Life after bankruptcy?

miggy

recoverydust wrote: »

I am sorry things are so stressful for you. I got my esa renewal form on Friday and just feel sick thinking about it.

I hope the news about the medical is a change in your fortune and you get the time you need to recover

Xxx

A great post, recoverydust - thank you, you seem to know what you're talking about and be able to put it across clearly despite the contortions of the system.

I'm sure lots of us will be sending thoughts and prayers for you on Friday. xx

miggy

ani_26 wrote: »

Of course, i still have to repay the rent arrears, regardless of any dro, if i wish to remain on the " good side " of the ha. They can still evict me at a moments notice, and i still don't have any rights as a tennant, as i'm still on an introductory phase. Forgot about that one. It means, apparently, they wouldn't give me a reference, and i certainly wouldn't find anywhere else to rent, either with the council, or privately, with rent arrears.

Forgetting all the money stuff, now, which isn't likely to go away, anytime soon.

I am having my bathroom basin replaced today, in fact i think they are sitting outside, right now? That's all they ever do. Sit in their vans. :rotfl:I am also having some other internal repairs to the property, today, which have been driving me mad, for months.

After that, i'm going to the gym, even though i feel too ill. I might try and change the appointment. I don't know yet.


I must get out on sc patrol.

That basin repair seems to have come round quickly! Or am I losing track of time? (Not impossible). Anyway, great that it's getting done, and the other stuff too.

You are 'allowed' to change the gym appointment if you need to but if you decide to go, take care, okay? Sorry to nag, I don't want to. Just don't want you to keel over instead of enjoying it.

Gas bill (you may ignore this bit) - it still sounds a crazy amount and something has to be wrong there. Did you have a look to see whether it's an older type meter being charged as if it were a modern one? I can't remember how to do that now but from other things you've said I wouldn't be too surprised if it was the original meter. Alternatively, maybe a previous occupant used a lot of heating? Especially if they weren't well enough to get repairs done on the house.

SCs - yes, go get 'em. I found all shapes and sizes yesterday including two huge ones. Just when I thought I was winning. They have started on the lupins too. That's the supposedly red one that hasn't flowered yet - hope I can nurse it through.

Anyway, enough waffle from me. Catch up later.

recoverydust

miggy wrote: »

A great post, recoverydust - thank you, you seem to know what you're talking about and be able to put it across clearly despite the contortions of the system.

I'm sure lots of us will be sending thoughts and prayers for you on Friday. xx

Thank you for that.... In between the paralysis and fear of becoming homeless and destitute, I have gathered as much information as I can and I am only too pleased when it can help others.

I have started to fill in the dreadful ESA. Form with my support worker and hope I too don't get called for a medical.

As for dealing with the debts... Well I am ostriching them, but there is no way some greedy debt recovery agency is going to get any of the pittance I now have to live on, for as long as I can manage it.

The general ignorance and bigotry of people who do not understand how it feels to be unwillingly dependent on state benefits and the vitriol of the mass media just serves to make me feel even more worthless and hopeless.

It doesn't help to know that thousands of others face this either.
Ani, ring the DWP, insist they give you a date by which you will be paid. I take all my money out of the bank except for direct debits. Then if i get a shocking gas bill i can pay it. If I end up in court for my debts all they can take from my benefits is £14 I think a week. So I shall hang on for that.

Is anyone sorting out the housing debts? Are they on top of housing benefits? You do so well and struggle so much.... It's hard to know what to say.... Still bl000dy well done on avoiding the medical. They will have contacted your gp, do you think your gp will have sent a good report?

With love to you all
Xxx

ani_26

Just a general reply to all, as i'm finding it more of a struggle to do anything these days. Homeless and destitute? I've been there haven't i? and i'm still a breath away, to be honest. It's no way to live. It's not good for the soul.


I didn't realise all this about the gas meter, miggy. Everything in this place seems to be the original fixture or fitting, but i don't know how to work out if it's an original meter. Surely that wouldn't make a difference to the reading or gas usage? I don't understand how?

On the plus side, this place is almost sorted, now. It will be a palace, soon. Well not quite, but you know what i mean? I had my brand new bathroom sink, yesterday, and also the repairs to the fixtures and fittings, which have been driving me mad. Or not helping me with my mood? All that remains now is the replacement kitchen. I've still no idea when that will " happen ". I have chosen a cooker and a hood, but the cooker is currently out of stock. I must remember to find an electrician. The charity is hopefully going to fund all this. I'm starting to think it's a shame i haven't got a small freezer, but on the other hand, there won't be anywhere to store one in the new kitchen, Still, i've managed for several years without a freezer, now. It's not high on the list of priorities. I'm now more concerned i'll need a new washing machine, as i don't know what state mine is in, although i know it's not looking good. I'm lucky the previous tennant left decent carpets and curtains, otherwise i wouldn't have those, either. The carpets could do with a clean at some point, but it's so expensive to hire a carpet cleaner, and they are out of my spending budget,to buy. :rotfl: There's some work could be done on the outside of the building still, but i can't be bothered to pursue anymore.


I received a call from jcp yesterday, ( finally,) and they told me to ring, i haven't a clue who it was. They then told me to ring atos, which i did, who then told me i had been put into the support group. I'm not sure exactly what this means other than i should be due an increase in payment? But dwp don't know anything about it, and i'm still waiting for someone to ring me back. I'm not sure who. Atos? Whatever, you can guarantee it will take months? to sort, again? and i'm still worried my esa payment will stop at a moment's notice, and it's not beyond the realms of possibility that since no one seems to know what they are doing, i will receive another appointment to go for the medical? Maybe one phone call today, to try and find out what is going on? and i must make the conscious decision about my employment, and that's me. Done. I give up.

It is p* down, so today i am going to have my day in bed and try and read my book. I've had it a month and i've still only read 30 pages, although i now find it more difficult to concentrate. I don't have to go out for almost a week, which is just as well, as you become pretty housebound when you've little income. If it's fine, i shall do some gardening and if it's wet, i shall try and read my book. I still haven't unpacked fully, here yet, either. I don't have to go out until my medical appointments, next week. I'm now more reclusive than ever, and i feel more isolated than ever. I suppose i could add to that, more ill, than ever.

miggy

ani_26 wrote: »

I didn't realise all this about the gas meter, miggy. Everything in this place seems to be the original fixture or fitting, but i don't know how to work out if it's an original meter. Surely that wouldn't make a difference to the reading or gas usage? I don't understand how?

Well, my technological expertise has just advanced a lot thanks to you. There is a tab at the top of the page somewhere which enables a search of the thread (as opposed to the whole site or forum). How come I don't use it all the time? So useful!

Anyway, beware... now I have it I will probably use it again.

I remembered ages ago this gas meter thing had been mentioned: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=53642523&postcount=3222

I can't make any promises but it has to be worth a try.

We don't have gas so I can't look to tell you what to expect from either type of meter... but there is no way you can be using the amount suggested by your SOA, is there? :eek:

It's very good top hear things are getting put right about the house . Yesterday must have been pretty busy.

On another subject entirely - how are the new glasses doing? Are you still having problems getting readable print?

Hope you get some book or garden done... I am beavering with all the speed of a very small sc to get a tiny corner of my garden transformed. I really need to give it more time.

I'm working from mid afternoon today and doing the sleep-in shift so may not be back till tomorrow.

ani_26

Thanks for the link, miggy xx although i'm none the wiser. I think i'll have to go to the energy supplier, on this one. My electric meter has definitely been updated and says kwh, but the gas meter looks as though it's been there since the year dot, and doesn't state how the gas is measured. Would it really make that much difference? :eek:

miggy

ani_26 wrote: »

Thanks for the link, miggy xx although i'm none the wiser. I think i'll have to go to the energy supplier, on this one. My electric meter has definitely been updated and says kwh, but the gas meter looks as though it's been there since the year dot, and doesn't state how the gas is measured. Would it really make that much difference? :eek:

Looking back at the original post, you need to look at your gas meter and see if it the measurements are in cubic feet or cubic metres.

Cubic feet are obviously smaller than cubic metres so a reading in cubic feet will appear roughly three times the size of one in metres.

Apparently sometimes a reading in f3 is sometime mistaken for a reading in m3 (sorry, those numbers are supposed to be above the line but I don't know how to do that on here). That's where you could possibly get a reading about three times what it should be.

Alternatively, they could be basing charges on the previous occupant's use. When was the meter last read?

miggy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/consumer_advice/latest_meters_pic.shtml

This might be clearer - also if you google 'Imperial gas meter' and look at images, you can see on some if them where to find the wording - but it's really clear on the one I saw so I am guessing yours is a more obscure model. (Never expect advice to lead straight to a solution, huh?)

miggy

And apparently, even if your meter is a new one, some companies have had problems switching people to the right tariff after the meter has been altered. (see 'Watchdog' link above).

ani_26

I forgot, i'm struggling with the new glasses, but heyho, story of my life? Keep on struggling. The optician i trust, has gone on holiday for two weeks, so.....................


So much for staying in bed and reading. I'm on my way, this afternoon. It's too wet to garden. I've spent all morning on the phone, ( as ever,) can't do without the phone, can i? I have rung about my benefits again, and been told ( again,) that i've been placed in the support group and my payments will increase from next week. I'll believe it when i see it? or receive a letter of notification? I'm sure they will take it back in housing benefit anyway? and i'll probably end up no better off? I'm sure it will end with more sorting of benefits? although isn't it supposed to help your health and well being? An extra £34 a week, is an absolute fortune to me. I can't quite believe it. It means i may even have a weekly food budget of £5, £10? a week. Best not get too excited / relieved at the prospect, yet. So many bills are due in or before august, i still haven't received the gas bill, the tv licence is due, car insurance :rotfl:all the "extra " bills, you just can't afford. I'm going to pay the tv licence monthly, but even that, i'm told is £24 a month, as you have to pay 6 months up front, apparently, for the first 6 months. Actually, the tv licence swallows most of the additional benefit. There's no cheaper way of paying it, for me.

Car insurance. To be honest, i'm not sure if i'm even well enough to drive anymore, although i only travel a few miles, once or twice a week, at the moment. It's funny i was thinking of my insurance. I received the renewal policy today, and it's £320 higher than the quote i've already had. However, i put an excess of £400 on the quote i had, as i've decided it's no longer viable to have repairs footed by the insurance company, and in future would bear the cost of repairs myself. Especially now i have a diy parts supplier. Unless the car is a total write off, that is. I mean, a total write off. Everyone, says i should sell ani, but of course, we all know that is something i will never do. That ani goes, this ani goes. I finally managed to procure the keys for storage at the weekend, so i now have somewhere to take ani off road, if necessary, and also somewhere to store my plants in winter. So something has finally looked up. Until i have to pay the rent, that is, but it is only £10 a month. No, read my lips. I will NEVER sell that blOOdy car. It's like selling my soul. Little boys and their toys. Little people and their dreams. There's definitely something wrong with me, but that's all i have left of myself?

By the way, ani now has perfect new wm My neighbour lent me some t cut. Came up like a new penny. Job done, for next to no cost at all. Just the potential problem of failing the mot, to resolve. Still, that's light years away.

Also had a letter today regarding dla appeal. They say they will let me know by 11 weeks time. Mpl is on holiday, seemingly, so this will have to wait until they return as they were pushing for quick resolution. It's already 19 / 20 weeks into the claim. That's a huge potential back payment of what, 8 months? Doubtless swallowed by dro? Still, there's lots of things i could have been spending it on. Bills, food, things i need which most people take for granted. Oh, i just got a bag of bananas and a bag of carrots for 10p each, from the 10p shop. They rarely have carrots.