Thanks people, your advice is appreciated. The credit cards are still with the orig people. Nationwide have agreed a lesser payment as have Cap One and M+s. We both have an Halifax card and as yet we have had no response at all from them evn though we have banked with them for years. However I have sent off a SAR to start a claim so maybe this has a bearing on it. American Express have been snotty. They have refused to help unless we have our phone disconected (as we are on cable it is a phone / tv package but we just have the very basic) i have explained that if we cancel NTL it will cost over 120 pounds to connect with BT who would be phone only and acceptable to them. They say we need to get rid of our mobiles but mine is vital to me for work as I am self employed. I tried to explain to them that if I dont have the mobile I will lose the work and our income will fall which in turn will make the offer off payment less but the guy said that was 'irrelevant'! They have also told us that another reason they wont help is because we are running 2 cars. They say we should share one.The reality is that we drive an old banger each ( both have the cheapest tax and insurance) My partner starts work at 3.30 am and finishes around 2pm. I work in a totally different town which is only 7 miles away if I cut through the country lanes but to use public transport I would need one bus and 2 train journeys. Its far more cost effective to use the car. The card is in my partners name and the income/expenditure sheet done by the consumer credit counselling service was a joint form for use both.

Hi, A couple of years ago I applied for a job with them. I didnt know what they did really until I went round training with the collector (he was making a fortune each week) I was taught that as soon as someone has almost paid off a loan offer them some more. i was also told that if they are struggling with payments offer to lend them more. For instance, if they owed 100 and had 10 weeks left to pay but they could not afford to pay for a few weeks, offer them another 200, take 100 straight back - therefore finishing the first loan and then put the remaining 100 over the orig 20 weeks so they had longer to pay. Loads of people fell for this. They thought they were finishing a loan when in reality they were starting again. I was also told to make friends with the children at each house and find out when birthdays were. That way, about 3 weeks before a birthday I should casually offer them some cash to get birthday pressies with as no one likes to think of their child going without. Another trick was to look at the TV or washer and if it looked on its last legs offer them a new one on credit and free delivery. They would be charged a silly amount when in reality someone was going to Comet and buying a cheapish set and passing it on to them at an inflated price. They really do prey on those already desperate and pretend to be friends. the guy I went round with was like a member of the family at practically every house we went to. Needless to say I left after about 3 weeks, I couldnt live with myself.

Thank you priority one. My partner has 2 loans which would have been paid off in about 4 years. We also have between us 4 credit cards. The most stupid thing we did was borrow to fight a court case, but it was for the best reason, for my partner to have access to his daughter. We got a secured loan to consolidate the cards but of course you then rely on them again. I started my own small business a year ago even though we both have great faith in it, it is taking time to get established and so Im not earning a great deal. The thing was that I had to give up my previuos job for health reasons so I dont have the wage I once had. We have liased with all the creditors but because of the amount we can offer they have spoken of sending debt collectors etc and so we have told them that we will try to sell the house.. We were also told by the consumer credit counseller that selling our home may be the best option as we dont want to go bankrupt. We owe around 59,000 but even if we sell the house we will only have about 25,000 to offer so wont clear the debt. We would only make our outgoings smaller in terms of the paments we need to make. The thing is that the situatiion will change in time, my business will improve, my partner pays child maintenance but that will cease in about 6 years and also the loans will finish(although not as fast as they should because the payment amount has been temporarily reduced) I also will have about 20,000 to come from an inheritance in the next year sometime. I am just frightened when they speak of sending debt collectors round. I know its our fault we have got into this mess but we are not trying to dodge it.

Just wondered if anyone new was about that could perhaps give me advice. Thanks

I have only been waiting 20 days but I have a friend who got hers after only 12 days, she sent off the same day as me. I have just rung to see whats going on. I rang a number that was recommended as helpful on one of the threads but the lady must be having bad day. I just got the 3rd degree about where I had got her number from and then got told she couldnt help me. She gave me another number which I rang. I was asked the security questions and then got told that I had failed secutity!:o When I asked how that could be he wouldnt tell me but says I now have to go to a local branch and have my security reset then call back. I gave him loads of details and told him when and where I had opened the account but to no avail. I think it may have been because I couldnt remember the date I last paid money into the account (I cant remember when I last had any!!!!!!) I did tell him that i had cancelled to direct debits last week and which branch I always use-which isnt local to my address- but the man from Halifax, he wont budge.

I do remember seeing a thread with a similar question and the answer seemed to imply that they had to give you a cheque as all your creditors have to be paid pro rata and so they cant just keep it. However Im not an exeprt so maybe someone with more knowledge than me will be along soon.

Thanx DX100. We dont really want to lose our home but we have considered every option and also been to the consumer credit counselling service. The lady there said she thought the best way out would be to let the house go. We have sent the relevant incoming/outgoing sheets to all our creditors but the best they have offered is a 6 month period of reduced payments. I suppose that after that they may extend the period but at the moment our outgoings seem enormous. We thought that if we sell we will have some capitol to make some of the creditors offers of a reduced settlememt figure but at the same time I dont really want to end up renting. Its just that when we tried to arrange a payment scheme there was so little left over that we had to offer what are really tiny amounts to each of them and they were reluctant to accept it without some form of action plan to iomprove our circumstances as we cant offer enough long term. I dont see what else we can do. We are prioritising the mortgage and secured loan and are not behind with those. If anyone can make any suggestion I would welcome them. Im self employed and dont always make a great wage but I think kit will improve as the business gets established. My partner works EVERY hour god sends so he cant improve his income.

Anyone please?

Sorry, £19,000

We are really struggling to pay off our creditors and much to our regret have decided there is no option but to sell our house in order to release some equity to pay off some of our debts. However we stupidly took out a secured loan last August thinking we would pay offf the credit cards etc and just have one payment. I never works like that does it! We now want to sell the house and pay off the loan but I have just been looking through some of the literature from the loan company and even though I cant really understand it all Im afraid that we are going to have to pay back far more then we borrowed because we want to settle early, therefore defeating the object of selling to raise equity. I know I can ring them for a settlement figure but just wondered in advance if anyone has any experience of this type of thing and what they are likely to take from us. We borrowed £1900 over 15 years. Thanks for any help.

Thank you sea sidelady. Would you recommend that I ring them or just wait a little longer. I am also waiting for a reply to a letter I sent them negotiating a monthly payment on my credit card as per the consumer credit counselling service. Do you think that maybe because I am behind with my credit card they are stalling.

I sent off for my statements on the 7th Feb and enclosed my £10. I have checked track and trace and my letter was delivered on the 8th. I know I am only half way through the 40 days they are allowed but reading some of the threads it seems that most people get some sort of letter confirming that they have recieved it before the statements are actually sent out. I am just a little worried that I have heard nothing yet. Has anyone sent thier request off since the 7th and already heard something.

Thanks for the replies. I know its not just us that are in this position but it helps just to be able to post on here and know you are not just being judged. I do confide in my partner but I dont really want the rest of the family involved. My partner and I are in this together so Im not really without help its just that Im finding it so hard to deal with. I dont have a wage, Im self employed (only for the last 6 months) and hoped to be making money faster than I am. It just seems that each day I am struggling to take enough to be able to bank enough to cover the next days direct denits. I have sent off for my statements and we are in the process of selling the house and also agreeing payments with our creditors. I know that if we can get over the next 6 months or so we will be in a much better position. Its just the small things that get you, the car is due for MOT this Friday and also needs an exhaust. It also needs taxing on March 1st. Without the car i cant get to work, without the MOT I cant tax it but I cant afford to MOT it. Talk about a vicious circle.:-|

Sooooo fed up. Last week was charged for 2 DDS that I hadnt got the cash in account to cover. My own fault I know. The Halifax took 2 x £39 out of my account and now my next DD has failed. I cant catch up, we are paying of credit cards and loans and can just about manage but its a vicious circle. Every time they take charges out Im short for the next payment. We dont have enough cash to play catch up. Have tried talking to them but they wont help. I have now cancelled all the DDs which come out of one account so that I wont incur another charge but this has now left us with the electric people wanting over £100 in a lump from us and also the car insurance wanting over £200. I just feel like running away, I now need to put £135 in the bank plus the mortgage money before the first of the month and I know we cant raise it. They have taken £147 in charges in the last month, Im at my wits end with it. Thanks for letting me moan.

I just thought they may refuse to help us with a reduced payment plan for the debts as they havnt been finakised yet. A sort of retaliatory thing really. ie; we are not going to help you if you are going to claim off us.

Would just like an opinion on what you guys think. I have decided to try to reclaim my fees and have sent off the £10 etc. The thing is, we are in debt and have been to see the Consumer Credit Counselling Service who have put together a payment plan for us. We have sent the plan off to our creditors and are waiting a response from them. BUT- we both have a credit card with the Halifax on which we are hoping they will accept reduced payments and my partner has a loan with them which, again, we are hoping they will accept reduced payments. Do you think they are likely to be un-co-operative in trying to help us because we are trying to reclaim charges from them. With our financial situation being the way it is we really need them to be raesonable with us but do you think I may be blowing my chances.

Hi, I asked the same question on another thread as I have a loan that I am paying off as well although its not a student loan. The answer I got was that it is possible they will take it from you if you already owe them money so its quite legal but they dont always do it. However as the person replying to me said 'Its one less debt to worry about if they do'

Didnt know that, just followed what seemed to be the norm reading on here, Oh well! thats another fiver they have got off me!:o

Good idea kalujo. No its not the first charge but it just spirals dosnt it. You get one and you seem to be on a roll and never catch up. I have just sent my letter and £10 off asking for my statements. Fingers crossed.

Just need to let off steam really. Was 11p short in my account last week so the Halifax refused 2 of my DDs. One was for my car insurance. I am already paying agreed minimum payments on a loan and Halifax credit card so they know I dont have any disposable income. Because they refused the DDs they charged me £39 twice which they took out Friday. This made me overdrawn and so today I got a letter saying I need to put £80 in by Thursday or Im deep in it. The car insurance company have also written to say they will try again for the DD on the 15th, but, they are taking an extra £25 for thier charges. I cant put the money in the account to cover it because it will be imeadiately swallowed by me being overdrawn, if I dont put the money in they will bounce the DD again and I will get another set of charges. I just dont know what to do, I havnt got £160 to put in the bank which is what it would take to solve the problem. If i ring the insurance and tell them not to take it they will cancel my insurance or tell me I need to pay in full straight away. I need my car for work, Im just at my wits end. Thanks for letting me rant.

Thanks Bookworm. Has anyone else on here had this happen to them or have you won and been paid.

Hi All, Has anyone had a problem opening a parachute account. I was advised to try a step account from the Nat West. I was told that you could apply on line and that they accept almost everyone and dont do credit checks for the basic step account. So I applied and the website said my application had been agreed in principal. On the online application there were no questions about loans or credit cards. I have now got the paperwork to sign and have noticed that on the printout there is a section about other assets (e.g. value of car) and also another section asking about 'other borrowing' including balance of credit cards etc. Against this is the word 'NO' as if we have no other borrowing but this is not the case. Underneath that section is a question- Are you a home owner with YES written against it. That was on the website questionaire but the bit about 'other borrowing' definatly wasnt so I dont understand how it is marked NO on the paperwork. Now, my problem is, if I put down the extent of 'other borrowing' we will probably get turned down but at the same time I cant ignore it. It also says we may apply to a credit reference agency but I was told that for a step account they didnt do that. Has anyone else got round this or am I snooked. Any advice would be welcome, thanks

Hi All, Just wondering, I have sent off the request and £10 to the Halifax. I know I will have quite a large figure to reclaim but I also have a credit card which I am paying off at a very slow rate which has been agreed. What I would like to know is, if they settle my claim will they take what I owe on the credit card off before paying me. Thanks

Thank you dollies.

Hi All I have sent the letter off today to ask for my statements. I know I need to open a parachute account but can any of you recommend a bank thats going to accept me easily. I went to Nat West just to enquire but they want to see my last 3 months statements. As they show me overdrawn and incurring charges I can hardly expect them to want me as a customer. The advisor at the CCCS told me to open a new account and gave me a list showing which banks they recommended. As Nat west looked to be the one to go for Im now a bit worried that another bank will not take me on as a customer. Has anyone had the same experience and which bank did you find ok. Thanks.