Big Badger House (aka Noisy Lodger) HE'S GONE!

Emmzi

well, the letter should bring things to a head one way or another.

I'd still buy a replacement lock barrel tho...

Horace

poppysarah wrote: »

Eau de dope should be reported to the cops. And the cat needs sorting out... it stays forvever that smell.

The cops round here aren't interested in eau de dope - I spoke to the landlord's agent this morning and he saw the cat last week - moves are afoot to get her evicted.

Back to Badger Lady - give quackers the boot - can you move back home for a while to see what is going on because she may be fleecing you in other ways too:eek:

poppysarah

Horace wrote: »

The cops round here aren't interested in eau de dope

report it anyway.

Money to fight cash goes on reported incidents.

Badger_Lady

Horace wrote: »

Back to Badger Lady - give quackers the boot - can you move back home for a while to see what is going on because she may be fleecing you in other ways too:eek:

I do still live there, I just tend to go away a lot So I was home yesterday and will be there tonight as well... everything seems fine.

Badger_Lady

She isn't home but has written me a letter. I wasn't going to copy the whole thing here, but actually there are a couple of points that I think you guys might be able to help out with:

Hi Badger,

I agree, we do need to sort this out. I am not available in the evenings until wenesday night now. Please let me know if this is any good for you?

There is no possible way I have only paid 2 months rent here. There is also no way what-so-ever that I havent paid you since June (which is what would have had to have happened to owe you £900). By my records, I owe you for August and September minus 2 weeks cleaning, plus that ebay dress, minus catfood, oh and also that other eBay thing if you bought it? You haven't given it to me, so I don't know. Maybe you could write me a bill?

Either way, for many different reasons, I think its best I move out earlier than planned, that way you'll have regular rent, and I wont be forever hanging on a string, waiting for benefits to !!!! up again and leave me homeless / penniless and pregnant. Its too stressful and the whole thing (not just this, but everything all together) is making me ill, and I keep blacking out, so its really best I live somewhere where there are people around all day.

Sorry to tell you like this, but we never see eachother anymore, and it at least gives you chance to find another tenant.

Here's the thing with the benefits. The other day, I recieved a letter from my bank saying they were going to make bank charges as I'd gone overdrawn, The only way I thought this could have happened was through housing benefit not paying. When I rung up the ESA (benefit) helpline, they told me that housing benefit would be suspended whenever ESA was waiting for a new sick note, so it seemed confirmed and I concentrated my efforts on getting my main benefit up and running again. The idiot at the bank assured me there seemed nothing wrong with my account, so I went to housing benefit. They told me it had been payed, and so I rang my bank again to find out why I had no money.

I had to wait until today to see the manager, who explained it had been paid, but the boffins at the bank failed to explain that my account is such that the overdraft decreases by £500 every 6 months, so they used the benefit to reduce my overdraft without telling me.

My ESA wont come through for another 3-4 weeks, so I have NO money to live on, and am reying on my BF entirely (bless him). He has agreed to lend me £300 to tide you over until housing benefit sent me another payment of £270 in about 2 weeks, making me all paid up.

The problem is, because of the phonecall you had with the housing benefit, they think I've basically nicked £900 worth of money and have suspended my benefit until we say its resolved. I have the letter here if you want to see it. If we can't convince them it was a misunderstanding, then I don't know what to do because I can only give you what I have in my bank which is currently -£1500. I can't take another penny out if my life depended on it.

Hope this makes things clearer, and hopefully we can sit down soon and come up with a plan of action.

Hope you're well,

Quackers and Bump
xxx

Now, things that strike me:

1. I can reassure her that the result of this suspension will be direct payment, not long-term lack of benefits (I don't know what they said in their letter to her but it apparently hasn't made that clear)

2. The bank can't use benefit money to repay a debt (the overdraft)... am I wrong about that? Does she have the right to march back in there and demand her benefits back?

3. Yes, if she's able to move in with BF now, that probably would be best, but we need to decided on a leaving date so that I can plan for a replacement lodger.

With regards to the amount owed - I did write her a detailed spreadsheet that included things like eBay dresses... I'm prepared to accept that she may have made another rent payment months ago that I'd forgotten about (it sounds kind of familiar), which means she owes £600-ish instead of £900-ish. Although it's going up to £900-ish this Sunday. I'm very prepared to accept that; but hello, it's still over 2 months' debt!

poppysarah

Badger_Lady wrote: »

2. The bank can't use benefit money to repay a debt (the overdraft)... am I wrong about that? Does she have the right to march back in there and demand her benefits back?

Yes they will.

An overdraft is the banks money and if she's not clearing it down and increasing it they can expect her to clear it off. Depends on what agreement.

But basically she's in debt to everyone. She's a blamer - none of this is her fault. Well it is and she needs to learn that.

roses

Badger_Lady wrote: »

3. Yes, if she's able to move in with BF now, that probably would be best, but we need to decided on a leaving date so that I can plan for a replacement lodger.

What's the logic in letting her stay long so you can find a replacement if she is not paying you now?

Badger_Lady

roses wrote: »

What's the logic in letting her stay long so you can find a replacement if she is not paying you now?

Because, very shortly, the council will start paying me directly. Anyway, she will need some time to pack up and leave, and I need to advertise the room so that someone can jump in straight away .

Emmzi

badger, would check on DFW board re the benefits, but I am also pretty sire they cannot nab them for debt repayment.

Badger_Lady

Thanks Emmzi I've popped it here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=25705825