Hi, I have just set up a debt management plan with Stepchange which was completed yesterday. Like you say, at first I was very sceptical about this, but they have quickly arranged everything with my 4 credit cards and knowing I now have a regular monthly payment I can afford has taken a lot of pressure off the finances.
Only 1 of my cards had interest on but the other 3 interest free periods were approaching fast. I rang all 4 of them to tell them I was working with Stepchange to sort my payments out and they were all very helpful instantly gave me 30 days breathing space, stopping the interest on the card and not reverting the others to paying any interest when the free periods expire. They all told me they would have recommended Stepchange if I hadn't already contacted them.
It will affect my credit score, but it's shot anyway at the minute so there's not much to lose for me as I am 60 so unlikely to want any credit in the future. It may be different if you are younger for mortgages and loans but I would say worth looking at.
Good luck
Thanks @Bal.
Thats quite re-assuring as it is very difficult to know which compnanies to trust here. I assume there is no fee involved with Step Change?
Good morning.
No fees are charged by Stepchange.
Best
Thanks everyone so far. much appreciated.
Hi folks, thought I would put an update on my progress.
There has been no progress.
I take my h*r off to anybody with the strength to get through this addiction.
I got paid off at the end of August, walk away with a months salary us and extra grand, luckily enough i have got another job closer to home and one slightly more money.
The past 4 weeks has seen me blow the redundancy money I got. Nobody to blame but myself. I just can't escape it and just feel like a lost cause now. I can't face waking up each morning thinking about the debt. When I don't have a bet on i just go and sleep because I'm tormented when I'm awake. I can't do normal things like watch TV, go a walk or do anything because whats the point? It is a total waste of my time and gives me no satisfaction. If this is what normality is then I'd be be better off in a jail cell.
What us really getting to me is how did I end up like this. I was a bright student and felt I could really achieve something, now I'm skint whilst my friends all have happy lives and well paid jobs. It really makes me want to pack it all in and take the easy way out because I've had enough.
Hello Brian(1994)
Thank you for you posts onto the forum. It sounds very much like you are having a challenging time now in your efforts to stop gambling. I would encourage you to continue these efforts as a life gamble free is possible for you. I am sure you have already seen this here by the many people who post their journeys on to the forum.
What you had before as a bright student has not gone anywhere, it is still within you. The problem gambling can overwhelm a person’s life leaving them thinking there is no way out. This is not true. There are things that can be done to help and support you through this time. We are here 24/7 on the Helpline/Net line tel:08088020133. Please do not hesitate to contact us as we can explore your options and look into how to move forward with this.
Wishing you all the best
Darren
Forum Admin
Hi Brian.
Just catching up on your story. You clearly are at real low but I got into a similar amount of debt to you largely through gambling in my mid 20’s. Like you, I had friends doing well for themselves, buying houses etc and I could help but feel some envy. I got straight on rebuilt my life , settled down , bought a house, got married had a son, but during all this my gambling got bad again and I’m now in far more debt but it’s manageable.
The point I’m making is, you can get straight and you sound a bright guy so your career may will develop and with it you earnings increase. You may feel like you can’t see a happy life ahead without gambling but I’d challenge you to find a new hobby, a new interest, try a few things you’ve never tried before, set yourself a goal, whether a physical challenge or something else.Find something you love and throw yourself into it.
With the right support and tools you’ve a great future ahead. And although it’s a cliche, things can and will get better.
I’m at day 7 now and I’m a Co lately different person than I was this tine last week.
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