Can't work out how to find the money to pay this back

chazsucks

Dancingfairy thank you, I thought there was no way you could get housing benefit if renting off family? We have a tenancy agreement, and have been paying rent here for over a year

chazsucks

Thank you also knonie for the suggestions. My dad has been very ill recently and struggling with money so didn't really want to pay him less, but it may be the best option. I will have a chat with him, thank you xxx

tallyhoh

I believe you can get housing benefit if you can prove its a commercial matter. For example if your dad had previously rented the place out & intended to rent it out again. Check on the regulations, should be in the net somewhere or from your local library.

eyeopener2

Is this all made up of charges? or the vast majority?

If so the first thing to do is to write to or ring them to ask for the charges to be cancelled. Explain your situtaion and see what happens.

If you can argue your case, as you haven't used the account in 2 years and this is just charges upon charges, then you may be able to get some of the charges refunded, you never know with creditors how they are going to react, you may get a favourable response. Then you can start negotiating a payment plan for the rest.

E2

Vikipollard

Just found this on the Shelter website:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/paying_for_a_home/housing_benefit_and_local_housing_allowance/housing_benefit_if_renting_from_a_family_member#1

HTH xx:j

Giraffeseeker

chazsucks wrote: »

Thank you very much tintingirl, really helpful suggestions there - and I completely forgot about the hardship fund. Thank you for replying, I really appreciate it xxxx

You're welcome. housing benefit sounds like an option too, with exploring, maybe the CAB would have some advice on that? Let us know how you get on.

chazsucks

Thanks guys will definitely let you know what happens. Just been looking through my statements and i had a direct debit of £11 that couldn't be taken out so they charged me £25 for an unpaid direct debit which took me into the unarranged overdraft. I got charged £25 for that a couple of times, then £45 then £75 then got charged £100 the last three months.

Will look into housing benefit, that would be a huge weight off our minds if we could claim that

Thank you for all your help xx

[Deleted User]

The first thing you must do is contact the bank and explain what a big mistake has been made, by you and them.

You have always been a good customer and now you just can't understand how this has happened, you must have missed the letter!.

I guess you are at the stage where they will accept a monthly payment plan. No interest and no more charges! As long as you confirm this with them.

Then you will need to see what you can pay back monthly, agree to what you can afford, or what you think you may be able to pay but can't really afford.

You then start the process of paying it off, you don't get bothered and you don't get charged anymore.

I did this and it worked just fine, I then complained to the Ombudsman because I always think I am right :-/ (Probably wasnt) but I was given all of the charges back, every single penny, must point out they were not in the wrong by the law and I was given that as goodwill.

HTH