i dont know what to do, my debt is swirling outta control?!!?

Question

where do i start to try and rectify things, the bank call me every day to inform me i am over my overdraft and they need a payment! i'm getting charged for being over it, i have a job but at the moment i dont earn enough to pay off the interest on my credit card let alone start to pay off my overdraft! arggggghhhhhhhh

Answer 1

I have been in a similar situation before myself. It is a horrible feeling, I know. But there are some things that you can do....

Firstly, contact the bank (and any other creditors) and tell them you are seeking advice. This will only serve to stall them temporarily.

Secondly, make a detailed list of all your income, regular outgoings including debt repayments. Remember to include EVERYTHING, even newspapers or ciggie money! Do not try to 'hide' money spent on fags, booze etc under 'Housekeeping'. Financial institutions will probably ask for details of your income and expenditure and have certain parameters for a person in your position with regards to what they expect to see.

Thirdly, consider what are priority and non-priority debts. Priority debts are any which may affect your housing or your liberty - eg rent/mortgage, water, gas, electric, any debts secured against your home. Non-payment of council tax can lead to imprisonment so it is vital that these bills are sorted first and foremost. Any remainder can be used to off-set the other debts.

Fourthly, write to your creditors explaining that you are unable to keep up with the payments and perhaps include details of your income and expenditure. They are used to dealing with such situations and should come to some agreement with you, although they are not obliged to.

Creditors will look to see if you are serious about clearing your debts. Can you return any cards to the lender? Can you sell any assets? Could you take on another part-time job and use the extra money to off-set the debts only? Can you rent out a room in your home?

I would not recommend any loan consolidation unless you are 100% sure that you can keep up with the payments on it, especially if it is secured against your property as it will be repossessed as soon as you default. Bankruptcy may be an option for you but it is not a solution for everyone. Some do not realise that the discharge term can be extended by the court assessor for between 1 and 16 years, if they feel that you are not co-operating. If your financial situation improves greatly whilst you are in the discharge period, they can still ask for the money to off-set your debts. There are major difficulties with obtaining future credit obviously, which I believe extends for 6 years after you have been discharged (so potentially for the next 22 years in total if your discharge period is extended to the maximum), and also in having a bank account. Also a large number of landlords will not accept tenants who are bankrupts. Your name will also appear in the local press when the case is in court.

Do get as much advice as you can, especially CAB and do not bury your head in the sand. I followed all of the above and was debt-free within 2 years and have been so for the past 5 years. Never, ever again!

Answer 2

Two possibilities A) you go into voluntary bankruptcy which will cost you about £400 and your assets will be taken to recover money ( In theory any way)

You go into voluntary liquidation. My own experience of this was to throw the liquidators out after three visits as they said the cost would be more each time I went.

The most effective method is to handle your accounts your self.
it is not easy and you may seek advice through your local citizens advice bureau who will put you in touch with a solicitor that will give one free consultation. The idea is that you write to your creditors or in the banks case go and see them. You tell them the situation and work out a payment method. this does mean you will probably have no more money than you need to survive until you have repaid it all but you may be able to freeze the interest on some of the debt especially if they know the alternative is bankruptcy as they are likely to get nothing.

Answer 3

Ok, first of all don't panic but also don't ignore the problem, neither will help you sort this out.

REALLY don't call any loans company. They will either flog you a long term loan so you end up owing twice as much money in the long term, or sort out an arrangement and charge either you or your creditors for it.

Visit your local CAB, they will help you budget, so you know what you can spend, and if necessary make arrangements with the people you owe money to so you can pay off your debts as you can afford to. It's painful to have to do but they really are the experts, and they don't charge you, and they don't get you into more debt.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk to find your local one (or look in the phone book)

And when they've helped you do consider volunteering to help them back so they can carry on their good work.

Answer 4

Hi. The first thing you need to do is contact the bank and explain the situation to them, they should be understanding as there are many people like you out there. they next thing you need to do is contact all of the companies that you owe money to, and again explain to them that your are finding things hard at the moment. They will ask you to tell them all of your outgoings and income, and then they will ask you to tell them how much you can afford to pay them each month. Give them a figure that you can afford, but will not leave you short of money to live on each month. They will be happy to help you, because they will be happy to get some money rather than none.

You really should also visit citizens advice, take all of your details of your income and outgoings, and they will be able to help you too.

I have been in the same situation as you, and i know how it feels. I have come through the other side now, and things could not be any better with my finances.

It will get better.

Good luck. x

Answer 5

Step 1. Tear up all your credit cards.
Step 2 Get a part time job or even two.
Step 3. Go in and speak to your bank personally. Don't ignore them. They may be willing to work with you. Possibly even help by consolidating your debts into 1 manageable payment.

Answer 6

i had the same problem and after contacting citizens advise, got put through to a company called payplan, they don't make any profit they are government funded, and they contact all your debtors and help to freeze yoour debt and then you make a payment everymonth and it all get divided out. don't hide from it sort it.
I got rid of £15k debt in a year and a half, i did pay loads out every month and live on a budget but it was well worth it, and its surpising if you have a budget you know you have to stick to, how far you can make your money go, i had to stop spending money on loads of booze and general crap i didn't need, but it was a great feeling to pay it all off

Answer 7

i had the same problem, go in to the bank and talk to them, they will clear your overdraft by getting you a loan, i know its expensive, but you will pay less for the loan than the overdraft in the long run, then stop spending as much!!! live within your means!!

Answer 8

STOP SPENDING MONEY. Eat little, Sell car, Sell tv, video, cd player, expensive camera, jewellerey, and this computer LIVE MEAN dont go out except to work, take sandwiches, don't drink, give up on cigarettes. Dont use your mobile (Cell)
You have obviously been living beyond your means.
Its only right that other people are entitled to their money.

Answer 9

Apply online at WWW.SUREFIREFINANCE.CO.UK and they will get back to you with how much you can borrow, you may be able to borrow enough to cover all your debts and cut your payments dramatically.

If you get a quote and you still wouldnt be able to afford to make the payments contact the citizens advice centre for help with coming to arrangements with your creditors.

Answer 10

if you dont own a home, declare yourself bankrupt! go to insolvency website (google it) and go from there!

most cases are dismissed after a year! it really is the best thing to do if you have alot of debt!

edit * dont get a load to consolidate your existing debt IT WONT WORK! if your are bankrupt you cannot obtain any further debt, this forces you to learn to live within your means

citizens advice will help you