Stressed by huge debt!

[Mum2Four]

Yes dx I did know about this debt but somehow get confused and thought the one that was passed to Apex was this one, it wasn't. That related to a different Egg account.

 

It was only on sorting through all of the paperwork that I realised my mistake.

 

I paid them all token payments until 2018 as that was what I had been advised initially by CAB/ Payplan back in 2008.

When you have someone advising you one thing, other people saying if you pay them something then they won't take you to court - something I was terrified of at the time.

 

Not now though, bring it on, I would just rather they don't go down the 'backdoor CCJ' route.

 

 

[BankFodder]

I don't think we have ever known Citizens Advice or any debt management service or any money advice service to recommend exploring the enforceability of a debt as a preliminary to dealing with a general debt problem.
The advice is always to start contacting creditors and start paying token amounts. Of course, this keeps the debt alive. We do not recommend debt  avoidance here – but we certainly do recommend that people explore the legalities before doing anything else.

[dx100uk]

were you paying these through PP till 2018?

or doing it yourself?

 

dx

 

[Mum2Four]

Doing it myself - PP apparently didn't deal with token payments only payment plans, they just helped with the initial letters etc.

 

I know I'm an idiot. After setting up the standing orders - I just left them to run. I am pretty sure I didn't stop them until 2019 which is even worse! I'm well aware of the fact that they won't be statute barred until 2025.

 

I am getting all the threat-o-grams again since stopping the payments, which I expected. Most of them have been passed to several different DCAs over the years, while in dispute although I suppose by paying them they are not in dispute? I don't know. I have still been burying my head in the sand over it all if I'm honest, and trying to keep them from taking me to court.

 

The one that's worrying me is the Egg Loan one that I've had no recent paperwork for that I'm pretty sure hasn't written to me since 2010, they were part of my initial token payments but I cancelled the standing order as I thought that was the debt bought by Apex, so that might have been as late as 2013. 

 

I have also had recent offers from almost every DCA, some offering me a 40% discount off my balance if I settle with them.

 

I had a pre-court letter from one of them (MBNA - letter from Shoosmiths) but I have asked for a copy of the credit card agreement, which I have not yet received. That was towards the end of last year.

 

 

[Mum2Four]

1 hour ago, BankFodder said:

I don't think we have ever known Citizens Advice or any debt management service or any money advice service to recommend exploring the enforceability of a debt as a preliminary to dealing with a general debt problem.
The advice is always to start contacting creditors and start paying token amounts. Of course, this keeps the debt alive. We do not recommend debt  avoidance here – but we certainly do recommend that people explore the legalities before doing anything else.

 

Quite! I have not tried to avoid paying the debts. I just have not had the money to repay them and now I am not 100% sure who I even owe the money to - they've been passed on that many times. I guess CAB etc advise people as best they can. At the time I thought I should take their advice. I also had pressure from family members who probably knew even less about it all than I did, 'must avoid being taken to court and getting CCJs at all costs'!

 

I would do things differently now, and wouldn't get in to debt. I don't even have a credit card to my name these days but hindsight is a wonderful thing 

 

 

 

 

[BankFodder]

Sorry, but I don't think CAB or the other agencies advise people as best they can. I think they tried to find a balance between the parties but actually what it does is it ignores the legal rights of the weaker party and does not give you the best advice possible.

There are certain laws in force to protect the weaker party and if these agencies were doing their job properly, then they would allow the law to operate so that the weaker parties are protected.

I think that the agencies have conflicting interests and am afraid that I think that they fail to meet up to their legal and moral obligations

[dx100uk]

I pers think you should start again and send everyone you are or were paying a CCA request ASAP.

 

not only will that put them to strict proof

it will also inform them of your correct address.