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  • UE - SIX Years On!

    One year on...

    To-day May 11th is exactly 1 year since I sent off for my first CCA and began my UE journey.

    When I started the journey I was in credit card debt to the tune of £130K, I won’t go into detail about how I allowed myself to end up in such a desperate financial position, if you are interested you can read a little of my story at the beginning of my diary.
    By March of last year, I had reached a point where I was in such despair that I could not function properly; I was verging on the brink of becoming mentally unstable, so much so I even contemplated suicide at one particular low point.

    I was paying back £30K per year to service my credit cards, and with the continuing growth in interest charges, I was getting known where fast, in some cases the outstanding balances increased even though I was paying more than the minimum monthly payments. I realised it could not continue, I was robbing Peter to pay Paul, paying credit cards with credit cards, and also draining my business of much needed cash flow.
    I had worked hard to try and build a reasonable business and looked forward to the time when I could enjoy the fruits of that hard work as I grew older. But all those dreams looked like falling apart, going bankrupt, losing my home and business now looked a real possibility.

    I didn’t bury my head in the sand when I realised how bad my finances had become, I tried to think of positive ways to deal with the situation, I started by contacting all my card creditors, and explained my unfortunate financial position, I asked for help by way of freezing interest on the accounts, and agreeing a fixed monthly payment so I could at least start to reduce the debts.

    All my pleading fell on deaf ears, not one of them was interested, it seemed help wasn’t in their remit, in fact all my letters seemed to achieve was credit limits got immediately reduced to what the card balance was, or in some cases, below the balance which put my account in arrears and resulted in interest overcharges, some creditors also increased the interest charges. I had certainly succeeded in starting the alarm bells ringing even though at that stage I wasn’t in arrears with any of the accounts.

    I did contact a debt management company, following a one and half hour phone call one Sunday evening with a “councilor” I had the feeling it wasn’t going to be the right direction for me, it would appear the “management company” would be the real winners in taking the lion’s share of any payment plan they arranged with my creditors, promises of getting my debts written off after a couple of years of payments and my credit file would still be intact, was just too good to be true, so I quickly put an end to the suggestion of going down that route.

    So what now? I thought ok maybe one of the free debt advice charities can offer me some sort of help or even negotiate with my creditors to persuade them to accept a payment plan. While researching this possibility I came across “another site” and on the forum there, I started to read threads from people
    who, in varying degrees had also found themselves in a similar position to me, (and there was me feeling sorry for myself, the only one in the UK who had serious debt problems)…NOT!

    It was while reading thorough the various threads that I came across a lady, with the user name “mouseanne” Little did I know when I first started to read her thread, how this was going to change my life. I only read a few of the posts to start with, but something drew me back to mouseanns thread, and I spent a good few hours reading her story from the very first page. She was receiving advice from a few different members, but one stuck out more than the rest, “Niddy”! Who was guiding mouseann and discussing the unenforceability of many credit card agreements, in particular many flawed ones were issued around the dates that many of mine began.

    This was my first introduction to UE, I had never even heard the term used before.
    Could this be for me? I began to think very carefully about it, could it help me? what about the moral implications,

    I had always believed you had to pay back what you owed, In fact I suppose I still do, but then I thought, ok I have used credit card money, but they have had the capitol back and profit on the loans over the years, they had me well and truly on the hook paying back the outrageous interest charges each month, they didn’t care about me as a person in trouble, they don’t want you settling your debts, they just keep squeezing until there is nothing left to squeeze out.

    When the banks made a mess of their finances while continuing to pay themselves massive bonuses, they simply went cap in hand to the government for a bailout plan. Where can the man in the street go for his bailout plan? No where! So do I feel I am doing something morally wrong, no not any more? This is my life, the only one I have got, and I don’t have a lot of it left at my advancing years.

    So here I am on the UE journey. I have not paid one single payment to any of my credit card accounts since March 2010. When I started out on this journey I didn’t really know what I was letting myself in for or how things would turn out, I still don’t know what the final result will be.

    In the months since I stopped payments, first I had the general “must bring your account up to date” letters from my creditors, this then progressed on to chaser letters from DCA’s. Some of my creditors have closed my accounts and now leave it to DCA’s to chase me for money. As the months have gone by, the letters have reduced significantly. I have received a number of CCA’s from my creditors, most of them have been deemed UE, and to date I have not had any court action taken by any of them.

    I continue to respond to DCA threats with the help of our mentor, the site owner, Niddy and his excellent template letters, which up to now usually stops them in their tracks and they pass the debt back to the original creditor, who in turn pass it to another DCA in the hope they can get better results. It is an endless task of letters going back and forth, but that is a tiny inconvenience to put up with. Although it can never be taken too lightly it is almost like a game dueling with the DCA’s.

    One year on I still have £130K of debt (more with added interest). But at least I am fighting back now, and in a much better place mentally and physically.

    As I said earlier, I don’t yet know what the final result will be, yes my previous good credit rating is now in tatters but, a year on I have managed to function without the need for credit, in fact I was pleasantly surprised as how well you can do without credit when necessary. And I have no regrets whichever way it turns out, I believe I have taken the right route, if at the end of the day I end up having to pay half of the original debts, it will be a fantastic result.

    I’m not endorsing the UE route is for everyone, you need to look carefully at your own situation, and think long and hard before embarking on it. But if you do decide it is for you, then you have found the right place to help you guide you through the process.

    This forum now plays a major part in my life, I have made many new friends, ok mostly on line friends, but that is irrelevant, I still consider them friends, not only do we come here for financial guidance, you will find an answer to almost anything here if you ask, and it is also a great place for socialising, somewhere to come and get away from the day to day routine for a while. Long may it continue.

    Thank you for reading my story, and thank you Niddy for your invaluable help, and giving us this platform to express ourselves.
    Last edited by Never-In-Doubt; 24 June 2017, 16:10.

  • #2
    Re: UE - One year on

    Ahh Allan what a lovely post- so well written and just so heartfelt.

    I wish you all the very best of luck with your journey and I am so glad to have "met" you on here - and three cheers for Nid!

    I must say that the support i have had from those who are on their journeys on already is fab!

    xx

    .

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: UE - One year on

      I agree with every word Loo has said Allan and I wish you lots of luck too xx
      "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride"

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: UE - One year on

        Well done Allan, and everbody. I was in the same posaition has Allan with more or less the same amount of debt.It will be 3 years in Octorber when i started my unenforceable journey, and it does get better. All i can say is keep figthing and stay strong it does get better.
        I'm an official AAD Moderator and also a volunteer, here to help make the forum run smoothly. Any views or opinions are mine and not the official line of AAD. Similarly, any advice I have offered you is done so on an informal basis, without prejudice or liability. If in doubt seek advice from a qualified insured professional - Find a Solicitor or go to the National Probono Centre.

        If you spot an abusive or libellous post then please report it by Clicking Here. If you need to contact me, for instance if I've issued you a warning, moved, edited or deleted your post, please send me a message by clicking my username.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: UE - One year on

          Thank you, Alland, for taking the time to post.

          Every word of it is reflective of the journey most have us have been on - so to anybody reading that may be at the start of their journey, wondering what the future may hold and feeling alone - please come and join us.

          We, thanks to this wonderful site and especially to Never-in-doubt (Niddy to his friends) have got our lives back - we sleep at night, laugh again, and have found out that underneath all of the shame and anxiety, the person that we used to be is still there once we realise that we do have the power to help ourselves.

          Debt really isn't the be all and end all.

          diddly xxx
          If happy little bluebirds fly, beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can't I?

          sigpic

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: UE - One year on

            Alland,

            This is such an inspiring post and reflects the feelings of so many of us - well, certainly me!

            I am particularly touched by this because I am the "original Mouseann"! When I left the "other place" I decided to drop the "mouse image" - mainly because, thanks to Niddy, I had managed to recover my fighting spirit and no longer felt like a mouse!

            My journey started just over a year ago and has been quite similar to your own. (But, I wasn't sustaining a business - just got into a stupid muddle with credit cards and extortionate interest rates!) My "journey" has taken a few different turns recently, though.

            I just can't find words adequate enough to express my thanks to Niddy - I just hope he knows the difference he has made, not just to me, but to others. I think he does realise this - as he has invested so much of himself in us and this site. But, I am not going to embarass him by going "fluffy bunny" as I know it just isn't his style!

            And, apart from regaining my strength I also regained my sense of humour, thanks to the friends I have made on here. They have taught me that being in debt and a sense of humour are not mutually exclusive - in fact, the ability to laugh and joke with my friends on here (none of whom I have actually met in person!) has been a real bonus, and has helped enormously when I have been feeling down. The move to AAD from the "other place" made me realise what real friends are like - and how to tell the difference!

            Well, that's enough of the fluffiness - for tonight, at least!

            xxxx
            I'm an official AAD Moderator and also a volunteer, here to help make the forum run smoothly. Any views or opinions are mine and not the official line of AAD. Similarly, any advice I have offered you is done so on an informal basis, without prejudice or liability. If in doubt seek advice from a qualified insured professional - Find a Solicitor or go to the National Probono Centre.

            If you spot an abusive or libellous post then please report it by Clicking Here. If you need to contact me, for instance if I've issued you a warning, moved, edited or deleted your post, please send me a message by clicking my username.

            Comment


            • #7
              BLOG ENTRY

              Allan

              I was asked to Blog this mate - so if it's alright with you, i've done so.

              read all about it here: ---> http://forums.all-about-debt.co.uk/blog.php?b=151

              I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

              If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: BLOG ENTRY

                Originally posted by Never-In-Doubt View Post
                Allan

                I was asked to Blog this mate - so if it's alright with you, i've done so.

                read all about it here: ---> http://forums.all-about-debt.co.uk/blog.php?b=151

                Of course mate, no problem at all, if reading about my journey can give the slightest bit of comfort or hope to even one soul who finds themselves in financial despair then I will be a very happy guy.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: UE - One year on

                  Allan

                  Thanks for this thread mate - its really well illustrated and gives people who are still at that 'perusal' stage the opportunity to see what lies ahead which is what I suppose you all wanted when you first started reading the forums.

                  It's great, from an owners perspective, to see the differing stages, action and results of many of you - some have had an awful time what with lenders throwing claim forms left, right and centre, whilst others have managed to create a surreal situation where the lenders seem to be avoiding them. But all in all, it seems the forum is continuing to grow, we continue to see new and extensive problems and best of all - we are still here fighting our corner.

                  Now, as for us, you'll notice comments above about the 'other site' - this was MSE, supposedly one of the main money related forums out there. Granted, it is but what they don't advertise so much is that they were allowing bullying to debtors - so in essence creating an even worse environment for some people. For instance when you've just spend a month building up courage to post about your "situation" to then get some pleb come along and say "you're trying to wriggle out of your debt" or similar nonsense, it's not nice and can (and probably has) put people back to square one. The reason we were born is as a direct result of the sustained abuse aimed at several long-term posters, which the forum management didn't care about.

                  One things for sure, if anyone tries to bully a debtor on here they'll be restricted to reading posts only until they see the error of their ways! We simply won't allow it, thus as Allan and the others have stated, this is a safe haven for many and because we specialise in debt advice, we're not forcing smart-arse savers down your throat.

                  Unenforceability is not for everyone, nor are a lot of other debt designed help programs but one things for sure, we'll give you the oomph to take the fight back to your creditors - that's a guarantee. MouseAnn or Phoenix (rising from the flames) is living proof of this.

                  Now onto Phoenix, as she started to explain her situation is somewhat different to Allans and as a result of varying factors we removed her diary from the forums so unfortunately it is no longer there to view. However suffice to say, things didn't all go to plan and although over £100k was classed as unenforceable, a couple are looking to issue ccj's which again, isn't the end of the world being Phoenix is not exactly rolling in money so she'll just pay what the courts advise, when they say to pay. If you leave it to the DCA then sometimes they demand so much money that it makes you hide and stop paying, or get in more debt to repay them - the courts alleviate this by taking everything into account and usually ensure a fair and affordable payment plan is in place.

                  So, the moral of my post? Thanks everyone, without which we'd not be here today and best of all, we'd not be causing so much hurt to the banks and debt collection agencies out there. For that, I am eternally grateful cos if there's one thing I hate more than a DCA its a goddam bank!

                  Thanks everyone, lets continue to advertise the fact we exist and get into helping others that need our support and advice.

                  Allan, well done mate - you're a prime example of a worse case scenario and you're handling it brilliantly. Yea, the future is the kind of unknown, but the ultimate plan is to fight the lenders and DCA's into submission and if they fancy a day in court then that's something we'll worry about as and when. Generally speaking, you'll notice the letters/calls etc slow down from year 3 to year 6 with the odd few chaser letters coming, afterwhich we'll be looking for the Limitation Period to allow you closure via Statute Barred.

                  I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

                  If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: UE - One year on

                    Originally posted by Phoenix View Post
                    Alland,

                    This is such an inspiring post and reflects the feelings of so many of us - well, certainly me!
                    I am particularly touched by this because I am the "original Mouseann"!
                    Ann I owe you a debt that I will never ever be able to repay, if you had not started your thread over at the "other place" I would never have come across it, and I really don't know where I would have been today.

                    I most certainly would not have found our Niddy who has guided us through the minefield so far.

                    Thank you. xx
                    Last edited by alland; 11 May 2011, 21:10.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: UE - One year on

                      Originally posted by alland View Post
                      who has guided us through the minefield so far.
                      & who'll continue to do so mate - you know this!
                      I'm the forum administrator and I look after the theme & features, our volunteers & users and also look after any complaints or Data Protection queries that pass through the forum or main website. I am extremely busy so if you do contact me or need a reply to a forum post then use the email or PM features offered because I do miss things and get tied up for days at a time!

                      If you spot any spammers, AE's, abusive or libellous posts or anything else that just doesn't feel right then please report them to me as soon as you spot them at: webmaster@all-about-debt.co.uk

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: UE - One year on

                        And to think, we thought we'd lost you after the MSE fiasco.

                        Should have known that you'd just get bigger, stronger and more determined after being treated so badly by those that should have been grateful and supportive to someone genuinely trying to assist their members.

                        When someone with good knowledge and a genuine interest in supporting our cause comes here, we welcome them with open arms.
                        If happy little bluebirds fly, beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can't I?

                        sigpic

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: UE - One year on

                          Originally posted by diddlydee View Post
                          And to think, we thought we'd lost you after the MSE fiasco.

                          Should have known that you'd just get bigger, stronger and more determined after being treated so badly by those that should have been grateful and supportive to someone genuinely trying to assist their members.

                          When someone with good knowledge and a genuine interest in supporting our cause comes here, we welcome them with open arms.
                          Well said, Diddles!

                          I am sure you speak for all of us in this!
                          I'm an official AAD Moderator and also a volunteer, here to help make the forum run smoothly. Any views or opinions are mine and not the official line of AAD. Similarly, any advice I have offered you is done so on an informal basis, without prejudice or liability. If in doubt seek advice from a qualified insured professional - Find a Solicitor or go to the National Probono Centre.

                          If you spot an abusive or libellous post then please report it by Clicking Here. If you need to contact me, for instance if I've issued you a warning, moved, edited or deleted your post, please send me a message by clicking my username.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: UE - One year on

                            Diddles you certainly speak for me and so does Alland xxxx Niddy you can never really know what exactly you are to us,not only for some peace but i for one feel human again and not sum lowlife to be bullied by all those moneygrabbers who btw were chucking money left right and centre not long before, and yes we had it but they knew we would ,so now they will just have to lose out , and they do not even lose as the money they have in inerest i am sure would cover debts hundreds of times over.I cannot say that we have money now for luxuries as hubby is 62 and finds work very hard to find (he is a builder) but it has left us with more for day to day living and household commitments.
                            So Lord Nid we are here can never express our gratitude enough because there really are no words to thank someone who cares enough to give free time you are without doubt pricless mate
                            xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxx
                            if you do it today and you like it you can always do it again tomorrow


                            I'm an official AAD Moderator and also a volunteer, here to help make the forum run smoothly. Any views or opinions are mine and not the official line of AAD. Similarly, any advice I have offered you is done so on an informal basis, without prejudice or liability. If in doubt seek advice from a qualified insured professional - Find a Solicitor or go to the National Probono Centre.

                            If you spot an abusive or libellous post then please report it by Clicking Here. If you need to contact me, for instance if I've issued you a warning, moved, edited or deleted your post, please send me a message by clicking my username.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: UE - One year on

                              Thank you Allan for such an inspirational, eloquent and heartfelt post.

                              Although our situations are different, there are many parts of your post that I can identify with: the despair, the alarm bells ringing with the creditors even though you're trying to do your best to sort out a difficult situation, coming across Mouseann's thread (in fact I can remember replying to your first post on that thread), the support and friendship from the others on this forum and most of all, the guidance from Niddy.

                              People who are in debt are made to feel ashamed, almost like a leper if you dare mention that you have debt problems. It isn't something that you can talk about openly, except on a forum like this (especially this forum). By opening up on here, and talking about your problems, makes you realise that you are not alone and that there is hope after all.

                              Unenforceabilty isn't an 'easy way out' or a way to 'wriggle out of' paying your debts as some people would have you believe, it's a way of getting your life (and sanity) back. UE is a bloody difficult journey at times but made all the more easier with the support on this forum.

                              I met up with a friend from uni tonight, who I don't see very often, who remarked how well I'm looking and that I seem a lot brighter than the last time she saw me (last year.) This, I believe, is due in a large part to this forum and my friends here. (where's the fluffy bunny smiley?)

                              To any newcomers looking at this, I would just like to say that there is hope and we're living proof of it.
                              Last edited by Pixie; 12 May 2011, 21:33. Reason: spelling mistakes - told you I was feeling ill and knackered!
                              Let your smile change the world but don't let the world change your smile


                              I'm an official AAD Moderator and also a volunteer, here to help make the forum run smoothly. Any views or opinions are mine and not the official line of AAD. Similarly, any advice I have offered you is done so on an informal basis, without prejudice or liability. If in doubt seek advice from a qualified insured professional - Find a Solicitor or go to the National Probono Centre.

                              If you spot an abusive or libellous post then please report it by Clicking Here. If you need to contact me, for instance if I've issued you a warning, moved, edited or deleted your post, please send me a message by clicking my username.

                              Comment

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