Time to face the music...

[Bing]

Good morning all !
I've been thumbing through this site for a few hours now-it's been absolutely wonderful ! I'm so glad to have found it and I'm REALLY happy to have the opportunity to speak to others in the same situation.

Here's the story....
I left my long term partner 4 years ago ( no-one else involved, just needed to escape after my Mum died-kinda put my life into perspective )
I dote on my two kids and have them every weekend and mid-week too, also the relationship with the ex is now cool.
On the downside is the debt...I signed the house over to the ex and promptly proceeded to run up a credit card to the tune of £7k.....then took out an unsecured loan of £10k to pay off the card and reduce the monthly payments...then stupidly started to run up the card to £7k again...
For 2 years now I've been in the familiar situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul...I've moved into a council flat which I've already nearly lost twice 'cos of late payment of rent...I've deliberately failed to tell the credit card company that I've moved and basically ignored the debt...I've managed to carry on paying the £10k loan @ £150 per month but to be honest I don't know if that's been true this year 'cos I haven't dared to look at my bank account-I just pay the important bills on payday and buy the months shopping, don't go out or go on holidays and generally live like a hermit..until the money runs out around the middle of the month.
My net income is £933 per month, rent is £260, maintainence used to be £200 but I've had to reduce this to £100 ( to my shame)and with the car to run, it still gets eaten away quickly.
I know I need to sort this out ( I've done a quick IVA test-looks like bankruptcy is the only option ).
The bit I need help with is actually getting the guts to speak to my bank ( Smile-who I think are great, but I still regularly hit the £600 overdraft limit) and then what do I say ? "I'm in a mess and I've also deliberately ignored a credit card bill for a year" ?

I'm scared that they will instantly demand the overdraft money and close the account...heck, I'm just scared generally !

Any help/tips/advice or kick up the backside would be much appreciated !
Thank you for reading and apologies for the ramble !

[aguise]

Hi bing and welcome.
Only my opinion but Bankrupcy does look like the best option for you as you dont have enough disposable for an iva. If you went bankrupt the overdraft would be included. I would speak to an insolvency practioner and get their advice on the best way to proceed. Melanie should be on at some point and i am sure will advise.
The main thing is you have realised you need to do something about it and have faced it, no kicks up the bum just a commendation. I used to throw bills to the back of the draw and not open them.
Wait and get some advice, you will be ok.
Your account will be closed if you go bankrupt its not like the old days when you could not get an account there are accounts for those who are bankrupt so dont worry about that either.
Still, wait for more advice.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[OPTIMIST12]

Yes - speak to an IP or someone such as CCCS BEFORE speaking to your bank. They will run through your options and you can weigh up how you want to proceed.

Dont put off until tomorrow what you can do today!! The sooner you start the ball rolling the sooner you can start looking forward to a solution.

[aguise]

Just brought this post to the top so hopefully bing will get some advice soon.

Ang

Please visit my blog at http://aguise.blogs.iva.co.uk/

[mikebdomain]

Hi Bing and welcome to the forum. I would definitely speak to some of the IPs on this forum, they should be able to advise better on your situation.

Jus a footnote I have been with smile for years and regularly hit my overdraft – they have never bothered me about it…


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[UPINSMOKE]

Hi Bing,
I am going through the same problem. I am now on my own with a 14 year old daughter, a £20,000 loan and £2000 overdraft. My income is £920 a month. So am going for bankruptcy as well. I have not spoken to either my bank or creditors. I am just filling in the bankruptcy forms on line at the momment as I have already have a date for the petition.

I am just going to take the forms to the court and once bankrupt the bank will find out soon enough from the Official Receiver.

He is the link for the forms online https://www.insolvencydirect.gov.uk/isolv you will need to register to fill them out online.

Hope this is of some help, I am sure there will be many more here that will give good advice. And I do understand what you are going through.

Mick