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Original poster

advise please. cant pay mimimum on credit cards

10 replies

fruitandbarley · 28/08/2014 14:15

Hi, I've been on maternity leave and now back at work, due to husbands work faltering and me dropping a day a week or seems I now can't afford the minimum payments on my credit card. There is a chance we can pay off in full a few months into the future by finishing off and selling a car were doing up, but it's proving hard with a baby. I haven't paid them anything for 4 months until today, and paid them 50, which was the maximum I could afford. They have been ringing me at work.
Please can someone tell me what's best to do in this situation.

OP posts:
BuzzardBird · 28/08/2014 14:16

Could you not switch credit cards to one with an interest free for a fixed time deal?

PickleMobile · 28/08/2014 14:16

I would ring them and speak to them. Tell them you can't afford to pay and they might pause or reduce the amount you have to pay each month. Please don't just leave it.

Smartiepants79 · 28/08/2014 14:20

Have you tried speaking to them? What is the minimum they are asking for?That's sounds like one hell of a credit card bill.
What about citizens advice?
You are going to have to do something, they will not just go away and the bill will just be getting bigger and bigger.

Can you move some of the debt to a lower rate card?

MrsMinton · 28/08/2014 14:22

If you ring them and say you can't afford it they should do an assessment of your money and put a plan in place for a reduced fixed amount for a fixed time period. They will then stop ringing too.

Original poster
fruitandbarley · 28/08/2014 14:44

No, haven't spoken to them yet, but will do now and tell them what I can afford. I doubt I would get a lower rate card as not paying them will have affected my credit rating I imagine.
What's " one he'll of a credit card bill mean"? There's just over 4k on it, that was for urgent stuff, I don't waste things or money, and not sure how that comments supposed to help me. Thank you everyone,I will speak to them, was just making sure that was the right thing to do.

OP posts:
MrsMinton · 28/08/2014 14:52

Fruitandbarley when you ring have to hand your essential out goings and your income figures as they will probably ask for then to help asses your situation. It's not easy ringing but it'll be better and they will stop contacting all the time.

TalkinPeace · 28/08/2014 15:15

TALK TO THEM
Pay something every single month, even if its £10
You will never, ever get a better deal while you are wrecking your rating by not paying.
Are you sure you cannot afford the minimum : really?

Go vegetarian and teetotal for a couple of weeks
look at every penny you spend and decide whether it is really worth wrecking your long term credit rating for

but TALK TO THEM

gamerchick · 28/08/2014 15:24

Yes you need to ring them. The vast majority of debtors don't want to be knobs or make your life hard they just want your money. Always ring them first if you're struggling.

gamerchick · 28/08/2014 15:24

*their

WipsGlitter · 28/08/2014 15:29

How many cards is it and what is the minimum on each of them? Agree you need to speak to them, they will be more understanding that you think.

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