards because of how rare it is! I saw one sold on Ebay a year or so ago for £89! That would have been good.

I'll respond to the rest later on this evening. Thanks everyone.

 

[Ninja Elephant]

There is some good advice here. I was in debt (and like others here, I tried to ignore it). The most important thing to do is get some sort of dialogue going with the firm you owe money to. Do not just ignore the letters, they will not stop. With most you will find that they will want to means test you, and then you can come to an agreed re-payment schedule. You may get a default notice against your credit rating ,but that is not as bad as a CCJ. Once you have a re-payment plan, KEEP TO IT!

Also, one thing I found usefull to do was to open a different account, then when money went in, it wasn't automatically snaffled up by the bank to clear the overdraft. Again, speak to your existing bank and come to a repayment plan. Any money you do then get, you can allocate out properly to pay your commitments and you will know exactly what you have got left to use.

With regards to your sister; sit down and have a chat, then like any other debt, arrange some sort of payback schedule. She will then appreciate that you are making the effort, and if you are really strapped one month, she might give you some lee-way.

Hope it all works out for you. Debt can be frightening, but you will find once you start dealing with it, that the pressure eases.

Thank you for your advice BP, I've agreed a repayment scheme with them and will absolutely be sticking to it. The advice about the bank account is a good one aswell to be fair, Nationwide will be wanting to get money back from me soon aswell which is fair enough, but I could do without it at the moment! I've spoken to her about it, and she's not rushing me, which is good of her considering the circumstances and she knows I'm not messing her about. I really can't afford to pay anything.
I've found that to be honest, now I'm actually trying to get out of it, it's not so bad. It still seems a little bit overwhelming at the moment, but there is light at the end of the tunnel as they say.

Take a walk on to Palace Pier and .........................

Thank you very much.

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

The CAB will sort you out mate. Working on a commission only basis benefits your employer more than you - no sales and they dont have to pay you , loads of sales and they are creaming off loads of profit for letting you do all the donkey work. If you owe your sister a sizeable wedge , paying off a little each week is better than not paying it back at all. Good luck Ninja.