What are my options?

mattyT1987

In an attempt to cut a long story as short as possible...

I'm 24, have bad credit history. Been out of work for a looong time and finally I have been offered a great job, with great career prospects as a junior negotiator for a well renowned Estate Agents.

The only downside to this is the fact that I need to find myself a car before I can start work.

When initially offered the job, I was told that my circumstances had been taken to hand, and as long as I could guarantee to be there for working hours, they would give me a time span of 2 weeks to get a car sorted after starting.
After a meeting with the area and regional manager, the branch manager has told me this morning that due to this being abused in the past, it was not going to be an option for me, and therefore, the job was mine as soon as I get a car sorted.

Now as said before, I have bad credit. I have no savings and nothing money wise available to me.
Borrowing cars is going to be practically impossible and i've looked into allsorts... leasing etc but even then you are looking to put down a 1k+ deposit. Money I don't have.

Estate agency is something I've wanted to get into for years, and the salary of this job is great, even as a junior, my OTE for the first year in a poor market will be 20k+. However, I know that when it comes to finance this doesn't come into play, so just to put it out there my basic is 12k for the first year.
It just seems a shame that I could lose out on this opportunity.

mattyT1987

I should also add that the company cannot contract me until I have a car... 1 car finance company specialising in adverse credit told me they cant finance without contract.

Catch 22!!

The estate agency has told me that they would be willing to provide a letter stating of the intention to employ me if I get a car but I cant see this being any help

daveys_2

Do you have *any* cash?

Get yourself down to you local motor auction, I've seen cars go at mine for a tenner. Admittedy no Tax, and if they do have MOT, you can measure in hours, but I'm guessing you just need to present something to your potential empolyer with an engine and 4 wheels, that can get you round the area until your first paycheque clears

mattyT1987

daveys wrote: »

Do you have *any* cash?

Get yourself down to you local motor auction, I've seen cars go at mine for a tenner. Admittedy no Tax, and if they do have MOT, you can measure in hours, but I'm guessing you just need to present something to your potential empolyer with an engine and 4 wheels, that can get you round the area until your first paycheque clears

Literally nothing and whilst I could potentially borrow a very small amount from familly, a £100 car with no tax or MOT won't cut it. I'm gonna be doing a lot of miles and need something thats gonna be reliable.

jimbo_the_jetset

Hire a car? Surely the cost per day, per week (until you get enough money to buy something) will be less than your earnings? Put the cost on a credit card (assuming you have on?) and pay it off in full once you have been paid.

I take it that since you will be using your own car for this job that they will pay you a mileage rate for business use? 45p a mile?

mattyT1987

jimbo_the_jetset wrote: »

Hire a car? Surely the cost per day, per week (until you get enough money to buy something) will be less than your earnings? Put the cost on a credit card (assuming you have on?) and pay it off in full once you have been paid.

I take it that since you will be using your own car for this job that they will pay you a mileage rate for business use? 45p a mile?

Again, like with leasing, looking at hire cars wouldn't be feasible because of deposits etc.

I don't have a credit card.

As a Junior Negotiator, I dont get paid mileage but car expenses of £750 a year. So I can claim my business mileage at the end of the tax year through HMRC.

pitkin2020

mattyT1987 wrote: »

Again, like with leasing, looking at hire cars wouldn't be feasible because of deposits etc.

I don't have a credit card.

As a Junior Negotiator, I dont get paid mileage but car expenses of £750 a year. So I can claim my business mileage at the end of the tax year through HMRC.

Find a local car hire company. The local company I used a lot never took credit cards or deposits, cash only!!!!

Whipcar.com is another option.

You don't have many options i'm afraid until you can get the contract of employment. You can only hire or buy.

TrickyWicky

Well if you can't borrow the cash or a car, can't finance one and can't get hold of a car by other means then I guess you're pretty stuffed. Shame, I love estate agents so much for pushing up the cost of living..

mattyprice4004

I had a car for £200 a while back, was brilliant too. Not to mention it was 200bhp.

You can get a car for a lot less than £500 quite easily.

TrickyWicky

mattyprice4004 wrote: »

You can get a car for a lot less than £500 quite easily.

Not that your comments help the op who has no money as previously stated :T

Padz_2

If it was me I'd be going cap in hand to a bank manager and asking for a personal loan. I know you have a poor credit history but you don't know what they are prepared to do until you ask. If you don't try you'll never know. I'm not talking about applying online I'm talking about getting dressed up and looking someone in the eye. They just might take a chance on you if they see your passion for starting a new life. But you're very negative about this whole situation so you most likely won't even consider it.