Had a good job, career, home, money, etc. Then had a prolonged period of inactivity, debts piled up, not opening letters, spiral of anxiety and stress. blah, blah. Now, for past year or so, been earning, and getting back on feet. Looking to start paying back, and deal with all my debts. Have done as much due diligence as I can, and need some pointers. I have a number of creditors, with debts totalling around 45K. Have been paying token payments of £1 to most, some more. Looking to get StepChange advice and help. But also need some idea of full and final offers to really motor down the debts. So, as a starter, here are some of my most pressing questions: 1: I am having difficulty filling in my Income and Expenditure, as my income fluctuates. (I am working freelance, as am probably too old to be employed by a company.) I am wary of entering payment schedule and failing. Prefer to keep paying token amounts, then offer surplus every 6 months or so. Would creditors go for this? 2: I understand the first step may be to get CCAs from my creditors. Are there any downsides to asking for CCAs? Would creditors sense that I am trying to wriggle out, and go for asking for more, or get heavy-handed? 3: Are CCAs only for debt companies, or even the Originating creditor? (some of my debts have been off-loaded to debt-companies.) 4: What is the purpose of SARs? How does that help me? I understand they might be for finding penalty fees, etc? I know I accrued a lot when I couldn't pay any amounts when I started my downhill slide. 5: When offering Full and Finals, do I go for the biggest first? 6: I have been sold from one debt-company to another on some debts, I dont know what I am paying for on some of the payments!! Can I just phone them up and ask where the original debt comes from? (I have signed up with noddle, and got my list of creditors and credit file, so I have a starting point. I have been reading this forum for a few days, and have built up some knowledge, and seen how helpful this site can be. I would like to ask for some help in taking the first steps for an eventual bright future. PS: would it be ok to list my debts (with some fudging to protect myself) as a starting point?

I'm trying to get 100% accurate advice on two issues: 1. Can I legally publish text messages sent between myself and a sibling? 2. Can I legally publish a transcript of a telephone recording (NOT the audio recording) between myself and siblings or other family members or friends, or possibly transcripts of excerpts of the recordings rather than whole thing? Both the above could be (and probably would be) subject to being sworn as true to the best of my knowledge in front of a solicitor in a formal 'Swearing'. Any help appreciated. I've Googled this and researched it fairly extensively, but have not come up with a definitive yes or no for 'private' text messages and calls. Then a third thing. I have discovered that if you hold a public office, your text messages (even to your wife and family) can be published. Would being a Headteacher count as holding a public office? Thanks. ADMIN: If this is in the wrong section, please move to the most suitable one. Thank you.

Hello, wondering if anybody can help me out here. I have been chasing Barclaycard (was Egg credit card) since November 2012 for my SAR, they denied ever receiving my request and since January my ongoing complaint with Barclaycard has been escalated to a Level 2 compliant. During one of my many phone calls I was told to cancel the cheque I enclosed for payment of the SAR. Then on the 14th February 2013 the cheque is cashed, 82 days after posting it. I was on the phone for over an hour attempting to explain my issue with the call centre staff and was finally put through to the complaints department who advised me that I would receive a call this evening by 4pm. That call did not arrive. I have previously requested all copies of phone calls between myself and Barclaycard so I can present it to the FOS and ICO but Barclaycard have told me I am not entitled to them. Is this the case? I recall a few years ago a work colleague was able to get a CD containing phone calls between himself and an insurance company. Does anybody know how I can go about getting these conversations as it will prove my case that I have been lied to at least 10 times since I began my complaint with Barclaycard. I keep written notes of all conversations and have begun to record them myself, but its the older ones I need. Thanks.

Hi there, I've had quite a torrid few months since I developed a disability(ankylosing spondilitus) and have been off work since whilst the Rheumatologists try their hardest to get me back on my feet(literally) again. My manager hasn't be great at all - he has always had a habit of saying things that fall way short of reasonable and it was no surprise that he started to stick the boot in to me at our keeping in touch meetings. Anyway, a long story short, after being treated like 'you know what' for months and missing out on a promotion possibility as work failed to tell me that my Manager was being made redundant - I decided, for the first time in my life to put in a grievance. I'd spoken to several agencies and they all agreed that I had a good, strong case to go to tribunal if I wanted to. Well, the grievance hearing has come and gone and I've, surprise surprise, been told that there is insufficient evidence from my employers perspective. I'm now considering taking it to the next stage. After my first 'keeping in touch' meeting, my Manager said so many blatantly outrageous things that I decided to record any further conversations for my own protection. It's not something I feel great about to be honest but I'm glad I recorded at least some of the conversations because it clearly demonstrates the ongoing and persistant discrimination and harassment I've had to put up with. However, and here's the dilemma, I've NOT told my employers that I have some recorded conversations where he has clearly demonstrated disregard for me and my condition. Now they have knocked back my first grievance I'm really not sure what I can do(if anything) about revealing that I have this evidence. Any advice would be fantastically helpful.