Twinkie UE diary

[PlanB]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Twinkie. How did things go for you today

The idea of listing all your debts and opening files on each one is oh so daunting so let's just take a look at any of them which are giving you grief at the moment before you get the filing system up and running. I'm rubbish with paperwork so I know how you must feel when faced with that enormous task

So have any of them actually issued court proceedings or written you letters which threaten you with that? We've got shit hot Template Letters on here which you can download and send to them to stall for time while you get everything together in your own time So tell us about the ones which are scaring you the most and we'll tell you how to scare them off

Nite Nite

[BBoo]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

When I was in that situation I couldn't have answered that question as all of them were scaring me. Half of them, well most of them in fact, were unopened in a multitude of carrier bags and drawers. I had not a clue how much I owed or who it was owed to. Three had already got CCJ's and I hadn't dared open the envelopes. Life was terrible.

I never did UE. I went through losing everything, so I have nothing further to lose, but guess what, I'm MUCH happier for it. There are debts to be paid, but they're five years old now, and hopefully I'll get another year, otherwise I'll be made bankrupt. However, I think this is unlikely as any creditor would get nothing, and would pay a lot to write off all my debts giving me a fresh start. Why would they bother?

Once I'd accepted that I simply could not pay, and they could not have what I hadn't got (and accepting it was VERY VERY hard for me), my fear of DCA's disappeared, and it was at that point I decided I had to do all I could to stop anyone else ever going through what I'd been through with my family. I then started studying consumer law.

Twinkie, if you are at that stage I described at the start, don't worry. Just sort things slowly and as you can. You'll find lots of letters relate to the same debt, so things won't be as bad as you think.

Anyway, enough of that for tonight. You take care and I hope tomorrow I don't read a thread posted at 4 in the morning!

[PlanB]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Ditto to everything Boo has just said.

All I can add is that there is an amazing song by Beverly Craven (ok so I'm old ) called "4 o'clock in the morning" which pinpoints the time of day/night when we all feel most vulnerable So what you do then is post on here. Simples

[twinkie]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Thanks all, I feel all warm inside with all your offers of help

I will get some posted up shortly - I have a lot unopened but what I am going to do is go for the most recent ones dropped through the letter box as they will represent the current situation. I promise to get some up in the next few days. Big steps by taking little steps x

Posts at 4 am will be very common from me as I barely ever sleep due to my conditions

[BBoo]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Morning Twinkie, Ok, post away at 4am

Your approach sounds very sensible opening the recent ones first. It's great to see that within a few short days you've gone from panic to taking control of this - well done, and I don't mean that in a patronising way, it is genuine. One thing I love about these sites is seeing people take their first, scary steps, then start taking control. Before you know it you'll be tackling everything head on and you'll feel much better for it.

I know that warm feeling yu talk about. I think that comes from doing something and being proactive. Wherever the journey takes you, you've started it, gently and slowly, but you're moving. You're also surrounded here by people who really care, so whatever you do, there's always that comforting safety blanket there for you.

What a lovely start to the day for me reading your post, thank you!

[twinkie]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

It might be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 am when I am posting when I get started sorting out

I need to take control otherwise I will fall apart.

I notice some of you stating you saw strength within my post - I have been through a lot in my life and people around me often say they think of me as the strongest woman they know - but I guess everyone reaches a limit and household arguments aren't helping

I realise it's either fight or flight now, and I hopefully with everyone's guidance and care here I will be able to progress positively forward

[Pixie]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

I agree with you and BBoo that starting with the recent ones is the way to go.

You've started to to take control now which means the debts/dcas are losing theirs.

Just do as much or as little as you are able to. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and you've already made that first step.

[BBoo]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

I need to take control otherwise I will fall apart.

I've got some strong glue, and I used to enjoy making models!

[PlanB]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Hope you had an okay weekend.

If you've got heaps of letters from creditors or debt collection agencies which you can't face opening or sorting (I was the same) just post up every time you get a new one and we'll see if it can be tackled one day at a time You can worry about the backlog another time when you're feeling stronger. It makes it easier for us to know the whole picture at the start though. Maybe just post up the names and the amounts of everything first, and then fill in the blanks after that. One post for each debt - I've got more than 20 so you've got nothing to worry about

Plan B xx

[twinkie]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Hi Guys.

Still sorting out letters, however Bryan Carter is going to be the death of me I swear.

So I need help with this one, must say I doubt this dent is UE as it is the ONLY one after 2007 and was infact from last year. It is a mobile phone debt. What happened was my sons phone was stolen and a rack of calls made - at the time I did not acknowledge the bill due to being too ill. So completely ignored it as was in and out of hospital etc.

Got a couple of letters about it and then nothing and again too ill to be bothered. In the last week however, Carter has got his sweaty hands on it and sent me the following two letters ADDING his charges on:

First letter from Frederickson (which is Carter)
Client Everything Everywhere Limited (formerly T Mobile)
Balance £316.38

LETTER BEFORE ACTION

This debt must be paid in full in the next seven days otherwise we will take immediate action (all in caps)

Legal action is now being considered, should it be necessary to issue proceeding in the County Court (or the Sherrif Court as may be appropriate) further additional costs will be added:

Outstanding balance 316.38
Interest. 25.31
Court Fees £30.00
Solicitor Costs £50.00
New balance owed £421.69

If a judgement decree is obtained and remains in satisfied a bailiff or Sherrif officer may be instructed to recover assets to discharge the outstanding debt. Judgement debts are registered to the Court. A judgement debt or decree against you would seriously affect your ability to obtain credit

Payment can be accepted at fredpay.com all usual bumph

That letter arrived on the 20 th May (dated 18th.)
------------

Then on a letter dated 24th May (received 26th May) I get one from Bryan Carter Solicitors headed paper

Now informing me that payment must be made in full in the next 14 days failing which he will recommend proceedings without further notice.

Should proceedings be issued further charges

Outstanding balance 316.38
Interest. 25.31
Court Fees £30.00
Solicitor Costs £50.00
New balance owed £421.69

If you dispute liability of the debt, please state your reasons in writing and supply us with documents in support of your defence of any claim.

Before account is referred to us to litigate you still have opportunity to contact us for payment proposals

This is a serious matter and you may wish to seek independent legal advice...
Signed Bryan Carter

So I am seeking advice from you guys

I thought that if a debt was under £750 it can't be taken to court?

How do I proceed with this... Bearing in mind I doubt it's UE but Carter is pushing me over the edge!

Thanks.. Guys x

[PlanB]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Hi Guys.

So I need help with this one, must say I doubt this dent is UE as it is the ONLY one after 2007 and was infact from last year. It is a mobile phone debt. What happened was my sons phone was stolen and a rack of calls made - at the time I did not acknowledge the bill due to being too ill. So completely ignored it as was in and out of hospital etc.

. . . . . . Then on a letter dated 24 th May (received 26th May) I get one from Bryan Carter Solicitors headed paper

Now informing me that payment must be made in full in the next 14 days failing which he will recommend proceedings without further notice.

Should proceedings be issued further charges


If you dispute liability of the debt, please state your reasons in writing and supply us with documents in support of your defence of any claim.

Before account is referred to us to litigate you still have opportunity to contact us for payment proposals


So I am seeking advice from you guys

I thought that if a debt was under £750 it can't be taken to court?

How do I proceed with this... Bearing in mind I doubt it's UE but Carter is pushing me over the edge!

Thanks.. Guys x

Twinkie. Really good to hear from you. I wondered where you'd gone

A quick question from me: when your son's mobile phone was stolen did he/you report it to the police and get a Crime Reference Number which you could send Bryan Carter as the reason you dispute this bill?

Also did you report it stolen to T-Mob because that should show in their call log if you can get a copy I presume they blocked the phone's IMEI number at some point too and that should be logged giving the reason why they did it.

[Undercover Elsa]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Hi again Twinkie,
The £750 limit is for Bankruptcy proceedings, not CCJ's.
That said, it's not impossible, but unlikely that they'd actually issue a court claim for this amount. Just the usual threatograms to frighten you into paying.

Good question from PlanB above, once we have the answer to that we can discuss how to see off Mr Carter...who is well known for his delusions of adequacy as a solicitor. I've frightened him off myself a few times with words longer than two syllables...

Hope you're coping with the hot weather?

Shep x

[PlanB]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Me again Twinkie.

You vanished before I could finish what I was going to say. You're like the Scarlet Pimpernel

At the moment Bryan Carter have no idea why you haven't paid this bill since no one has told them. They probably assume that you're just refusing to pay or have gone into hiding. They may have a point on the latter ! But they're not psychic so why not let them know that the phone was stolen and that you're in dispute with T-Mob over the charges and ask for the account to be put on hold for 21 days while you talk with their client T-Mob (or is their client a DCA?) to get this sorted out.

If you find writing letters too much of a mission you could email them perhaps.

Plan B x

[twinkie]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

Hi, thanks for the responses. Unfortunately it wasn't reported because when I say "stolen" perhaps I should explain. His friend had used it without his permission during some kind of crisis where the costs incurred are those of the friend persistently ringing someone over and over and over incurring a connection charge each time, then when talking spending 20 minutes, then 10, and so on.

At the time my son thought he had misplaced his phone but found it a few days later (friend had stayed, went home, came back, a few days later, phone reappears) but at the time it was thought the phone was simply misplaced.

Nothing was known about the bill until I received an email notifying me of charges that month. Then the penny dropped. I was too ill to contact T mobile and felt it would be a waste of time because I had seen doing a cursory search that they would hold me liable. All I managed was cancelling the DD online as I did not have that amount of money.

Apart from a couple of letters, I had forgotten about it. I know it's my own fault with this as I was not well enough to deal with it. I don't mind making a payment arrangement but it can't be more than £1 as Carter knows I am paying £1 for another debt due to intending to go BR so I cannot show favour to creditors.

So I do need to send in a letter but if anyone has an idea of what one I would be most grateful as I am out of strength ATM sorry!

I think I need to use the Scarlette Pimpernel as a user name

[PlanB]

Re: Twinkie UE diary

If I found myself in your shoes I would probably get in touch with the mother of your son's friend and explain what happenened to see whether you could get a contribution from them. No need to sound accusatory but explain that you need help to pay this off. If I was the Mum I'd be dead embarrassed and pay up

From what you say making an offer to pay could be the way forward because you don't seem to have anything to dispute (except the interest added) with this debt. If all you can afford is £1 then that's what you should offer for the time being. Bryan Carter is a big firm with a factory like business so they won't know they've already accepted £1 on another debt of yours because it may be under a reference number and not your name. Offer them a quid per month and see what happens. At least they're unlikely to issue court proceedings once you're in dialogue with them