Is this really a good time to sell a home?

Jorgan_2

LD, good luck with getting this sorted out. When I first started reading your thread, my initial thought was that you needed to sell to clear your debts, having read the rest of it, I really hope you can keep your home. There is some great advice on here, once again good luck.

carolt

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

You certainly have helped with some great advice fc123

- btw how does one block the BT phone to mobiles?

I wish I'd known this could be done. I had a dreadfully high bill some months ago and it was all mobile numbers (younger son). I did react a bit hysterically - so he got the message and it's not so bad now but that seems like a very good idea.

Best of luck.

I don't know about blocking mobiles - though I'm sure you can - but can't you just tell your son not to phone mobiles from the home phone, but use a cheap contract mobile?

eg my Virgin mobile gives me 300 mins/month to any numbers incl mobiles for £10/month - I too was racking up a fortune on mobile calls from my home phone till I figured this out! Now I just make sure that we all call mobiles ONLY from mobiles.

EdInvestor

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

In any event - there is a family conference arranged at Chez Lotto tonight.

Very best of luck, let us know what happens.:T

fc123

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

You certainly have helped with some great advice fc123

- btw how does one block the BT phone to mobiles?

I wish I'd known this could be done. I had a dreadfully high bill some months ago and it was all mobile numbers (younger son). I did react a bit hysterically - so he got the message and it's not so bad now but that seems like a very good idea.

The reason we had them blocked was a stonking £500 bill some years back....and the kids stood there (as I was ranting and raving) and said...I didn't make many calls, not me mum, well, perhaps a few....).

You 'phone BT and request call barring facility. I believe it costs a few ££ pm (worth every penny)....they send you a PIN.
To block mobiles (going out, not incoming) you key in *342#. To unblock you key in #342* PIN #.

Watch the bill vanish to hardly anything.

They moan and complain about ''really, urgent, important, lifesaving calls that they NEED to make to mates.....and you just ignore.
Landline call or nothing....just like the olden days. Our son used to go to the callbox to 'phone friends who only had mobiles....then complained how expensive it was (came out of his allowance tho').

lotto-dreamer

Sammy_Girl wrote: »

Good luck with the family conference Lotto. I'm sure that they'll come up with some great ideas

Also, good luck with the bank. Hold your head up high when you walk in. You are not the first person that they will have seen with financial difficulties, and you won't be the last.

But keep us posted please

Thanks Sammy_Girl
x


Should have had that family conference a VERY long time ago :rolleyes: . It was so good to finally discuss it all and it went much better than I expected - however, it has thrown up some 'what ifs'. But, what a relief.

Now to tackle the bank. I shall take a deep breath and think of Rory Bremner's joke - i.e when going to the bank now, it's not easy to tell whether you're borrowing from them, or they're borrowing from you (it sounded funnier when he said it)

I will report back.

Milly1974

Hi Lotto,

Very glad to hear that you have spoken to the boys. I hope they have taken it like the adults they are?

I see that you have used the CCCS website. Have you been in to see anyone in person? They can offer a huge number of services in person, and you might find them even more helpful than the support on these boards.

I am so glad you have decided to fight to keep your home rather than just sell up. It might not be the easy option, but I really hope it will be worth it for you.

To second Sammy Girl, keep us posted!

Milly x

EdInvestor

lotto-dreamer wrote: »

Should have had that family conference a VERY long time ago :rolleyes: . It was so good to finally discuss it all and it went much better than I expected - however, it has thrown up some 'what ifs'. But, what a relief.

Well, done, very pleased to hear it.:beer:

Keep us posted on the next steps.:)

pawpurrs

Well done on approaching the boys, and hope the sale goes through smoothly for you.

lotto-dreamer

Thanks again everyone. Just reporting bank on a rather unsuccessful day.

I rather naively thought the bank - being my biggest creditors - would be the best to approach (only other creditors being Egg and Capital One). But, the bank won't help - won't lower interest rates or make anything easier. Bank manager said I should approach the credit card department separately but she didn't think I would get more than a few months at a lower interest rate if I said I was in difficulties.

Most upsetting was finding out that if I paid back my loan early within next month (assuming sale)- outstanding amount which was £18,707 will turn into an amount of £19,017 approx to pay back. I asked how this worked as I thought some interest would be adjusted and I'd pay less - but apparently "this is how the bank calculates the new loans now". I asked her to explain but she couldn't - said I should have read the agreement.

All in all not a good day.:o

I'm feeling a bit down but at the same time with the support and advice I've had on here -and having discussed it with my sons - I don't feel so alone anymore.

so, it's off to look at rental properties again - and on with the sale. I realise I am lucky in that I do have the means to pay off my debts and have a little over - it could be worse. And, at least my sons are now fully aware of the situation and are prepared to do their bit.

Thank you everyone, from the bottom of my heart - you have all been absolutely great.

I will keep you posted on how the sale goes.

EdInvestor

Re renting, bear in mind that you'll need a good credit record and a guarantor. Might be worth getting that sorted fairly early in the piece.