Wah..! for once i never mentioned this....because i always seem to get it wrong.. I'd go for that coop account as they will offset your new account for the debt and wipe out any money you do have! Regards, Stormski

Hi Kate87, The first thing you need is a new bank account that isn't linked to your debts..so you can start from scratch. If you haven't got one the Coop basic cashminder is a great little account with a debit card and internet banking ( so you can set up standing orders if you need to pay a token payment etc ). You'd need to go into a branch with passport and utility bill and ask for it without an overdraft... Then once you have that..redirect all your money into that account so you have a fresh start. Once you have replies from all the CCA requests you'll know where you stand...regarding the states of the accounts...Most i imagine will get passed back to their original lender as they won't have the real paperwork. Buy a few cheap paper folders...and keep letters from each debt in the relative folder so you don't get confused. Keep the envelopes they came in, date them and staple them to the letters. You say you have made agreements on the phone for most of the debt...but on the phone they will bully and scare you. If you are currently out of work..then really you can only really afford £1 a month... NEVER EVER - give your card details or setup a DIRECT DEBIT...DCA's will quite happily clean you out with no regards on you having any money to live on. If you have done this already...you definately need another bank account OR you can do the hassle way around it of cancelling card / direct debits... A standing order is the best way as you control the money going out and only you can change the amount. I don't think overdrafts charges are reclaimable atm...but they should be because the banks are robbing people blind now because of this. You say the RBS one is half loan / half overdraft....how did this come about to be one debt? Or is it two seperate debts? Regards, Stormski

Hi, Again...Good advice coming in here..you're not on your own. Just in case it's not been mentioned ( looked up and couldn't see it ) send each letter recorded delivery and keep the post office reciept and staple it your copy ( ie: you do 2 copies of each letter...and keep the reciepts with your copy ). Also print out the 'post office' tracking once they have signed for it and staple that to it too. Do this for everything...and file...because most will lie about ever getting the letters in the first place..and then you have proof. Also, keep all the envelopes you get with threatograms...and date them...and staple them to their threatograms...anything remotely 'dodgy' complain to the relevant bodies.. Most threatagrams deliberately say 'you have not made contact' and you will have proof you have...so they are blatantly trying to mislead you...and any judge...if it ever gets that far ( big if ). I'm still learning...but i'm learning fast... Regards, Stormski

Hi, I'm pretty sure bankruptcy is worse than a few CCJ's...for a start...your income would be capped with bankruptcy ( while in effect )...and you would have to state it for many things. Plus...most...if not all...will probably never make it to court...with help from the people here. You'd be surprised how much knowledge there is here.. Regards, Stormski

Hi, Very good advice there.. As Brig sais...sort the council tax...that is a must..the others can swing for a bit until that is sorted. Regards, Stormski

Hi, You've left your surname and their ref at bottom right. Also, just wondering are you blacking out the scan of the letter...you should really leave the actual letters in their original form and just black out the scan. Regards, Stormski

Hi, I think the difference is 50 press ups and a sock with stones in when i'm asleep.. Regards, Stormski

Hi Brig, Had trouble finding it....now i see it's at bottom of the list.... Still getting used to the site....but i have learnt so much in 1 month.. I'll subscribe via that from now on ( it's a tiny link! even with 20 / 20 vision it's tiny! ) Regards, Stormski

Hi, Subbing here with interest ( yet again ) Regards, Stormski

Hi, If he does need a parachute account: If he has no links with Coop they do a great little basic account with a debit card called Cashminder. Get him to go into a branch and apply ( with passport ) and a utility bill and ask for it...with no overdraft... It has internet banking so you can set up standing orders / direct debits ( never use these for debts only standing orders ). That way he can control the payments via standing order.. I'd get it asap. It would be a massive advantage to him to post up what he owes ( according to them ) and to who the original lender is...and who his bank account is with...( to see if he needs the parachute account ) and to check if they have PPI. Regards, Stormski PS: Sounds like you are on roughly the same journey..as i have just started sorting out my girlfriends debts...So i will help out in whichever way i can with him via you if you are helping him... ( think that makes sense! )

Subbing with interest ( in same boat ) Regards, Stormski

Hi, Ims has a very good point there...they are not really going to help them...more like help themselves....and leave him in the doo doo... Regards, Stormski

Hi, You've got me intrigued now..Brig! Regards, Stormski

Hi, Out of interest it would be a good idea to find out if his bank account is linked to any of the credit card debts..( eg: Barclays Bank current account and Barclaycard are linked ) If any of them are..i would suggest he gets a parachute account which isn't linked to any of the credit cards otherwise they could offset his current account money to pay his credit card ( thus leaving him skint ). Re: He will pay 1 grand a month to the company and £90 per month for their services!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't believe that for 1 second. They will take as much as they can..if not all..for a while as a 'setup fee'. Regards, Stormski

Hi, Just looked at their website....it basically says..you will 'default' on your debts....so therefore if they are not defaulted at the moment....they will wait until they do before they do anything....( BAD! ) Also...regarding cooling off this is from their website. - Once you have made your first payment we will give you a 7 working cooling off period where-by if you change your mind during this period you will be entitled to a full refund of any monies paid. If he hasn't paid anything then don't let him...and if he has...cancel it... They are basically going to let everything default...then negotiate... So the first few payments 'will' go towards their new merc ( nice one hippy ). lol. If that's not enough to put him off...then what is? Regards, Stormski

Hi, I bet they are singing for joy with being told that....they'll bleed all the money out of him for sure. Get him to stop it NOW. Regards, Stormski

Hi, Just throwing my tuppence worth in... Most of these companies take their fees at the beginning few months...so the first few months 0 will be paid off the debt...and they will just sit and wait doing nothing until they feel they have a decent amount of cash behind them. I would urge him to cancel now...You can get all the info you need from the good peeps here...for no cost..plus you will get answers to any questions you have too. All you need is a few folders...and to get a little bit organised...and do some reading on the site...there's tons of great info. If he does carry on with it...he'll just be in a worse position than before...with no idea what is going on. Regards, Stormski

Hi, I ignore them...they get crayons mixed up a lot. Regards, Stormski

Hi, Great stuff.. Exactly what i was thinking... Regards, Stormski PS: She's not working...i will be sorting it all out. ( to take away the pressure )

Hi CitizenB, That's what i was thinking...just wanted a bit of moral support as i'm still getting to grips with it... She doesn't even know what PPI is...and was part time only 2 hours a day...so no way can this be not mis-sold. Will get a SAR out asap... Do you think it's also a good idea to do the £1 a month?.. This isn't about debt avoidance..more getting it back to an even keel.. Regards, Stormski Edit: the debt is around the 2k mark...and can you answer my questions 1 to 3? Once i've got one done..i'll be at a better level to understand... Wait? Or now?

Hi, Just found out that the girlfriend has a Barclaycard ( looked at her credit file with her ). Digging through her old paperwork she took it out in 2003 and in 2006 went on a £50 a month repayment plan. Found a letter basically saying they have cancelled her PPI ( as soon as the reduced payment was offered ). On one statement it was £43 a month just for the PPI.. Now it's not officially defaulted yet... Just 2 months late due the Halifax fiasco ( cancelling overdraft ). I'm thinking first route should be do a SAR on Sharkleys.... Then work out all the PPI ( plus the interest ) and claim. Then work out overlimit charges / late fees ( with interest ) and claim... A few questions... 1) Should she wait for it to 'default' first? 2) Should she set up a £1 a month standing order...as she is willing to pay...not hiding..just no job atm.. 3) If 'no' to 1...i just add any more charges to the spreadsheet i think? Once all these have been claimed back..that will be the real balance and i can help her pay it off. ( i'm still in the process of doing this with halifax so not got one done yet...still waiting for the SAR ) Regards, Stormski

Hi, Yeah..sorry about that..2nd time i've done that! doh. You say you have no statements etc... It may be worth getting your credit file ( you can get a £2 online one for moment which will show a snapshot from when you buy it ) so you can see what is what. The snapshot will be viewable for 30 days ( in case you need to go back to it ). Probably a good idea to buy a folder for each debt...so you can organise the letters for each debt into each folder. Ideally each debt should have a seperate thread on here...so the help you get doesn't get mixed up. On the initial thread..probably best to say what the debt is..when you got the loan / account or whatever it is...when you last paid..who the DCA is. Also, whether you think it had PPI etc. If you've not paid anything for a while then there will be quite a bit of charges i imagine ( that can be sorted apart from current accounts ). Basically as much information as possible. Then you'll find that a lot of people will reply to relevant threads..with information as each company is different and everyone has different experiences, etc. I hope that helps start you off. Regards, Stormski

Hi, Ignore my previous post...because it didn't highlight the Royal ( in Bank of Scotland ) in your earlier post...So you should be ok. Regards, Stormski

Hi, Lloyds TSB are linked to one of your debts.. You should really get a parachute account otherwise they will offset. Regards, Stormski

Hi, If i were them i would pay the original creditor.....( ie: reset the standing order to them ) and make sure they get their £1 sooner rather than later...( for the sake of a pound it's worth it ) Regards, Stormski EDIT: She called the DCA as they are the ones she is meant to pay ( after being told by Northampton court her local court and the solicitors.) So set up with the DCA asap.