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This is about debt write-off and mental health.
I'm going to describe my situation (leaving out only details that could identify me).
In 2018 I was made redundant from a well-paid job. I was already diagnosed and being treated for clinical depression (major depressive disorder).
I had some credit card debt and no assets other than my pension fund. Being too ill to work, I lived off my severance payment. At the beginning of 2020 I went to an EU country to care for my mum, who had been diagnosed with dementia. The pandemic arrived and I cared for her throughout and continue to do so. We live in her home. Her condition is now very severe. I am a 24/7 carer.
My illness makes it very hard for me to keep on top of admin, but I do my best. After the pandemic 'debt holiday' ended, I notified the two credit card companies of my illness and my personal and financial situation and my inability to work due to my illness and the need to care for my mum.
They wrote back saying that the debt would be frozen and no interest added until I was well and able to work again.
Since then the situation has not changed. I still have (recent) diagnoses of clinical depression, I'm still very ill and have great difficulty in coping beyond what needs to be done for my mum.
I've recently had emails from a UK DCA demanding that I call them. Just seeing them in the inbox makes me cry. I can't bring myself to open them and I have no other debts.
I have used all of my not-very-big pension savings to keep my mum and myself going since coming to care for her. This accelerated rapidly after our house was severely damaged in a fire that started in and destroyed our neighbour's house. We are insured, but the process is already 19 months long and we have yet to be pad by the insurer. I have nothing. No assets, no savings. My mum has her UK state pension and a house currently worthless.
I cannot repay or service any debt and I don't think they should be pursing it. I am deeply panicked by the thought of speaking to the DCA, knowing them to be generally awful and knowing that it will send me spiralling.
I don't know what to do and I need sensible advice, please.
I'm going to describe my situation (leaving out only details that could identify me).
In 2018 I was made redundant from a well-paid job. I was already diagnosed and being treated for clinical depression (major depressive disorder).
I had some credit card debt and no assets other than my pension fund. Being too ill to work, I lived off my severance payment. At the beginning of 2020 I went to an EU country to care for my mum, who had been diagnosed with dementia. The pandemic arrived and I cared for her throughout and continue to do so. We live in her home. Her condition is now very severe. I am a 24/7 carer.
My illness makes it very hard for me to keep on top of admin, but I do my best. After the pandemic 'debt holiday' ended, I notified the two credit card companies of my illness and my personal and financial situation and my inability to work due to my illness and the need to care for my mum.
They wrote back saying that the debt would be frozen and no interest added until I was well and able to work again.
Since then the situation has not changed. I still have (recent) diagnoses of clinical depression, I'm still very ill and have great difficulty in coping beyond what needs to be done for my mum.
I've recently had emails from a UK DCA demanding that I call them. Just seeing them in the inbox makes me cry. I can't bring myself to open them and I have no other debts.
I have used all of my not-very-big pension savings to keep my mum and myself going since coming to care for her. This accelerated rapidly after our house was severely damaged in a fire that started in and destroyed our neighbour's house. We are insured, but the process is already 19 months long and we have yet to be pad by the insurer. I have nothing. No assets, no savings. My mum has her UK state pension and a house currently worthless.
I cannot repay or service any debt and I don't think they should be pursing it. I am deeply panicked by the thought of speaking to the DCA, knowing them to be generally awful and knowing that it will send me spiralling.
I don't know what to do and I need sensible advice, please.
