Reeling from the Reality Check

Historybuff

Pay issue partially sorted. Have to wait till Tues to see whether they put the final bit of pay in. It's so annoying. If I hadn't saved that buffer fund I would have been up the creek. Waiting to hear from the pensions people. So worried that they might not have the correct figures. It feels like I'm in the dark. You don't get any firm figures before you apply for the pension, they just say use the calculators on the website, which will give you an idea of what to expect. You don't get told anything and just have to wait till they contact you. For such an important thing you would think you would get the figures in writing, so you know exactly what to expect.
I can feel myself getting anxious.

Brogden

Hi HB

Don't worry too much. Anything the idiots do wrong they can do again and get it right the second time. God knows how we all manage to put up with such ineptitude......but we all do :mad: !!

Are you taking part pension to plug the gap for your reduction in hours?

Broggers x

Historybuff

Yes, Brogden. I haven't taken it all, just a percentage. Pay is still down, but not by much and I can still keep the DMP payments going. The upside is I get a day a week to myself and only have to work four days. I've done it for two weeks and am already feeling the benefit. I think I will be able to carry on working a lot longer than I thought with the reduction in hours. Hope all is going well with you.

Historybuff

Pay still not sorted, surprise, surprise! Had a few e@bay sales, though, which is helping out. Going through the DDs today to see if I can save any more money anywhere. Already cut to the bone, but might be able to save a small amount somewhere.

Historybuff

After hundreds of phone calls, emails and letters, I finally received the final instalment of my April salary yesterday. One thing sorted. Wonder if they will get it right for next month.
Pension still not sorted. After a month of calls, emails and letters I have found out that my employer filled out their part of the form WRONGLY and WRONGLY informed them I had LEFT pensionable employment altogether! So, I am back to square one with that! I have resent my employer the form again with helpful post-it note hints on what to put where and have to hope that this time they get it right, along with reinstating my employed status. How do these people get away with it! I have also emailed them saying I want a copy of the form they send in and confirmation everything has been correctly updated. So I'm back to waiting to see what happens.
All is quiet at the moment on the finance front. I'm carrying on paying the agreed amounts and getting used to a slightly reduced income to manage on. It will be a bit tight, but I'll see how I go for a couple of months before changing anything.
Rubbish weather today, but work in the garden has started. Hurrah! OH has conceded he can't do it all on his own and that he needs to look after his creaking knees, so has recruited a strong young man to do all the heavy work. Enjoying the view from my kitchen window! Have a good weekend all.

Historybuff

Quick update. Pension still not sorted. Service etc put back correctly, but still no sign of payments. I shall have to be back on the phone again on Tues. Miraculously, payroll have managed to get my pay correct this time. Hopefully, that's properly sorted out now. One step forward and three back.
Bit worried about the overdraft with N@wide. They have taken it off my account view and keep on phoning me. I'll psych myself up to ring them on Tues to see what it's all about. I've had a scary letter saying they want all the money back now or else...

Historybuff

Just phoned N@wide and have been offered a 65% settlement figure! I only have two weeks to find the money, so don't think I will be able to do it yet, but is it worth me going back with a counter offer of something like 50%? Gutted I had to spend the buffer fund, because I could have probably have got at least one of them sorted!

Eager_Elephant

Historybuff wrote: »

Just phoned N@wide and have been offered a 65% settlement figure! I only have two weeks to find the money, so don't think I will be able to do it yet, but is it worth me going back with a counter offer of something like 50%? Gutted I had to spend the buffer fund, because I could have probably have got at least one of them sorted!

Well done for phoning them:T


What's the worst they can say if you offer 50%?


If they don't take it this time make sure they know that you need to keep paying the same (or less) each month on an arrangement.
Then in 3 - 6 months make the same offer again.

Brogden

Historybuff wrote: »

Just phoned N@wide and have been offered a 65% settlement figure! I only have two weeks to find the money, so don't think I will be able to do it yet, but is it worth me going back with a counter offer of something like 50%? Gutted I had to spend the buffer fund, because I could have probably have got at least one of them sorted!

Yes - it is worth it HB!

Make any cheeky offer you feel you can make and try below 50%.

If you have been p+__ed around then tell them.........that bit did wonders for me with my biggest debt (I think it did......can you ever be sure?)

If they want rid then take 'em to the wire

Brogden x

Bobarella

Sorry it's gotten so choppy again. Really hope it gets sorted soon. Very frustrating having to bother people all the time for what is rightfully yours.