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Original poster

Advice on credit debt & irresponsible lending

40 replies

rose9826 · 03/02/2026 21:40

Hi all, new to the group, I've been referred to this group for help with my credit card and credit debt.
I have 3 credit cards:

Capital One - 34.08% Apr. Limit £100, I owe £851.27.

Zable - 48.90% Apr. Limit £800, I owe £711.30.

Vanquis - 30.90% Apr. Limit £1200, I have not used it yet. It's new.

Ocean - not sure on APR. Limit £300, I have not used it yet.

Credit Spring - I owe them £500.

Steady Pay - I owe them £100.

Zilch - I owe them £153.46.

Klarna - I owe them £309.89.

I am the most concerned about the Zable card as the interest rate is so high.

I have been advised to sent an email to both Zable and Credit Spring complaining of irresponsible lending, but I don't know how to go about this and if it is the right step.
I was also told to use the new Vanquis card to do a balance transfer of £500 to Zable, however that option isn't available.

Basically I'm just asking for advice on what to do and how to tackle this.

Klarna and Zilch I am not too bothered about, it's the credit cards and credit spring that I'm worried about.

I don't work, didn't work when I applied for any of the cards, my income is benefits and DLA for one of my children.

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have only just realised just how much of a hole I have dug myself into.

Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:10

Bjorkdidit · 04/02/2026 05:14

Agree with seeking help from a debt charity who can go through your whole circumstances.

But if you have been honest about your income and outgoings, I'm not sure that there's been irresponsible lending. You 'only' owe around £2500 and this could look quite affordable on paper if your income covers your essential outgoings comfortably and leaves disposable income.

You say that 'you have been told to use the new Vanquis card to do a balance transfer of £500 to Zable, however that option isn't available'. Are you looking for this in Vanquis or Zable? Because you've described this the wrong way around, you want to ask Vanquis to transfer a balance to them from Zable.

You should be able to transfer perhaps £12/1300 to the two new empty cards (you can't fill them up to the limit) and then pay the minimum payment while dealing with the rest. What are the payment terms for the other 4 lenders? When do they expect their money back and are they adding interest/charges?

Have you done a budget and can you afford to repay this money over a reasonable amount of time? What was the money spent on? Non essentials or filling the gap between income and outgoings? Because depending on which, this determines what the best solution is.

Mumsnet isn't always the best place to seek debt advice, you'd be better off looking at Moneysaving Expert and following the advice or posting details of your income and outgoings and more about your debts there.

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

Hi, I was completely honest with my income when applying for the credit cards. I literally have only used them for daily living expenses like food shops and also for Christmas presents last year.
Yes, I was looking for the balance transfer on vanquis, so that I can transfer the balance over to the Zable but the option isn't available for me.
I have an appointment with citizens advice next week to discuss

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:13

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 04/02/2026 05:55

What have you used the cards for? Why have you got new ones? You want to contact them regarding irresponsible lending as you want them to write the debts off. But surely if you were that worried about running up debt you wouldn’t have got new cards? Obviously, they were to write the debts of would you be intending to run debts again? Which is why I ask what you’ve been spending them on. Are you using them for day today essentials or have you been using them for luxuries?
As a previous poster said you need to work out a budget and work out how to pay them back but you need to be honest with yourself and look at what you’re actually using them for

I definitely have not been using the cards on luxuries, mainly use them for essentials like food clothes and petrol, and I did use them to help with Christmas presents this past Christmas. I dont go out on extravagant days out using my credit card or buy luxury items.

I have new ones as I applied because I am in my overdraft for the next 2 Weeks until I get paid, and I only realised just how much debt I was in when I say down yesterday and thoroughly looked at everything, I won't lie before that I had my head stuck in the sand and didn't want to face it.

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:15

Sohelpmegod25 · 04/02/2026 06:44

I read this and thought it was going to be horrendous!
in the grand scheme of things it’s not too bad, not ideal but not too bad.
I agree contact step change and speak to them and take it from there.

don’t panick tho - things could be worse.

Yes I've been told that it's actually not that bad of a debt compared to the mess others get themselves into, which is reassuring but also it's still very stressful thinking about where I'm going to get the money from to sort it all out.
I was strongly considering a Debt Relief Order but I think the cons outweigh the pros and I was told a dro for suck little debt was silly.

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:17

pilates · 04/02/2026 06:45

Isn’t there a way you can amalgamate the debts and arrange a payment plan? Cut the cards up and don’t apply for anymore. You need to take some responsibility for this.

I would love to do this but I don't know where to start or how I would go about it.
I am taking responsibility for it, hence why I sat down and worked out everything I owed and to whom and am reaching out for advice because Im not sure what the best next steps are.

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:18

MikeRafone · 04/02/2026 07:00

use A template found on any search engine and put in a complaint

though if your limit with a credit company is £100 and your debit to them is £851, I’m assuming it’s interest on the debit under £100?

whether you’ll have success on your complaint will depend on income and vulnerability

This was a typo I apologise, my limit with Capital One is £1000, not £100.

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:20

ObsidianTree · 04/02/2026 07:02

Are you a carer for your child? If not, can you get a job to help pay down the debt? If so, then you can clear that eventually.

For the card where you are over you limit, do they charge more for being over your limit? If you can't balance transfer to the new cards then I would cancel them.

Yes I am a carer for my child on dla, and I receive the carers element on uc.
Apologies, the capital one was a typo, the limit on that one is £1000, not £100.

OP posts:
Thanksforyourlackofthought · 04/02/2026 11:20

rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:13

I definitely have not been using the cards on luxuries, mainly use them for essentials like food clothes and petrol, and I did use them to help with Christmas presents this past Christmas. I dont go out on extravagant days out using my credit card or buy luxury items.

I have new ones as I applied because I am in my overdraft for the next 2 Weeks until I get paid, and I only realised just how much debt I was in when I say down yesterday and thoroughly looked at everything, I won't lie before that I had my head stuck in the sand and didn't want to face it.

Show quote history

If you are using them for day to day essentials, it's going to be hard for you to pay them back as you are struggling already. If you'd spent it all on luxury items (Appreciate Christmas presents are luxuries but the money has been spent now) then that would be different as potentially you would have the disposable income to pay down the debt.
Before you go to Citizens advice, have a really good look at your spending. Find old recipes for food shopping if you have them and really see where you are spending your money and see if you can make any cut backs.
Have you got any subscriptions that you don't need/don't use? (My friend recently had £60 come out of her account for an app sub she bought last New Year with a huge discount and promptly forgot about. She is now £60 poorer as they deducted this year at full price).
I think sometimes just really looking at the problem and trying to make inroads will Make you feel better and then you will have all that info when you go to Citizens advice which means they will be able to help you more quickly.

Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:21

Pricelessadvice · 04/02/2026 07:08

Get a job and start paying them off?
Just a thought.

I am a carer for my disabled child. No need to be rude. Thank you for your advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:24

Extrovertjokes · 04/02/2026 07:21

OP you said you weren't working but a carer when you took out the cards. What was your plan then regarding payment? Did you make full disclosure of your financial situation and existing cards when applying for new cards?

Yes was completely transparent when applying for the cards, was honest with my monthly income and the fact that I didn't work and that my income is benefits.
At the time I thought the payments were affordable, until I realised just how high the interest was, specifically on the Zable card.

OP posts:
Extrovertjokes · 04/02/2026 11:24

Can the father not help with the debt?

Pricelessadvice · 04/02/2026 11:57

rose9826 · 04/02/2026 11:21

I am a carer for my disabled child. No need to be rude. Thank you for your advice.

Show quote history

Is your child school age to allow you to pick up some hours somewhere? I’m afraid a lot of people are carers for disabled children but still have to work.

If you were managing fine then fair enough, but you have debt to pay off. Are you just going to use your benefits to pay it off? Surely that will leave you short?

Working part time might enable you to get this debt down. Even if you do it temporarily to get rid of the debt.

MikeRafone · 04/02/2026 13:21

As you have an appointment with Citizen advise I would strongly urge you to use their budget https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting1/work-out-your-budget/

Because if you have sat down and gone through the budget planner - they won't tell you to go away and do it...

as Citizen advise appointments can be like hens teeth to get - going in with all the budget plan already done, may well be very helpful and a time saver - meaning they may be able to help you more thoroughly next week.

I used to work alongside a citizen advise person on outreach and she said it is really helpful for her to help people if they have the budget one - it will save on your phone

Don't forget to look into the DHP from the council

Work out your budget

Use a budgeting tool to help you understand what you’re earning and spending and where you might be able to cut costs

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting1/work-out-your-budget/

messybutfun · 04/02/2026 13:33

Extrovertjokes · 04/02/2026 09:09

But if you take out a mirtgage and can't pay you lisevyour house.

With credit card debt we need to stop writing it off. The individual should be liable for it for their lifetime and in the meantime all credit avenues stopped.

Show quote history

Yeah, that’s why mortgages are secured against your home and you pay a fairly low percentage of interest.
As credit cards are not secured, they charge a higher level of interest to absorb the write offs.

Boomer55 · 04/02/2026 13:54

They acted on the info you sent them. If you lied, or were irresponsible, then that’s on you.

Contact one of the debt charities, who will help and advise you how to pay them off.

You could try this site as well:

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/debt-free-wannabe

Original poster
rose9826 · 04/02/2026 16:00

Boomer55 · 04/02/2026 13:54

They acted on the info you sent them. If you lied, or were irresponsible, then that’s on you.

Contact one of the debt charities, who will help and advise you how to pay them off.

You could try this site as well:

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/debt-free-wannabe

Edited

I did not lie.

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