What can I do? In debt and bailiffs imminent

[sunmon]

I'm in a lot of debt. About £10k.

I have barely any spare money at the end of the month.

Single parents to DS4.

Willing to do anything, really want to avoid bankruptcy.

Have you been in contact with citizens advice or step change. Step change in particular are a debt charity and will be able to give you some advice. They may be able to advise you on an IVA rather than bankruptcy. Citizens advice and I think even step change will be able to help you ensure you are claiming everything you are entitled to and advise you how best to organise the debts and payments.

Have you made a list of everything and contacted each company to come up with a plan. Also companies like step change can help.

Hi, sorry to hear you're going through this, debt and bailiffs can be really traumatic, I've been through similar recently so made an account to share this site.

It's been very very helpful for me, although it can be a lot to process. Good letter templates and a support group for people who have been through similar.

Definitely contact Stepchange to get a proper plan in place. They will help you. You need a clear way forward, not just to keep firefighting.

Contact StepChange they are brilliant

https://www.communitymoneyadvice.com/freedom-from-debt/find-a-centre

CMA have local branches which offer free, face to face, confidential advice. Unlike Step Change (who I believe centralise everything) the advisor you speak to will contact the people you owe money to themselves. Look at Breathing Space to start with

https://www.gov.uk/options-for-paying-off-your-debts/breathing-space

Advice on the Breathing Space scheme. You need a debt advisor though

Echoing what others are saying - contact Stepchange. I have a lot of debt after separating from my ex and was terrible at sticking my head in the sand and hoping it'd all go away or I'd magically win the lottery.

I'm now in a debt arrangement scheme which is similar to an IVA. Not ideal but the company helped me work out a plan and my debt will be cleared in a couple of years.

Face it head on and get help. It's embarrassing and uncomfortable having to admit how much you're struggling but knowing you're addressing it and making moves to clear it will help in the longer term.

Good luck

Contact step change now https://www.stepchange.org/contact-us.aspx and ask them to contact your creditors for a 'breathing space' (this is a legally required period when they aren't allowed to pursue you for the debts whilst you seek debt advice from a registered service). It would stop action long enough for step change to help you and agree the next steps. I know it's scary but they will help you - call them or go online today. You will feel so much better once you've spoken to them about it all.

Contact Step Change right now before they close today. There are all sorts of options but you need to deal with it before bailifs come.

Fill in the online form (someone has already linked I think) for breathing space today. You need your debt account numbers for the insolvency service to contact.

I helped a friend with this who was running out of options, creditors unhelpful and unwilling to slow down court and recovery action. It was very stressful.

Definitely something like stepchange.

I know people who have been on the verge of suicide and once they contacted a charity like step change and consolidated their debts their lives changes dramatically.

My sister had lots of debt and they basically paid it all and she just had to pay them one small affordable payment each month and has recently paid all of her debt.

She regularly says that it was the best decision she’s ever made and that she wished she’d done it sooner.

Stepchange ASAP.

Food bank?

Yes to Stepchange and Citizen's advice.

The hardest is facing up to it all, but it can be done and you can get on top of it.

Anyway you can increase your income ?

I'd contact the company first where bailiffs are coming from? Are they high court? You must do this first so they don't arrive costing you more

You need to get rid of any luxury items you have, or more than one tv and so on. Take them to friends or family. They can't take what you don't have.

You must also contact step change see what your options are. Act now don't wait!

Something similar to an IVA or repayment plan is really not as bad as you would think.

It'll take the pressure off your shoulders. Yes it will affect your credit but your credit will already be in a bad way as bailiffs are being sent out.

Tackle it head on and save any wasted time. Agree with PP about stepchange, breathing space will also help but will not be a long term solution.

Hope you're okay x

Do you own your house? If not, look into a debt relief order.

You will get through this, I was you 15 years ago. I went into a debt management plan as opposed to an IVA and paid my debts back at an affordable amount each month with interest frozen on many.

Meant I couldn't have an overdraft, or any credit (inc a phone contract) but was worth it not to have that terror everytime my phone rang.

Stepchange can help. You will be ok

Another vote for Stepchange, the dmp helped me get on top of my debts and pay a load off so now the ones left are all manageable and I'm no longer on it.

Also try Christians Against Poverty (CAP) they're really good and their money courses are really helpful.

@sunmon . Hope you are ok and have managed to contact someone and get some help with the debts.

I have a friend who used the CMA and they contacted everyone on their behalf if it is too much for you. I believe it was citizens advice that put her in contact with them. It was late 2000s before all the cuts came in so hope they still exist today.

Good luck.

And another vote for stepchange. I was a single mum & owed 10K too. All paid off years ago!
Btw I've never had, nor wanted, any form of credit since. I'll never let that happen again.

I agree with everyone else, but I’ll add if bailiffs do come don’t open your door or engage with them, they have a lot less power than they’ll try and make you believe.