In Debt

[sandbag]

Hi all - a bit of advice needed.

My OH has two loans and 2 credit cards. He was self employed and earning enough to repay his creditors but recently he slipped a disc in his back and is now waiting for surgery - he spend 10 days in hospital and had a MRI scan.

He took out PPI on both of his loans and one of the credit cards but he has been told that he cannot claim on his PPI due to him having a 'pre existing condition' - and that it is a backache and related condition.

 

He now cannot afford to make his repayments as he has no money going into his account. He is trying to claim incapacity benefit - but obviously this will not cover all his debt. I am trying to pay his bills and my own but i am struggling. Would it be worth writing to his creditors using the templates from this site to try and get his payments down to a manageble level until he can get back to work?

 

Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

Thanks Sandbag.

[diskmandave]

Hi sandbag, sorry to hear of your OH's trouble.

 

I'ld seriously suggest contacting the Consumer Credit Counselling Service before things start to balloon, if they already haven't as you don't say.

 

The CCCS are a registered charity jointly funded by the Government and the credit industry itself and as such are respected within the credit industry. Link below:

 

CCCS - Contact Us

 

Good luck, regards, Dave.

[powelll]

You can also try National Debtline on 0808 808 4000 for for free confidential independent advice. The main thing in the short term is to cover essential priority bills like mortgage or rent, food, utilities & council tax as well as travel other bills etc. Non priority creditors are limited in terms of action ( ie you won't lose your home 0 so you could offer what's left over after other bills & expenses, be it zero or token offers each month.

 

If any of the debt is with his current bank he will need to move accounts sharpish as they have the first right of offset so can take any money he does get paid in to cover a loan or card ( if it's with the same bank ). Any overdraft he leaves behind is just another non priority.

 

To get the best advice you really need to have a chat with someone who will ask about your whole situation 7 then give 'holistic' advice ie on everything not just the odd debt.

 

Hope this hekps; best of luck

[CAGisforME]

Hi,

 

I've responded to your other thread about Incapacity Benefit, please read it, as you were given some REALLY bum advice by someone before I posted!

 

Meanwhile: I would recommend the CCCS. I was with them a few years ago, they are Free and really help you to feel in control.

 

Re: PPI - Did your OH have Back problems in the past? If not, then how can this be a "pre-existing condition"? Have you checked the policies in their entirity?

 

Re: Benefits: Please read your other thread. There is a good chance that you will be entitled to Incapacity benefit, and, depending on what you earn, other benefits as well.

 

Especially- Disability Living Allowance

 

You may also be able to claim the Disability Element of Tax Credits too.

 

I recommend a telephone call to Welfare Rights to try and sort out benefits and therefore boost your income. Meanwhile send a letter to each creditor (available in the library) to ask for a little forebearance from them and get yourself down to the CCCS if necessary.

 

Good Luck

 

[sandbag]

Thankyou for all your replies.

 

In terms of paying all the essentials luckily i can pay all the household bills as i always have done. So hopefully i will have no problems there.

My OH did seek his GPs advice regarding his back pain and was given pain killers and continued to work but in April he was in so much pain he was admitted to hospital and had an MRI scan which showed a ' herniated disc'. The insurance company have said they will not pay out his PPI as it is back pain - but his terms and conditions state ' we will not pay if it is back pain or a related condition unless there is radiological evidence of an abnormality'. Would the MRI scan results be that 'radiological' evidence?

 

I'm just so annoyed - my OH and me have never claimed benefits before and it seems so unfair that due to a genuine illness we may end up having baliffs and DCA's after us.

 

I will send the template letters to his creditors and speak to the organisations recommended.

 

Thank you all

 

Cheers Sandbag.

[CAGisforME]

An MRI is BETTER than Radiological evidence.

 

And I would argue that one to the hills. With a nice letter from your GP or Specialist, if you can get them on board.

 

[powelll]

 

I'm just so annoyed - my OH and me have never claimed benefits before and it seems so unfair that due to a genuine illness we may end up having baliffs and DCA's after us.

 

quote]

 

Bearing in mind that standard non priority creditors ( unsecured loans. credit cards etc ) cannot use bailiffs UNLESS they have been to county court to obtain CCJ against you and UNLESS you have defaulted on the CCJ ie not paid what the court tells you to.

 

DCAs are not bailiffs and can't send bailiffs. They have no right of entry to your property & cannot take any of your goods.

 

Hope this helps

[sandbag]

Thankyou all for your helpful replies.

Regards Sandbag.