New dfw - advice

amberowl28

Thanks, yes i went through the phone book at the end of May and sent my cv off everywhere - no calls though. I visit the jobcentre site and actual jobcentre daily (jobs seem to come up at jobcentre earlier than they appear online) as well as two local recruitment agancies.

I ebayed everything i could though had to stop due to lack of money to pay fees. Though once again listed a good few things this weekend.

amberowl28

Today's interview went well, though won't hear till next wens. Still no word from McDonalds. Think i didn't get it otherwise they would have been in touch by now. Oh well

Bit stuck on the job hunting front now - have sent off cv's to everyone imaginable and there are currently no new vacancies in paper, jobcentre or recruitment agencies. At least sun is shining! Fingers crossed for good news next week. Should hear about housing benefit soon too.

amberowl28

Didn't get the job, still searching hard though.

Am now getting £57.69 HB and JSA £50.95 a week. But am struggling to know what to pay off.

Rent - owe £700 in arrears.

Council tax - now sorted will be paing £24 each month starting August 1st.

Water - £160 payable immediately.

Nationwide - £168 to be taken in fee's on Monday as they didn't cancel dd's as requested. They have said they will look into it but say there's no record of me requesting cancellation and the fee's will be taken. I would have to use rent money to cover the fees and prevent me going overdrawn inccuring more charges. It has been suggested i let the account go overdrawn and let the bank rectify it later but i have no guarentees this will happen. What should i do?

Also need money for food, gas, electricity etc for this month.

Halifax cc - Despite paying the minimum payment last month am now £22.19 over limit, despite not using card for months, due to interest and charges. Reckon a payment of £50 or £60 asap would stop me going over again. Min payment is £31.

Obviously rent is the priority but am worried about charges from bank and cc as they are starting to snowball. What can i do?

amberowl28

Basically thinking i am gonna have to pay rent and ignore bank and credit card charges even though this means i'll suffer even more charges and hope i can eventually reclaim them. What will be the worst that can happen if i go massively overdrawn because of this as i can only make small token payments?

dancingfairy

I think you need to use your money for the most important things ie rent and food etc.
I think you need to make a formal complaint to Nationwide as they appear to have messed up
Also start a hardship claim for bank charges for Halifx - they can't put it on hold if you are suffering financial hardship - which you clearly are.
Why is the council not backdating your claim? Have you put in a complaint about this? that doesn't seem right.
Also please check with your local CAB/National Debline or Shelter - but I really, really don't think making yourself homeless is going to help at all.
Can you make some payments to your landlady even if it's just 30 a week so she can see you are trying?
Are your local CAB able to help at all as you can't even meet your basic living costs at the moment. Surely you must be entiteld to more help?
df

amberowl28

CAB basically said i'd have to move out as can't afford to live where i am now as benefits won't cover it - they were right. They didn't even tell me to appeal councils decisions or about discretionary payments! As far as i'm aware contributions based JSA and under 25's lha rate is all i'm entitled to - that certainly seems to be their view.

HB - tried appealing decision not to backdate and asked to be considered for a discretionary payment only to be told no chance. I really don't want to move out but what choice do i have? I'm not the kind of person who'd string an elderly and so far very kind landlady along.

Started the reclaim process with both Nationwide and Halifax - first letters went off on Friday.

Personally the whole thing has made me realise what a raw deal under 25's get and why so many still live with their parents. If i was in the same situation in 13 month's time i'd be better off!

amberowl28

Just realised how unappreciative i sound of the benefit's i am getting, though i'm sure they make it harder than it needs to be. Here's hoping that the job hunt pays off soon.

amberowl28

I'm utterly down, chasing up interviews was unproductive and there are no new vacancies to pursue. Bank has taken charges and says it won't be refunding anything. Which will lead to more charges i can't avoid without giving them what little i'm getting. Feel like i'm banging my head against a brick wall.

amberowl28

Another update

Still no luck with jobhunting but by negotiating i've managed to get debts into a managable position, just! Still fighting Nationwide on the bank charges front though. Looks like i'll now be able to manage if i'm very careful until i find a job, just hope that's soon. Will update sig when i get a chance.