Please help, less than £0 untill feb

rosieben

jackieb wrote: »

Can the bank actually stop you from getting your child benefit? Does anyone with knowledge of these things know? Definitely contact the child benefit people and explain your situation.

I thought it was against the law for a bank to interfere with benefits? I'll have a search online and see what I can find.

eta, have a look here some conflicting advice, not very helpful I'm afraid, maybe talk to someone at CAB?

sexymouse

Are you a member of freecycle? Could you put a wanted for fruit for jam making or something to that effect?

Fruball

I keep hearing very bad things about santandurrrrr recently and am so glad i don't bank with them. Altho I think my mortgage might be with them (was with abbey) so that could be worse :eek:

They don't seem to be very very harsh to those having problems. If I had an account with them I would be changing it now!!

debbym

Is the Bank Account with a High Street branch rather than online? I have vivid memories of being taken by my mum (single parent) to her local bank when something similar happened when I was a kid (30+ years ago now mind lol) and her saying here you go I have no food in the house and can't feed her you give her something to eat. Getting loud in public - not rude just loud with the facts - and not leaving until she got a good answer was one of her specialities. Most businesses don't like the fuss! I think the fact I knew how to whine pitifully when required helped!
I would second going to a local church. A friend of mine is an active member of the Dereham Baptist Church and they are a very friendly bunch who would help out in a shot.
I would also give a thought to selling anything like videogames etc. Game will give you cash instead of a voucher if you make enough fuss. Also check the Yellow Pages for local pawn shops, even if you redeem it later it could tide you over for now.
Chin up hun.

laurenjs88

I dont know how to multi-quote so ill try to remember who said what:

Frugal - The trussel food bank is in Norwich but i dont think were in the right council district for help, and we cant get there its too far away it would be a 30 mile round trip!

No family or friends to ask for help, we have someone who will give us a few eggs from there chickens though so I will pop round during the week.

Will definatly make an emergancy box for future!

I luv cats - i tried for a crisis loan yesterday but wasnt even allowed to apply and the bloke hung up on me. we dont have anything like a CEX, cash convertors near us were in the middle of nowhere but i might try and list some bits on ebay tonight.

frayanneuk - I will give them a ring on monday see what she says!

sexymouse - its 4. 2 adults, a 3yr old and a 10month old

newleaf - thanks there is a sally army in the city so i will give them a ring and see if they can help.

ive missed a few, but thanks for your suggestions i dont feel so much dispear now, I will get SSP on the last friday of the month and OH gets his wages last working day.

pookiewn

Had a look on google and found a food parcels article, with contact details on. Perhaps giving them a call might help tide you over until feb?

Hope you get some help soon. xxx

Blackpool_Saver

Hi, Do you bank on-line, did you see this coming, I go on my on-line bank account every day and if crisis is looming I manoeuvre things to avoid it. Please understand I am not criticising you, just saying did you not see this coming? and can you prevent it from happening again?

got-it-spend-it

Could you put a wanted on Freecycle for any dry goods/ baby foods that folk don't want/need. I know I have bits and pieces that we won't use and would only go to waste and you've nothing to lose.

There is an awesome thread on here about feeding a family of four for a a month on £20. I'll see if I can find a link.

It's been renamed but this is it https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2116179. Well worth a read.

500g of rice and pasta should do a fair few meals for two adults and two little ones, along with your other bits. If you can scrape together enough to buy a big bag of oats that would do lots of breakfasts too. It's a bit cheeky but could the 4 year old go to friends for tea a couple of times?

angeltreats

Years ago I went overdrawn by a pound (!) and the bank imposed all sorts of charges on previous transactions adding up to over a hundred quid, because I hadn't had an agreed overdraft. I went into the branch and asked if there was anything they could do about it, and they cancelled the charges.

This was twelve years ago and it was a N Irish bank (First Trust) but still might be worth a try.

In the short term, do you or your hubby have any videogames? You could trade them in at Game or Gamestation for cash. They won't give you much, but it'd be better than nothing.

Just thinking, my local library does some sort of coffee morning one day a week with free tea/coffee and biscuits. The various churches do similar things. Perhaps there's something like that you could go to just to fill up a bit...

MrsBartolozzi

I remember reading about something similar happening to another poster here, Memorygirl.
Her thread had her with a frozen bank account and she was unable to access her benefits. Now, while the reasons behind her a/c being frozen are different the advice given to MG seems as relevant to you.
Post 4 saw her contact cccs who told her to write a letter to the bank quoting the "Social Security Administration Act" - basically to say that all the funds are govt funds (Benefits) and that you require access to those monies to live. They don't have to comply but appealing to their better nature is the first step.

Post 5 is especially relevant to you lauren.:

Social Security Administration Act 1992
1992 CHAPTER 5



Section 187
Certain benefit to be inalienable.(1)
Subject to the provisions of this Act, every assignment of or charge on—.
(a)
benefit as defined in section 122 of the Contributions and Benefits Act;.
(b)
any income-related benefit; or.
(c)
child benefit,.


In other words the Secretary of State gives you these benefits to support you and yours, it's technically not your money it's the states. It isn't yours until you are in control of it, if the bank snatched it they have removed a means tested benefit. They have left you in hardship and vulnerable. You must lay these accusations at them. Ask them to help you find sustinence for your children and even request information of any schemes they run to supply food vouchers (don't baulk at this, as it really could be someone who is left without food). They must give you your money back, less a token towards your debt. Your call will be recorded (as usual). They may at first refuse. If so make a note of the person you spoke to and their office location, get this at the begining of the call.....

Originall posted by insideinfo.

I wish you good luck in getting through this tough time. Hopefully the bank will not be an @ss and let you get access to your CB.