Its all gone t**s up. Help!

lady_fuschia

Hiya,
Sometimes I feel like I only ever end up on this board to moan but this time I really am in a bit of a state. I guess I just need to go back to square one with my DFW-ways- I don't seem to be very good at becoming debt-free at all. Am I doing something wrong, am I stupid, or do I just have astonishingly bad luck?

After various discussion/ decisions etc OH and I decided to look for a flat closer to his work to save what sometimes amounts to £70-plus a week on travel and to save on rent/council tax by moving to the cheaper area.

So we found somewhere- £20 a month cheaper on rent, a band lower on council tax, walking distance of his work- and a nicer place to boot.

Thing was the letting agency wanted £250 to do a credit check (I know this sounds extortionate but we checked the other agents in the area and its actually about average) before agreeing to the letting, and then 6 weeks rent plus 1st months rent for deposit on the moving in date (set for 22nd December) . My Mum agreed to give us a temporary loan to help with the deposit which I could pay back once we got the deposit returne don our current flat.

We were a bit concerned with OH's past CCJ's and current debts that there would be a problem, so we spoke to the agent and wrote down a summary of everything, who spoke to the landlord who said that since we'd been honest about it, and were both working he didn't have a problem. He also spoke to our current landlord who apparently gave us a "glowing" report. So we gave them the money for referencing (was this just incredibly naive?) and sat back to wait, assuming everything would be OK and looking forward to finally moving and getting a major drain on our finances finally sorted out.

Then about an hour ago I got a call from the agent telling me that we failed the reference check on account of being in arrears to our current landlord (We got behind by one month after OH had to go to a funeral - travel costing over £100, lost four days pay, had to buy a suit), but let current landlord know, agreeing to pay extra over the next two months to make it up- this is due to be up to date by this Friday) and not having given him an official moving out date (er- we did!).

I don't know what to do now. Looks like were stuck in overpriced cr@ppy flat, OH is gonna have to spend so much on taxis to travel over Christmas and new year that its hardly worth him working at all. And I think I've just lost £250 (There is a clause in the pre-tenancy agreement that says if the landlord chooses not to go ahead with the tenancy for any reason other than CCJ's and Administration Orders not declared we can get the money refunded, but I don't know if this counts)

Feel like I'm destined to do nothing but go further and further into debt, living in a crap house with no social life wearing my Mum's old clothes and living off beans and toast. Just feels like there's no point in even trying because every attempt just ends in a disaster. I've had to tell my family not to get me Christmas presents this year because I feel too guilty not being able to get them anything. I can't even afford to go and visit them and I'll be spending new year by myself in front of the TV with a glass of b**dy water. Its just all a bit too depressing to think about. I guess I just need some clarity.

Anyway- I don't know what I'm expecting- just wanted somwhere to vent- I don't feel like anyone I know really understands what its like trying to live off virtually nothing. I've told all my work colleagues and family that I'm moving house, and its really embarrassing to have to tell tham that actually I'm not, and that I'm not going to be able to come to any of the Christmas meals or parties or go out for drinks, I'm just an idiot.

Argh! Trying to keep a sense of humour but its so dam difficult sometimes.

Uniscots97

ignore what people say and if they ask why you're not moving house just say......we pulled out after finding damp........hearing how noisy it was on a saturday when the neighbours were playing their music etc etc. As for new year I've spent many a year in on my own. Find something good on the telly or watch your favourite dvd. You will get through this. Is there anyway you could find another flat? and if they ask to do a credit check get it done on you rather than both of you? I did that with former partner many moons ago when I lived down south. Just meant that the lease was in my name only.

pyrorus

Have you tried contacting the new Landlord direct. If he was willing to accept you as you had been honest he surely can override the agents opinion or if they will not just tell them hes going to rent privately and go to you direct.

One way you can encourage him is to point out he will save on agents fees with the rent etc.

You could even explain to him why you are behind and get your current landlord to confirm you have sorted out the problem and have come to a repayment agreement.

Rus

lynzpower

could you see if you can speak with the landlord.

At the end of the day you are losing this money because your current LL hasnt strictly told the truth about the agreed arrears.

Could you just beg? I know its not easy but hell something has to give.

Huggles to you you sound really pi55 ed off
:grouphug:

yung

:grouphug: feel really sorry for you, don't be hard on yourself and don't give up keep trying and you will succeed one day good luck and all the best.:grouphug:

lady_fuschia

pyrorus wrote:

You could even explain to him why you are behind and get your current landlord to confirm you have sorted out the problem and have come to a repayment agreement.

Rus

I have had a word with the agent and explained the situation that's left us behind- he said he would have a talk with the landlord to see if he was willing to compromise, but I'm not holding my breath. To be honest, if I was a landlord I wouldn't want to rent to us either!

We do really need to find somewhere to live somehow- OH's travel is completely crippling us at the moment. And paying £550pcm on a diddy one-bedroom flat in a naff area doesn't do much for morale either. We're not even in that much debt compared to some- how on earth do those of you with £10000 plus manage to afford to live?

Thanks all for the support. (On top of all this my thanks button isn't even working!)

Uniscots97

Let us know how you get on.

rosysparkle

Did the lettings agency make any suggestion of how you could get past the failed referencing? For example a guarantor?

By Friday you will be up to date with your rent, so you could go back to the agency then and explain that you are up to date, and that you have given your current landlord the correct notice, and see if they will go back to the referencing agency with this updated info.

You could see if you could talk the landlord direct, or see if the agent will intercede on your behalf. The landlord could still proceed with the tenancy with failed refs, but wouldn't be able to take out insurance against you defaulting on the rent.

Don't give up!

lady_fuschia

rosysparkle wrote:

Did the lettings agency make any suggestion of how you could get past the failed referencing? For example a guarantor?

QUOTE]
I've had a word with the agent about this, so I guess its a shot in the dark - I really hope we can get around it. I've just drawn up our current SOA just to see how we're doing and it ain't looking good. Christmas definetly isn't happening. We're actually struggling to even meet the minimum payments on some of the debts, let alone anything else. I sent my OH a text to tell him the news. He's just sent one back that says "We're F****d." Really trying not to agree!

Thanks for being so supportive. Really appreciate it right now!

Uniscots97

worth posting your current SOA see if we can help you make any more savings?

lady_fuschia

I was just thinking that. I think I do need a bit of help- its so hgard to think straight when everything feels like its falling apart around your ears. Here goes:

SOA

Incoming
My wage = £860
OH’s Wage = Can be anything between about £720 and £900

Occasionally I earn a little extra from small modelling assignments, and OH gets bonuses sometimes, but this is very irregular and I can’t really count on it.


Outgoings

Pension (Local government scheme)= £70.71 (is it worth opting out? £70 a month would be really handy but I know it’s a good scheme.)

Nationwide Loan (£4000 left to pay, 6.7% interest) = £90
Wallis Store Card (£400 left to pay, interest frozen)= £40
Dorothy Perkins Store card (£700 left to pay, interest frozen) = £35
RBS Student Overdraft (£1000 left to pay, interest free until June ’07) = £50 (I could reduce this if you think its a good plan?)

Rent = £550
Council Tax= £115
Electricity = £65 (stuck with our supplier on current tariff due to type of meter)
Water = £20 (have checked about meter and we’d be worse off)
TalkTalk Phone & Internet = £30
TV License = £10.99
PAYG phone= £5 (if not slightly less, we only really use them for texts and emergencies)

OH Work Travel = anything between £250 and £400
Food= £80
OH tobacco/ papers= Around £30 (I’m banned from even mentioning this)
My dance class= £25 (Yeh I know, I know!! But this is seriously one of the few things that keeps me sane. My Mum does give me a hand with the cost sometimes)
OH food at work (If he does a full length shift he has to buy food there, as they have no food storage/ preparation facilities for staff’s own food.) = £8.00