So embarrassed

[kallis3]

That's the site I was thinking of!!!! I have but two brain cells left I think - one is lost and the other is looking for it!!!!!!

Old age is not good!!!!!!

[Julie]

Hi drowning mummy - as everyone has said, just sit tight and one of the experts will be along. We've all had to face up to our money problems so you're amongst friends.

I believe you can keep your account as long as its not one of your creditors. x

[maxdebt]

The co op cashminder account seems to be popular with users of this site it has internet banking and you can make deposits at any post office! They appear very sympathetic to people with money difficulties.

[debtfreesusie67]

I opened up the Co-op Cashminder account on the phone. I wasn't asked why I wanted the account. I also didn't need to take any form of ID in either. Their internet banking is very easy to use and you also get an electron card.

[Viki.W]

I would recommend Melanie Giles, you can get her details from the experts page, there is an online form on her website or you can call her, good luck. Viki X

[drowning-mummy]

Thank you everyone.
I've calmed down a bit now.
Got an appt in 30 mins to open a new account. Decided to do it now, as hubbie is stating a new job on monday.
If they ask, we'll just say personal recommendations and to tie in with new job.
Okay deep breaths..................

Will check out Melanies site. Thanks.
When you try and open a new account, do they run a credit search? Oh Lordy I hope not!!!!!

I guess I just feel like a naughty schoolgirl right now. But you're right. This does need to be sotrted. We are currently robbing Peter to pay Paul and living entirely on credit as we are paying out £1200 pm repaying debts and thats just the minimum payment!

Wish me luck at the bank. Will be back on line about 4pm.

[Octavia]

Best of luck! [;)] let us know how you get on. x

[drowning-mummy]

Phew! All done.

Opened an account with one of the major high street bankers. Joint current account with no frills.

One of our credit cards is due to be paid by DD on monday. In order to pay it, I would have to draw out the funds from the card in cash and then pay them into the bank! Peter and Paul effect again. So shall I just not do it this time and hope that I am accepted for an IVA. Or should I just borrow the money and pay it in?

I just want all my finaces sorted. No more credit. Can you believe that 2 years ago we didnt owe a single penny. Now we owe over £20k!

[Julie]

Good for you - bet you feel better now you're doing something?? Personally, I wouldn't make any payments once you've decided the IVA route is the one you're taking. Check it out with Melanie though just to be safe.

[Moneystinks]

Hi we are with Melanie and she is great! So are her team. It should be a personal choice though. We too have NOT paid our creditors since speaking with Melanies team. We are saving any money we can incase our IVA is accepted so that we have a contingency as we are really unlucky and the car will probably breakdown etc....always the optimist lol.

Melanie is a good choice for us as 1 she is good and 2 she posts on here and sometimes she has responded at 11pm and I have got a decent sleep.

Good luck and best wishes and keep posting as it really helps!

[drowning-mummy]

Hi again,
I've just sent all my details to Melanie. We have £24,500!!!!
I just feel so ashamed.
About 50% of it could have been avoided, i.e. living beyond our means, but the other 50% was unavoidable. Not coping on maternity pay (2 babies) and then my husband through no fault of his own, being unemployed and not claiming any sort of benefit (though he starts his new job on monday[:)])s

Gosh I hope that this gets sorted. I've developed stress related eczema on my body and I want it to go!

[facingittogether]

hi drowningmummmy and welcome!

just wanted to say, please dont be ashamed, i know it is human nature, but no one will judge you on here, we are all here to help and support each other and most of us are in silmilar positions to you!

you will be fine with melanie and you have done the hardest bit by facing up to your problems! well done, be proud and in a short time you will have all this sorted!

love barb x

[getting there]

The bank will almost certainly run a credit check. But providing you have no defaults so far to any of your creditors this should be OK, providing that all you are asking for is a basic account.
I'am with Lloyds TSB and set up my new account before going forward with my IVA and got a Cash Plus account. My new card arrived last month and surprise it's now a Visa card as well, which before it was not and I found that a bit restrictive having to use cash all the time.
As far as Debt Free Direct are concerned I would think carefully. Not wishing to run them down but I have experienced difficulties with them in the past.
They are great at setting up the IVA etc. but once on board they can be very slow responding to problems. (see my earlier post on losing shift allowance) which by the way is still up in air and so far it's taken since Jan and still counting to sort out. All I want is a variation as I'am losing so much salary.
Still do not panic, speak to an expert asap, review your options and then things will get a lot better.
I know 5 years seams a long time but it will pass quicker than you think. I have 18 months to go (including a year extension) and I'am wondering where the time went.
So chin up, you will get nothing but support and help on here.
All the best. Kenny

[drowning-mummy]

Thank you Kenny.

I'm somebody who goes on personal recommendations and after an afternoon of reading, I have decided that the personal touch is better for me, so if Melanie will have me then that is the path that I would like to follow.
Like you, I opened the account without any mention of an IVA. We have never defaulted and until recently have kept up to date on our payments, so I guess that is why we were given the account (it is a joint classic account so no idea what card we will get).

I'm starting to see a clearing up ahead. Fingers crossed. Just waiting to hear back from Melanies team x

[getting there]

Just think, once the IVA is up and running....ohhhhh no more nasty letters or phone calls. I can still remember the day.