Hi dx I do have other bank accounts because I am claiming housing ben at the moment and want it to go to another account instead of paying off what will be arrears at Lloyds. I have an existing First Direct account also on overdraft, but I'm trying to open a Co-op account for the housing ben. Do I wait for them to approach me or go to them first? Thanks Swimboy

Hi Forum Members I was advised by Sir_Gilmour and IdaInFife to move my thread to a relevant forum, So I hope this is the right place? At the moment I have two loans with Lloyds and a CCard and am looking to get back to work asap. Until now I have not missed a single payment on these three, but this month one of the loans and the CCard came out on the same day: 13th Dec. At first they just took both of them and this pushed me over my agreed overdraft limit and I thought that they would just charge me for an unauthorised overdraft, but I noticed that the CCard has now bounced and returned and that amount was knocked off the unauthorised overdraft. Now I'm waiting to see if the loan bounces as well. So I am guessing that they will write to me and invite me in to talk to them. I have every intention of getting back to work and making good my arrears and resuming my payments, but is there anything I should or should not say to them when I meet them. I've not done this before and they may try to take advantage of my naivety! Can anyone advise please?

Hi Fellow Forum Members I have reached the point in my job search when I have no income left and therefore am unable to keep up Credit Card and loan repayments at the moment until I can get back into work. The strategy I am considering is to open a basic account at another bank like Co-operative to have my benefits paid in to. Failing this I cannot pay my rent before my bank, which is Lloyds, will take the money to pay a direct debit to a card or loan. I don't wish to end up being evicted! I shall start to pay my arrears as soon as I start back at work and make good the shortfall, but at the moment can anyone tell me how soon the bank will start to hassle me for the missed payments? One of best friends finally heard from his bank, Barclays, two months later and by the time several letters were sent to him, he was back in work and already paying his arrears anyway. Am I at least thinking along the right lines and will it take them some time to catch up with the missed payments in order to give me that little bit of breathing space to try to get back to work asap? Thanks for reading this friends Swimboy