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Paying Away - But finding it difficult - could use some advice :)

dogsbody
by dogsbody 09 April 2010  |  Comments 4 comments  |  Love Love  0 loves

So in the last few years my credit has dropped and my debts have gone up. I am one of these people that manages to make the min repayments but dont see any benefits cause I am not making a dent in the over all Balance.

My experian credit score is 650 which puts me in the poor category, I know this makes me a risk when applying for credit etc. The problem I have atm is I dont work and finding it really hard to. I havent worked for a few years now but my partner does.

We have a joint CC from Natwest one of the 15month 0% cards it has about a £750 limit and we are paying £40 a month. The main problem is the fact that I have a card in my own name from many years ago.

The card is from barclaycard I fell into the trap of I needed cash to pay for some stuff and now im getting interest on Purchase Annual rate and Cash Annual rate. The monthly repayment totals £90. I am making payments of £100 as thats all I can afford to make.

The problem is obviously £10 per month from a £4,000 debt is making a dent fast. I have satisfactory score with things like direct debits etc.

To compound things we have other debits out going - council for example as they mis calculated our bill. We are having to pay them £40 a month plus to make up for over a years worth of wrong billing. Add to that £35 we are paying to Black Horse it doesnt look pretty.

The council and black horse we are allowing to tick over. As stated my card we can pay £100.. and the joint card we have we are paying as fast aswe can while we have the 0%.

I really dont want to miss payments to go onto a payment plan and risk damaging my credit score more but im begining to wnder if thats the only way to get interest lowered ? As when I ask its basically u can make the min payment u have no troubles answer I am getting. As such with my score as is and no income.. I cant really get a £4000 card from another company. If I could awesome I could clear £1200 in a year making my life and my partners easier.

So I guess im just after some help, advice, guidance... pointing in the right direction or someone to say unfortunately you are doing what you can.... I dont have a spare penny to make higher payments to nayone as it stands we are already struggling like hell.

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Comments (4)

  • time2go
    Love rating 66
    time2go posted

    Looks like you have managed things as best as you can... Now is the time to get some proper debt advice from your local CAB. You may have already prepared a budget together with your list of creditors/debts.

    It is possible to negotiate and get the creditor to stop interest whilst you repay. However, you have to be 'fair' to all the creditors. Some debts are priorities (e.g council tax, rent/mortgage) Most of the others can be grouped together. Black Horse may appear as if they are helping out (and they may be) but they are also getting their money while they can. In practical terms they should get the same proportion as any other 'non-priority' creditor.

    This is why you need professional advice to work out how much you should be paying to whom.

    Good Luck

    Posted on 09 April 2010 | Love Love  0 loves Report
  • manzanilla
    Love rating 414
    manzanilla posted

    t is possible to negotiate and get the creditor to stop interest whilst

    you repay

    um that is a VERY sweeping statement. It is SOMETIMES possible to do this.

    You need good debt advice. CAB will help but you may find it much more convenient to ask online here: http://boards.fool.co.uk/dealing-with-debt-50079.aspx?mid=11890156.

    They (CAB or the people on the Dealing With Debt board) will need to see a complete list of your expenditures and debts - not to tell you to cut back on expenses necessarily, but because its needed to see if freezing interest is a possibility or if there are other options. If you can draw up a Statement of Affairs (this explains how http://boards.fool.co.uk/Message.asp?mid=11023572) and take it to CAB or post it on the Dealing With Debt board you will get great advice. It will be helpful if you mark all the debts as Mine - partners - joint.

    manzanilla

    Posted on 09 April 2010 | Love Love  0 loves Report
  • time2go
    Love rating 66
    time2go posted

    um Manzanilla you are being pedantic. 

    I said 'Possible',  Manzanilla said 'SOMETIMES possible'.

    The word 'Possible' does mean - 'an event [SUCH AS STOPPING INTEREST] may or may not occur.'

    So (according to Manzanilla)- to stop making a 'sweeping statement' all you need to do is place the word 'sometimes' before the word 'possible'? In my humble opinion this is verbose and unnecessary.

    The advice is basically the same - you may benefit from professional debt advice.

    Posted on 09 April 2010 | Love Love  0 loves Report
  • SoftwareBear
    Love rating 216
    SoftwareBear posted

    you're better paying off the £4000 than the 0% interest card ... it works the other way around ... you need to pay off the highest interest card first.

    Posted on 10 April 2010 | Love Love  0 loves Report

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