Oh ho im in trouble, bailiff came along and burst our bubble.

Kevicho

Hi Lisa

Ive been looking through your SOA and your weekly income is 232.55, and outgoings add up to 277.65, so there is a short fall there, id assume most of this is caused by the arrears.

My first question is are you getting all the benefits you can, also i know you say you are disabled, but is there any possibility of getting some part time work, without losing these benefits.

As someone pointed out, can OH find some work as well? With this small an income and your arrears you are in a pickle, the council tax is the worst im afraid, any sort of income now would be a lifeline.

Some things i would suggest are looking to switch suppliers, if you can find cheaper deals then go for it, the other companies will be obliged to continue receiving the arrears at the agreed rate, another bonus to this is if you use quidco you could earn some cash back, which could go towards overpaying the provident, which once paid will give you 15 a week back.

Also the capital one card, if you could give us more details, at 350 a month, there must be a high balance on there, if they are going to take you to court anyways you might as well offer them a pound a month, with you SOA this is about as much as you can realistially afford, it will also put your weekly budget back in the black (get advise from the CCCs or payplan with regards to approaching them about this).

The only other real savings such as car which you need, and mobile (which should be cancelled and changed to PAYG when this expires) are accounted for, you could see about changing to a cheaper tariff, but i doubt they will move you.

calamity

have you considered getting a social fund loan set at a rate you can afford to pay of the provident and your credit card.
Have you asked social services for help with your care or the care of your daughter to allow your husband some time to work.

My husband is physically disabled but still works full time and we have 2 children on the autistic spectrum.
i have chronic depression and i still manage some hours a week.

I am not saying this to have a go at you so please do not take it that way.
I just think it is easy to fall into the trap of saying --well we cant work when in fact with a bit of extra help this becomes an option and can make life start to feel more normal again IYSWIM

nickelodeon

Have a look at this from the article of grants:
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/protect/grant-grabbing

Help with utility arrears

As well as grants to make your home more energy efficient some utility companies also offer them to help if you have large arrears on your gas, electricity or water bills. You'll need to be a customer of the company so if yours is not listed contact it to see if it has a similar scheme.

Gas & Electricity: Schemes are offered by British Gas Energy Trust, EDF Energy Trust, [EMAIL="spreading.warmth@npower.com"]Npower First Step (email)[/EMAIL]

Water:Schemes are offered by Anglian Water Trust Fund, Bristol Water, Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water, Severn Trent Trust Fund, Southern Water, Thames Water Customer Assistance Fund, Three Valleys Water, Wessex Water, Yorkshire Water Community Trust

It might be worth looking into to see if you can get a grant to help with your arrears given your income situation.

Just wanted to say that you are doing really well tackling this! Keep up the good work!

calamity

Sorry i have just looked again at your SOA and unless i am adding it up wrong your income every 4 weeks = £930
Your outgoings every 4 weeks (without credit card) is £680

I am open to be corrected here but assuming your water gas and electricity are set high to clear arrears then you are not paying anything extra towards arrears.
If i am correct then you should have enough left to make some payment to your credit card every month even if it is not the £350 that they want.
I would offer them £100 and ask them to freeze the interest as this will knock down the debt but still leave you a bit of slack for emergencies.

lisa_martin_2

Well thanks all for your advice so far but here is the situation.

Me (lisa) Can't work as I am housebound, why? because I have agrophobia, Anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, confusion, memory loss due to the drugs i am taking (prescribed) (I am seeking help about this as I dont want to be like this.

Martin (husband) Can't work as i need him here. What of someone knocks the door and im on my own? Or fones the house? I can't deal with that. How do I get my daughter to school?! When shania had her accident 3 weeks ago now I spent 3 days in hospital with her that was the 1st time in a year I had been out of the house and god, was i scared! but I done it and am making a bigger effort to go out now.

Shania, will have another 4 weeks in plaster up to her sholder then she will have a splint. I am going to the hospital on tuesday with her. I know I can do this.

At the moment, I dont think there is a chance of martin or I going to work. not yet, I WILL change this tho, I'm just not ready to be on my own yet.

Hmm nearly 10years to pay back the council tax! I didnt think of it like that. I need to do something about gettin that amount down. way before 10years. although the bailiff charges have been whipped dropping the amount now to just under £1000 and.....there is still a problem because 75% of the amount they are asking for is when both Martin and I were on benefits, Income Support and Icapacity Benefit we have disputed this 3 times and each time it has gone down by £50quid, so we might get there eventually..

£350 is the TOTAL amount owed on the CC not what I pay a month.

Thanks for all your help.

lisa_martin_2

Yes, The utillities are high because I am paying everything owed and no-more, Its the way I want it, I would rather spend 6months skint than 6years. As I say I plan to be very better, and hopefully I can return to work, Thats what my goal is. Ive never been on benefits before. Last august was the 1st time. I have always worked a very good job too, but sometimes things in life happen that u have no control over.

Lisa

rog2

Herbie21 wrote: »

Excellent news about the bailiffs. If only councils told the individuals that by law they can have council tax arrears deducted at source from income support at just £2.90 per week.

And no bailiffs...........

Absolutely, Herbie - I think that we can be forgiven, given the attitude of those who post on this forum with the sole intention of justifying the use of bailffs as 'effective' revenue collectors, for thinking that it might just save a bit of heartache for the most vulnerable members of society if these same councils were forced, by law, to explain the rights of these so-called 'debtors' before resorting to the heavy-handed tactics which they appear to enjoy so much.