I have literally no money!

IHateDida

I never normally read this thread as I am in the fortunate position not to directly need it. But the title grabbed me. And after reading your posts BIW - this could so easily happen to anyone, me even (I do not have a stash of cash anywhere and need my monthly salary but if something came up big...I'd be stuffed).

You have clearly had a wonderful response from everyone on here - its incredibly heartwarming to read this thread. I can offer you food - if there is anything you still need but please PM me if there is anything in addition you need that others haven't offered - I have heaps of tolietries I am more than happy to send you - I stock pile a bit too many - and drive my OH mad!

So please, please PM me if there is anything else you are short of - especially tolietries. I am more than happy to help and have been enriched just by reading this thread about the kindness of others.

pmlindyloo

Please don't be frightened of tackling the deposit issue.

If you go to CAB they should write a draft letter for you which you can copy. Sometimes just a threat of action that you might take will get things moving and you won't have to go to court.

IHateDida

brokeinwales wrote: »

I've just briefly looked intot his deposit thing - I think I may have a case (the idea of going to court over it absolutely terrifies me though - I am hopeless with anything legal or financial - I'm just too thick and not bolshy enough!), I may try and put together a letter to my old landlady.

QUOTE]

Go to Citizens Advice - I went to see them over a neighbour despute yesterday and they were wonderful. I am sure that they will put a letter together for you, and also talk through the legal side. They have drop-in centres in most towns.

jen_a_c

Just dropping in to also say how inspirational I've found this thread and how lovely people are. Some of the ideas are fantastic and I'll def be investigating them further.

I would certainly recommend looking further into what you can do to get the deposit and overpayment of rent back from your landlady. Was there any serious damage done to the flat? Was it cleaned when you left, or were you forced to leave in a hurry? I'm sure if you went to the CAB and they knew of the financial hardship you were suffering as a result they would try to treat it as a priority.

Good luck and all the very best x

QueenBeruthiel

This I’ve done, but she’s not forthcoming (haven’t had my deposit back either), and says that I owe money for cleaning and damages anyway so “she’ll just take it out of that”. I don’t know if I’ll ever see this money again.

Landlords often try this trick: don't let her get away with this! Write asking to see copies of the invoices and receipts for these so-called "cleaning" and "damages" expenses. If she is kosher she will supply them. More likely - not.

Keep copies to take to the CAB and see what they advise.

Good luck!

Fire_Fox

brokeinwales wrote: »

It’s something I need to work on. I have never had great organisational skills, I struggle with maths, I don’t understand financial language money is something I find difficult and stressful. Dealing with it makes me feel incredibly stupid.

Despite that – I’ve always “managed” before. I’ve never had spare cash, but always been able to just about stay afloat. What’s really pushed me into this mess is circumstance and bad luck. Though if I’d been more organised maybe I’d have the resources to be able to cope with it better.

After splitting with the ex earlier this year I was left in a flat I couldn’t afford to live in with two sets of bills to pay. I managed to find a room in a shared house to lessen that problem – but had to find a deposit, whilst still paying rent on the old place. Also got stung by an electricity bill – suppliers took nearly a year to sort out the first bill – so it ended up being over £800. (I had been putting a little money aside for this, but the other payments wiped it out). My ex refused to contribute to this.

Then- the real pain in the backside was my bank mucking up. They didn’t cancel my standing order to the old landlord (despite me asking them to). Hence over £500 went out of my account when I wasn’t expecting it to. The bank were incredibly unhelpful, implying it must have been my fault(I hadn’t signed anything, just asked them to cancel) and telling me I’d have to contact my landlord direct to ask her to return the money. This I’ve done, but she’s not forthcoming (haven’t had my deposit back either), and says that I owe money for cleaning and damages anyway so “she’ll just take it out of that”. I don’t know if I’ll ever see this money again.

All put together this has led to my “£3 in the whole world” situation.I also have two £1000 overdrafts and owe my father £400, as well as the utility bills debts.

I am guessing you don't use online banking? Direct debits are cancelled with a click of a mouse. You should amend all your standing orders to after payday, then you will know what you have got coming out and what you have left to spend. I know that is easy for me to type the above, and probably seems a massive thing if you struggle with finances. Take getting organised in baby steps - do one thing every couple of days and by the end of a month you will have made fifteen changes ...

There is a ton of advice on this website and I am sure many of us on DFW will talk you through getting better acquainted with money matters. Most of us have had disasterous finances at one time or another - after I left my domineering husband (who did everything and told me I was useless with money) I didn't open ANY post or may any bills for several months.

It's illegal for your old landlord to withhold your deposit and the overpayment. If you run a search or post on the 'House Buying Renting and Selling' board you will get some excellent advice about how to approach the situation. There are a few idiots who will be rude, but members like Clutton and Tbs624 will be able to help you word the letter and identify what area of the law covers you. You may well find that by threatening the small claims court they pay up - you won't actually have to go to court at all. :T

Post again on this thread to any of us or PM if there is anything you are not ready to share. :A

brokeinwales

would certainly recommend looking further into what you can do to get the deposit and overpayment of rent back from your landlady. Was there any serious damage done to the flat? Was it cleaned when you left, or were you forced to leave in a hurry? .

There was a little damage done to the flat. My ex managed to flood the place once when he was drunk - there's no visible damage, so I suspect the actual damage done was fairly superficial.

I did go in and spend a whole day cleaning, including scrubbing the oven. My landlady has claimed that I didn't clean at all and the oven is still "filthy" (OK so it's not absolutely sparkling, there are rust and burn marks, but how clean is it possible to get a used oven really?). Everything else is wear and tear - which is more obvious because the place had just been refurbished when we moved in.

I have just sent her a polite email reminding her that she still owes me my overpayment and the deposit money (and/or a breakdown of any money she's keeping back). If I don't get a reply by the end of the week I'm going to take it to citizens advice I think (although the website is confusing regardoing their opening hours - I don't really understand.)

I never received any information about a deposit scheme from her. I never even received a copy of the contract or an inventory - I did ask, I think, but she was always very blase and would fob me off until I gave up.

Likewise with the electricity companies - we wern't billed for a year, and every time I tried to contact the National Grid or an electricity company they just gave me a load of jargon I didn't understand and I would hear nothing.

I sometimes feel like the world of money is set up to be as complicated as possible. Maybe I'm just thick.

I have a to-do list for the next few days:
- try and work out when CAB is open and make an appointment
- Check out budget healthy eating threads
- Check out house renting board
-ask bank about online banking to see if that helps me keep track.

If anyone has anything they think I should add to my list then I'd love to hear it!

janninew

Hi,

Nothing new to add really, just wanted to say i would definetly get online banking. It makes managing your money so easy, i don't know how i managed before i had it. Its so easy to cancel direct debits, transfer money etc and saves you a trip to the bank.

This has been a really lovely thread to read, makes you realise that there are alot of good people out there!! :j

Odette

I dont think that run of events could be considered your fault Wales, sounds like youve been bashed about by circumstance a bit. Good luck to you, sounds like youre doing amazingly. I always imagine in these weeks that money is really tight, the fact, like you said, that money isnt really tight at all. We all have roofs over our heads and family or friends somewhere that love us. We can get by on whoopsies and beans on toast forever if we had to

Just wanted to say also, that everyone who has offered the OP help is totally fabulous and has some good karma coming their way, Im sure!

RAS

brokeinwales wrote: »

I never received any information about a deposit scheme from her. I never even received a copy of the contract or an inventory - I did ask, I think, but she was always very blase and would fob me off until I gave up.

Hi

In the absence of the deposit information and in the absence of an inventory signed by you on taking up the property your ex landlord does not have any legal right to deduct money for damage - as she has NO proof that you were responsible.

You really do need to go over to the Renting, selling etc forum on here and post up your story. They will guide you through the process of getting your money back.

Even better you could sue her for three times the value of the deposit for failing to supply details of the deposit.:D