We need some advice!

MirjamL

cupboards are almost empty. some rice and pasta left, which will be used this coming week. and potatoes and other cheap things must be bought. And we live near Ilford in 1 bedroom flat above a pharmacy. We used to live in a double room in a shared house, but i just can't bare to live with strangers. And living only in one room, makes us go crazy. we need some space occasinally. Will check the benefits again. We are entitled to working tax credit, but not sure how long the paperwork and things will take... but investigating that.

HappyMJ

dizzybuff wrote: »

600 a month rent , Im a bit astounded :eek: are you in the south of the UK as thats quite steep can you not downgrade to a bedsit ????

There will be a reason this little bedsit for £90p/w in Ilford isn't suitable.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-29388326.html?backListLink=%2Fproperty-to-rent%2FIlford.html%3FsortByPriceDescending%3Dfalse%26index%3D10&thumbnailId=1

Or for £111p/w this posh one even with bills included and a jacuzzi

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-29957780.html

MirjamL

HappyMJ wrote: »

They will send you a red letter. It's nothing to worry about. TV Licence really doesn't matter. Not paying any of those bills will not incur interest as they cannot charge interest as they are not credit agreements. The water company send red letters and that's all they do. The gas and electric companies send red letters for about 6 months before installing a prepayment meter where you can then pay the debt over the next 12 months but as this income drop is only for a few months you can enter into a payment arrangement before then. The council will eventually get a liability order where you can then make proper arrangements to pay over a reasonable period of time. The rent not paid for 2 months won't affect you. Only once you get 8 weeks in arrears then eviction proceedings will start.

If watching the subscription channels on SKY TV, browsing the internet and talking on the phone is more important than eating then go ahead and pay the bills.

Don't watch tv a lot, don't even have a phone to use landline. We only needed internet, but only internet is not so easy to get. Most internet comes with landline. And internet is essential for my partner, to save money from transport and work from home. And mobile phone is also essential for his work. How could we get the normal gas meter? Water and electricity is divided between us and the pharmacy down stairs. so they would come and ask for that money propably. We don't get the letters, they do and then it will be divided in half. So not sure how to handle that. we can't hide from our neighbours. I know food is important, but i also know i don't want to dig ourselves deeper in debt. that's why i am here asking for help.

Oh and moving to some place smaller, requires deposit and sometimes estate agent fees. Which we don't have at the moment.

HappyMJ

Internet over 3G broadband is £2 per day when needed. You don't need a phone for it.

HappyMJ

MirjamL wrote: »

Water and electricity is divided between us and the pharmacy down stairs. so they would come and ask for that money propably.

Oh and moving to some place smaller, requires deposit and sometimes estate agent fees. Which we don't have at the moment.

Probably??? Don't you have a tenancy agreement? What's that say?

Yes it requires a deposit to save them you don't pay the rent until you get evicted from your overpriced place.

Why all the excuses? You want money for food. You have income of £754 and rent and council tax come to £725.. Don't pay it. Nothing much happens for a while and then your income goes back to normal arrears get paid and all is OK. What is your normal income?

eyeopener2

Bar work? Part time cleaning work? Part time shop work?

Anything to up your income.

[Deleted User]

You seem determined to make a whole load of excuses. I used to live in a flat and enjoyed my own space and the fact that I did not have to live with strangers, but that's a luxury. I have debts to pay and therefore now live as a lodger which means I can pay my debts and bills. Just think that in the future, once you have sorted yourselves out, you can then move back into a flat.

SuzySu

Hi
Can I just ask why you moved into a flat only a few months ago knowing that the rent was almost as much as your total income?? I know it's done now and there's little point in going over that, but wonder whether something happened to your circumstances that made you think you could afford the rent?

You definitely need to see whether you can get a job (or 2). Also take a look at the 'entitled to' site that Chevalier mentions. You will get a very good idea of what you can claim.

I don't think you need a short term fix for a few months until your OH gets his normal wages back. It sounds as though you need to make some drastic changes to your income - whether by getting benefits or taking on a part time job. If you have no kids then this should be easier for you (don't know your circumstances but you won't have to worry about finding/paying for childcare).

Good luck hun and stick around here. Sorry if my reply sounds critical - it's not meant to be, but you do need to act quickly before this stresses you out any further.

MirjamL

I don't underestand why are you so angry. I am only trying to ask for help.
About council tax. If you don't pay, they will send you a reminder, which says you have to pay in seven days, and if you don't pay then, then you will get court summons. And then you have to pay the whole years sum all at once. We will try to contact council on monday, but it's not good advice to recommend things that lead to court summons. :S
Yes it is a luxury to live in a flat. But lkiving with three polish guys who smoke cannabis all the time and leave food lying around so you have rats and mice walking around, is not my idea of a home. Yes we could move into a bedsit, and no it is not excuse when we say we don't have money for deposit. Even for the cheapest bedsit or studio you would need several hundred pounds, which we don't have.
We just don't know what to do and really want some help and advice. and we are not making up excuses. we are telling it as it is.
About jobs. Competition is high, most places need experience, which i don't have. And i have health issues that don't allow me to work on my feet unless i suffer from pain every day. and that sets limits. and i just feel so helpless and hearing how you think we are making up excuses makes me feel even worse and desperate for some advice how to get us out of this situation without causing any more damage or bigger debts.
My partners normal income is around 1400.

HappyMJ

MirjamL wrote: »

I don't underestand why are you so angry. I am only trying to ask for help.
About council tax. If you don't pay, they will send you a reminder, which says you have to pay in seven days, and if you don't pay then, then you will get court summons. And then you have to pay the whole years sum all at once. We will try to contact council on monday, but it's not good advice to recommend things that lead to court summons. :S

Yes....And.... What really is wrong with going to the court and explaining fully your situation. The court will grant what is called a Liability Order. You will then make an arrangement with the council to pay it off over a reasonable time at an affordable rate. It does not have to paid all at once.

£1,400 income isn't really enough to be able to afford a £600 pcm flat.