Can't afford outgoings now out of work...

Inbetweener_2

Hello

so far this site has been very helpful and I now have another query (hope I am in the right section - please tell me if I am not)...

I am on JSA now and thats about it - I have an old debt with a debt collector which is 50 pounds a month and elec/gas which is about 100 a month altogether.

I really cannot afford these currently. Water, council tax and others have all been more helpful but these two won't budge.

Do I have any rights to reduce payments whilst I am out of work? Or is there anywhere I can turn?

I really hope someone can help as both parties want cash by the end of this month!

Cheers

Pee

The debt collector can basically go whistle for it. If he takes you to court, he is going to get 20p a week or something similiar. If you agreed £1 a month he would leave you alone, happy that you would have to repay the rest of the debt when you get a new job.

With regard to the electric and gas - is this a debt from before or the on going costs? Somehow you have to meet the on going costs and I can't see why they would need to let you run up a debt here...

There will be other people along soon who know much more than me, but check you have all the benefits you should with entitled to.

Pee

P.s. have you looked on the debt free wannabe board and the old style money saving boards as they have lots of ideas like how to eat healthily on a £1 a day. Whilst you may not be able to manage that, you might get some handy tips.

Inbetweener_2

Excellent....

Regarding debt collectors and court (which they have threatened) is this going to be bad for my credit rating?...not that its an issue any more with hardly anything getting paid!

The elec and gas are current costs - and I am sure my nice dad would help if I got desperate.

And eating - I took a look and already trying some of the garlic brocolli dishes!!

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Inbetweener wrote: »

Hello

so far this site has been very helpful and I now have another query (hope I am in the right section - please tell me if I am not)...

I am on JSA now and thats about it - I have an old debt with a debt collector which is 50 pounds a month and elec/gas which is about 100 a month altogether.

I really cannot afford these currently. Water, council tax and others have all been more helpful but these two won't budge.

Do I have any rights to reduce payments whilst I am out of work? Or is there anywhere I can turn?

I really hope someone can help as both parties want cash by the end of this month!

Cheers

Ok. You have several options but you have not give enough information. What type of JSA are you on? Is your partner {if any} working?

Clearing that - have you applied for housing benefit? Reduced council tax? etc? Income support? etc.

You will have to ask the jobcentre plus or search on directgov!

Secondly, about the debt - I recommend that you pop into your nearest citizen advice bureau. They will be very busy but they will help you send out letters to ask them to reduce the monthly payments for the short term.

Inbetweener_2

I am single and the mortgage is being paid for by the DWP. Council tax is not being paid and they have agreed as they have seen my bank balance (0).

Its JSA which has been running for 5 months now - not means-tested I think but will be from November onwards.

And yes, good idea about the CAB. I only want the reduced payments until I finally find work....similarly this is what I would like from Southern Electric too - just until I start earning again.

Inbetweener_2

well, just been to CAB and they say negotiate with both and get them to agree to reduced payments for now...

What happens if both won't budge?

dmg24

Are you not in receipt of Council Tax Benefit?

Inbetweener_2

dmg24 wrote: »

Are you not in receipt of Council Tax Benefit?

Yes I am - I don't have to pay this at the moment. Its the elec, gas and debt collector who are being difficult...

wontfallforit

Inbetweener wrote: »

Hello

so far this site has been very helpful and I now have another query (hope I am in the right section - please tell me if I am not)...

I am on JSA now and thats about it - I have an old debt with a debt collector which is 50 pounds a month and elec/gas which is about 100 a month altogether.

I really cannot afford these currently. Water, council tax and others have all been more helpful but these two won't budge.

Do I have any rights to reduce payments whilst I am out of work? Or is there anywhere I can turn?

I really hope someone can help as both parties want cash by the end of this month!

Cheers

Might be an idea to switch to a prepaid meter, if you're not on one already.

It can be an expensive option in the long term, but of course the beauty is that you pay as you go, with no shocking bills every month. Just contact your energy provider(s). Should your situation improve, they should be happy to let you convert back to a billed meter (if that's what you have now).

£100/month seems a lot for a single person, if you don't mind me saying.

There's 2 adults in my home, and we pay roughly £120 per quarter. We're quite careful (got all the energy saving lightbulbs, switch everything off when not in use, and don't use the heating much), but we don't deprive ourselves in any way. As I pay the bills as soon as they land on the doormat, Scottish Power also applies a large discount to my next bill. Our last bill had almost 50% knocked off, just because I'd paid within 10 days of receiving the bill. We 'save' around £150 per year this way.

Best of luck

MrsTinks

I am guessing it's £100 a month due to the account being in serious arrears...

Inbetweener - if you are on a DMP then stick with your token payments - if not then it might be worth contacting a debt charity like one of the ones in my signature.