just need to cry...

Try to hang in there! It is a long process but it will be worth it in the end. I'm still trying to play catch up from the damage mine have done and for some reason I feel like crying today too! It will get better, it has to!

Reny, HAve you contacted the credit card companies atleast to keep them poset regarding your situation. Sometimes they will work with you. As for the pdls...please hang in there. I know it seems like it takes forever but it is worth it. I know how frustrating it is and right now it is easy for me to say becuase I am on the other side of my mess but you have come so far and you can do this! :hug:

I agree with Roxy, call your credit card companies and explain your situation to them. They might be willing to work with you - mine always have been. Sometimes they even take off all the fees if you can give them an idea of when you will be able to pay. they want their money in the easiest way possible so they are often willing to deal. Good luck!

Thanks guys, no I haven't called them. I'm scared. I know I can't pay them anything right now, I guess I just figured there was no sense.

Sometimes it's hard to bite the bullet and let your other creditors what's going on, but it really is important to stay pro-active, even if it means explaining you are having financial difficulties and are unable to meet your obligations for the time being. You may be pleasantly surprised at the response you receive from them. They may even have a program you aren't aware of for such hardships, it's worth inquiring about, and will show them you are being responsible.

i have found that credit cards are willing to work with you.i would let them know honestly when you can get caught up with them.it is hard,but once you talk to them it seems like a weight off.

I would have to agree with the credit cards willing to help. I have had one that I was severly late on and they gave me many chances to take care of it. I just called the other day because they said if I paid $34 I could have it not be charged off. I did this and explained my situation and they let me go on a plan to pay $40 a month for 12 months with no late charges or interest and after the 12 months I would have a regular payment of minimum due but still not late or interest charges. It was nice to know they were willing to work with me.

I got in the same fix w/ my credit cards, trying to pay them AND the PDL's. Please contact your credit card companies, maybe they could work out a "hardship" plan for you to pay them back.

Call your other creditors to see if they will work out a payment plan for you. I understand what you are going through but you are going to make it. In the words of Don Cornelius of Soul Train, I wish you "Love Peace and Blessings"(I know the word is Soullllllllllllllllll! but blessings was a better choice of words)There are still days I feel like crying but this forum is making me feel like I can carry one for one more day with God's Help.

You all are so wonderful!!! Did I tell you I worked myslef up so good this morning that I had to call into work and was like 3 hours late, until I could get calmed down?? It truly is this group that keeps me going. The days and nights I've spent worrying and crying are to many to count...Good news is I did talk to one cc company today that me a hubby both have accounts with and yes they were helpful and nice! Now I have 4 more to talk to. I keep looking at my budget and praying it will be enough, that's all I can do. I'm trying to figure out how to make extra income, my job is very demanding, but I trying to think what maybe I can do on the weekends, I need to get this over with.

To top it off, my Cash Call payment is due Thursday, if I pay it I will only have a few dollars until next week and with gas prices that won't get it. I called them today and OF COURSE, they said they can't take the payment next Friday on my payday....YURG< So, I'm not sure what to do about that. I went a couple of weeks past due with them in December and GOOD LORD, they called and called like 30 times a day it seemed like. Oh well all I can do is what I can do, right?

Thanks again friends, Reny

Cash Call is a pain but they are not a payday lender. Call them to see if they have a program that will help you to get back on your feet. Good Luck and God Bless.

yes, I know they are not a PDL and I also know what a pain they are...I did call them, but they offer no help:(..Thanks though:)

Do you have an Employee Assistance Program where you work? It is totally confidential and very worthwhile.
You could talk with someone that can help you to cope with this while you work it out.

You know we do and that might not be a bad idea....Thanks for the tip, I had not thought of getting some help with my nerves!

I have another suggestion, if either of you have a 401k plan, you might look into borrowing against that. Also, perhaps you could contact your local inner church, they're usually wonderful about helping out in a crisis, they can help on utilities, food, etc., and they are such wonderful people.

Thanks Shazz, My husband does have a 401 and its got some money in it, enough to take care of this entire mess, only problem is he company doesn't allow you to borrow against it!! So dumb! He put most of the money in there, they don't match very much at all...

Sheesh, that's a shame, usually those types of plans allow you to borrow against it, it isn't up to your employer, it's whoever the plan is with, at least that's what I thought. Mine is with Principal, and they're great about loaning against it. Oh well, you can always try inner church, they truly are wonderful people.

AH ok well then it the company that holds the plan, i didn't know that! I'm sorry to sound dumb here but what is an "inner church"?

Shazzers, you got a point there. Imale, I do not understand why your husband'c company will not let him borrow money from his 401K. It's his money. I have a loan now with my 401K and all I had to do was fill out some paperwork and I was done. The only time that you can not borrow against your 401K is that you have a outstanding loan already. In that case you will have to repay the balance of the loan. Also the IRS will let you get money out of your 401K if you are having a hardship. A hardship is defined as medical bills that insurance will not cover, eviction from primary residence, college tuition, and some other things that I can not recall at the time. The major disadvanage is with a "hardship withdrawal" you will be responible for the taxes if you are not 59 and 1/2. But you can let them take the taxes from your check before you get the money. Also you can not make any money in your 401K for a period of time. The interest rates are much cheaper than a payday loan.

It's usually a local (religious) organization that runs strictly on donations, and helps people out in a crisis. If you look in your local phone book under "Inner Church" or call your Chamber Of Commerce they can give you the nearest Inner Church location.

I had to borrow against my 401K to replace my funance to the tune of $4300...ouch! I went through the plan administrator to get the loan.

Oh yes, borrowing against your 401k plan is the way to go, they usually deduct a small amount from your paycheck automatically each pay period. As far as I know, you don't necessarily need to have a hardship to borrow, most plans will allow you two loans, but you can only borrow up to 50% of your vested amount. I applied for my loan online, never even had to walk in the office, and my employer wasn't involved in any way.

In fact, after I applied for the loan, they sent me the papers to sign, I sent them back and within a week I had a check in the mail.

yeah, we don't understand it either, I think his 401k is Lincoln something like that. If I remember correctly, they were only going to let him have it if we could prove, hardships, like mentioned above, eviction or medical bills.

Is it Lincoln Retirement Financial Services?

yes i think thats it

Here's a link, maybe you could read up on it. If it's the correct one.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Lincoln-401k---Can-Lincoln-Help-You-Reach-Your-Retirement-Goals?&id=754493

BOY! You are good! THANKS!

Nah, I just used google. lol!

Your husband can borrow up to a certain % of what is in the fund. He has to pay the loan back. The only time you can use a "hardship withdrawal" is if you are getting evicted from your home, medical bills that insurance will not pay, educational expenses for yourself or a child or to pay for funeral expenses. Your family's best bet is to get the 401K loan that way your husband will be paying himself back by way of payroll deduction.