Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if you have ever had a CCJ or default?

37 replies

munkeychops · 01/02/2012 15:22

We have been paying off my partners debt for four years now. I didn't know about it when we got together - £30,000 in credit cards and loans. I was obviously really shocked and angry at first but I love him, and I know he has learnt from his behavour and only didn't tell me because he was scared.

Anyway, we have tried really hard to pay it off and haven't been able to move house as a result of this situation. We have a daughter and my end goal has always been to be able to get things straight so we can get somewhere with a garden for her to play in.

We were in dispute over one of the debts, as there was no credit agreement - we were still writing to them etc to say they needed to supply that by law, but they have now added a default onto my partners credit file. I am so upset, I have tried so hard to be supportive of him but now I feel like we are never going to be able to get a mortgage.

I have never bought anything on a credit card in my life or been in debt and have always worked, yet I have spent the last four years of my life scrimping to try and resolve this to find just as we are getting on top of things that a default has been added that will affect our ability to get a mortgage for the next six years.

I could do with cheering up.

Has anyone managed to get a default removed in similar circumstances?
Has anyone else been in a lot of debt? I feel lke I am the only one sometimes and it really gets me down.

OP posts:
Kayano · 01/02/2012 15:24

Sorry but not been there Sad

My approach to all credit (except a mortgage) is 'NO - away with you' never even had a store card.

Kayano · 01/02/2012 15:25

I can try telling jokes to cheer you up though thinks

2 ticks...

dementedma · 01/02/2012 15:28

OP I have a lot of experience of being in debt Sad. Not aquired by living the high life either, but by trying to survive through unemployment, redundancies etc etc. We agreed a 6 year repayment paln with PayPlan and they have been wonderful. We are in the last year now and maybe, just maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel....
but it is soul-destroying paying it all off bit by bit.
You are definitley not alone!

BalloonTwister · 01/02/2012 15:30

I defaulted many years ago after an abusive ex ran up debts in my name, on a secondary credit card I didn't even know he'd (fraudulantly) applied for! The credit card company(Morgan Stanley) refused to even investigate. I should have gone to the police but tbh was too scared of him so just walked away. I ended up with CCJ's and God knows what else.

8 years on I am only just beginning to clear the black marks against my name, and up until 6 months ago my parents were still getting the odd letter from various debt collectors threatening to turn up to collect goods. (They never actually did though)

The last 8 years have been hard, so don't go down the default route if you can help it, but do book an appointment with your local Citizens Advice Bureau. They have some good advisors, and will almost certainly be able to give you some help with your situation.

NatashaBee · 01/02/2012 15:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 01/02/2012 15:31

Have you spoken to any professional bodies about this? The Money Advice Trust is very good, it's free and they can help you budget and handle your money more efficiently.
They'll also advice on CCJs and defaults, I'm not sure if there is anything you can do to lift these but you should certainly get advice.

Original poster
munkeychops · 01/02/2012 15:32

Thank you dementedma. I wish we had done that. It's all on 0% cards now though atleast, as for a long while we were just treading water with interest and charges etc.

It's really getting me down. I;m so tired of it :-(

OP posts:
Original poster
munkeychops · 01/02/2012 15:34

Thank you everyone. We haven't gone to citizens advice, but might give them a call. I can't today though as I would just start crying dwn the phone!!

OP posts:
Chundle · 01/02/2012 15:40

Firstly get access to ur credit file online with creditexpert you can do it for free for first month. You can place a mark against this default advising other companies that you are disputing it, creditexpert will then send off the dispute for you

VirgoGrr · 01/02/2012 15:40

The CABs are woefully over stretched now due to funding cuts. Give them a try but I would recommend the CCCS. www.cccs.co.uk/ They know their stuff and all advice is free.
Please don't touch fee charging debt management companies with a barge pole. You will end up paying them more than your creditors.

nogoodswimmer · 01/02/2012 15:44

Never, I would risk my job if I did (credit checks at each longer-term contract I get (typically a few months here and there), and also it's written into most permie roles that maintaining a good financial standing is part of your terms and conditions I think - it's been a long time since I was a permanent employee anywhere though).

Please listen to the others on here who have pointed you in the right directions though - the Money Saving Expert website is a good place to start especially. There are thousands of people in your position right now, and it really is a goldmine of information. I use the website myself, but not for the debt areas - but I have read them, and can see what wonderful (practical, impartial) advice is within their archives.

Kayano - credit isn't a bad thing in itself. I often take advantage of 0% interest deals, and my credit card is a cashback scheme. We also have a pretty good mortage, because of my history with the bank and excellent credit record. Bad money management is a bad thing... credit is only as good or as bad as the person who's using it. Please don't confuse the two.

Feminine · 01/02/2012 15:47

noggood are you saying that companies check credit scores for employment? or is that just for the line of work you are in?

I know they do that here (US) just didn't think the UK did. :)

nogoodswimmer · 01/02/2012 15:53

Feminine, not credit scores exactly - but credit history I suppose is more accurate. E.g. no evidence of poor money management or financial associations with parties who have (I think for bribery purposes? you know, if DH had a gambling problem, and here I am working for a bank, that sort of thing).

So CCJs, IVAs, evidence of living in an overdraft, a high debt to credit ratio, late payment markers, that sort of thing. They might even look for payday loans for all I know these days - I suppose they would be a tip off that I was handling my own financial affairs poorly.

I'm pretty sure they don't care about the minute details of my current accounts other than the big red flags that screams "this person is a likely embezzler" Grin

nogoodswimmer · 01/02/2012 15:55

Oh, and I've only ever worked in finance, where it's common - other than working in a bar as a student for a while - I've always assumed it's not routine at most employers in the UK..?

flatbread · 01/02/2012 16:03

I don't know much about this, but if these debts were in your partners name before you got married, can you not get a mortgage in your own name and use your income to build your assets, not pay down his debt?

If your dh has no assets, can he not declare bankruptcy? The whole point of paying an high interest on loans is that there is a risk involved for the lender. I don't think there is an issue of moral obligation here.

Feminine · 01/02/2012 16:03

nogood interesting, thanks :)

We don't have a history in the UK anymore, but as we will be back, looking for work it made me wonder...

As you are working in finance, I can totally see why employers would want to check Wink

I'm thinking though, with the economy as it is, many folk must have a few marks on their history that might not be that beneficial.

catgirl1976 · 01/02/2012 16:07

I don't think that is common practice outside of financial services or working in a position where blackmail / bribery would be an issue nogood

RunnyGrobbles · 01/02/2012 16:12

nice stealth boasting nogoodswimmer, we are all very proud of you for living debt free.

salmonskinroll · 01/02/2012 16:19

Hi munkey.sorry you're going through this. I'm in the same boat, trying to remove a default off dps credit so we can get a mortgage one day.

We're using this approach linky but doing it through a solicitor.

It takes a while but they should give in eventually as they probably didn't give him a default notice, which they have to.

Good luck

salmonskinroll · 01/02/2012 16:21

Or alternatively could you get the mortgage in your name alone with a guarantor (a parent etc) ?

GoingForGoalWeight · 01/02/2012 16:35

Yes, thanks to a balls up on behalf of Severn Trent Water. They billed myaddress with

I've had the CCJ since removed by the court but after months of letter writing etc.

nogoodswimmer · 01/02/2012 16:55

RunnyGrobbles, thank you. I am too. I do think that the ease with which high levels of credit (debt) has become socially acceptable is one of the worst things about our current financial system. Why is it considered boastful to point out that debt isn't a problem per se, it's how you use it that can be.

Best of luck to the OP, anyway.

catgirl1976 · 01/02/2012 16:57

No nogood - I work in HR and it is only really FS where it matters.

NinkyNonker · 01/02/2012 17:16

That's as may be NoGood, but your opining on the situation is not much help to the OP is it? And yes, this sort of checking is only common in FS, as not really relevant elsewhere.

dementedma · 01/02/2012 22:11

munky you might find CAB are overstretched. i cried down the phone a couple of times to PayPlan and they were lovely. Very non-judgemental and practical. Even things like sending all threatening letters to them to deal with was great. the woman told me not to read them at all - just slit the top of the envelope so it is open as they can't legally open your unopened and then send it to them.
There is NO easy option but there is an option. PM me if you want to chat. I know exactly how wearying and hopeless it all seems.
if it helps, 6 years on we now owe less than 3K and hope to be clear by the end of this year.

Swipe left for the next trending thread