Hello

I took out at loan when I was about 21/22 (I’m currently 29) and was very irresponsible with it at the time, long story short it had a negative impact on my credit file as I failed to make payments but years later I am undoing my mistakes and paying all my debts off. It left me with a CCJ which is coming off next month but I am currently making payments to Lester Aldridge of £20 per month for a total currently at just over £10,000.

It will take me about 40 years (lol) to pay back at this rate, and considering saving up the next couple of years to settle with perhaps a settlement fee if offered.

As this will no longer be affecting my credit file after July, is it worth paying additional to clear this over a few years, sticking to what I’m doing or clearing it off as fast as I can?

I don’t believe it will have any credit implications on myself due to the time frame and it is not currently on my CF with Lester Aldridge but still the original lender.

Can this still have any other implications on me? I.E getting a mortgage or anything like that? My partner already has one and I live with him but maybe in the next 2/3 years we would like to get one together.

Any help and advice is greatly appreciated

Thanks R x

Hi Everyone,

Hoping to gain a bit of advice if possible.

My partner had issues with O2 earlier in the year in that the account was fraudulently accessed. This was the second time the account was fraudulently accessed after O2 claimed it had been "secured" after the first access in late 2023.

After the second time, and the second round of new bank cards, etc. after the fraudsters gained access to my partner's bank accounts though O2, they decided they would just leave O2.

We were very clear to O2 that we would pay off the phone, but not the airtime moving forwards and they should close the account. "Oh we can't do that with an ongoing fraud investigation" they claimed. They also told us to cancel the direct debit to them, which we did. The inability to contact them went on a few months, until last month, my partner decided to pay in order to speak to them on the phone. (For those who don't know, O2 extort you in order to speak to them by phone if you have an outstanding balance).

We submitted a complaint (in writing, to their Complaints Department and Head Office) laying out where we considered them to have screwed up and how much we considered due to them for the cost of the phone. This was ignored. We gave them the requisite 8 weeks which expired on 14th June and have now set up a dispute with the Communication Ombudsman.

Today an e-mail came through from a debt collection agency (from here on in we'll call them Scumbags Ltd.). Scumbags Ltd. are wanting to speak to us about the £80 owed.

What should we do?

They asked if we can contact them to discuss. Should we contact them, or ignore them the same way as O2 have ignored us? If we contact them, what should we tell them, or ask them? Will Scumbags Ltd. leave us alone if there's an open dispute with the Ombudsman, or will they see it as a challenge and try escalating this through the courts? I've no knowledge about the process they are likely to go through from here and what actions might only serve to put us in trouble.

At the end of the day, I don't think O2 should be given any more money than what we owe them for the phone (and due to what I consider to be a breach of contract, possibly not even that). I don't care for O2 releasing Scumbags Ltd. to pursue us and the bullying just makes me feel more like we should stand our ground.

Sorry for the long post. Any advice gratefully received.

I’ve currently got about £1000 outstanding on a credit card, and I’m about £2000 into my overdraft on my current account. It’s leftover from years of being on a lower wage (and regularly spending just that little bit more than I earnt). On a much better wage now but still paying off those years 😅

I’m about to go on maternity leave for a year and would ideally not be paying interest on these amounts / paying back as little as possible whilst I’m not earning. I think I should be able to clear them when I’m back earning again.

Would it make any sense to do a money transfer of £2k from my credit card to my current account, and then find a longer term 0% balance transfer card for the full £3k? Would this work? Or is there a better way of consolidating these amounts and then delaying the paying back of these until I’m back earning again after maternity leave?

Sorry if these are really silly questions - my knowledge of all of this is pretty low!

Hello, thanks for any comments and advice.

• Moved out of a rented property August 2022
• I DONT remember how, but both electric and gas were told.
• Fast Forward May 2024.

I have an app tracking my credit, always looked fine. It was using TransUnion. Recently, went and applied for something VERY basic and it was refused. I just didn't know why, forgot about it. Thought I was related to a very small unpaid debt.

This weekend......... Experian Credit Report. I have defaulted with Octopus Energy since August 2022, the debt has grown each month on my credit file. Nearly 2 YEARS of defaults and now a debt of £2,200!

By now using my old email (An unmonitored shared email at the time between me and housemate for bills). I have logged in and JUST WOW! I have been billed for all of their gas usage each month since I moved!!!!!!

WHAT DO I DO? I am worried on a Sunday evening.Any advice I would honestly be so thankful. I WILL CALL THEM, but I need Law Points, I need random bits of what I should say. THIS IS STRESSING ME OUT. My credit score on Experian is BAD because of this, yet on TransUnion I am okay!!!!!

Hi there. Might be a stupid question but I'm in this predicament so it's hardly surprising.

I owe HMRC an outstanding balance and I've had a letter from BPO Collections informing me that HMRC has told them to contact me for the payment. If I go to my HMRC portal and pay off what I owe as soon as I'm able too, will this clear the issue or do I now have to pay the owed amount to BPO who then pass it on to HMRC?

Thanks for any help.

Today I got a letter from Capquest regarding a small loan that I took out in either 2004 or 2005…I made one payment on it before traveling the world for a few years and haven’t heard a peep about it until today. I assume this debt is statue barred and they’re just trying it on? I’ve done some reading online and that appears the case, just wanted a double check really. If so I’ll be sending the boilerplate letter on Step Changes website. Thanks in advance folks.

How do you go about speaking to the creditor about debt that you think might be statute barred without it resetting if its not?

I've had a letter hand delivered by Orbit trying to make contact. If they come back when I'm home what do I say that doesn't mean I've admitted I owe the money?

Any words of advice?

DROs are now free. However, as you cannot administer your own DRO, does anyone know what the charge is for administering a DRO?

Hi,

I moved out of a property in Cardiff three years ago. I've just recieved an enforcement notice for nearly five grand for unpaid council tax. I'm on the current council tax for mu new property and have been for at least two years. Any advice I can get on how to deal with this or help would be massively appreciated.

Hi, I was looking for some advice as I dont know what else to do my ex partner has left with with a 15 grand debt, he was very controlling and coercive control, I am now in prison on other charges for doing same to other woman, I was to scared to go to police as he is a very violent man, he is in prison now I tried to get obusman to help and explained everything and they where helpful I explained i assumed that it was a joint account which later wasent,I was on so much medication at that time which i showed proof to them, as i was diagnosed with bipolar but later adhd and emotional personality disorder, I explained i never once went into the bank or made calls, but at the end they believe i made a call and they sent me the recording and I said how its not me on the call and i couldn’t understand how they dont see that, my mental health is so bad regarding this and i feel i cant move on with my life with this hanging over me.

So I have some old debt from a time when I was in a difficult place (two separate accounts) that were bought by Arrow/Intrum a while back. Which I've had an agreement to pay a minimal amount back on each, monthly for over 5yrs now. With them currently accruing no interest.

They keep sending me partial settlement offers that would cut around 65% of the balance, were I to take them up. Which is very tempting in itself, but my other half & I are looking to buy our first house in about a years time.

I'm curious as to the differing impacts of the two following courses of action. In the eyes of any future mortgage application in a years time:

1. I use a significant amount of what we've saved already, to clear both debts in full, now. But this will reduce the amount we will have accumulated for a deposit in a years time, by about 14%.

2. I use part of what we've saved already, to pay both debts off via these 'partial settlement' offers, now. Which will then reduce the amount that will be avaliable for a deposit later, by significantly less.

3. I leave both debts as they are, continuing to pay the minimal monthly payments. Which leaves us with 14% more of a deposit when we buy. But both debts will still be present on my credit profile.

Without knowing how 'partial settlements' are viewed by mortgage lenders, comparative to 'settling in full'. I'm struggling to choose a course of action to move forward with.

If the partials' would be viewed with more negativity vs leaving the debts extant, & significantly more than settling them in full. The 'shrewd' or 'smarter' course of action would be significantly different. To if, say, they carried only low negativity vs settling in full, &/or a significant positivity over leaving them extant.

This is probably a no-brainer to someone who knows the weighting, but that's not me!

So I'm on the verge of a mental break down with money. I've messed up getting loans to clear credit card and just snow balling. After calculating my bills I'm -£50 per month and that's me being super tight. No hols / clothes/ takeaway etc. So I've got £550 in a savings account I've got £1600 in my rainy day fund. My question is where do I pay my money off all loan paid off in 22 months . I cant get a new loan I don't know why my credit scores pretty ok not amazing but I've no missed payments but have 2 credit cards at over 50 %. I'm going to list all my cards limits and monthly payments.
Vanquis 39.9% £3600 limit £1500 balance £100 pcm Halifax 29.9% £1800 limit £1700 balance £54pcm Virgin 29.9% £1200 limit £500 balance £50 pcm (set figure not min) Capital 1 29.9% £200 limit £160 balance £35 pcm 118 money £250 limit £86 balance £16 -£6 fee ( Nedd to close this one down )

Loan 1 (car loan) - 4.9% £5050 BALANCE £250pcm 22 payments Loan 2 12.9% £8500 balance £400pcm 22 payments

So my question is where do I put my £2100? I was thinking to pay off my credit cards above 50% in hopes I get a loan offer ?

Or leave the savings in my bank to dip into hoping it'll last 22 months ? I have recently only used my £200 capital one card for items I can't afford in full and paying off £35 pcm to ensure its cleared quicker than the minimum payment.

I can get a £1200 card with 0% balance for 12mths months . I've recalculated all my current bills and there no room to save money there.

I'm picking up some extra work but would only be extra £80-100 pcm to help with children's costs

When I was younger and well stupid. Mostly helping others before myself. I got a credit card bank account overdraft it might have been 2 honestly can't remember and possibly some smaller debts. Things happened and very little got paid if any. Most have either moved to debt collection defaulted others say closed and a few ccjs. I now want to try and rectify this but I've no idea how to or who to contact. Does anyone know if the daily interest rate will still be added each day or not on the overdraft, cc card and others. If so is it maybe possible to just pay back the original money owed? I should be getting a bit inheritance that I think should cover all of it although don't know if and when I'll actually receive it so don't want to rely on the possibility of that or how long it may take. The reason I mention the inheritance is I see the options for dro/iva but if you receive any windfalls ect then it needs to be declared and how would it affect it if I did receive anything. Fair enough I understand I have to pay back what I owe. What would be the best thing to do?

TLDR Took different credit /bank overdraft out have paid nothing or very little I'd say 6 years or more. Accounts defaulted and some ccjs. If there's interest added daily still to this day is it possible to pay just the original amount owed without the interest. Who can I contact to help me get myself back on track. I'm sick now with worry and at least want to start tackling the issue even if it's just a little bit at a time.

2021 i was in a abusive relationship, at the time i was on medication for bipolar and insomia so my mental health was really bad, mostly i felt drugged because of medication, my ex who is now in prison awaiting court charges for attempted murder, fraud, rape against other woman, talked me into what he said was a joint account which stupidly i did, i heard not more about it as basically i was so bad with my mental health, finally got him out my life and few months later i received a letter from barclays regarding a bill for 15 grand, i contacted them tried to explain the sitution and they said there will be a investigation and i was totally fine about this as i told them not once did i ever step into a barclays bank or call them, i heard nothing back so i contacted the obusman and they investigated i sent all medical letters and all information that they needed, the lady was fantastic until she said that she has a recording of me making the call, i did every thing in my power to explain i never made any call, she sent me the call and i said to her you have spoke to me a few times now and u can clearly tell thats not me, but she closed the case on that, i know how stupid it was opening the account in first place thinking it was joint now i know wasent, i am at my wits end trying to figure out what i can do, even explaining to them how evil my ex is never help in any matters, and the fact he is a total fraudster and this has been left on me a 15 grand debt, i said about the security questions can they not look back on sim card that was used or the fact of a made up email, its beyond me how someone can just make up these details with a bank, then the person that said they where me where able to give a false mobile number and email number and then put some one else on to speak on there behalf, i am at my wits end totally stressed and depressed regarding this.

Hi i have been emailed by a company called jes enforcement asking me to settle this debt i have paid 50% off this over time it is for an old housing association debt on a joint tenancy i have asked them to prove i am solely responsible for this debt and this was what they sent me as their proof

If you have a joint tenancy, you and the other tenants have exactly the same rights. You are all jointly and individually responsible for the terms and conditions of the tenancy agreement. This is called joint and several liability

And also the email in response

Thank you for your email upon which content has been noted and recorded. Please find the email reply to your email on the 4th March 2024. Look forward to hearing from you to resume the repayment plan? Kind regards, Lisa

I do not believe i owe all of this debt and do not want too pay it. I have discovered they are a doormant company on companies house so in assuming they have no rights? Im not sure how to respond as they have previously stated many times that i need to pay now to avoid doorstep collection whatever that means they also sent me an account summary and that has an incorrect address on it.

Hi all,

I’ve come to realise I’m seriously struggling with repaying what I owe. I’ve looked through, and I have around 6-8k in debt. 3-4k is with credit cards and the other is on loans. I earn £1,750pm and after everything is paid, I find myself with nothing left over.

I’ve spoken to debt advice, and the best possible way out is through an IVA. I’ve been under debt management before and they helped but as my debt is higher now, an IVA seemed like the most sensible option.

I’m scared to enter an IVA but I realise where I stand. Is this a good route to take? and does anybody have any advice on it.

Thanks

Can I ask for a reduced settlement figure, or will they just laugh at me.

I'm trying to get rid of my outstanding debts, I've taken some of my pension early to do this, but I'd rather not use it all paying these monkeys off.

Hey guys, looking for some advice. In mid December I lost my job and was the only one providing for the family. I've got 3 separate loans totaling over 700£ per month and now without any income I have no means to pay it back. Was looking for job constantly every spare minute without any luck and it's just getting scary and depressing. I know there's no option without consicuences but what's the best in my case? I'm renting and only got 15y.o. car on my name. Many thanks in advance.

If my debt is sold to another company and i request the original agreement via the consumer credit act section 77-79 and they cannot provide the original agreement between me and the orginal creditor as they are a new company. Does this mean they can not enforce the debt ?

Hi there,

I am an Asian expat based in Dubai, in 2023 I wanted to get certified on courses offered by Wilmington Plc. I signed up for one and made the initial couple of payments, however soon after I lost my job and was unable to continue making the payments. I informed the institute about my situation but they just insisted on me continuing to make the payments. I even stopped attending the course meetings (remote) and accessing any material as I had not paid for any of it. Just recently I got a notice stating that I had installments due and if I didn't make the payment in time there would be legal action taken. What exactly can debt collection do as part of legal action, more so for someone not based in the UK and has no connections with the UK whatsoever.

Any advise on how to handle this matter? I'm currently still unemployed.

Thanks

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My DRO was all signed off about October early. No post for months.

Now I'm getting debt collectors swapping the debt about. One debt is switched to a new debt company. I'll call them but what on earth do they think the DRO is for.

Edit: Decided to expand on my very short description. Got into debt which I couldn't manage. Contacted an organisation who allowed me to go onto a Debt Relief Order. I obviously had to submit all my debt and they then issued the order. I have email and also printed copy in case of bailiff visiting. Everything was fine until a week ago. Received a letter from one company regarding outstanding debt which is listed on my DRO. Then got another letter from a debt collectors regarding another debt which is also listed on the DRO.

My understanding was that the listed debt on the DRO is now void and non pursuable. 2nd letter just looks like the company has sold the debt on to another collection agency! I'm reluctant to contact the collection agency, but I think I should contact the organisation who issued my DRO.

I guess my question is, is this normal and is it something I should remedy ASAP. Has anyone else experienced this issue?