Car needs big repair & electric bill too!

DON79

Hi everyone, car has been for it's MOT today and failed. Emissions are too high which means the catalytic converter has had it! Therefore it will cost £264 to fix.

Now as some of you may know, I am due a bonus on 23rd of this month and given that we now have to fix this plus pay the leccy bill of £260 - how much of a slap on the wrist would the OR give me if I just used the bonus for these anyway. They are essential and I would not be wasting the money on stupid things.

Would I be getting myself in loads of trouble if I had to use the bonus for these things but I could prove to the OR that that is what I used the bonus for??

Basically, since we must fix the car, it means either fix the car and no food - versus - food and OH can't get to work cos he has no car & public transport does not run at the times he starts and finishes.

I have sent an email to appeal but no reply yet but I only sent it yesterday.

Thanks.

Donna

startagain_2

Hi Donna,

Sorry to hear about your woes but at least you have got the bonus money coming your way. You know my views on the subject already..... no brainer!

If I was in your situation (and I know I am not) I wouldn't give it a moments hesitation. Both must be paid and if you don't use this money where else will you find the cost?

Keep the receipts as proof - they are both way in excess of your budget.



SA

Waspeze

DON79 wrote: »

I have sent an email to appeal but no reply yet but I only sent it yesterday.

Bit confused with this bit .. what have you appealed?

DON79

Hi, the OR wants my whole bonus as an asset in my BR which amounts to about £500 after tax etc but we have few big things to pay for now as you can see! :rolleyes:

Waspeze

ahhh ok, i've been out of touch!

startagain_2

It's funny but I learnt a long time ago that sometimes you can be TOO honest and in hindsight wonder whether it would have been better to keep quiet about the bonus until you had got it and spent it!

I know it is easy to say this now, but the number of times my "honesty" has turned round and bit me on the bum .... I keep quiet now!

SA

DON79

What do you think the OR will do to me if I just go ahead and use it? since they have already told me to send it in when I get paid?

TBH I am thinking that we don't really have much choice because it has to get done - it's just what will happen that is bothering me!

startagain_2

To be perfectly honest Donna I don't think they have a leg to stand on. Their own guidelines say that you should be afforded a reasonable standard of living. I am sure that includes paying the electric bill and having the car MOT'd.
It may well be that your enquiry was treated as a "what if" question and they grabbed the bonus before you thought up ways to spend it. The fact that you really do need it and for essential items means that you would suffer hardship if they insisted on it.
Imagine if these bills occurred this year and your SOA was drawn up at the end of it - the monthly budget figures would be much higher.
My opinion I know - based on common sense, but I can't see it any other way. :rolleyes:

SA

Lensman_2

Don.

It may be worth taking the car out for an Italian tune-up before condemning the cat, especially if it does short journeys. At least 50% of the people on a car owner's forum I use have success with it.

You could save yourself two hundred and sixty four very valuable pounds.

fiveyearplan

I wouldn't spend it if he has already staked a claim to it. It could lead to BRO - there is another poster at the moment going through similar. Since you've already mentioned the bonus to him I would tell him about the MOT and the enormous electric (when is the gas bill due?) bill and see what he says.

Apart from the bonus we are in same position with car failing MOT - cost £490, tax due end of this month AND our gas and electric has just come in and they have never been so high - £280 gas, £346 electricity! I was gobsmacked!

DON79

Hi, thanks for that Lensman, will tell my OH about it and see if he will do it. He used to be a mechanic so he does sort of know about that thing but he is in such a funny mood these past few days/weeks, he can't be bothered with most things and he is pretty grumpy too!

Hi FYP, I don't get the bonus for another week so hopefully they will reply to me before that, I am going to follow up the email now and tell them exactly what the car is going to cost us.

I really don't want to just go ahead and use it but we really have no other choice for keeping the car running.

Sorry to hear about your car troubles and your gas/elec too! It all comes at once doesn't it! :rolleyes:

Donna