My Black Hole

notyet

Hi guys

Have found myself in a hole and not sure which way to get myself out.

Thanks to serious road accident and not earning, i'm completely penniless. Car is almost out of fuel, very little left in the kitchen cupboards and £2 in the bank.

Have already had to borrow from friends and family to pay bills, as the companies really dont care that i was almost decapitated and am still not fit. SSP isnt really covering the outgoings.

Before the accident, my credit rating was poor to say the least (thanks to my own stupidity - going from full to part time work and taking CC debt with me ). My bank wont provide an overdraft because of this, and im now worrying about feeding the kids. I dont mind egg on toast for a week, but feel it wont be the same for them! Should i look into a credit card as a short term measure? Should i look into a tiny loan (£500 or less)? This is literally a short term thing as im going back to work on light duties as soon as GP says i can. I just need some way of getting through the month.

Im persuing an injury claim, as the police have already arrested and charged the guy that hit me, but dont feel i can rely on pay out or even wait that long as it can take months even years.

Any ideas?

katsu

Avoid the loan/CC - the only loan worth considering is seeing if you are eligible for a crisis loan from Job Centre Plus as you are on SSP only. Try the directgov website for more info.

Kids can live on egg on toast etc for a few days if this is that short term.

Look into food banks - people like the salvation army can give a food parcel that could help you. I think you could search these forums for food bank posts for more info?

Cut out all discretionary spends.

Good luck.

notyet

Thanks Katsu

Have never heard of food banks, but will look into it. Have already applied for crisis loan, but local office reckon the amount of applications they get means only 3 in 10 are successful, so im not holding out much hope there.
Hard to see the woods for the trees these days!

cyclura

sorry to hear about your situation, food wise write up a cupboard and fridge/freeer inventory and post it on the old style board, you will be surprised what the lovely gents and ladies can think up for you food wise on very little.

I cannot help with much else sorry but I am sure getting some food idas down will help your stress levels a little

natsplatnat

Hi - Didn't want to read and run. Could you ask you insurers to apply for an interim payment against your claim? Just a thought as I was offered this after a car accident and my claim was minimal compared to yours.

Wishing you a speedy recovery, Nats x

dancingfairy

Hi - I presume you have put all your unsecured debts on the back burner for now? What I means is writing to them and telling them that you can't afford to pay them at the moment- obviously paying the roof over your head, food ,electric/gas etc are much more important.
If you've got a mortgage rather than renting can you ask for a payment holiday or to go interst only for a while while you recover?
Borrowing money is not generally a good plan but at the end of the day then yes if I needed to borrow money to feed the kids then I would -but I would borrow the minimum amount - try the jobcentre for a crisis loan first I would think.
Do you have any access to credit at all? I only say that because you say you are on a dmp and I'm not sure many people would lend you money - apart from either payday loans which will charge a horrendous amount or loan sharks which are a lot worse. Do you have a credit union in your area at all - they may be able to lend you a small amount.
Best of Luck
df

CH27

Are you getting any benefits?