Debt collectors

[lyssie29]

What happens if I ignore debt collector? I get phone calls off them that I ignore but can they actually do anything? It's for a credit card totalling £1300 and I'm struggling financially at the moment. Can they take me to court? Do they only have so long to contact me? I'm not working and I'm a single mother after my fiance died.

In answer to a couple of people above, i think @Raphael34 and I are genuinely trying to be helpful as I (and perhaps she) have seen what can happen and how quickly things can escalate and are genuinely trying to help the OP realise that she has to take action and not ignore this problem.

I wasn’t aware that credit card debt couldnt be enforced via the high court so that’s interesting and I’ve learned something today.

But the problem with debt is that it generally starts with one thing. In this case the card and (say) it’s because the OP has lost her job or something and can’t pay until she gets another one. Then it becomes something else, say the tv and fridge repayments to a high street chain. The OP still hasn’t got a job. Debts are piling up. In my experience they can bet quickly overwhelm you.

If the OP takes no action on the first one and mistakenly thinks nothing happened but a few calls and letters so I’ll just stop paying the tv etc too.... and then it does end up in the courts. And that can be enforced by bailiffs. All for the want if a £2 a week payment plan.

Perhaps it is scaremongering, or perhaps it’s because I (we) didn’t know that the rules differed. We know now. But because debt is scary and cannot ever be ignored if that scare has worked and the OP has phoned for an appointment then that’s great.

All the best OP. You will feel like a weights been lifted once you get it all sorted

@Cocobean30 my problem is people giving the wrong info to the op or getting nonsense ‘facts’ from google. If the op cant pay the debt then I’d advise them to go to a solicitor as most of what people are saying on here is
Wrong

A solicitor costs money. A lot of money. The OP needs a free service that can help arrange a realistic debt management plan.

The best thing to do would be go to citizens advice. You can set up a trust deed (in Scotland, I'm sure there's an equivalent for the rest of the UK) and the company will deal with the creditors on your behalf, with you only paying what you can afford. This of course depends on the level of debt and other personal circumstances.

Please contact either citizens advice or a financial helpline, they really can help you and there is no obligation, you can simply take their advice and then go away and think about what you want to do.

my problem is people giving the wrong info to the op or getting nonsense ‘facts’ from google.

That would be you then 😂

My advice OP fwiw is to get in touch with debt collection agency and explain your financial situation. Ask if you can set up a repayment schedule that would suit you both and stick to it. Do not ignore any letters and/or phone calls as this will end up costing you more. It's a shit situation to be in I know from bitter experience but you need to face up to it because it will not go away.

Actually bailiffs can not break in, stop talking from you back door, Stop trying to scare this person, educate your self, it says the can't on the cab. Now jog on.

Bailiffs can not break in or force entry or even climb through a window, Stop with your BS

Actually bailiffs can not break in, stop talking from you back door, Stop trying to scare this person, educate your self, it says the can't on the cab. Now jog on.

Thank you

@Raphael34 take note

OP Step Change is one organisation I have heard great things about, to reiterate PPs...Christians Against Poverty I can also vouch are incredible. They come to your house at a time convenient to you and help free you from debt - in a matter of five years for me when debts were drowning me. They helped me so much and I will never ever forget it.

Another who recommends stepchange. I deal with them a lot in my line of work. They are very professional.

@lyssie29

Don't ignore them talk to them and arrange to pay as much as you can afford. If you don't you will get bailiffs at your door .. if that happens don't answer the door because they cannot enter unless you answer the door ... that is the law.

Stop chatting crap

I recently had a baliff call at my house. I never had one of this visits before, i was out when they called so come home to a card through the door. I panicked i was goinf through every senario in my head. I thought about doing nothing and would hope they would forget about me, then i thougjt about ringing the number on the card and saying that no one of that name lived here. In the end i rang a company that gives advise on debt. The told me to ring the company that sent the baliff, they told me not to get on the phone shouting..so i rang. Im so glad i did..they put acccount on hold for 30 days and they will call me back to arrange setting up a payment plan. They really couldnt have been nicer and im so glad i did ring rather than sit and bury my head in sand and worry...give them a call..might help to do a list of outgoings for every month so you can work of it when you ring..good luck

Thank you everyone I've gone onto stepchange and going to arrange repayment plan. I only have one other debt to pay off too so sorting that out too. To be honest although bailiffs wouldn't come for credit card debt I have nothing for them to take anyway.

Well done OP. You could offer £5 a month or similar.

Well done 👍 you’ve done the hardest thing now, it will get better. 💐

Great OP well done. Don’t go too high on the repayments by the way. We all want to get things paid off ASAP but sometimes things happen in our lives and we need a little extra money. So if you can afford a tenner try and get them to accept eight or whatever. Don’t aim too high. That way you will have a few quid kicking about in case you need bus fares unexpectedly to visit a relative in hospital or pay for a school thing for dc or whatever.

Well done for acknowledging the other debt too it’s easy to ignore. You’re doing so well. Good luck OP.

Well done OP

Yes don't go to high on the repayments they will wait for their money for years. I am talking from experience here. I once owed £10,000 after a business failed by no fault of my own. I paid back £50 a month until they offered me a settlement of £5,000 I refused because they are a greedy bank who have had already taken a lot of my money. I have upped it to £150 a month and now they have offered me a £3,000 settlement which I have refused because I they know they have treated me unfairly. I will continue to slowly pay back the money until they write it off.

Contact stepchange. They've been incredibly helpful for me. I was left in £25k debt because of my exh and I now make one affordable monthly payment and they deal with all creditors for me. One creditor I had to sign a letter authorising them to act for me but that was it. They've been amazing and my debt is now under 18k.
Stepchange will help. I'm sorry for your loss, I hope things start to get a bit easier for you x

Just seen your update- well done.. hopefully it'll start being a bit easier now xx