Need advice please... 31 December 2009 at 12:29PM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Mobiles 15 replies 778 views

silkkat50

My sister is in dire straights, she cannot pay her rent this month and we're sitting here trying to work out what she can get rid of to cut her outgoings but the only things are sky, mobile phone and the gym, which she is currently on the phone to the gym to try and cancel it. We know that phone companies and sky demand the full contract monies but we dont know if there is anyway out of it. She is basically £120 over everymonth what she has coming in and she just cant afford it. We need some advice desperately because she cant even afford food or medicine for her 2 year old son who currently has tonsilitis. She cant afford the gas to put her heating on so her house is like an ice box, which isnt great for him either. If anyone could give me any advice i could pass onto her i would be really really grateful! Many thanks, Kat x

OneADay

How long has she got left on the sky and mobile contracts and who is the mobile contract with?

She should seek advice from http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ as well as from forums like this. CAB will have lots of experience on this and point you in the right direction quickly.

bear1969

is she in private or council rent

silkkat50

Private rental, her landlady is a policewoman and said that if carmen does not have the rent on sunday she will be given her 30 days notice, even if she does come up with the money in that time, she will still be evicted.

The mobile contract still has about 11 months left and the sky has about 3 months left to go i think.. She's not overly sure.

OneADay

There is not a huge deal that can be done with the mobile contract then (at least not if you do not speak to debit advice at CAB). The Sky one, you have to make sure she gets that cancelled before its renewed.

I would urge you and her to pop down to your nearest CAB today given the urgency of her rental situation. Its better than trying to explain things on phone. Then pop back on these forums, hopefully CAB will be able to pull something out of the bag but you have to really get there and talk today.

silkkat50

Iv just found out that she said she was sold the vodafone contract over the phone and that she never signed a contract. She was just sent the phone and set up her direct debit details. All they sent her was a conformation letter to confirm the details of the tarriff.

bear1969

dont see any point in trying to pay the rent then if she is getting kicked out anyway might be better to go and see local council to get a house (declare yourself homeless) they have an obligation to rehome you as you have a small child ,does the OH not live with her anymore as he could contribute to little ones medication

OneADay

silkkat50 wrote: »

Iv just found out that she said she was sold the vodafone contract over the phone and that she never signed a contract. She was just sent the phone and set up her direct debit details. All they sent her was a conformation letter to confirm the details of the tarriff.

Thats standard however - she could have returned and cancelled contract if it were within 14 days having been purchased online. By using the phone, you agree to the service contract. Just a thought as a small money grabber, if the phone is worth something, it could be sold and replaced with a cheap phone.

As bear1969 says , accomodation issue might be best left to the council if she is on low income etc which obviously looks to be the case.

silkkat50

No the OH doesnt live with her anymore, the less contact the better where that is concerned. How can there be a contract if nothing was signed? Thats a bit backwards isnt it?

bear1969

same as scotland you shake someones hand to agree on a house purchase and then its a binding contract ,but would get on the phone as soon as possible to council as she may have to go in to a bedsit till a house becomes avalible

philnicandamy

contract starts the minute you 1st use the phone....or insert the sim to connect to the network

(least thats what o2 told me a few years ago when I questioned it)