Unreasonable outgoings

Moleskin

Hi people, received a email from or yesterday saying that my grocery,cleaning and toiletries is unreasonable at £650 for a family of 4. What the or doesn't know is that our children are aged 18 and 16. And eat us out of house and home. We feel this is the real figure,is it to much to claim? Or shall I pursue it?
Also we have 3dogs which until 8mths ago had insurance for at £60. we cancelled it because we couldn't afford it, since then we've had vet bills in excess of £400 and had an arrangement to pay vet £50 a month to settle the bill. Or says we are only entitled to £40 a month. Is this fair?.

LindieR

What does he suggest it should be at? We are a family of four 2 adults + 2 4yr olds ours is probably around £200 pm. I am also SAHM so cook alot from scratch which makes it cheaper, but cvompensates for the fact that I don't work full time. AS for the vet bill you could speak to the vet and ask for a reduced figure over a longer period. you can tell him you are going through bankruptcy and he can either take the offer or the debt could be included in the bankruptcy. I am sure he will be very accomodating.

sniggings

TBH your food bill is quite high, but it's up to you whether you consider the amount reasonable, I would first though ask the OR what figure they had in mind, so you know what you are fighting, you do always have the option of not agreeing and letting the OR try for a IPO, they may just back down, as the costs and time involved may not be worth it.

As for the vet bill, I would not move on that, you are allowed reasonable expenses, a vet bill is reasonable, it needs paying, there is no room for movement on that, the OR is trying it on imo

As said it's an agreement so it's in your OR's interest to come to an agreement too, don't worry about court as a judge looks at the law so is more inclined to be fairer than an OR pushing their luck.

JCS1

Tread carefully with the vet's bill, as an unsecured debt it's included in the bankruptcy and you shouldn't technically be paying anything to it any more.

Why don't you post up your SOA, as ideally need to see everything before we can comment (as for example groceries may be high, but you may not be claiming for holidays, etc)

sniggings

JCS1 wrote: »

Tread carefully with the vet's bill, as an unsecured debt it's included in the bankruptcy and you shouldn't technically be paying anything to it any more.

Why don't you post up your SOA, as ideally need to see everything before we can comment (as for example groceries may be high, but you may not be claiming for holidays, etc)

I'm working on the premise the bill was incurred post BR, but maybe the OP could set us straight. As I agree, I would be surprised if the OR would allow this to be paid if it was a debt incurred pre-BR.

JCS1

sniggings wrote: »

I'm working on the premise the bill was incurred post BR, but maybe the OP could set us straight. As I agree, I would be surprised if the OR would allow this to be paid if it was a debt incurred pre-BR.

I read it the other way, had pet insurance until 8 months ago, had vet's bill, and then gone BR. But agree, we need OP to clarify.

Moleskin

Sorry guys I explained it wrong, I owe nothing to the vets, the bills were paid, I, m asking if I should ask for more of an allowance to cover 3 dogs, O.R says £40 only
Thanks for your help

lilybankrupt

If it help, Business Debt Line sent me some guidance figures and the figure for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children) is £523

debt_doctor

Hi,

I would suggest that you stick to your guns and maintain that these are your costs. Strangely, if you were in a DRO, which is supposedly for the very poorest to obtain debt relief, the IS would accept your housekeeping figure and more (I process DROs). Perhaps you want to tell your OR that?

DD

TinyToes

2 adults and 2 young kids under 6 and we have £550 per month groceries.

i think its all down to who ever deals with your case. we're upin scotland so have a trustee rather than OR but we have been allowed sky and mobile contracts under our 'living allowance'

sniggings

Moleskin wrote: »

Sorry guys I explained it wrong, I owe nothing to the vets, the bills were paid, I, m asking if I should ask for more of an allowance to cover 3 dogs, O.R says £40 only
Thanks for your help

if the £50 is on top of food, and what you are putting aside for vet bills etc then it may be hard to argue but if you were to get a quote from a few pet insurance companies then the OR would find that harder to argue against, as it would be a set bill not just a best guess from you, as at the minute your OR is guessing £40 is enough and your guess is £50, an insurance quote is a fact not a guess.