Hi there everyone. I came to this site when I had issues with Wonga and after reading lots of posts I managed to break the horrible cycle of debt. I want to thank everyone for their information that helped me and in turn share with you my experience in the hope that this helps anyone who is in a similar situation where you can’t afford the Wonga loan and are having to borrow more and moreIt got to the point where I was borrowing more than £1000 (original loan was about £400), I knew I could not keep this up, enough was enough. I called a couple of days prior to the agreed date of collection and explained to the advisor on the phone. They told me to call up first thing on the morning of collection date, explain the situation again on the day, and they would sort out a repayment plan. A couple of days later on collection day I called at 8am, but it was TOO LATE! They just said “sorry Sir, the money has left your account, but please do apply again”.

I had no choice. At this stage here’s what I learned after reading small print*WONGA will take your money automatically at 5am on the agreed payment date. Obviously this is way earlier than you can call the bank to transfer your money, and if you try to withdraw from a cash machine before 5am that day, you will not have the available funds as your bank can already see that payment pending. *You have to deliberately default on the loan in order to organise a repayment planSO, the next one I took out I changed the pay day date to about 3 days before pay day, knowing that this would default due to no funds being there at that time.

The day after I got the text and email saying that my loan had defaulted I called up Wonga and explained that I could not keep lending, that I had defaulted on the loan, I explained how sick and stressed this whole thing had made me (it genuinely had) and that I just wanted to do the right thing and pay it back, but I could only afford it split into 12 payments. I did not mention that I was getting paid in a couple of days, as far as they knew I simply did not have the money, and had defaulted the loan. They agreed to a payment plan of 12 monthly payments. Result! So as burnt as I am by this whole experience, I can now manage this horrible debt. They have frozen the interest and I will have paid this off in a year.Here’s a list of points I wanted answers to when searching, I do hope these help you. These apply to my experience and I’m with HSBC. Take or leave this advice at your own riskIf you cancel your bank card, Wonga can and WILL still take money out of your account using the old details you provided. This is something about a “rolling agreement”

Most posts I've read would incicate this is the case for most if not all banksYou can’t go to their website and remove all your card details. I tried, you can’tSome have gone as far as to cancel their bank account. Be warned that you are credit scored when you open a new account so this may not be your best option, and you may be left with no bank account at all. If you do chose to close your bank account, do it early so that you can arrange your wages to be paid to your new account. You’ll need to sort that with your payroll dept at workYour bank cannot block payments to Wonga. As there is an agreement that was “signed” (basically the online agreement) then they have the right to take it and your bank cannot stop themIf you try and dodge Wonga and take all your money out, they can and will continue to take varying amounts out of your account at any time until the debt is paid. This could be months after. It’s done automatically, they try to take the full amount, then less, then less still until they get something, anything. It’s horrible but trueIf you don’t call and arrange a repayment plan, the interest will continue to accrue at a daily rate.

From what I've read, it seems they can be a bit nasty and involve bailiffs, threaten court action etc if you try and ignore the debt. You’ll end up paying way more in the end. So, my advice in a nutshell, take out your LAST EVER loan with them, then make sure you arrange “pay day” a few days before you actually get paid. Let it default, then call them. They will hopefully then accept a repayment plan with frozen interest. I’m sure that the default does not bode well with your credit score, but then if we’re lending from Wonga, surely it’s poor anyways, right? Get them paid off monthly and break that cycleMuch love

Or you could do what we've always advised on here and dont get a PDL loan in the first place. If you already have, then you can simply cancel your debit card/DD/CPA on the account and play them at their own game.

It's really good to see another person out of their clutches though. well done!

Absolutely agree I would always advise NOT getting involved with a PDL whatsoever. We all do stupid things, I am that egit! Seriously, I feel ridiculous for getting into such a mess. I have to say though, cancelling your card doesn't work. They still take the money.The bank won't block the payment either. If you've got a loan with those toads, you have to default then they'll talk repayment plans.

I have alwasy advocated getting a separate bank account and having your income paid into that account, leaving the original account for the payday sharks.

The banks seem to like doing a 'seamless change' when it suits them but not when it is in our best interest. They clearly are not looking after the customers properly in allowing 'any' person or company who has had your details to continue to do so - thereby they are now becoming party to any further fraud on your account due to that.

Absolutely agree I would always advise NOT getting involved with a PDL whatsoever. We all do stupid things, I am that egit! Seriously, I feel ridiculous for getting into such a mess. I have to say though, cancelling your card doesn't work. They still take the money.The bank won't block the payment either. If you've got a loan with those toads, you have to default then they'll talk repayment plans.

The bank can and will block payments as long as you demand in writing they cancel the CPA on the account. It is your LEGAL right to have this done as stated under FSA ruling. If they dont, then file a complaint with the banks information commissioner, the OFT and FSA. Theoretically you could also take legal advice for fraud/theft.

Hi there everyone. I came to this site when I had issues with Wonga and after reading lots of posts I managed to break the horrible cycle of debt. I want to thank everyone for their information that helped me and in turn share with you my experience in the hope that this helps anyone who is in a similar situation where you can’t afford the Wonga loan and are having to borrow more and moreIt got to the point where I was borrowing more than £1000 (original loan was about £400), I knew I could not keep this up, enough was enough. I called a couple of days prior to the agreed date of collection and explained to the advisor on the phone. They told me to call up first thing on the morning of collection date, explain the situation again on the day, and they would sort out a repayment plan. A couple of days later on collection day I called at 8am, but it was TOO LATE! They just said “sorry Sir, the money has left your account, but please do apply again”. I had no choice. At this stage here’s what I learned after reading small print*WONGA will take your money automatically at 5am on the agreed payment date. Obviously this is way earlier than you can call the bank to transfer your money, and if you try to withdraw from a cash machine before 5am that day, you will not have the available funds as your bank can already see that payment pending. *You have to deliberately default on the loan in order to organise a repayment planSO, the next one I took out I changed the pay day date to about 3 days before pay day, knowing that this would default due to no funds being there at that time. The day after I got the text and email saying that my loan had defaulted I called up Wonga and explained that I could not keep lending, that I had defaulted on the loan, I explained how sick and stressed this whole thing had made me (it genuinely had) and that I just wanted to do the right thing and pay it back, but I could only afford it split into 12 payments. I did not mention that I was getting paid in a couple of days, as far as they knew I simply did not have the money, and had defaulted the loan. They agreed to a payment plan of 12 monthly payments. Result! So as burnt as I am by this whole experience, I can now manage this horrible debt. They have frozen the interest and I will have paid this off in a year.Here’s a list of points I wanted answers to when searching, I do hope these help you. These apply to my experience and I’m with HSBC. Take or leave this advice at your own riskIf you cancel your bank card, Wonga can and WILL still take money out of your account using the old details you provided. This is something about a “rolling agreement” Most posts I've read would incicate this is the case for most if not all banksYou can’t go to their website and remove all your card details. I tried, you can’tSome have gone as far as to cancel their bank account. Be warned that you are credit scored when you open a new account so this may not be your best option, and you may be left with no bank account at all. If you do chose to close your bank account, do it early so that you can arrange your wages to be paid to your new account. You’ll need to sort that with your payroll dept at workYour bank cannot block payments to Wonga. As there is an agreement that was “signed” (basically the online agreement) then they have the right to take it and your bank cannot stop themIf you try and dodge Wonga and take all your money out, they can and will continue to take varying amounts out of your account at any time until the debt is paid. This could be months after. It’s done automatically, they try to take the full amount, then less, then less still until they get something, anything. It’s horrible but trueIf you don’t call and arrange a repayment plan, the interest will continue to accrue at a daily rate. From what I've read, it seems they can be a bit nasty and involve bailiffs, threaten court action etc if you try and ignore the debt. You’ll end up paying way more in the end. So, my advice in a nutshell, take out your LAST EVER loan with them, then make sure you arrange “pay day” a few days before you actually get paid. Let it default, then call them. They will hopefully then accept a repayment plan with frozen interest. I’m sure that the default does not bode well with your credit score, but then if we’re lending from Wonga, surely it’s poor anyways, right? Get them paid off monthly and break that cycleMuch love

Just wanted to thank you for posting this, I am currently struggling with wonga and it feels like your the only one when in this situation, I'm hoping I can arrange a payment plan with them as I do want to pay them back, but I'm guessing by your post it's better to defer the load to get their full attention, I will try and call first before this and see what they say. Thank you for your advice and hopefully I can get myself out of this depressing situation.

DO NOT call them. Only write to them or email them.

I smelt one too when i first posted. But i prefer to give posters the benefit of the doubt. It's up to the admins to action posters.

No, it seems on the level to me, if you read it Wonga did not agree readily, they only agreed when the money had been taken from the account.

You don't need to change banks, just account numbers and card details so that again isn't that fishy.

Again arranging the 'default' date to before your income is paid in is quite a sensible thing to do under the circumstances, at least ensures you have funds available that month.

Yea. But if you were wonga and you wanted to make it look like a regular poster did it, you would admit to some failings, so it wouldnt be completely obvious. Especially as they said they called wonga by phone. If theyre smart enough to know about this site, and have read other threads so they know what wongas like, they would know that you shouldnt talk to a creditor by phone.

Very true, be interesting to see whether they post again, the other odd thing is somebody else new quoting a new post.... there are plenty of other posts on Wonga to quote.

Did anyone see that they want to 'educate kids into the credit alternatives' which I think is wrong, kids need to know that credit is not an automatic right and is not necessarily a good thing.

No. She meant the other poster that only had 1 post and that was in reply to another poster who was praising the PDL.

No problems, I am convinced everyone is feeling the effects of this overcast unsettling weather, everyone I know is a bit grumpy and fed up.

One good bit of news though, my little (4lb 10oz) great nephew Elijah is home from hospital, he was born 7 weeks premature and is now out on day 18... only his mum, grandparents and big sister have cuddled him so far. He is still a bit frail but gaining daily.

Welcome Elijah and congrats to the family

MeDe, I think you have already been asked to make contact with our admin department if you wish to post on our forum. Aside from which, posting on a thread with is over 3 years old and where the OP has not returned for some while seems to be a bit foolish ?