On the brink, but still fighting

uberfrugal

A little update on things...

I am negotiating with Wonga. I have informed them on my predicament and they have asked me to come up with a repayment schedule via my debt charity.
Using Step Change's budget planner I was able to determine that I currently spend £112 per month more than my incomings - this is a number calculated on just essentials (electric, mortgage, food) and one extra - my mobile phone contract (needed for job interviews).
Step Change recommended a token repayment of £1 per month as a short term solution and I'm awaiting a response from Wonga. I have also sent the same email to Poundstopocket whom I owe £950 for a £450 loan taken out in July, of which I have repaid £250 (this is a long term, 12 month loan). However, I am yet to hear back from them.

Additionally I cancelled the debit card linked to both payments and have just got off the phone to the bank. However, they first told me I couldn't cancel the CPA unless I knew the exact amount coming out and the date it was due out. But by the end of the conversation she informed me all my direct debits had now been cancelled with the exception of my mobile phone one.

Monday 7th is D-day. I am now £1.90 over the £850 overdraft limit so have no money whatsoever available to me.
With any luck my first government payment will go into my bank on Monday which will give me about £200.
Then on the 21st I should have another £200. But my mortgage payment of £400 is due on the 28th. So I could literally pay my mortgage and not eat and have electric. I've started to sell more things online. At this stage I'm literally raising money just to eat.
That is the best case scenario.

However, if both Wonga and Poundstopocket deduct funds from my account then I'm screwed. I will then be £600 over my £850 overdraft, and incur whatever charges the bank deem appropriate.
However, I can always please that I did ring on the Friday before to try and prevent this scenario.
My next post will be on Monday. Fingers crossed.

heartbreak_star

Get yourself a new basic bank account so they can't take the money.

Good luck!

HBS x

leicestersq

Do you have an equity in your property?

uberfrugal

heartbreak_star wrote: »

Get yourself a new basic bank account so they can't take the money.

Good luck!

HBS x

Wish I had thought of that before. I do have 2 bank accounts. 1 living, 1 saving. The savings one is now empty but I put the details of my living account for the JSA. The one which is -£851.90. Is there a way I can transfer it over once the payments start?

heartbreak_star

Possibly - give the Jobcentre a ring?

HBS x

sweetilemon

I really feel for you as you have obviously tried so hard to keep yourself self supporting. Are you entitled to any crisis funds? Google/contact your local council to see if they run any food banks? What about volenteering? (Can't spell) If they pay expences you may be able to get out the house using their electicity/heating/facilities and maybe get the odd lunch too. This will not only be good on your CV but the benefits will help and could lead to job oppertunities. Wish you all the best.

uberfrugal

A little update.

Monday came and went without any troubles from Wonga or P2P. Wonga and I are in dialogue over a token payment arrangement, but P2P didn't contact me. I didn't even get an email back from them and they haven't tried to contact me telling me the payment was missed/could not be taken. I emailed them again just now.
On the down side I had to cancel my mobile phone contract so my only correspondence is email now.
Just the bare essentials now: mortgage, electric and food.

laurenjr

Is your electricity by key payment?

if not and its monthly they CANT cut you off if your on benefits if you don't pay them, because you are on benefits.

asparagus1968

hi, crikey, I really feel for you. it sounds like you are a very proud person, don't feel ashamed, this is not your fault, it so easily happen to a lot of us!
any thoughts on any of the alternative ways of getting some cash, someone posted some good ideas I remember.

any luck going interest only on the mortgage or taking a mortgage holiday?

can't remember the name of it now, but there is a website ,something like "Monday to Friday" ?? that puts you in touch with people looking for a bedroom to use just mid week, they go to their proper homes at weekends.

think you should open a basic bank account with a bank that is not in the same "family" as your current one. its been documented on here somewhere they can access other accounts within the same group to get owed money!!!

good luck, keep posting. lots of good wishes to you.

uberfrugal

Another update here.

I somehow managed to raise an extra £40 through selling on eBay.
Mortgage due out in 2 days of £400. After calculating all of my money I worked out that I would be £150 short. Yesterday I made the difficult but necessary decision to sell my washing machine and I made the £150 up.
Now another upset - today my benefit money was supposed to go into my bank but it didn't. I don't know why not and I no longer have a phone because I sold it so I can't get in touch any other way except by email. So I'm £200 short, which I need to raise in 2 days.
This is definitely the lowest I've felt. I worked so hard to raise the shortfall and the government lets me down. They assured me it would be going in today and there is nothing I can do.
Facing the real possibility of defaulting.

RE getting a flatmate/letting out a room. I did do this when I initially moved in but the guy was a jerk who didn't pay the rent for the last two months and still owes me £150, I haven't seen him in 6 months so I've been messaging him on facebook this week to try and get it off him but he's ignoring my messages.
I'm reluctant to get someone else in after this experience.