Yes, phone them first,cagmee then follow up immediately with the letter (recorded delivery,of course. make a copy too, for your own records) I'll post up my letter that I wrote to cap1 (my bank of Scotland letter was identical) if you like. Cap1 were actually fine with me as I've outlined on my original thread about it - it was BOS who began to get shirty and did the dirty on me with Moorcroft Cancel everything on the cards - they'll inform you to do this anyway when they accept a token monthly payment. Read up on people's experiences on here. It's important no to panic and become despondent and anxious - it doesn't get you anywhere and is, in fact,pointless.I worried myself sick about this before I joined here only to realise quickly I was stupid to do so. IMO now, the CC companies are resigned to probably losing you if you are unemployed (or with no assets) and will sooner or later toss your debt to some dodgy DCA for ha'pennies

Ok I can certainly send the scanned copies of my letters if that'll help anyone.Or to make things simpler, I'll type up exactly what I wrote and put it on a newly created thread? I sent the letters to the main company HQ - BOS is in Edinburgh and Cap1 in Nottingham Always remember - you are in control regarding paying these people, particularly if you are on low income or no income save for benefits. Remain courteous but firm and always state that you are willing to pay something every month, no matter how small, to service your debt. This is really, really important. To ignore the problem or tell them they're getting nowt is to invite trouble, I believe.

Yes, Tommycat, thinks are still ok with cap1. I found them surprisingly reasonable, unlike HBOS who acted like total wombles which I've heard is par for the course with them. I told cap1in my letter that I could only afford £5 per month. I said quite a few things in that letter, the gist of which was either accept the £5 - like it or lump it - I ain't got a pot to p!ss in, I know it, you know it so take the fiver per month and leave me alone. They said they'd contact me again in August to review my situation. My situation is identical to what it was in January, so when they write to me again I'll tell them this and that I still can't afford any more than a fiver. Chances are they'll drop me like a hot potato and sell my debt to Moorcroft or something:lol: Just let them do the work, Tommy and don't accept them phoning you all the time either. Tell them in writing only. If you're on JSA or even a low income job there's nowt they can realistically do. Relax and things will pan out ok for you

Yes but if you're unemployed then there's little they can do,Simon. Even if you're working,you tell them you're still struggling to meet the monthly minimum.What Conniff said is excellent advice. Just write and inform them of your present financial difficulties and make them a monthly offer which you can afford.

Daniella , I'm sure we both do:whoo: But seriously, I've read a fair bit now about these DCA's and their shockingly immoral tactics. Every one of them are [edit]. Some people actually toy with them, paying them a few quid a month then phone them up telling them they're getting nowt the following month as they need the cash for fags. The DCA's blow their tops but quickly back off after some well earned dog's abuse. Yes they do play on people's emotions and lack of knowledge. They know all the right buttons to push to hit the old fear spot. A spider crawling around in your bath has more legal powers than the DCA Wombles. I think the worm is turning with them as more and more people are being put in the picture regarding DCA's and their powerlessness, thanks to this great site and others that are around.

Yes, told you experts would be along, skintgirl! I know it's hard, but try not to ever feel stressed because of credit card debt/loan debt. Your main priorities as dx100uk said is your essentials. Mortgage. Utility bills. Council tax. You simply must pay these. The rest can whistle for it! You can't pay them what you don't have and they know that your priorities lie in paying other people first. They don't like it but there's little they can do. Serves them right as these CC companies are licensed loan sharks, that's all. However , they can't come round and break your legs! Once you get your debts listed up, the others will give you good advice. Please remember that these companies can't do sod all to you - you must always remember this. I worried myself sick before joining here and the advice I received was great. I followed it, wrote to my credit card companies, explained my situation and I'm now paying £5 per month to each. One of them (bank of scotland) decided to employ Moorcroft ( an incompetent shower if ever there was one) after only three months ! to collect my debt. I told them to p!ss off - I'd only pay bank of scotland the money and I'm still doing so. All this was done via letters. I never take calls from any of them and have told them this. They have absolutely no power to harm you, these DCA's. They're full of bluster and hot air - my cat has more legal powers than them. So relax, take a bit of time to post up your debts and you'll get sorted no bother at all.

Hi skintgirl52, I'm sure the top dogs of this forum will be along soon to get to grips with your debt problems. I'm way out of my depth on this one to be sure but what I would say is don't worry yourself sick with this because it doesn't get you anywhere. There are always solutions to financial debts and problems. The most important thing is your mortgage. I'm positive that this must be your first priority as it's your home. The credit card debts and loans can be managed through writing to them and explaining your situation. Most will at least freeze interest and charges till you get yourself sorted out and perhaps you can offer to pay only what you can afford for now. You owe them money- nothing more. The wise owls on here will get you sorted, Skintgirl. I owe about 8k on cards all told , but my situation is very different from yours. Unemployed, on JSA and no property or assets, so I told them to take a running jump and to accept £5 per month until my situation improves - take it or leave it. They took it.

Maggiemay, moorcr@p are a shower of t0ssers from what I've heard on here. They sent me a letter demanding an immediate payment of £4500 as they said my HBOS credit card debt is now to be collected by them.What a laugh as I'm still on JSA and own no property or assets. I wrote to HBOS and told them I'll continue to pay them £5 per month (which I've been doing these last few months) and I also told them I'm not recognising Moorcroft in any way as I owe HBOS the money and not Moorcroft. Things have gone completely quiet for the last 2 weeks from them both but before I wrote my latest letter to HBOS, moorcroft were phoning all the time - I never entertained them even once. I'm sure you'll get things cleared up fine and I'm sure from what others are saying that you'll be ok regarding this debt.

Update on this folks: I received today a letter from Moorcroft debt recovery who state they are working on behalf of HBOS to recover the £4200 from me. The letter says I must settle this debt without delay:lol: which is hilarious as I'm still on JSA as my only source of income. Bank of Scotland did agree to accept £5 per month as did Capital one (who say they will contact me in August to see if my circumstances remain the same) The HBOS **** must have realised they've backed the wrong horse to get their money back so they've got Moorcroft on board to help them. I will write to Moorcroft and tell them exactly what I've previously told Hbos about my income/circumstances. I'll offer £5 per month - like it or lump it. Taking in to consideration what I've learned about this mob, I won't be taking any phone calls from them whatsoever - everything in writing. Cheers!

Sorry to hear about your debts, buddy. The main thing is to calm down and stay that way because, as dx points out, a lot of those debts are unenforceable. Although I'm unemployed and have a two credit card debts about 1/3 of your total, I took the advice from the good folks on here and dealt with the problem as detailed on my thread. The main thing is to decide what you're going to do. Struggle on for years paying through the nose with the interest and debt, or effectively say to the unenforceable creditors "sod it, bring it on" They can't really do ANYTHING to you mate, not really. Your credit rating will be affected I'm sure so if you care about that you'll have to try to strike a balance

No PPI, Havinastella, I didn't take it . I'd also like to add that, by and large, the people from both companies were pretty decent and courteous on the phone, apart from the slightly cheeky girl from BOS.Easily dealt with, though:wink: I'd also like to thank all the people who gave me advice - it was much appreciated. I'll keep this thread alive with any further updates, primarily to act as a sort of rough guide for anyone else in the same boat as me.

Update : Capital One phoned me on Wednesday and agreed to freeze interest and charges for 6 months. They will review situation then. £5 per month payment to them in the meantime.They are sending me an expenditure form which I'll complete and send off. Bank of Scotland phoned me today and initially got a bit shirty and asked me to complete the expenditure form over the phone. I said no way, I haven't the exact details to hand and told them to send it to me and I'd complete it and send it back. I basically told them it was a fiver or nowt. I was transferred to someone else who then told me they'll freeze interest and charges for 6 months to be reviewed then. They'll send confirmation by letter. £5 to them every month too. Just to say to anyone reading this who is on benefit like JSA - don't panic, for the situation is hopeless for them to get their money while you're on the dole so they'll accept a token amount: it's either that or nothing:-)

Cheers guys. Yes, Jimmy99, I was civil enough in my letters, plainly outlining to them that I can only pay £5 per month and even that much I can hardly afford, but mentioning that I'm willing to pay this much even so. I haven't heard back from them yet but I will send them both a copy of my proof of benefit receipt if they ask for it. chching: I would consider DRO or LILA as it is known here in Scotland. It probably won't come to that but I'll consider all options once everything becomes clearer with them

Yep Series3, good advice. Dx100uk's advice is also top dollar. That's actually very encouraging to hear of your wife's debt being dealt with sensibly by Lloyds. Anyway, the letters and £5 postal order payments for January have already been sent and they've been told that's all they're getting, basically a like it or lump scenario - I was paid off from my job October 2011 and it's a nightmare trying to get another at age 44 - bloody hard.Jsa and the princely sum of £71 is my income,so they'll either have to accept it or refuse. Refuse, as dx points out, and I'll whack them onto £1 for life

Yes Tommycat, not a nice boat to be in but one I feel which will not sink with us aboard if we play things cool. Just take dx's advice and get that letter drafted and sent using dx's template, outlining what they are going to get henceforth from you, not what they'd LIKE you to pay them. Taking dx's advice, I told them in my letter that they are both getting £5 per month (capitalone and BOS), more or less saying "like it or lump it" as my financial situation is dire at the minute with JSA my only source of income. When I sent both letters, I included a £5 postal order in each for my January payment. I also sent both letters recorded delivery just to ensure that the buggers received them Also encouraging to hear that dx and his wife's combined unsecured £20k debt still has them whistling for their dough:-) But as dx said - take control of the situation for WE are in control - not them, for what can they really do if you're unemployed or have no job or income -kill you?

Yes, DuffNCustard, I will consider all these things but I've yet to hear back from them - doubtless I will soon. I'm in Scotland so the DRO doesnt apply here though I think something similar exists in Scotland called LILA(low income low asset) thanks for the links:-)

Dx100uk provides great advice, Tommycat, I 'm in a similar boat, although I owe £7300 split between bank of Scotland and CapitalOne credit cards. I've detailed it on another thread started by myself, but I've yet to hear back from them. Doubtless it'll be soon, though. I will take dx's advice and send them another letter if they reply back negatively.

Many thanks, DX - much appreciated advice which I'll certainly follow to the letter should I not receive a satisfactory reply from them in the new year

Many thanks for the tips and links, Wintry:-D As I've just sent off my two letters to the card companies, I'll sit tight till I hear from them one way or the other. There's no point getting stressed about it I know, but I do, a little bit:-( I'll have a nose around on those sites over the next couple of days anyway and draw up at least an initial plan of action if they don't agree to the £5 monthly from my JSA.

Hi, Great forum you have here! I owe £7300, spread over two credit cards - capital one (£3100) and bank of Scotland (£4200). I've been unemployed for over a year and was making the minimum monthly repayments on both cards , stupidly perhaps using what savings I had to make the monthly repayments. Now I have no spare cash left at all, I'm on £71 JSA per week and furiously searching for work. I live with my brother in a rented housing association house so there's no mortgage. I've written to both companies today, outlining my situation and basically offering to make a minimum payment of £5 monthly until my situation improves. I've also asked them to freeze any penalty charges and interest from accruing. I've buried my head in the sand too long with this but I've decided to face up to it. From what I've been reading, I don't really think there's too much they can do to me- I don't own any property, car or anything. The credit card debt is unsecured . I'm pig sick of this whole thing, being unemployed and other things going on in my life too and just want this thing sorted or at least controlled till things pick up:sad: Any thoughts folks, as to what the next stage is likely to be? Thanks:-D