I am absolutely certain during the year, and expecially at Christmas, everyone will blow their credit card or spend every penny they have to buy Christmas presents and go to the pub. Then in January they will think, "why did l get into this mess?"

l know, as l have been there, there are many people out there who will help you get over it.

Contact Debtline 0808 808 4000, and talk to friends, who might be able to help you. Sit down with your partner, not in front of the kids, and draw a circle, about the size of a dinner plate, and put all the bills, in the circle, the FIRST thing you MUST pay is the rent, or mortgage, if you can't pay, contact them DON'T leave it, then write a letter (recorded/keep copy) explaining the situation and come to some sort of arrangement with them.

if you get debt collectors or bailiffs contacting you, don't let them pressurise you into paying something you cannot afford, they have a great habit of that. Whatever you do DON'T LET THEM IN, if you don't let them in they cannot do anything, no matter what they tell you.

When you get a letter from DC, whatever you do, when you call them don't get angry, this makes them happier as they know they are upsetting you. if you get a court letter, contact them, you CANNOT ignore these, and often the courts can help you.

You can always get a of your credit report, through Experian or Equifax, there is a small fee but it's very useful. It's often not as bad as you think.

Try to make your life easier in 2008, there is always someone out who will help, but remember to think BEFORE you buy that expensive item. Do you really need it and can you really afford it?

Skull

Originally Posted by Skull if you get debt collectors or bailiffs contacting you...

...tough shit. Nobody forced you to spend money that wasn't yours to spend.


If you're not willing to take responsibility for your actions, don't take those actions in the first place. I wouldn't expect a socialist to have the slightest understanding of the previous sentence.

Originally Posted by Rabbit ...tough shit. Nobody forced you to spend money that wasn't yours to spend. The name of the game is taking responsibility for your actions. I wouldn't expect a socialist to have the slightest idea what that means.

I agree, up to a point. However what about where bailiffs are used for people struggling with council tax that's more than trebled under the Socialists?

And what about banks taking advantage of people with learning difficulties by chucking big loans at them? One bloke round here hanged himself over that after banks lent him over £45,000 - and he didn't even have a job!

Bailiffs are the evil scum of the Earth.

Originally Posted by Scrotnig I agree, up to a point. However what about where bailiffs are used for people struggling with council tax that's more than trebled under the Socialists?

As far as I know, they take it out of your wages.

And what about banks taking advantage of people with learning difficulties by chucking big loans at them? One bloke round here hanged himself over that after banks lent him over £45,000 - and he didn't even have a job!

Politically correct euphemisms from the most vocal opponent of political correctness? How lovely.
If he was stupid enough to take out loans he couldn't afford, how is that anyone's fault but his?

Bailiffs are the evil scum of the Earth.

Agreed, but that still doesn't excuse stupid, irresponsible spending.

Originally Posted by Rabbit As far as I know, they take it out of your wages.

That's after the bailiff stage, they need the court committal hearing for that.

Originally Posted by Rabbit Politically correct euphemisms from the most vocal opponent of political correctness? How lovely. If he was stupid enough to take out loans he couldn't afford, how is that anyone's fault but his?

Of course he was "stupid enough", he had learning difficulties. A third party had power of attorney on his account, but despite knowing this, and knowing the circumstances, the bank still wrote to HIM with the loan offers, and then cited "automated processes". Well then, their automated processes aren't good enough! We need to protect the vulnerable in society. That's not a Socialist thing, it's a human thing.

Originally Posted by Rabbit Agreed, but that still doesn't excuse stupid, irresponsible spending.

Completely agree, as long as the person is of sound mind to start with. If not, they need society's help.

Originally Posted by Scrotnig That's after the bailiff stage, they need the court committal hearing for that.

Not true, and I can prove it's not true.

Of course he was "stupid enough", he had learning difficulties. A third party had power of attorney on his account, but despite knowing this, and knowing the circumstances, the bank still wrote to HIM with the loan offers, and then cited "automated processes". Well then, their automated processes aren't good enough! We need to protect the vulnerable in society. That's not a Socialist thing, it's a human thing.

Why do "we need" to protect the vulnerable? You might want to on compassionate grounds, but that's something entirely different.
OK, some unscrupulous bastard at the bank stitched this guy up, and I agree that's indefensible, but it still comes back to what REALLY pisses me off about the attitude of the majority of people in this country, and that is everyone wants everything to be someone else's fault. Why didn't the attorney change the account address to the attorney's address? And if the account holder was too stupid to know that he had filled out a loan form, how was he clever enough to fill the damn thing out in the first place?

Originally Posted by Rabbit Not true, and I can prove it's not true.

Only a court can grant an attachment of earnings order - currently.
However, watch out for Labour's plan for councils to be given mandatory access to your bank account. If you don't pay they go in and take it without your consent.

Originally Posted by Rabbit Why do "we need" to protect the vulnerable? You might want to on compassionate grounds, but that's something entirely different.

Because it's the right thing to do.

Originally Posted by Rabbit And if the account holder was too stupid to know that he had filled out a loan form, how was he clever enough to fill the damn thing out in the first place?

Have you seen these "guaranteed approval" loan forms? They are already filled in for you. You just sign them and get the money, that's the whole problem.

People's expectations are too high at Christmas, especially many children, and instead of parents trying to rectify this, parents all too often try to live up to these expectations, regardless of whether it's beyond their means. For the record, I didn't get the promised pay settlement package from the NHS which everyone was led to believe would be included in the December wage, and rumour has it we probably won't. As a result, my kids, who had already agreed to not having separate presents in favour of a Nintendo Wii, and who also agreed to wait until the January sales, settled for much less until such time I can afford one. One received a personal CD player for £9.99, and the other, a plasma lamp which was on sale for £5. Since they didn't think they would be getting anything from me for the time being, they were over the moon. I asked my son, who's 12, where else we could cut back, and he suggested we didn't bother with the tree this year. Rather than being disappointed, I left him in charge of 'where else we could hang the lights instead', which to him, was much more fun.

We all agreed to save money for the Christmas and New Years drinks down my family local, which they would much prefer to do.

Yes, I am blowing my own horn on this one.

Emxx

Originally Posted by Em Path People's expectations are too high at Christmas, especially many children, and instead of parents trying to rectify this, parents all too often try to live up to these expectations, regardless of whether it's beyond their means. For the record, I didn't get the promised pay settlement package from the NHS which everyone was led to believe would be included in the December wage, and rumour has it we probably won't. As a result, my kids, who had already agreed to not having separate presents in favour of a Nintendo Wii, and who also agreed to wait until the January sales, settled for much less until such time I can afford one. One received a personal CD player for £9.99, and the other, a plasma lamp which was on sale for £5. Since they didn't think they would be getting anything from me for the time being, they were over the moon. I asked my son, who's 12, where else we could cut back, and he suggested we didn't bother with the tree this year. Rather than being disappointed, I left him in charge of 'where else we could hang the lights instead', which to him, was much more fun. We all agreed to save money for the Christmas and New Years drinks down my family local, which they would much prefer to do. Yes, I am blowing my own horn on this one. Emxx

You're absolutely right though. Big expensive presents isn't what it's all about, and if children can be taught to realise that, it'll stand them in good stead for adulthood.

Me, I am (and always have been) much more touched by the gesture than anything else. Someone could by me a secnd class stamp for Christmas, and it would still mean a lot for them having been thoughtful enough to get me something.

Originally Posted by Scrotnig Only a court can grant an attachment of earnings order - currently. However, watch out for Labour's plan for councils to be given manadtory access to your bank account. If you don't pay they go in and take it without your consent.

For info: When I moved out of my previous address, the person who moved in after me re-registered me for council tax without my knowledge. Two years later I was contacted at work and told that I owed a truckload of money and I explained that I had moved and had registered at my new address and I told them what my new address (in the same borough) was. They didn't send any bailiffs, they just took money directly for five months before I was able to stop them. It took me a further year to get my money back.

Because it's the right thing to do.

That is not an answer to the question that was asked.

Have you seen these "guaranteed approval" loan forms?

No. I do not read anything from banks and loan sharks that I haven't asked for.