Coming clean, reality check - my way to BR

gettingready

Been on those forums for a while now but normally sitting in the Pets section.

2 letters came late last week that toppled the scale for me.

The current situation:

Myself, 1 large dog (GS) and 4 cats in a 2 bed council flat.

Since 1st December I get full HB and CTB and £65 per week contribution based JSA.

My normal bills are:

Rent - HB
CT CTB
TV License £13.00
SKY £55.00
Dog Insurance £30.47
Internet £14.00 Water £25.00
T-Mobile £30.00
Gas £40.00
Electric £20.00
Total £227.47


So from £281 per month JSA[(65*52)/12] I have about £53 per month for myself, 4 cats and the dog.

Can not cancel dog insurance, she has hips displasia and arithritis and just the Xrays were £550, can not rehome my almost 5 yo dog either - no way.

Debts - around 35k last time I looked.

Need to go BR, have no money for the court fees and no way of saving it somehow.

Tottaly, completely depressed, been hiding for the past few months hoping to find a job and not to have to go that route but see no other way now.

Spoke to CCCS and they have told me that as my expenditure is higher than my income - the BR application would be refused by the court.

Do not belive this is correct, how could it be?

While working I used to buy cat food/dog food in bulk and still have anough for perhaps 3 months but run low on tinned cat food and litter last week so had to get some.

My daily routine - sleep late, go to bed at 2-3 am and repeat.

Need a kick in the backside and someone to tell me there is a way out of this dark hole I am in right now....

JCS1

CCCS are telling a few people that, think their concern is how people would manage with no credit if outgoings more than incoming, but BR is unlikely to be refused for that.

Are you getting all the benefits that you are entitled to?

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

Have you tried the cash back and comparison sites for the dog insurance at renewal time? Though with claims history I suspect it might not reduce by much.

tigerfeet2006

Technically they are correct if you cannot live with out going into debt again, BR does not solve your problem.

The thing that stands out to me is your Sky. If I were you I would put it into your BR. That will give you an extra £55 a month. The OR will not allow the expence on your SoA anyway.

The OR usually allows around £20 for pet insurance so you may have to find the rest from your other allowances. I would just add the extra to your groceries as you can usually put £200 down.

Worcsman

gettingready wrote: »

Been on those forums for a while now but normally sitting in the Pets section.

2 letters came late last week that toppled the scale for me.

The current situation:

Myself, 1 large dog (GS) and 4 cats in a 2 bed council flat.

Since 1st December I get full HB and CTB and £65 per week contribution based JSA.

My normal bills are:

Rent - HB
CT CTB
TV License £13.00
SKY £55.00
Dog Insurance £30.47
Internet £14.00 Water £25.00
T-Mobile £30.00
Gas £40.00
Electric £20.00
Total £227.47


So from £281 per month JSA[(65*52)/12] I have about £53 per month for myself, 4 cats and the dog.

Can not cancel dog insurance, she has hips displasia and arithritis and just the Xrays were £550, can not rehome my almost 5 yo dog either - no way.

Debts - around 35k last time I looked.

Need to go BR, have no money for the court fees and no way of saving it somehow.

Tottaly, completely depressed, been hiding for the past few months hoping to find a job and not to have to go that route but see no other way now.

Spoke to CCCS and they have told me that as my expenditure is higher than my income - the BR application would be refused by the court.

Do not belive this is correct, how could it be?

While working I used to buy cat food/dog food in bulk and still have anough for perhaps 3 months but run low on tinned cat food and litter last week so had to get some.

My daily routine - sleep late, go to bed at 2-3 am and repeat.

Need a kick in the backside and someone to tell me there is a way out of this dark hole I am in right now....

You didnt list your debts other than to say they are around 35k. I would say that you cannot afford the repayments with just £53 per month left. Your list of expenditure is not enough, find the template for SOA on here and do a complete one, there are plenty of spurts looking that will advise you, I wuld say though that you sound insolvent. You wont have to contribute anything at all to your creditors as you are on benefits.

Post more info and you'll get better advice than I can give.

tigerfeet2006

Worcsman, he hasn't got £53 for debt repayment as that is for food.
He really doesn't have to do the other template as he hasn't the money to spend any more than he is doing.

ETA just spotted the internet, this isn't allowed on your SoA unless essentilal for work or study. Put it under groceries.

gettingready

Erm... I am a she not a he.... sorry....

I looked at the SOA template but honestly nothing I can put there - have no car or car insurance or content insurance etc etc.

My expenses are what they are above as I listed them - did not list the yearly boosters for dog/cats or flea treatment/wormers but apart from that this is it......

gettingready

Yes, I would like to put both SKY and my T-Mobile contract into BR if at all possible....
Will check tomorrow when could I normally cancel Sky as it is somehow within the year contract now but Mobile was on 24 month and I think it is about a year gone now.

Internet - not a luxury, an absolute necessity - while looking for work, so has to stay but may look for a cheaper one, I am with O2 and they recently went up buy about £2 per month

I wish I had 200 for groceries.....

Can not change dog insurance with pre exisiting, diagnosed condition and my current one will go up a lot at reneval, another worry..

Thanks a lot for posting

My main worry is how to get the BR fee when I have absolutely nothing to put towards it - I have no access to any credit either, did nto have for a while, got a basic Co Op account and that is it, had a DMP while I was working but since December have only been paying £1 to each of my 9 creditors. Now they start selling the debts on and on so I keep getting letters from all the new agencies who took the debts on... very confusing to even keep up with all that

mel12

Aww is that your dog in the picture, she's beautiful I have a little yorkie.

Have you looked into the PDSA , I used to take my pets there and they're very good - you might be able to get free vet care there.

gettingready

Thanks, I am aware of PDSA and of what they will not do for my dog simply as they are a charity and have limited funds, that is why I have taken and pay the dog insurance for Zara to make sure she is ok for as long as possible.

Dog insurance will be the last thing from my "to go" expenses... Zara is almost 5 and .. and she is with me all the time so need to look after her no matter what

I am really asking about BR here... thanks again.

tigerfeet2006

gettingready wrote: »

Erm... I am a she not a he.... sorry.... Ooops! sorry.:o

I looked at the SOA template but honestly nothing I can put there - have no car or car insurance or content insurance etc etc.

My expenses are what they are above as I listed them - did not list the yearly boosters for dog/cats or flea treatment/wormers but apart from that this is it...... Your expenses need to be as they are after you go BR.

gettingready wrote: »

Yes, I would like to put both SKY and my T-Mobile contract into BR if at all possible....
Will check tomorrow when could I normally cancel Sky as it is somehow within the year contract now but Mobile was on 24 month and I think it is about a year gone now. Default on the payments and they can go into the BR with no issues.

Internet - not a luxury, an absolute necessity - while looking for work, so has to stay but may look for a cheaper one, I am with O2 and they recently went up buy about £2 per month That is why I said take the internet off and put the amount under groceries.

I wish I had 200 for groceries..... 53+55+14+30=152

Can not change dog insurance with pre exisiting, diagnosed condition and my current one will go up a lot at reneval, another worry.. Leave it as it is and explain it is the cheapest option. You are on benefits so you won't get an IPA at all. Don't panic over it.

Thanks a lot for posting

My main worry is how to get the BR fee when I have absolutely nothing to put towards it - I have no access to any credit either, did nto have for a while, got a basic Co Op account and that is it, had a DMP while I was working but since December have only been paying £1 to each of my 9 creditors. Now they start selling the debts on and on so I keep getting letters from all the new agencies who took the debts on... very confusing to even keep up with all that

Stop paying the £1 and ignore the letters. What is the worse they can do.

Have you you had a look at the Grants part of the Turn2Us website
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/grants_search.aspx

Also look on the benefits bit of the site to see if you are getting all you should be.

mel12

Internet - not a luxury, an absolute necessity - while looking for work, so has to stay but may look for a cheaper one, I am with O2 and they recently went up buy about £2 per month

I wish I had 200 for groceries.....

You can still keep the internet, but put the money you're spending on in under groceries on the forms.

However, its not really an issue for the moment as the OR won't take benefit money anyway (if you were working and had a surplus thats when you'd be asked to pay some of it).

So it seems like the main problems are -
a) getting your expenditure down so you can live on the amount thats coming in and don't have a deficit

b) Finding the money for the bankrupcy fee

Both of which are obviously really difficult on a low income.

In terms of the bankrupcy fee - you should be eligible for a court fee remission, meaning you only have to pay the OR fees which are still really high about £450.

Some options might be -
Do you have any remaining credit available you could use for this, or any family who could help out. Theres a list of organisations who might be able to provide help here and you could also speak to the local CAB who might be able help you find something (most organisations require you to apply through an intermediary).