Julie's story

Hi, my name is Julie. I’m from Port Talbot, South Wales. I am a single mum to three children.

I got into debt as the children grew older, and I became a single parent, and it was very difficult. And I focused on the children. Obviously, as a mother, I wanted to give them the best I could, and I couldn’t do that and pay the bills. And they escalated.

They didn’t know about how bad my debt was, but they knew there was something going on because I wasn’t myself. It was horrendous, because you’re downhill. You’re on a downhill spiral. There is no light at the end of the tunnel. It’s just like having a rucksack full of bricks around you constantly. You are worried at every knock on the door.

Jody rang me when I was at work, frightened to death. The bailiff was at the door. He was recording everything that she was saying, and while she was on the phone to me, I could hear him shouting at her. It’s just emotional. You just constantly cry and you’re waiting for them to go to bed before you can actually break down. And you just don’t think you can get out of it, and you just think you’re a lost cause.

When I chose to pick up a phone to CAP, it was apprehensive. ​‘Will they help me? Can I get out where I am?’ But I have to try and do something for my daughter, for my children, for myself. So then I rang them, and they were very helpful, and they sent a representative to my house to see me. It started from there, and Hannah took over. Hannah would phone my debt collectors and she asked everything to be put on hold. And yes, everything worked out amazing.

We started the ball rolling in October 2019, and by April 2020, I was bankrupt. I was free. And that was just amazing, just amazing, just unbelievable. I was somewhere where I thought I would never be, and I am. And then since then, even after the bankruptcy, Hannah, CAP, were there for me. She would be there if I needed any support whatsoever. She helped me to arrange all the Direct Debits. I know how many hours I can work to keep my head above water. I know how many hours I can work if I want a little bit more money to play with.

And that is just to be in control again, is just phenomenal. It’s just phenomenal. It’s just a new you. It’s an all-new soul. It’s an all-new warmth. You haven’t got no burdens on you. You’re not worried about the door knocking, you are not worried about answering the front doors.
And also, I have seven grandchildren and to be able to treat them and to be a Nana is the best thing.

It’s still unreal, it’s still unreal to actually realize you have money that you can call yours, to do whatever you want to do with it. And if you want to get extra food, obviously you can get extra food. You’re not living on the breadline.

Now I’m in a better place, emotionally, physically, and mentally. In my spare time, I spend time with my grandchildren and I walk my dog. And life is so much better, so much better. And I now have a purpose to live. There’s nothing I can say, it won’t ever, be enough.