Hi everyone i hope i have posted in the correct area !! HELP my story is that

i have recently defaulted on 2 credit cards ,i am only 1 payment behind .

i was unlucky enough to have two operations last year and borrowed money from 1 card to pay the other

i have had to undergo further surgery april gone and i have been living on stat sick pay/ tax credits and housing benefit .

I have approached two debt charities and as advised done a budget which has surprised me ,

my outgoings are £350 more than i have coming in !!!!!

I am being treated for depression and have been for 3 years after losing both parents to horrible illnesses.

I have been straight with both lenders but the HALIFAX wont enter into any agreement because of my budget

and the RBS have now sent me a financial form to complete

,they are also asking when i will be back to work and can i send them a copy of my DRS certificate are they entitled to this ?????

by the way late charges and over credit fees keep getting addded.

Can anyone point me in the right direction ,

total debts approx £9000 iand i work part time for £6.50 an hour and my situation doesnt look like it will be any better even when i return to work.

any help would be appreciated TIM

not entitled to know ANY of your pers medical details

neither

are they entitled to a budet sheet either..

what level are the debts please.

and how much of these are PENALTY charges & PPI?

dx

Hi thanks for your reply, the level of debts are rbs £4200 and halifax £2200 they both increased the credit limits last year after i requested them to but i thought they would send me another agreement to sign.

at the moment there insisting on this budget sheet to see wether i am eligable for token payment £1 this is what one of the debt charitys suggested.

There is no p p i on either account but each have added on 2 x £12 for late payment and the interest has now taken me over the credit limit hence the extra £12 ,talk about getting kicked when already down. I dont intend to send personal medical details to any old tom dick and harry !!!!!! thanks for any advice you can give TIM

Hi thanks for your advice, i am in the process of opening a basic bank account with the coop . There is no ppi to be had unfortunately but i have done a budget but cant see anything really to cut back on, all my bills have increased except my wages !!!!!! Whats your personal opinion on a DRO ? thes debts are only a year old and i have only just been able to hang onto my working tax credits since it all changed in april and they will now take an average on my weekly hours ! my main bank is hsbc who i have an overdraft with . any help would be great TIM

not entitled to know ANY of your pers medical details

neither

are they entitled to a budet sheet either..

dx

Hi, just came across this thread and am having similar health problems and it's so difficult to fight back when you are feeling so low.

DX - why do you say that they are not entitled to a budget sheet? I was advised via CCS that this should be completed and sent as evidence of your inability to pay - you may know something different?

Tim - you might find it useful to search the web for "Debt & Mental Health Good Practice" (I am unable to add links yet). You will find a few sites including MALG and links to Royal college of Psychiatrists who have done loads of studies and set out a code of good practice for people with mental health issues including depression. Also on HMRC website look up DMBM585185 - It's a document regarding "considering the defaulter with mental health issues", contains some very useful information, along with Financial Ombudsman Service website which, again, sets out good practice for financial companies.

Like you, I have a card with Halifax and they are the worst, rude, unsympathetic and despite having no disposable income they have tried to bully me into borrowing to make payments to them - it makes you feel so much worse.

I completed and printed off the CCS budget sheet (with the CCS logo) and explained that I have received advice from CCS and gone on to explain my situation along with the fact that I am on medication for my depression. I offered my £1 per month payment as advised and enclosed a cheque, (also set up a DD) and finished off with a final paragraph:

I have to say, they have all been really good except Halifax. The best thing you can do is be honest with them, tell them that you will only deal with them in writing (which gives you breathing space - but do reply), and ensure that you tell them you are suffering with depression - this is important as once you disclose this, they have to work within certain good practice guidelines. Do NOT give them any web log in or reference numbers (if you do the budget planner on CCS, they give you a number so that you can return to your details.

Hope this helps! Best wishes

Hi thanks for your advice, i am in the process of opening a basic bank account with the coop . There is no ppi to be had unfortunately but i have done a budget but cant see anything really to cut back on, all my bills have increased except my wages !!!!!! Whats your personal opinion on a DRO ? thes debts are only a year old and i have only just been able to hang onto my working tax credits since it all changed in april and they will now take an average on my weekly hours ! my main bank is hsbc who i have an overdraft with . any help would be great TIM

The total debts you listed in this and previous posts differs. However, either way, if I were in your situation I would definitely go for a DRO. It provides a sharp, clean break and allows you to concentrate on the more impt matter - your mental health. Unfortunately most of the published info from 'expert' organisations tends to treat mental health issues from a medical model perspective. You may find more appropriate support from a local Users' Group (you don't need to be a hospital patient, just have mental health issues to join). But m.h. will not be resolved with the debts still hanging over you. Once you've obtained the DRO, you may find everything else falls into place and the world makes sense again. I'm well aware of the effects of bereavement and other forms of shock on one's ability to cope with harassment from merciless creditors and DCAs, so you have my sympathy. I only wish I fell within the threshold to apply for a DRO. I wish you the best of luck. Pls let us know how you get on.

Oleg

Hi ,

thanks for your message and i am sorry that i have not replied sooner.

I thought i would give you an update and ask for further advice if you are able to help !

I have reached an agreement with R B S CREDIT CARD ,

just under £30 a month and they have stopped interest and late charges etc,

they say that they will review my situation in 6 months,

i originally offered them £10 a month which they rejected.

have now returned to work ,although i am still dealing with depression

,but the HALIFAX c/c have again given me a default and passed the whole debt £2300 to debt collector in manchester

and i have been paying them £10 a month for the last 2 months.

Can i ask why they would do this ,

does this mean they have no CCA to enforce .

any help or advice you could give would be great .

Tim.

sold it or them just collecting.

dx

Hi thanks for your reply, i have recieved a letter from a debt collectors called BLAIR, OLIVER and SCOTT

who says that there client has instructed them (HALIFAX) to collect the full outstanding balance £2300 as soon as possible. when i first got behind with payments i sent a budget to the halifax (recorded delivery) and i have proof that they got it , offering £10 a month till i got back to work after being on statuary sick pay for 3 months and they didnt even reply. I recieved a default notice so i rang them and they told me just to pay £10 a month which is what i have kept up with.

what i would like to know if you can help, are the above debt collectors owned by the Halifax or would you say that they have just sold on to these clowns, i have done some digging online but cant seem to get any answers , can they pass this on while i am paying the halifax? or is it just lack of communication in the bank?

any advice or help would be appreciated Tim.

halifax and bank of scotland

hbos

bos = blair olly snot

same lot

ignore

dx

Don't be frightened to talk to your GP, and ask for a referral to a mental health nurse. The NHS care I have received has been wonderful.