New here - please help :-(

Frith

The paperwork sent says

"Standing order (with details)
Credit Protection Insurance (details)
IMPORTANT - YOU SHOULD READ THIS CAREFULLY - YOUR RIGHTS
The CCA 1974 covers this agreement and lays down certain requirements for your protection which must be satisfied when the agreement is made. If they are not, the creditor cannot enforce the agreement against you without a court order.
The Act also gives you a number of rights ( it lists these)
N.B The refences to unsatisfactory services apply only to the insurance cover, and cash loan means the principal loan. This agreement is subject to the terms set out on page 2"

Then there is a square box with mine and ex's signatures in that reads "This is a CCA regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Sign only if you want to be legally bound by its terms. Signatures of Customers - - - - Dates of Signatures - - 2000

Page 2 has 4 heading - Security, Joint Borrowing, Default and Enforcement and Disclosure.

It is a photocopy, but there is no word that I can't make out.

firesidemaid

is that really all the money you are entitled to for you and two kids?

is your council tax paid? when will you get your housing benefit?

you can cut your food budget by half (have a look at the old-style boards). can you lift share or get your food delivered to save money (ther are always money off codes available on here). would your children not be entitled to free school meals and transport?

you need to speak to either citizens advice bureaux or visit the cccs or paypaln websites or phone them - they are charities who will help you sort things out.

you also need to check the validity of the advice of the bank suggesting a loan instead of an overdraft - all they have done is made more profit. did you also pay insurance on this?

RAS

First thoughts

ACEY wrote: »

OK, state of affairs....

Incoming
£57 per week income support
£30 per week child benefit
£70 per week child tax credits so that is £157 week £628 per month

Outgoing
£370 mortgage (not yet receiving housing benefit) - is this repayment or interest only?
£84 endowment - is this tied to the mortgage?
£70 electricity - this is massive, can you reduce it. Check out the alternative suppliers on the comparison sites (see the utilities articles on the main site and change via qwww.quidco.com)
£8.10 water (!) - would a meter be cheaper?
£30 phone - this is high, who is your supplier? Check martin's artcilce for free evening and weekend calls
£20 house insurance
£25 car insurance
£200 food - for how many?
£40 petrol (live 10 miles from nearest shop and 4 miles from school)
£10 to tax credits people for overpaying me in past
£30 to MCS (currently not paying) - pay them £1 a month short -term

Don't have holidays/perks/new clothes.... We have far less coming in than we need to cover the bills at present.

What is happening with Council tax? and CTBenefit? Maintenance or is that a sore point?

Go to www.entitledto.com and check that you are not entitled to anything else?

How much is the MCS loan?

Go hav a look at www.quidco.com so you can see what cashbacks are available. In some instancs, if the cost is the same or a fraction more, you can still gain for transferring your business.

Go to www.freecycle.org and sign up for your local area. This is where people put their white goods, electrical goods furniture, clothes etc that they want to get rid off, for nothing except you have to collect.

search (on the bar above) for Chevalier who has a list of mystery shopping, survey and pay for click sites.

Go to the Money Saving Old Style forum for cheap menu suggestions and cheap everything else. Do make sure you explain that you live in the sticks and can not get to Lidl/Aldi easily. However, it might be worth finding out where the nearest on is and doing bulk shops occasionally. is there any other mum or OAP in the village with whom you can car share occasionally?

You are almost certainly entitled to free insulation. Go here http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/energy_saving_grants_and_offers?sec=2 to find out about the deals. The big issues are - is your loft space empty and can they lay the insualtion flat and do you have cavity walls. Both would help cut your heating costs.

Find out what cheap offers your council do for people on benefits. it may not be a lot but a really cheap swim session when you are already in town could be a bonus.

RAS

ACEY

Re post 10, please remove the account number - hit the edit button

RAS

ACEY wrote: »

"Standing order (with details)
Credit Protection Insurance (details)
IMPORTANT - YOU SHOULD READ THIS CAREFULLY - YOUR RIGHTS
The CCA 1974 covers this agreement and lays down certain requirements for your protection which must be satisfied when the agreement is made. If they are not, the creditor cannot enforce the agreement against you without a court order.
The Act also gives you a number of rights ( it lists these)
N.B The refences to unsatisfactory services apply only to the insurance cover, and cash loan means the principal loan. This agreement is subject to the terms set out on page 2"

Then there is a square box with mine and ex's signatures in that reads "This is a CCA regulated by the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Sign only if you want to be legally bound by its terms. Signatures of Customers - - - - Dates of Signatures - - 2000

Page 2 has 4 heading - Security, Joint Borrowing, Default and Enforcement and Disclosure.

It is a photocopy, but there is no word that I can't make out.

So this is a joint debt and OH has gone off and left you with it. Any idea where he is, as he is still jointly liable.

And what about the mortgage, it that joint?

Frith

liz105 wrote: »

Hi,


"Food bill is quite high, there's familes with 4 or 5 kids on here paying less than that, get over to the old style board for meal ideas batch cooking etc."

Well, thats not just food, that's everything we might need for that week - washing powder etc. And £50 would be the worst possible week - generally 30-35 pounds. 2 children here.

Frith

RAS wrote: »

First thoughts



What is happening with Council tax? and CTBenefit? Maintenance or is that a sore point?

Council tax is being paid. Maintenance is £2.50 per child per week, if it comes at all.....

Go to www.entitledto.com and check that you are not entitled to anything else?

Have done so before.

How much is the MCS loan?

£9,900

Go hav a look at www.quidco.com so you can see what cashbacks are available. In some instancs, if the cost is the same or a fraction more, you can still gain for transferring your business.

Have done before, and will use when renewing car and house insurance next month.

Go to www.freecycle.org and sign up for your local area. This is where people put their white goods, electrical goods furniture, clothes etc that they want to get rid off, for nothing except you have to collect.

Use this site a lot!

search (on the bar above) for Chevalier who has a list of mystery shopping, survey and pay for click sites.

Will try this.....

Go to the Money Saving Old Style forum for cheap menu suggestions and cheap everything else. Do make sure you explain that you live in the sticks and can not get to Lidl/Aldi easily. However, it might be worth finding out where the nearest on is and doing bulk shops occasionally. is there any other mum or OAP in the village with whom you can car share occasionally?

Can't do very bulky shops as I live in a 2 up 2 down (really only a 1 up 1 down with NO storage space and no freezer)

You are almost certainly entitled to free insulation. Go here http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/what_can_i_do_today/energy_saving_grants_and_offers?sec=2 to find out about the deals. The big issues are - is your loft space empty and can they lay the insualtion flat and do you have cavity walls. Both would help cut your heating costs.

Don't have cavity walls (150 year old cottage) have insulated loft already.

Find out what cheap offers your council do for people on benefits. it may not be a lot but a really cheap swim session when you are already in town could be a bonus.

At the moment we are not doing anything like that :-( but could check

Frith

RAS wrote: »

ACEY

Re post 10, please remove the account number - hit the edit button

Don't worry - that's not really my a/c number!

Frith

RAS wrote: »

So this is a joint debt and OH has gone off and left you with it. Any idea where he is, as he is still jointly liable.

And what about the mortgage, it that joint?

He's at his mother's !!!!

He is now not liable for anything at all. In the world's longest divorce, he gave up his share of the house on condition that I took on all the debts......

Frith

Also meant to say

1) I don't think having a water meter would make my bill lower that £8.10 per month! That's only 10 months a year, as well. Its because we aren't on the sewer.

2) Yes, electricity bill is high because I owe them a lot. We have no central heating so occasionally use electric heaters in the winter to help upstairs when the fire is lit downstairs. And the water is all heated with electricity.