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G24 PCN *EDIT* Now with DCB Legal - Here we go!
Hi all! Long time lurker, first time poster :D The forums have helped me with a separate issue with another company, DCB Legal (may do a thread for that, went to county court, no update with courts for over 1 year now after defence was struck out, last correspondence from DCB was asking to settle out of court, LOL...)…
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Parking Charge Notice - Shield Security
Hi, I have a parking charge notice from a private car park. I did buy a ticket and have the ticket stub with my vehicle reg on to confirm I had paid for the correct time, but the ticket had blow off the dashboard. Any advice before I do the appeal please? Thanks
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Filled in the wrong vehicle Reg - Advice sought.
Hello, I'm hoping someone can offer advice. I parked in a private car park for 2 days running. In order to pay I had to reinstall an app on my phone (PayByPhone) Both days I paid the full fee (£7.70) to park for the day, believing in good faith that I was doing the correct thing. Unfortunately I was in a hurry to start a…
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New starter to Civil service pension
Having just spent a few years in the Local Government pension scheme and tackling making AVC’s I’m about to move to a civil service post and could do with some help around what my options are within the scheme as I’ve not been able to find much information. Thanks for any help.
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Milann’s mutterings through retirement
I thought it was about time for a new diary. Ive been a member of MSE many years now and got my debt down from £20,000’s to a big fat ZERO. I kept the debts to myself as I was the one who built them up. Dh would have been ok and we’d have worked through them together…..but it was my mess that I wanted to clear myself and…
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Purchased life annuity - can you recommend a broker
Hi, my parents (aged 83 and 89) want to set up a joint purchased life annuity from Aviva, however their in house financial advisor insists on full financial planning, which they don't need, plus they say it will take 12 weeks, by which time the quote will have run out. Aviva have told me they are not required to go through…
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Broadband speed test
Hi looking for a bit of ' education' Virgin installed and reasonable happy. Provided with Cisco samknows.com speed test. Snapshot readings are Router 135 @2mtr, Router 130 @ 15mtr Smart TV on own speed tester 25 @15mtr. A virgin wifi pod ( extender) tried in various areas but doesn't appear to improve TV speed or readings.…
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No choice but to consider DMP - help appreciated!
Hi, I have been reading advice on this forum for a while and I've realised that despite trying for years to repay my credit card debts I have actually just been treading water at best and now more recently getting further into debt month by month. It has been a combination of everything being more expensive post pandemic…
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EE Sim only monthly contract massive price hike
Hi all, I used to be with Plusnet for broadband and mobile phone etc. Then I got transferred to EE as Plusnet dropped their mobile phone service. Was paying around £6 per month, but after I transferred to EE they started the uual annual "inflation plus" increases, so was paying around £7. However they have just advised…
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Sim Card for Burglar Alarm
Hi all, I've recently had a new alarm installed and it has a slot for a SIM card so it can dial our phones if the alarm is triggered. I was looking to get a pay as you go SIM and stick a fiver of credit on it so it's got enough to dial out if needed but hopefully any calls will be few and far between and I believe that a…
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Busting this debt before 40
Time for me to de-lurk on this thread and start my own dairy. Long story short ish. Away on work last year all my co-workers talked about pensions. Then realised that I wouldn't get my state pension till 67. Also my work pension doesn't kick in till 67 either...(There's like a mini pension for when I've done my contracted…
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CGT on UK Property & SA return
In May 2025 I sold my interest in a residential property (somewhere I never lived). I made a capital gain which I reported within 60 days of completion by filing a 'Capital Gains Tax on UK Property' return online and paying the CGT by debit card. I am aware that additionally I have to include the property disposal on the…
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MET Parking via DCB Legal claim 2025
Hi everyone, I’ve received a Letter of Claim from DCB Legal. I’ve checked the forum threads but I’m still a bit confused about what steps I need to take next. Could anyone kindly guide me through the process? Thank you in advance for your help.
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The Mortgage Free Roll Of Honour
Welcome to the Mortgage-Free Roll of Honour. This is for Mortgage-Free Wannabees who are no longer Wannabees. Please report a. The date you decided to become a MFW b. Mortgage Debt at its highest c. Mortgage-Free Date d. Your one perl of wisdom. e. The MSE Mortgage guides and others that helped you f. And if you had a…
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The Unexpected Mortgage-Free Wannabe
The title of this diary may make no sense to you, so let me explain… I’ve lived in my current house on and off for the last 35 and a half years, since just before I turned two years old. My Dad passed in 2012 so I had been living here with my Mum and my eldest brother (DB1), up until August 2024. At the end of August, my…
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Pension contributions in retirement
Hi, I took early retirement 15 months ago, using a Prudential flexi access drawdown scheme. I withdraw taxable income upto my tax threshold so I dont pay tax, and top this up with tax free income to give me enough to live on. I think this has triggered the MPAA, limiting the amount I can contibute back into my pension. I…
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The Best Is Yet To Come
The Best Is Yet To Come - or so the front cover of my new diary says. I normally hang out in the debt free wannabes, but as I have had my diary on there for almost 10 year (yes the same diary), and have been debt free since April 2018 I thought it was time to migrate over to the mortgage free wannabe area. Please be gentle…
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Sorting my life out (again)
Blimey, it's been about 5 years since I've used this forum and my life has completely changed. 2020 = married, 1 DS, full-time job, debt-free, £9k savings 2025 = divorced, 1 DS, 1 DD, full-time carer for my DD who is disabled, £7k debt, £0 savings Luckily my debts are relatively small and 0% interest... apart from the car…
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How much to live on
How much do you expect you will require to live on each month when you are retired? ie no mortgage, no commute to work BUT maybe higher heating, hobby costs. I'm getting to the stage where I'm realising that I don't need to be super rich to retire and will only really require living costs but I don't know how much I should…
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SMART PARKING LTD / ZZPS
Oct 2022 I parked on private land, not park of Alfred st car park. I receive a letter saying I owe money for parking without a ticket. Emailed asking for proof and singage. They said PCN was stuck to window. 7th may 2025 I receive a letter from zzps asking for 160£ emailed asking for proof again and basically was denied as…
