Coop turned me down, now can't pay rent, OR calling at 2pm. Am sinking......

080808

Hello,
the coop said on the phone i could have a bank a/c and would send me an agreement letter. Just recieved a letter saying they WON'T open me a cash a/c.
Thanks to all who supported me in earlier post to go for it with coop but it seems that the rumour that they are now clamping down on a/c's with people who owe them money is true.
This means, i cannot pay in my housing benefit anywhere in time to get the rent paid.
This means i am in deep deep crap.
And i have my first OR interview this afternoon on the phone.
Sorry if this is scaring others, but i just didn't expect any of these events - ie the possibility of being homeless. i get h/b and have pets, no bank a/c, no cash for deposit etc, bankrupt, screwed.

leonlala

didn't want to read and run,
deep breaths.
what about asking LL for an extension this one time? giving yourself time to sort things out?
someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.

080808

thank you leonlala.
i feel utterly rotten.

Merry_Gentry

Is there any way you can appeal? I only ask because obviously if they are only just bringing in this ruling, you might find you get lucky. I can't remember your exact circumstances - is Barclays an option? Or a post office account??

Jaks

Hi - I don't know what to say, but I want to give you my support.:grouphug:

Your situation is very similar to mine. We get housing benefit and we have to pay our landlord by standing order. I am also worried about what might happen if I can't open a bank account on time to have the housing benefit paid into a account in time to pay the rent.

Have you tried contacting your local housing benefit office to see if there is anything they can do? Or perhaps you could get a crisis loan for the rent (if the housing benefir office can't help) and pay it directly into your landlords account.

Jaks

080808

hey all,
thanks for being there.
i can't get a crisis or any dss loan as i am maxed out with them.
post office no good for h/b payments.
have barclays app ready to post but know will take a few weeks at least and rent is due on 24 this month.
i thought i was managing this really well but despair is taking hold. i feel like packing up my stuff and .... running away

leonlala

I know when i get scared/ stressed its because of what might happen. ie the worst case senario. but when i look at what i would do in this case, ie. homeless, my worry does subside. you've got alot to deal with today, but you can do it!
hugs
lala

Merry_Gentry

Can you get into barclays branch? Would that be faster??

leonlala

can you ask hb to pay in to a friends account then ask friend to make one off payment to LL?

080808

thanks merry, i tried all that last week. barclays only take apps for their basic account by post.
my landlord/agent is known for being very rigid about payments. they charge you for every single thing like sending you a letter about anything or whatever. they just don't muck about.
oh crap

LilyBart

Don't run away. This is a ghastly situation but you will get it sorted. Get your Barclays application in, explain that this is matter of urgency, and call the Co-Op and find our why you have been refused. Is there a relative or friend with an account you can get the HB paid into? Also, call the HB people. You have 10 days to sort this out and it should be do-able in that time.
Your desperation (entirely understandable) seems to be exacerbated by the OR interview. Don't let it be. The banking stuff is an admin problem, no more than that (obviously it's more to you, but to the institutions it's not), and the OR may actually be a very useful person to talk to about this. Deep breaths, clear head, list of people to contact, head down, tackle it. You've got through worse, you can get through this.
Lily
edit - sorry, crossed posts, some repetition