Help needed

strawberryblonde

Hi All

Desperately need some advice.

Currently my Oh and I have a DMP with CCCS. 2 weeks ago, I resigned from my job due to stress and depression. I had very unsupportive employers and felt I had little choice.
Going long term sick with them was not an option as I would have only received 2 weeks pay and then just SSP. I am still looking at whether or not I would have a case for constructive dismissal.
At this current time, I am not feeling able to find work but hope that this will improve in the future.

The biggest problem we have is that we will not be able to make our mortgage payments. My OH spoke to Santander who said that there was nothing they could do to help us as we are already on an interest only mortgage. Basically, it is a case of pay up or get out.
There is no equity in the house and would be a shortfall if we sold.

What we need to know is the best course of action. Do we sell the house, rent another and then go bankrupt. Do we walk away from the house and go down the route of voluntary repossession and then bankruptcy.

Any help would be much appreciated. it would be good to hear from others who have been in a similar situation and how they sorted it out.

many thanks in advance

IF

Hi SB and Welcome, I am sorry to hear of you plight and not 100% sure re your house. Please contact one of the other debt charities for further advice. Please try these they don't charge and are impartial. They will go through all your options with you and if they suggest bankruptcy then come back to this board and we will help you all we can. Also if your not ‘clicking’ with one of the Debt charities do try another.

Please don’t do anything rash take your time and weigh up your options and read everything you can x

For ‘essential’ BR info this is Fermi’s sticky - Click here

Main recommended sources of help:

• National Debtline - Website: National Debtline Telephone: 0808 808 4000
• Citizens Advice Bureau - Website: Citizens Advice or visit your local CAB centre (find nearest)
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service - Website: CCCS Telephone: 0800 138 1111
  

Others:

• Business Debtline - Website: Business Debtline Telephone: 0800 197 6026
• Christians Against Poverty
• PayPlan
• TaxAid - Help with tax debts.

And do remember we’ve all been through this and anything you don’t understand don’t be afraid to ask.

Best wishes
If...x

Ineedaname

Unfortunately you'll not be able to claim benefits to help out here as you have voluntarily made yourself jobless. I know it probably wouldn't have helped your health but you really should have stuck it out on SSP and allowed your employers to let you go, then looked at the possibility of a tribunal if they hadn't followed procedure properly. I do understand why you felt unable to continue though.

Now you have no SSP and no ESA, although you may be able to claim some Council Tax Benefit, depending on your OH's income.

As you already run a DMP via CCCS why not give them a ring to discuss your current situation and see what they can advise?

Edit: Sorry, just reread the above and it sounds judgemental, it's not meant to be, but I felt the need to say something for any others out there who might be in a similar situation.

silvercar

If there is a shortfall then you can't sell without the lender's agreement. This is unlikely unless they will accept an unsecured loan to make up the shortfall.

The shortfall may be to your advantage as the lender may be reluctant to repossess if they won't get all their money back. It may be worth making payments as much as you can, even if they are not the full amount.

I'm wondering if your husband can claim (as a joint claim) SMI (support for mortgage interest). It is means tested, so may give you something.

RuthnJasper

Hi StrawberryBlonde,

So sorry to hear of your troubles. Do you have a spare room that you could let out to a lodger? That might be one solution.

I know things are tough - but they won't always be like this.

I think you made the right decision with regard to your job. I was in a very similar situation after I had a nervous breakdown in 2001. I stuck it out at work instead of quitting (having to deal with comments about the s*xual abuse I had suffered as a child from my delightful (female) boss like "I don't know why you're crying about it - it's just not the problem it used to be in the old days." and other similar gems). BIG mistake. The result was a further breakdown and several suicide attempts. It took years before I finally left in 2007 and it's only now that my life is almost back on track. So well done you for having the courage to take action on a situation that was dragging you down.

I wish you all the very, very best for a better future. Keep going - you'll get there.

R xxxx

HOLIDAYMAD_2

id def attempt a try at JSA contributions based and go for a tribunal, tribunals are not as moral as one would hope, but by going for one may it pay out the JSA for you which is paid up to 6 months based on contributions paid with or without a partner who has earnings. if you have a partner then it can be cancelled at six months but there is also tax credits you can apply for as well.

I would prevent applying for benefits such as incapacity because there is a huge hit on those claiming those benefits, ive seen some of the tests they are doing for reviews and they are nigh on impossible to win, that is unless you have no hands, brain and legs, i think even with feet missing you would still fail. All the govertment wants to do IMO is get everyone on JSA and signing each week now in most case and questioning why have you not got a job.

Tribunal are a bit of a farse and take a lot of evidence gathering the big thing i found was that we cannot demand witnesses to attend and those that we have a argument against do not have to give evidence , but the defendant can, summon witnesses and demand a statement off the claimaint , and mine was back in 2006, all my witnesses had been given a quiet word in the ear and stepped down ie they had mortages and bills to pay etc.

You will find that if up to date the lender wont do much in your favour it really is a case of missing payments and being defaulted and it can take months and months before a eviction.

mel12

About the housing thing try calling shelter who should be able to give some good advice: http://www.shelter.org.uk/