Will Natwest class this as hardship?

GlennyNat

Hi,

Trying to claim a total of £3000 over the last 6 years from Natwest which is all my charges plus interest. I have just been made redundant (17th April) and my Natwest overdraft is 1200 which i keep going over every month when interest and charges (for going overdrawn previous month) are applied. Now i keep putting in what i can afford but it gets eaten away by interest and charges and i start over again.

Thing is all my other debts (one loan, one credit card, not with Natwest) are up to date and im not behind on any bills. With Benefits im going to be able to just scrape by due to not spending anything expect essentials. Will the fact im keeping all my other debts up to date stop me claiming financial hardship?

GlennyNat

Just to add... for the last 3-4 months i havent used Natwest account, only thing coming in was the odd £10 a week and charges/interest going out.

natweststaffmember

GlennyNat wrote: »

Hi,

Trying to claim a total of £3000 over the last 6 years from Natwest which is all my charges plus interest. I have just been made redundant (17th April) and my Natwest overdraft is 1200 which i keep going over every month when interest and charges (for going overdrawn previous month) are applied. Now i keep putting in what i can afford but it gets eaten away by interest and charges and i start over again.

Thing is all my other debts (one loan, one credit card, not with Natwest) are up to date and im not behind on any bills. With Benefits im going to be able to just scrape by due to not spending anything expect essentials. Will the fact im keeping all my other debts up to date stop me claiming financial hardship?

My personal opinion is that if you are keep all your other debts up to date then you are not in financial hardship because you have no priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent, council tax and/or utilities). However, I would still put in a claim for bank charges.

GlennyNat

Right i have been looking through what i will need and even though i have no priority debts right now i will have in the weeks coming up if i don't find a job soon. My benefits will not be what i thought they would and i will need to borrow money from family to survive until i get work. Will this count against me? It sounds as though im better off not paying any bills and getting into trouble sooner than later just so Natwest will look at the claim?

natweststaffmember

GlennyNat wrote: »

Right i have been looking through what i will need and even though i have no priority debts right now i will have in the weeks coming up if i don't find a job soon. My benefits will not be what i thought they would and i will need to borrow money from family to survive until i get work. Will this count against me? It sounds as though im better off not paying any bills and getting into trouble sooner than later just so Natwest will look at the claim?

Have you applied for JSA/Income suupport? Have you applied for Local Housing Allowance/Housing benefit?

GlennyNat

Yes applied for both but assuming my rent is covered by Housing benefit that leaves £64 a week to cover everything else.

Loan/Credit Card/Overdraft = £34 week approx

So thats £30 a week to pay for food/gas/water/elec/phone etc


Is travel for job interviews seen as priority? I could be paying out £10 in bus/train/diesel if i start getting a few interviews.

natweststaffmember

GlennyNat wrote: »

Yes applied for both but assuming my rent is covered by Housing benefit that leaves £64 a week to cover everything else.

Loan/Credit Card/Overdraft = £34 week approx

So thats £30 a week to pay for food/gas/water/elec/phone etc


Is travel for job interviews seen as priority? I could be paying out £10 in bus/train/diesel if i start getting a few interviews.

I have my 13 week interview and that is something they have about that. Might be worth asking job centre on your 2 weekly if there is any help available for getting to interviews.