Claiming hardship with my bank

Dowsett

first of all, i would just like to explain my situation so people know what im going through.

i lost my job in april and i cannot claim any benefits because of a part time job under 16 hours a week (i had two jobs for about a month before being made redundant from full time job in april). so i only get my part time wages every 4 weeks which isnt enough to support a house with bills and a family.

last year i did file my bank charges for both of my halifax accounts but got the standard letters saying everything is on hold etc etc.

im assuming i can file for financial hardship regarding the first paragraph?

i have no idea on how to apply for this financial hardship so i was wondering if someone would be willing to help me through the stages.

is there a standard letter template somewhere i can just fill in?, like with the standard bank charges template.

im guessing it will be the same kind of thing, send letters off and wait for a response? also, i have had more charges on one of my accounts since i tried to claim last year, i dont suppose theres anything i can do to add that ammount to my final figure? however i think there have only been a couple of charges since, so i may not try and claim the new charges as i would have to go through the process of requesting bank statements again (probably at a £10 charge again)

any help is appriciated,

Thanks

natweststaffmember

OK, first things first. Have you spoken to the benefits office as to what benefits you can claim as you have no job?

Are you in financial hardship ie priority debt arrears(mortgage/rent, council tax, utilities)?

Have you incurred bank charges since last year?

Dowsett

yes i have been back and forth with the job centre.

they first said i can claim job seekers since i work less than 16 hours a week. i hadnt recieved money in about 3 weeks so i asked them, they told me i couldnt claim any money because i earn over £52 a week with my part time job - thats all the government think you need to survive.

so they said they would only pay my NI which is about £14. it isnt worth it. i could work 1 extra shift a week with my part time job and earn more money. however my payment protection insurance for my mortgage requires me to be claiming benefits.

still not sure what to do here^

i rather do what im doing at the moment, work less than 16 hours and claim NI or i take the risk of doing an extra shift for more money and have to sign off which would mean my mortgage protection wouldnt pay out - however i have all the forms signed and sent off, so im not sure i need to be on benefits any more - i only did to be able to get the paper work signed an sent off.

no mortgage arrears, nor council tax (claim going through for council tax benefits) i owe british has over £300, credit card with close to £1500 on..

my girlfriend who i am marrying in july (still have a wedding to pay for!) has had her maternaty benefits stopped. she only recieves child tax credits for our 9 month old son.

im sure i have recieved bank charges in the past year but have no idea how many.

natweststaffmember

Were you working part time when you took out the mortgage payment protection?

Dowsett

natweststaffmember wrote: »

Were you working part time when you took out the mortgage payment protection?

no. i was only working the part time job a month before i was made redundant.

natweststaffmember

Dowsett wrote: »

no. i was only working the part time job a month before i was made redundant.

Have you claimed on the mortgage PPI?

Dowsett

natweststaffmember wrote: »

Have you claimed on the mortgage PPI?

yes, ive sent the forms off with everything they've asked for. im just waiting to hear back from them.

Dowsett

bump......

natweststaffmember

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/bank-charges-hardship
Apologies, but here is the guide to claiming charges via financial hardship. Was too wrapped up in PPI on the mortgage that nearly forgot to give you the link.

Dowsett

no problem, thanks for the link. i havnt got time to look through at the moment as i have to go out an sort other benefits etc.

if i have any questions, am i ok to post in this thread?

natweststaffmember

Dowsett wrote: »

no problem, thanks for the link. i havnt got time to look through at the moment as i have to go out an sort other benefits etc.

if i have any questions, am i ok to post in this thread?

This is your thread, so absolutely 100% yes.