debt problems and almost homeless

[master4eva]

i have debts total around 3500 pounds from payday loan compaines i am on DWP jobseekers allowance and also have a casual part time job which i hardly get any work from but i can not payback my debts and and kept on takeing out new loans to payback the old loans and use the rest to gamble and try to win more but i lost all and i am worried because i will lose the house as it not mine but my step fathers and i will have to leave in one months time which will make me homeless. i lied to the loan compaines about the salary i was getting from my casual job to get a loan, but now without an address and no way to get DWP jobseeker anymore i fear i will be sent to jail or on the streets i have no family as my mother died not long ago and my father left when i was a baby.

[LaughingGirl]

Well, first of all, you're not going to prison so put that out of your head.

 

Can you tell us a bit more about the house, please? You say it is not yours, but your stepfathers - are you paying the mortgage on it, or is he subletting it to you?

 

You also say that you will have to leave in one months time - have you had a formal eviction notice?

[citizenB]

I am not sure I understand how you would lose the house if it is not yours - have you been using this as collateral to obtain credit ?

 

In the grand scheme of things, £3,500 is not a great deal of debt - however it would appear you have no income.

 

I would suggest you contact National Debtline

 

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/

 

and enquire about a Debt Relief Order which you should be able to obtain as it is for debts under £15,000 and for people with no assets. You will have to pay so much into the scheme and then after one year any remaining debt is written off.

 

Then I would suggest you stay away from both PayDay Loans and the gambling !!

[master4eva]

Well, first of all, you're not going to prison so put that out of your head.

 

Can you tell us a bit more about the house, please? You say it is not yours, but your stepfathers - are you paying the mortgage on it, or is he subletting it to you?

 

You also say that you will have to leave in one months time - have you had a formal eviction notice?

 

hello thank you for your reply i am so worried now i feel like ending my life. I am not paying rent or any bills to live in his house which he rented, i do not make any contribution to the house he just allowed me to stay there because things where hard since my mother died but we never got along even before then. Now he is fed up and can not take my problems anymore and i got to leave by the 18th of march but i dont know where to go i have only £200 to my name and all my debts due in two weeks or so time and all the debts are to this address so i dont know if i will be hunted down by the police and sent to court. i have no family or friends i can turn to i feel this is the end for me now i keep thinking what if i turn myself into the police now and tell them i have nothing to my name.

[LaughingGirl]

I completely agree with CitizenB - contact National Debt line and ask about a Debt Relief Order.

 

As far as the house goes, you need to go to your local housing office and tell them that you are about to me made homeless. It wouldn't hurt to contact Shelter, either. I've put the link for you below.

 

http://england.shelter.org.uk/

[LaughingGirl]

Hi Master4Eva.

 

I see I've got a PM from you, but it's best to keep all the information on the original thread, as it might help others in the same situation.

 

I honestly wouldn't get too overwrought about it at this point. As we've already said, the first things you need to do are contact National Debt Line and your local Housing Office then take things from there. Don't panic.

[i hate bailiffs]

hello thank you for your reply i am so worried now i feel like ending my life. I am not paying rent or any bills to live in his house which he rented, i do not make any contribution to the house he just allowed me to stay there because things where hard since my mother died but we never got along even before then. Now he is fed up and can not take my problems anymore and i got to leave by the 18th of march but i dont know where to go i have only £200 to my name and all my debts due in two weeks or so time and all the debts are to this address so i dont know if i will be hunted down by the police and sent to court. i have no family or friends i can turn to i feel this is the end for me now i keep thinking what if i turn myself into the police now and tell them i have nothing to my name.

 

Things will get better if you are feeling suicidal over this you need to speak to Samaritans and your GP

don't feel you are alone in all this as there is help out there and can be sorted easily

 

As already said there is no jail the police would not be interested in this so no hunting you down so nothing to turn yourself in for

It is a horrible situation that you are in that will get better

 

It is not a huge amount of debt compared to what others have been through and able to help others here on CAG

[Desperate Daniella]

Hi master4eva,

 

You absolutely won't be going to prison. This is a civil matter and not something the police would be interested in.

 

You sound very young. How old are you, roughly if you don't want to say exactly? You say you have no family or friends, but is there really no-one like an old friend of your mum's? Or an aunt you may have lost touch with?

 

£3,500 sounds like an enormous amount of money when you don't have it, but really it will be possible for you to sort this out.

 

First thing tomorrow, follow LaughingGirl's advice and start organizing a Debt Relief Order and visit the Housing Office.

 

The best thing you have done is to join CAG. There are many of us who felt exactly as you do when we joined CAG. I was in complete despair when I joined in 2008, and there are many of us who really do understand how miserable you are feeling now. You are not alone now.

 

Ask for any advice you need. Your situation really can be resolved.

 

DD

[Kitten1]

Hi,

 

I can fully empathise with you hun. Cag will help with dealing with your housing issues & money issues but have you done anything about the gambling? Unless you deal with the gambling, these problems could end up reoccuring.

 

I don't know where in the country you live but please Google gamblers anonymous. They gave me my life back 2.5yrs ago when I was about to loose my marriage & my home whilst being heavily pregnant.

 

I go to a wonderful meeting in Chester but there are meetings all over the UK.

 

Good luck xx

[Desperate Daniella]

Very good advice, Kitten.

 

DD

[master4eva]

Things will get better if you are feeling suicidal over this you need to speak to Samaritans and your GP

don't feel you are alone in all this as there is help out there and can be sorted easily

 

As already said there is no jail the police would not be interested in this so no hunting you down so nothing to turn yourself in for

It is a horrible situation that you are in that will get better

 

It is not a huge amount of debt compared to what others have been through and able to help others here on CAG

 

thanks for everyone giving me good advice i will be calling them tomorrow but can you tell me what can my GP do to help??

 

I am 28 years old from london.

 

Well it can feel like i am the only one in this kind of mess but coming here has really made me see i am not alone, i will also try the GA if it can help me.

 

One problem im not sure about is i wont have an address anymore next month after i get booted out so what if the debt compaines send letters i will never get and the send me a CCJ i never get will i end up in jail?? really i cant take it if i go jail i will die for sure!

[stu007]

Hi

 

Ref your housing issue is it possible to get a letter from step father just stating you have to be out by XX date?

 

Now please contact your local authority housing department and explain you will be homeless on XX date and also try any get as many application forms from any housing associations in your local area and get then filled in and handed in at least that way you are on different housing lists.

 

I know your situation may seen bad at the moment but look on the positive you have came on here and openly asked for help so have taken the first step to help in getting yourself sorted and listened to the advice.

 

Please also contact the National Debt Line for your debts and

 

Shelter to help with your housing situation (please bear in mind their telephone line get very busy so bear with it you will get through)

 

If you need any further help or advice then you know CAG is here just ask

 

Oh almost forgot do you know the Local council for your area in London?

 

Please Please calm down and stop thinking about going to prison or jail I doubt that will ever happen for such a small debt and please note I say such a small debt

[citizenB]

You really do seem to be fixated on "Jail". You will not go to Jail for consumer debt.

 

Presumably your stepfather will "return to sender" any letters received in your name or if he opens one by mistake he will let the sender know that you do not live there.

 

Indeed you could send letters to everyone advising that you no longer live at that address and that you will inform them when you get a permanent home.

[i hate bailiffs]

thanks for everyone giving me good advice i will be calling them tomorrow but can you tell me what can my GP do to help??

 

 

Previously you mention about ending things

if you are feeling like that your GP will put you in touch with the correct organisations to help

 

even if you got a CCJ still no prison

[Desperate Daniella]

Hi master4eva,

 

Good luck with your calls today.

 

Depending on which borough you live in, there are also various housing charities who might help you. The Councils do not necessarily point you in the right direction so if you let us know the Borough I'll see what I can find out for you.

 

As the others have said, you absolutely won't be sent to jail for a CCJ. There are masses of people on CAG who have CCJs against them and none of them are in prison.

 

Take care, and let us know how you get on.

 

DD

[Kitten1]

GA has an online forum where you could speak to someone if you wana test the water. It's a start but not a real substitute for a meeting. Please do join us - we're very friendly & we can help.

[master4eva]

Hi master4eva,

 

Good luck with your calls today.

 

Depending on which borough you live in, there are also various housing charities who might help you. The Councils do not necessarily point you in the right direction so if you let us know the Borough I'll see what I can find out for you.

 

As the others have said, you absolutely won't be sent to jail for a CCJ. There are masses of people on CAG who have CCJs against them and none of them are in prison.

 

Take care, and let us know how you get on.

 

DD

 

ive seen the docs on tv about prison in usa and i just know i would never servive in jail.

 

I live in the brough of SouthWark

 

I have booked a GA meeting for next week tuesday so i will go and see what happens there.

 

I was told by step change to try ring my debt people which i done and they were no help at tall just shout at me like i was lying and treat me bad telling me they will do this and that if i dont pay up, almost made me cry. so that was no help i am thinking to setup a DMP with step change does anyone think this is a good way?? then i just pay step change each month and they sort it out for me? do you think this can be done if i have no home address anymore??

 

Sorry if i have so many questions but i feel so alone right now, i have nothing and no one. im total alone here and feel like life is not worth living anymore and as a last effort i am on this site.

 

being in debt and having a gambling problem is the worse thing ever!!!

 

I have a big gambling problem i admit it!! i do everything from poker to horses casino online and live when i think of the amount of money ive blasted of to what i spent on myself it makes me sick!! why i cant even put away a little bit of money for food so sorry everyone for moaning on like this.

[LaughingGirl]

OK, OK...you really need to stop thinking about prison, let alone comparing UK prisons to the prisons in the States!

 

Well done for getting the GA appointment started, and well done for contacting Step Change. Yes, I do think you should set up a DMP with them. There's no need for you to end up homeless - the next thing you need to do is go to your local housing office and tell them that you are about to lose your home. You should also contact Shelter as they may be able to give you more advice.

[Desperate Daniella]

I'll drop you a note later, master4eva, as the computer is needed for homework right now.

 

I'll see what I can find out about housing charities in Southwark, but may need to work on that in the morning.

 

I think it is absolutely fantastic that you admit you have a gambling problem. That is the first step in facing the addiction. Well done.

 

DD

[Desperate Daniella]

Hi master4eva,

 

I'll come back to you in the morning when I have had a look at Southwark Housing Charities.

 

Keep remembering, you are not alone now.

 

DD

[master4eva]

Hi master4eva,

 

I'll come back to you in the morning when I have had a look at Southwark Housing Charities.

 

Keep remembering, you are not alone now.

 

DD

 

thank you so much i will wait for that

[stu007]

Hi

 

These Links are from Southwark Council on Homelessness please have a read and is are link on the page and advice of how to contact:

 

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/a_to_z/service/91/homelessness_advice_and_support

 

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200052/looking_for_a_home/785/help_if_you_are_homeless

 

hope these are of some help for you

[Desperate Daniella]

Hi master4eva,

 

As you will see from the information posted by Stu007 above, you have to go to Southwark Council and register with them, and they are in touch with 40 charities or housing associations which may be of help.

 

I also spoke to a lovely guy at St Mungo's who suggested you should also see the following organizations as soon as you can.

 

St Giles Brief Intervention Service,

64-68 Camberwell Church Street

London SE5 8JB

 

Tel: 020 7703 7000

 

They are there from 9.30 a.m. - noon every day.

 

Manna Day Centre

6 Melior Street

London SE1 3QP

 

020 7403 1931.

 

It's probably worth phoning first as you'll need to see an advice worker and you should check when one will be available.

 

Hope that helps a little.

 

DD

[Kitten1]

Hi hun,

 

You don't need an appointment to go to GA. Just turn up & someone will be there to have a chat. It's run a bit like AA in that we follow the 12 steps. The first step is admitting you have a gambling addiction. And you've done that.

 

Do NOT speak to your creditors on the phone. As you have seen, they will bully & intimidate you until you feel like poo. Plus, a written record of what is agreed is paramount. Try email.

[Desperate Daniella]

The love of my life was a gambler and I tried to get him help, but it didn't work. I spoke to this amazing guy from GA and he had me in stitches with one of his stories. I'm sure GA would be very helpful for you and, as Kitten says, you've already taken the first step.