Financial Hardship claim and pets

funnyfilly

Hi,

I have spoken to my bank (Halifax) regarding a financial hardship claim and they have agreed that I am in financial hardship and have advised me to go to Citizens Advice to fill in a form and get a letter from them, so they can start the ball rolling with claiming my charges back.

I have 2 horses and am worried that once this revenue form is filled in that the bank won't accept that I am in financial hardship. Will they be seen as a luxury, as I am not prepared to part with them as they are much loved pets, which I have had for years. Is it best to put down the horses keep, or do I not reveal that, as I am not sure that this comes in under the essential living costs, although obviously it is essential that I feed them etc. My costs in keeping both of them do not exceed £350 a month as they live outside, and this is really cheap for horses. I am suffering badly from financial hardship, with a lot of bills going unpaid and the money would help pay off some of my debts. If I reveal the horses is this likely to get my claim refused?

I am desperate to know this before I fill in this form.

Thanks

natweststaffmember

FUNNYFILLY wrote: »

Hi,

I have spoken to my bank (Halifax) regarding a financial hardship claim and they have agreed that I am in financial hardship and have advised me to go to Citizens Advice to fill in a form and get a letter from them, so they can start the ball rolling with claiming my charges back.

I have 2 horses and am worried that once this revenue form is filled in that the bank won't accept that I am in financial hardship. Will they be seen as a luxury, as I am not prepared to part with them as they are much loved pets, which I have had for years. Is it best to put down the horses keep, or do I not reveal that, as I am not sure that this comes in under the essential living costs, although obviously it is essential that I feed them etc. My costs in keeping both of them do not exceed £350 a month as they live outside, and this is really cheap for horses. I am suffering badly from financial hardship, with a lot of bills going unpaid and the money would help pay off some of my debts. If I reveal the horses is this likely to get my claim refused?

I am desperate to know this before I fill in this form.

Thanks

It is better to reveal everything than to underestimate your outgoings. Honesty is always the best policy. The bank cannot dictate how you live your life.

funnyfilly

Thank you for that. I've decided i'm going to be truthful and tell them. At the end of the day, they still need feeding, which is essential for them and is their basic right.

ljcb123

Hi

How did you get the Halifax to admit you are in financial hardship? I have been trying for ages and regardless of the evidence I provide (and believe me there's lots of it!) They still won't budge!!

bored_at_home

i had a conversation with the financial hardship people at hsbc the other day.
i put down 160 quid a month in my budget for keeping my horse and he asked could i not sell it? how much was it worth?
i got a bit upset at that, iv had him 15 years and my animals are the only family i have in this country.
he then asked me what a £7 transaction at pets at home was for and i said my parrots food for the month.
again he suggested i sell him. again i got a bit irate, asking why the hell i should have to justify keeping what i see as my family to reclaim money they took from my bank which the court case say is wrong.
he also told me i needed to put something in the clothing section of my budget, a minimum of £20 a month, then later asked what a 15 quid debit transaction was from brantanos in january (a pair of trainers cos mine had holes in, the only thing iv bought myself since i lost my job in dec).

i dont drink, i dont smoke, i dont go out, i rarely need clothes, but hes arguing over £22 in 3months that wasnt spent on bills? shocking, just to get back whats owed.

dmg24

Some people really need to get back to reality. £350 is more than what many people pay for their own rent in a month. Arguing financial hardship when you can afford £350 a month on a non essential item is a downright cheek.

Perhaps you should experience genuine hardship, when you cannot afford to feed yourself, let alone your horses. You may have a different viewpoint then.

karajane

I have also always had horses, when I lost my job then subsequently my partner I was left with no choice but to sell my beloved mare, the most heartbreaking decision of my life. That is because my financial hardship is genuine, I have some weeks where the day before pay day I dont eat so my kids can. If you can afford your horses you have no idea about genuine people who are living like this and should be ashamed to call your case one of financial hardship. Don't take the mickey out of those of us who are genuinely living on the breadline.

ILW

dmg24 wrote: »

Some people really need to get back to reality. £350 is more than what many people pay for their own rent in a month. Arguing financial hardship when you can afford £350 a month on a non essential item is a downright cheek.

Perhaps you should experience genuine hardship, when you cannot afford to feed yourself, let alone your horses. You may have a different viewpoint then.

A bit of sense at last.
I think I may be in financial hardship because I have a Porsche and it costs me £350 per month so I have trouble paying my other commitments, but I really do love it.
Get real.

bored_at_home

can i point something out.
im 40 years old, iv always worked, iv never claimed a benefit in my life til just b4 xmas when i lost my income . no tax credits, family allowance, child tax or anything, i live alone. since then however iv had to claim jsa, but it wont be for long!

iv always been one to insure outgoings etc "just in case", so my mortgage (and credit) is covered by private insurance, not being claimed from the state.

yes, so i have a horse, as i said 15 years iv had him, always paid by my own earnings. so in my opinion its nobody elses damn business how much he costs. i include my bank in that statement. what he costs a month is less than some spend on fags and beer. so far hes been fed by flogging possessions to feed him and bed him down.

if there are bank charges due then i want to claim them, as i currently fit the criteria with more going out that coming in and i have a responsibility to him.


lets get real here ITS MY MONEY im asking for back!
and this site isnt to run other folk down, our situations are all differant. if you dont have anything helpful to say its best to keep quiet.

esmerellda

It is your money, but from what you have stated, you will have to wait for the end of the test case.

Its simply how financial hardship exclusion to the waiver works. It may seem unfair I know.

Regarding your comments re Fags and Beer - people who claim hardship also get told to cut back or quit on both of those. Anything non essential, horses, fags, porche, can go basically before you are considered hardship.