Debt mutual support thread number 5 .... the light at the end of the tunnel is NOT an oncoming train

[TalkinPeace]

This thread follows on from the last four threads in the series, the most recent of which is here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/a2142758-Debt-mutual-support-thread-number-4-every-journey-starts-with-the-hardest-first-step

We live in a society that makes it incredibly easy to get into debt but makes it incredibly hard to admit you have a problem and even harder to get out of debt.
The posters on threads are here to help people get to where they want to be.

I am not in debt, any more.
Here is a link to some spreadsheets that might help
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/1987219-SPREADSHEETS-for-Debt-Control-Budgeting-Mortgages-etc

and lots of people use this
YouNeedABudget

The important thing to remember is

• yesterday is as past as the Crimean War

( we will not judge how you got into debt, but we will support you on the way out )

• this is an anonymous forum

( we will not tell your employer, family or friends of the reality of your numbers )

• this thread is about supporting people through the huge mindset changes needed to come out of debt

( feel free to offload all of the feelings that drive you to want to spend, that make it hard to save and that generally make life crap at times )

Join in, bare your soul and come out the other end.
Its worth it.
You are worth it.
The long term results for you, your marriage and your children are worth it.

Drying laundry on radiators messes with the thermostats so the heating stays on for longer
on the other hand a rack of laundry right in front of the radiator is fine

we hand sweep the stairs and the wooden floors so the sebo only gets used in the living rooms and bedrooms

today's money saving TiP tip
Was in decathlon buying PE kit and they had ski under shirts for £4 - so incredibly warm and comfy ....

fluffy as well as the LEDs! we're also considering a spin drier . Not sure id go with the carpet sweeper though. Watch this space.....

Didyou I see, yes that does make sense.

We are in a new build so its more for appliances the oft cited by DH the TV (we are on our second TV in 7 years)

So i think I need to start looking at budget to build a small cushion. If I can squeeze 50/month to start with that should be ok.

Hi all - well last day tomorrow before payday. Down to e2. I did have about e10 left, then DH squeezed e2 out of me (as usual he had a justification that 2 weeks ago he had to buy . Doesn't sound much of course but when you're facing 4 days without cash it's scary ! Luckily fridge stocked ok (ish) and petrol should get me through tomorrow I hope ! I told him I had nothing more than e2 and ended up trying to slide the coin out without letting him see the other cash !! Ridiculous I know !! Even then I had to spend e5 today on cat food (stocked up last week obv cat getting more than I budgeted for) & couple of other things. So now I have e2 for tomorrow which I might spend on coffee...
Most of this behaviour is my fault though DH gets his cash ev 2 weeks & I do overspend. Will try harder this time!

Went to the gym again am loving it I forgot how much I love lifting weights unf I seem to have put weight on which I hope is muscle and ill wake up lean and mean soon enough :) can't expect much change in 4 visits !

Snowie - I think after a few visits you do feel better if not see a bit of difference. Im back for the first time tomorrow after 10 absence. Diet - what a shocker.

Im trying harder this month not to overspend on coffee/snacks at gym and eating out generally. I seem to be ok about clothes spending now

I'm down to the wire with money!
I had some money from my internet sales that i'd requested to be released because I knew I really really needed it.
Except, i'd messed up by stupidly paying a supplier on time, so 3 payments were rejected.
So my bank charges landed today. £35 unauthorized overdraft, plus 11p overdraft interest, plus £30 per item rejection charge!
It meant that I had to go 46 overdrawn in my normal account (which has an overdraft) and pay it back practically using money from the back of the sofa
I was telling the cashier about it and she said to try to get it refunded. Unfortunately it's a different bank so I couldn't. I've tried it before and they're shit at that kind of thing.
I knew it was coming but i'd completely forgotten, so it was a shock seeing it go out. :(

((( Nickelbabe )))
Go into the bank and ask to see how those bank charges comply with the Banking Code and ask for the form to make an official complaint.
Then hold your breath while they cancel them.
Banks are not allowed to charge more than the cost of making the charges
AND
if the fees themselves increase the overdraft significantly, you can threaten to go to your MP
Play hard ball
you are worth it

Nickel babe - they are outrageous charges do try and get them back but don't upset yourself !

Nickel That is shit. Hope you get it sorted.

I like the tardis - perhaps it can facilitate time-travel back to that moment I took the first credit card...

I'm not sure I want to look at my bank account. I know it will make me unhappy. I just can't seem to get a grip at the minute. The debt is all being paid with an overpayment too, but I still seem to be spending lots of money. Sigh.

Oh dear nickel brave it out and ask then. TIP is right charges cant cause more charges as it spirals - It happened to me and a women quietly admitted to me this shouldn't happen and refunded some - it had been happening for a few months (complicated not my current account)

Anyway im leaving Barclays as they are money grabbing wotsits. They've abolished all account fees for new ones but Ive been paying mine for ages - this is the monthly fee NOT O/D interest...well Im off as soon as my l ast DD clears for this month on the 9th.

Nickel - do complain - best way is to write so you don't wind yourself up with a call centre agent who has no real power to do anything. Find a senior name & write to them mark is private & personal. They'll throw it at someone to deal with it. Also when the letter is posted you can forget it !

DH got paid today and after taking out childcare, medical, petrol, groceies of e38 & nikes (me & dc - i never buy stuff like that but we both need runners and they were on sale !) of e68 we would have e76 for 2 weeks only ill get paid on mon and -might have a spare 100-150. Surely there's something wrong here that I potentially have to feed a family of 4 on e32 a week... I also bought contact lenses.

God when will we ever have money again ! Only alternative to this is me getting better paid job. But am exhausted & can't take the risk of job going.

Went to gym - still no weight loss !! What's wrong with me ! 5 times in 8 days... Sore muscles. Anyway will keep going at the month mark I should see a difference. I def feel a little bit more toned but Nike tights are v flattering .

Kinky - I'm going back in the tardis to 20 years ago : save 10% of your income !! Don't bother buying that house !! Go and live on your own for a while !! oh shit I'm back...

My this moves fast. Lost it from my TIO so will catch up later.

So I spoke to my credit cards and the one with the most money on 'lost' it's 0% in April by mistake (not up until May 15) however as I didn't ring sooner they refuse to do anything about the past few months but have put me back onto 0% (£1077 on 0% now).

I also applied for a budgeting loan. Got £1295, it's interest free and comes out weekly (very small amount) but I was able to buy heating oil, pay my phone debts and put a good chunk onto my highest interest cc, so am nearly back down into the 0% on it.
My plan is to continue paying same money off it as usual, get it into 0% fully. Then I'll focus more on another cc that has interest on it. Will do a proper budget later but I reckon I could have them paid off a lot sooner than I thought possible.

I think with the help of this group and budget apps I could actually be debt free. This is not something I thought would ever be possible.

I still need to sit down and do a proper budget, I will do later as I'm getting the lend of a laptop for a few days so will be able to see spreadsheets.

I plan on making them, printing out and putting on my fridge so I can't mess up.

If I could get rid of these cc debts then I can work on some other debt that I've refused to acknowledge.

Penguin that's really exciting to hear that you feel confident. I'm so pleased for you because it's really easy to just give in to feeling depressed

Quick question - we made big purchase and used credit card for protection. Intend to pay off in full on payday 26th. The payment is due 28th.

Should I pay minimum now then the balance on the 26th? I'm worried that even with faster payments there will be a delay ( and risk a late payment fee)

Or if I make the minimum payment will it recalculate interst or something and not recognise it's been paid in full.

TIA!

Penguin if its their mistake they ought to reinstate the 0% period & refund the interest you've accrued.

Email the ceo (their email will be freely available) and ask them to look into it before you go to the ombudsman.

Complaining is my new thing, it doesn't always work but when it does its profitable.

didyouevah
phone them now to check what their bank details for FPS are and then you can send it in confidence that it will take no more than 24 hours

If you send on the 26th it should be fine - I always pay off in full with 24 hours to go

demented
So pleased that you are seeing the path ahead

Bank details for fps aren't different from normal standing order details are they?

didyouevah
its worth checking - I had a massive rant a few months back when I maxed my card (buying plane tickets) and discovered I had the "old" details that were "non FPS" tightwad bastards, I complained and got £100 compensation

Ooh interesting....ill give them a call, thank you.

Heart racing.....just had a bill from the property management company that overseas the estate we live on.

They send out invoices in advance so it states 'service charge in advance' then later add 'balancing service charges in'

The invoices are not always straigth forward - i.e. it does not state dates for the service charge in advance.

Anyway apparently we owe £58.80 ok so thats about what we pay....but because we are later apparently they are slapping a £40 + VAT administation charge on.

Given that the banks go rapped for chargeing for excessively for letters and such like can I argue out of this, do I have any back up?

Sorry I've not caught up with thread - just desperate about this. Just through I was getting some where and very pleased with saving I'd made this month.

andsmile
Had you ignored a statement or was this the first notice of the overdue .... If the latter you have the right to complain ...

Hi TIP Ive just been a dug all the sorry mess out I have found out a bit more:

Paid 30/09 31.00
Paid 03/06 45.00

So when I got a and I quote 'tenant statement' I looked and though oh that bank payment Ive just done hasnt shown up as they've sent that out...thinking I have paid it.

Well what I did pay was an additional invoice (had covering letter too) for a different charge relating to emissions monitoring in the ground. In my head I paid it I rememebr DH asking.

So then a reminder came on 21/10 now final reminder 06/11 - sums due on 01/10. The total amount due is £58.80 plus admin + VAT £48.80

I've done some digging - under Leasehold Reform Act 2002 - charges must be reasonable - I dont think an 82% is reasonable and the letter must be 'accompanied by a summary of the leasholders rights and obligations with respect to adminstration charges'

The reminder letter has the latter but the not final demand. I also take issue with both 'reminders' are in large blocked heavy print entitle 'tenant statement' - well they are clearly not. It does nto show debits and credits - so my payment is not showing that I did make and it they surely should be entitle 'invoices' - i.e. demands for payment.

These service charges vary - they are not set, so I am reluctant to set a D/D up.

I thought if I ring them on Monday and ask for their help in understanding why my account has go to this....re confusion over payment and labelling and if they dont wavier those admin charges then mentions about the lack of info on second letter and charges I dont feel are reasonable.

Also they collect these charge in advance of services (as per contract) this means they always have favourable cashflow - monies are held in a trust until required to pay contractors.

I got quite upset that I may have caused us £48 charge when thats almost the amount I have saved us this first month in a reduction of energy & insurance costs.

DH said to just pay immediately, scared of adverse credit file things. The final reminder threaten solicitors actions. & all at the same time.

On abirghter not we are haveing a NS-weekend.

andsmile
Do not phone them
email
as then you have absolute proof of what you said and when
link to the legislation in your email
list out the dates and payments
point out that the admin charge is not in compliance with the law and that you will 'take it up with the relevant authorities' if they try to enforce that fee

agree no direct debits for sharks like that - possibly a standing order so that you are in control

ignore the solicitors guff : I got one of those from HMRC yesterday but they admitted they had misallocated my payment and I owed them nothing.