Order to attend court for questioning

rebeccaannmarie

Apologies if this is in the wrong forum!

Back when in 2009 I lived in a shared student house (I was working and not a student). I suffer from depression and whilst living in the house I had a bit of a trauma which caused me a bit of a setback and as a result lost my job.

Due to losing my job I was unable to pay my rent and as such moved out - I informed the landlord and agreed that as soon as I was employed we'd come to an arrangement regarding repayment.

I got back on my feet and contacted the landlord regarding repayments. I heard nothing from them for 6 months. They then issued me with a court order - I went to court, explained the situation and agreed on a repayment scheme. Unfortunately the job I had at the time was only temporary and when that ended I contacted the landlord explaining the situation and asking if we could cut the repayments down to a smaller sum until I found permanent employment. I recieved no response whatsoever.

As I'd lost my job I had to move back to my parents address - I've now been here a year and a half and I've heard NOTHING from the landlord. Until today, when a (very nice, to give her her due) lady from the court came round and issued me with an order to attend court for questioning.

Unfortunately I haven't got any copies of the correspondence I sent to my landlord so I think I'm going to find it hard to prove I did contact them, however I've still had no contact from them for a year and a half, despite me being on the electoral roll here (for 2 years) and in the phone book etc.

Can anyone give me any advice on where I stand? I'm currently working part time, I earn approx £130 a week and pay £45 p/w to my parents for rent, and as I work in a pub I have to pay taxi fares home, which is £6 per night (5 nights a week).

Thanks very much!

BitterAndTwisted

You went to court and agreed a repayment schedule in the past which you didn't keep to. I suspect neither the court not the landlord you owe all this rent to will have any confidence that any undertaking you make you will keep to. All this contacting the landlord and not getting any response to correspondence you can't prove you sent will count for nothing. Expect the court to deal with you very harshly.

suki1001

It is difficult when you get yourself into a mess to try and feel like you'll ever dig yourself out of it. I don't think you will get much sypathy on here. I wouldn't take into account that they didn't bother to contact you, it's still outstanding debt. Working on your wages, your spending just under a quarter of your wages in taxi fares. It would be far better if you could get a job that wasn't as expensive to travel from, or one that pays more. How much is the outstanding debt?

rebeccaannmarie

I'm not disputing I owe the money at all but at any point I couldn't stick to the repayment scheme agreed I notified them and asked to rearrange and discuss it. I've received nothing back from them, and they haven't tried to contact me for a year and a half. They can't be that bothered if for a year and a half they've left it?

rebeccaannmarie

I am looking for other employment but in my eyes any employment is better than none. I'm not looking for sympathy as I know full well it was my own doing, I'm asking for advice on whether the fact they haven't been bothered to contact me for a year and a half makes any difference. I am applying for full time jobs (at least 5 a day, if not more) but I would rather be working part time than not at all.

rebeccaannmarie

Also I'd like to point out that when I went to court I was told by the landlords solicitor that should my circumstances change to just get in touch and we could come to an arrangement, and I stuck to the repayment schedule absolutely until I was made unemployed. I'm not disputing I owe this money. I'm just looking for advice on how to tackle the situation.

Hump

Have you had a look at http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/your_money/money_management_index_ew/help_with_debt_index_ew/debt_relief_orders.htm ?

BitterAndTwisted

It really doesn't matter whether they contact you or not, "therefore they can't be that bothered about being owed the money". You owe the money. You acknowledged to the court that you owed it. You gave an undertaking to the court to repay it. You haven't. All the while the landlord's court costs are being added to your debt. The next thing that will happen is that the court will make an order for deductions from your wages at source. For an amount of their choosing. By the looks of it, it will possibly be in the region of £50 a week.

Trollfever

They can't be that bothered if for a year and a half they've left it?

The landlord may have decided to give you time to get back on your feet.

suki1001

I didn't think anyone was questioning your ability to pay. Although, it does sound from the way you've worded it, that the fact the LL has made no attempts to contact you, that you may be suggesting this as a way out? I'm not saying this is the case, so please don't shoot me down in flames, I'm just suggesting that is how your posts could be construed.

Yes, having a job is better than not having a job, there are some areas such as care (i worked for a care agency), that have loads of hours. I used to do nights, they're usually pretty good if you don't have a car, they organise lift shares etc.

rebeccaannmarie

Thanks for the link regarding Debt relief orders, definitely worth me looking into.

I do appreciate all the advice and by no means am I trying to get out of paying this - I don't want this debt on my back and I'd like to clear it as soon as possible. I just need some advice on what to do when I get there.