can you advise me on getting out of credit card debt? I was financially abused

[roundtheroundtable]

soon to be exh was emotionally, physically and financially abusive. While I carried and looked after our three DC under 4 and was out of work for 5 years, he gave me no money and went AWOL several times leaving me with nothing. I took out a credit card to pay for food, nappies, travel, some rent and other living essentials. He was never permanently there or permanently gone and I stupidly never got rid of him during that time (had pnd due to the shittness of the situation) and didn't go on benefits or get housing allowance.

We are now divorcing and I am £10K in debt. I got a job but because my EX is now out of work and had an accident, my income is being monitore. I pay the minimum every month and I don't know how I will get out of it. Can you suggest some sites I can go to or people I can call? I don't want to tell anyone in RL about this for fear of being judged.

Can you switch to a 0% interest card and do a balance transfer? At least then if you're paying only the minimum this will come off the balance if you can switch?

Similar circumstances here... I rang them and they went through a in/outgoings list with me, asked me loads of questions then offered me a payment plan. It will affect my credit rating but it was already wrecked due to fraud by my exh. It has taken the stress right out of it and I feel like finally I can little by little get my head above water.

thanks so much for replying so quickly

I will try both solutions

@itbemay1 who does 0% interest cards? Who do I call to get it transferred? It's a barclaycard. Sorry I am so ignorant about all this

@potentialmadcatlady So glad I am not the only one. I will call them

Go to Citizens Advice or call the National Debtline or Stepchange.

Definitely talk to a proper debt advice charity and don't just rely on advice from mumsnet. Lots of amateurs who think they're experts on here!

Oh and they won't judge you. FWIW I think you've done brilliantly to end the relationship and stay afloat

Sorry to hear that. For info about 0% credit cards have a look here: www.moneysavingexpert.com/borrowing/

Thx @hetty I have just switched to a Halifax card, try them. Good luck op

Firstly get advice, so many companies are understanding and will assist you to set up plans so you can pay for it each month, but speaking to experts will help.

As another mentioned try a 0% interest card. You would need to look for a credit card that gives you 0% balance transfer, as you will be transferring the balance from your Barclay card to another. If you don’t get the limit on another card to transfer the full balance, transfer the amount over that you can get and then pay that off.

You’re doing amazing, and it will get better x

Citizens advice will help

Get proper debt advice before taking out more credit cards.

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/

www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan/

Barclaycard are who I’m with. I also spoke to step change. Basically I was told that as I only had one debt ( I have managed to pay the others that ex left me with all off) it was better for me to do a plan direct with Barclaycard themselves. My current plan with be reviewed after a year. If I do manage to gather up any more money I can pay it off without affecting the plan. It is noted on my credit rating but in my case that didn’t make any difference and besides the relief at finally taking action to sort it was worth it- I can sleep easier at night... hope you get something sorted too

I was in a similar situation and tried for years to cope without wanting to acknowledge I was just getting myself into a bigger mess. Loans to pay cards, more cards to pay loans etc...

Best thing I ever did was get in touch with Step Change. I thought I was going to be judged and patronised and people would think I was the worst mum in the world for letting it happen but I couldn't have been more wrong. They helped me apply for 'breathing space' where by you request all payments are frozen for a set period (short periods of 30days or so) and while this was happening they helped me do a full income and outgoings list and work out what I could realistically afford and still live. I wrote letters to everyone I owed debt to explaining my situation and that I simply couldn't keep up with payments and would they consider working with me to set up a payment plan. No company HAS to agree to this but most do and luckily the lenders I was attached to were happy to help. All accounts were closed and I've got affordable repayments going out every month and it is reviewed regularly. It's really been quite freeing and although my credit rating is rubbish I know there is an end point when it will all be paid off

^ just to add it was Natwest and Barclaycard who were really good with helping me arrange a repayment plan with them directly. No need for further involvement from a debt management agency but they were so good at helping me get started

Try National Debtline, Stepchange or Christians Against Poverty.