In deep, or thats what it feels like..

[MD0007]

Hi all,

Thank you for reading this and for all your help & advice.

I'm in quite deep debts (council tax, utility, credit cards), and am quite scared of a visit from the bailiffs (council tax have sent bailiff to drop a letter already).

Looked around briefly between this site and get out debt free site, have obtained some reassuring information regarding the rights of debtors and tactics used by bailiffs to scared debtors.

With a little information found, it does lessens the fright, but still feel very threatened and frightened.

Recently, my visitation to my son has been put on stop, this was devastating. And sent me into a spiral of helplessness. Don't want to lay a sob story, but where I am today stemmed from that event.

So, now I'm working again and able to resolve these debts, but where do I start?

I've a pile of unopened letters, which I've just started organising, but there's just so many.

So far this is all I've done, plus displaying a Removal of Implied Right of Access.

As of last week, I've been offered an opportunity to see my son again and I really don't want to muck this chance up. However, my current debt situation may result in unable to make contributions to his life, which then may result in loss of visitations again. Really dread this.

As of writing, only the credit card, one utility and council tax debt have been sold onto debt collectors. What should be my next move after organising the letters?

This is a really long opening post, forgive me. Just want to feel human again and it certainly is within grasp, just find it all very overwhelming when ignorant of options available to me.

Thank you again for reading, your help and advice.

M

[leclerc]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

I'll ask [MENTION=48934]Debt Camel[/MENTION] to lend a hand.....

[MD0007]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Hi and thank you very much, being a complete novice. Is that an member here?

[pt2537]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Hi and thank you very much, being a complete novice. Is that an member here?

yes thats one of the members who can assist im sure

[MD0007]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Hi, thank you.

Look forward to it.

[Amethyst]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Firstly, financial contributions ( child maintenance payments ?) should not be associated with your contact of your son. If it is an issue of his mother stopping contact if you don't pay then you might want to look at some kind of mediation process to ensure contact and finances are kept entirely separate.

I understand completely how gutting it can be to read all those letters, but you have made a really good step forward in actually opening them and deciding to get things sorted Debt Camel will have some thoughts on how best to go about things, but I just wanted to pop in and say when I had the 'oh sh*t I best sort this' moment I got in touch with Stepchange - and bawled my eyes out on the phone to them ... although the solutions weren't perfect it was a massive relief to talk about it and felt like they were taking the weight off my shoulders - I then dealt with individual debts as I could.

You must sort out your council tax debt first - and any rent/mortgage arrears - other stuff, credit cards and the like can go to the bottom of the pile.

What the bailiff for ? council tax?

[MD0007]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Firstly, financial contributions ( child maintenance payments ?) should not be associated with your contact of your son. If it is an issue of his mother stopping contact if you don't pay then you might want to look at some kind of mediation process to ensure contact and finances are kept entirely separate.

I understand completely how gutting it can be to read all those letters, but you have made a really good step forward in actually opening them and deciding to get things sorted Debt Camel will have some thoughts on how best to go about things, but I just wanted to pop in and say when I had the 'oh sh*t I best sort this' moment I got in touch with Stepchange - and bawled my eyes out on the phone to them ... although the solutions weren't perfect it was a massive relief to talk about it and felt like they were taking the weight off my shoulders - I then dealt with individual debts as I could.

You must sort out your council tax debt first - and any rent/mortgage arrears - other stuff, credit cards and the like can go to the bottom of the pile.

What the bailiff for ? council tax?

Hi Amethyst,

Thank you so much for your kind words and advice. Thank you also for running this forum/site and having me here. I'm grateful eternally.

Yes, I'm in arrears with rent as well, an repayment plan has been agreed and is currently repaying at an amount that's happy for landlord and myself. Albeit leaves little spare at the end of every pay day, which makes me panic even more about repaying all this debt.

The bailiff is for the council tax, this week a enforcement notice letter was hand delivered. Letter head Equita, stating what appears to be extortionate amount on top of council tax owed. A name and mobile number was left. Letter looks official enough with Equita address, registered number and VAT number.

As much as I can tell, only council tax, one utility and credit card debt have been passed onto debt collection organisations. Others may follow as well.

Have come across http://www.counciltaxadvisors.co.uk/...FfQW0wodgPgGAQ



What do you think? Will they be helpful?

[Debt Camel]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

plus displaying a Removal of Implied Right of Access.

ah. That is I think from one of the websites that are either Freeman of The Land or proposing the so-called "three letter process". I'm afraid most of the advice you will get from those sorts of groups can be politely described as worthless.

Council Tax Advisors however are different. They actually do their best to negotiate a reasonable solution to your council tax problem. They would be good people for you to talk to if you are feeling overwhelmed.
[MENTION=6]Amethyst[/MENTION] recommends StepChange and they would also be good people to talk to about your non priority debts - the priorities being the rent arrears (which it sounds as though are under control) and council tax arrears. Most other debts will be non-priority - if you could list them we could say if there are any more that are priorities. Listing your debts, with the rough amounts, is also the first step in taking control over them.

Regarding visits to your son. [MENTION=6]Amethyst[/MENTION] is right these should not be linked to your paying child maintenance. But paying child maintenence is also an important expenditure for you every month - you shouldn't be paying money to your non priority creditors if this leaves you too short of money for the essentials such as rent, bills, food, transport and child maintenance. Stepchange will be able to talk through a complete budget for you which will let you see clearly how much money you have left over to pay your non priority debts. When you combine this with the list of of what your debts are, then it becomes possible to start thinking about what your long term options are.

[MD0007]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Hi DCamel and thank you for your post.

Currently in arrears are rent, council tax, water, car insurance, house insurance (due to non payment, policy has been cancelled by insurer).

Because I've neglected all letters sent through the door, I've just found a court summons (for council tax arrears) which I missed late last year. I'm going to contact my local council to see an agreement could be arranged to stop the bailiffs.

Thank you also for recommending StepChange, I will complete the online form once I have cataloged and totalled all the arrears. There are so many letters to sort through. This mess I've gotten into..

Thank you again.


Edit: court has issued Liability Order for none payment, this was a letter of Notice of Enforcement from Equita dated earlier this year, shortly after the above mentioned bailiff (enforcement notice) letter was hand delivered.

[PAWS]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Well, you are now heading in the right direction and I am glad that by looking in the right places you realise you are not alone and there is ‘life after debt’! Most of us on here have been there but when you hit the bottom you bounce.
As the clever Beagles above said you prioritise the debts and start hacking away at them.
There is no shame in getting into debt and it is not a sign of failure. It is also a temporary situation and will eventually get resolved. Before you know it you will be on here helping others through their crisis.
Pxx :hug:

[MD0007]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Well, you are now heading in the right direction and I am glad that by looking in the right places you realise you are not alone and there is ‘life after debt’! Most of us on here have been there but when you hit the bottom you bounce.
As the clever Beagles above said you prioritise the debts and start hacking away at them.
There is no shame in getting into debt and it is not a sign of failure. It is also a temporary situation and will eventually get resolved. Before you know it you will be on here helping others through their crisis.
Pxx :hug:

Hi and thank you for warm encouraging words, I'm sure this will pass, just as soon as I pull my socks up.

This forum is full of kind people offering their time, I'm thankful beyond words. Hopefully my experience could be useful to others.

[MD0007]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Just had a Removal Notice from equita, does this mean its too late to ring the council to put a stop to the enforcement officer visit?

Can they take what they want with or without my presence? =(

[PAWS]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

I don’t know but I am sure [MENTION=48934]Debt Camel[/MENTION] or one of the other clever chaps will have a look when they get a chance. Do try and get a good night’s sleep as well –I notice you were posting in the ‘wee small hours’! You need to be fighting fit!:fencing:

[Kati]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

I'll add an extra :bump: for [MENTION=30402]Milo[/MENTION] [MENTION=9189]bizzybob[/MENTION] and [MENTION=26498]ploddertom[/MENTION] too ... they're good with bailiff stuff xx

[PAWS]

Re: In deep, or thats what it feels like..

Thanks Kati – I will never get the hang of that!:der: