Hey guys thanks for your responses! I am in the process of sorting things out with the CAB x

Right I have a debt of about £4000, I know it doesn't sound an awful lot but it's causing me a great deal of hassle. The debt is made up of things like my mobile phone bill which has accumulated since xmas - I haven't been able to pay it, my bank account is past its overdraft - I'm being charged monthly and they're requesting that I pay back the student overdraft which they lent to me several years ago. I am unemployed, I am a part time student, I'm not eligible for any benefits as my gf earns an amount which is deemed to be over the threshold and as such I don't have an income. My gf doesn't have much of a disposable income and is only able to offer my debtors one-off token payments. I've been thinking about filing for bankruptcy - would that help? Or would that be ridiculous as the debt is only £4,000? If I was to file for bankruptcy would my girlfriends assets be taken from her? Would it affect her credit rating or hinder her in any way, shape or form? The reason I ask is because we live together and she owns lots of expensive things and as I've been in university for almost 7 years, I don't own that many expensive things. Bankruptcy aside, are there any ways that I can make the debtors stop pestering me until I am able to find a job? Anyone have any ideas? Thanks.

I am a part time student and I am unemployed, so am signing on. The for various reasons (outlined in my last thread) the jobcentre are not paying me, and they don't know exactly when they can pay me. As a result of this I have accrued some debt by spending money that I haven't got. I am overdrawn on my overdraft and am facing monthly charges, I am getting daily telephone calls from my bank asking for this to be rectified, which I cant do. My mobile phone has been cut off, and I owe three months for that - they have given me a week to pay, despite me saying that I don't have an income and am awaiting JSA. I also had a credit card and because I couldn't meet the minimum payments, the account was passed to a debt collection agency. They seemed pretty understanding a month ago when I said I dont have an income - my girlfriend agrreed to pay a one off payment of £10. This will obviously to keep them at bay for long, so is there anyway to get these guys to stop charging me and wait until I have an income until I pay them? At the moment it seems as though everything I say is just being ignored. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks.

I am a part time student and I am unemployed, so am signing on. In my first meeting at the jobcentre I was advised to apply for Contribution Based JSA, as I had just left my previous job - but after almost two months of waiting to be paid they sent me a letter saying that I don't have enough NI contributions etc etc (I think this is because I had just done a full time degree and for the three years prior I was just doing temp work). Immediately after I got the letter, which was about three weeks ago, I arranged an appointment at the jobcentre to fill in a JSA3 form. I was advised to date it from the day that I first applied to sign on, a few months prior. The lady at the jobcentre checked through it and then sent it off. I received a phone call the next day saying that it had arrived at it's destination. I telephoned the jobcentre yesterday to find out what's taking so long and they phoned me back today saying they are having trouble locating the JSA3 form which I filled in. They explained that they don't know exactly when I will be getting JSA through. It was suggested that I get a crisis loan - which I understand is money that I have to pay back to them. Why would I want to get a loan off them when they owe me over 3 months of JSA, their logic is bizarre. To add to all of this, I have got myself in debt spending money that I haven't got. I wouldn't have got into debt if the JSA was coming through regularly. My bank is requesting that I pay all of the money back now - which I cant. My mobile phone has been cut off - Orange have been a tad more lenient and today agreed to give me a week to pay. It feels like they are taking the p*ss, it also feels like an uphill struggle trying to get a job. I have had a couple of interviews which I have had to turn down because I couldn't afford to get to them. As I understand it, the jobcentre don't deal with the payments - that is the job of the benefit delivery centre (or whatever it is called). Should I make a complaint to them, would that be the best course of action? If so, how? Can anyone think of anything else I can do to speed things up? I am completely clueless at the moment. Any advice will be appreciated, thanks. For the people who like to stereotype - I am not the type of person that wants to live off benefits, I enjoy working. I am studying to become a solicitor.

Wondering if someone can give me some advice... I am currently a part time LLB student and became unemployed just before xmas - so I'm signing on, but JSA money hasn't started to come through yet for various reasons relating to my student status. Before I was a p/t time student I was a full time student and had a student overdraft - which is now a graduate account and my main banking account with Lloyds TSB. About a year ago I got myself a mobile phone contract and because I have not been able to afford to pay it my overdraft has been mounting up and is now £300 past what is allowed. for the past few weeks I have been getting phone calls from Lloyds (01273743574) everyday demanding the £300 back. At one point one guy said they were going to give me a month to wait for the jobseekers money to come through, then the next day it was like nothing happened and they were demanding the money again.. It feels rather invasive and like harassment having them bothering me all the time when I have clearly explained my situation, that I cannot afford to pay until I get a job; or at least until the job centre pulls their finger out. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to get lloyds off my back until such a time as when I can pay them? I.e. when the job centre comes through or when I get a job.. Erm don't know whether it's relevant or not, but I lost my job due to having epileptic problems, which are now fine. Thanks.

Thanks guys. Could you suggest a possible course of action I could take to put this matter to bed. Thanks

Thanks MrShed Dennis, this was an error on my part. I don't know why I didn't push for a receipt. I guess I was just relieved at the thought of moving out, that I didn't see the need in getting a receipt (as was moving out the next day). To what effect could this have on the outcome on the situation? Thanks

Hello, I had some trouble with my previous landlord I was issued with a section 8 notice to quit on grounds 8 and 10 (i think). I got advice from the CAB and I caught up with my outstanding payments, and moved out in the middle of August. My landlords agent verbally confirmed that payments were up to date. As I had arranged to leave the property before the expiry of the contract, I had to find someone to fill my room. My landlords agent had someone in mind, so I shown him around and he agreed to move in. I then proceeded to move out and I gave the keys back. Everything was confirmed and everything seemed good. I didn't have a deposit, therefore didnt need to claim one back upon moving out. Yesterday, my guarantor (my mum) received a letter saying that I am over £400 in arreas due to unpaid rent. I have sent a text message to the agent asking where this sum has come from because we agreed that I was up to date upon moving out. As I understand it, when I moved out, and the other guy started paying rent on the room, that will have voided any grounds of a contract on my part, as they aren't allowed to rent one room out to two separate parties... Could anyone offer any advice on this topic as i'm completely baffled, and don't know what to think? Thanks

Can anyone suggest any possible (non illegal) avenues that I could go down, so I'll be asked to vacate the premises. The only thing I can think of is to ask the other tennants to complain about me, so then the agent will think that my leaving will be best for all parties... Also because I was issued with the section 8 does that mean i'm obliged to move out under them terms or does my paying rent cancel it out? I just want to be out of this place, and away from the landlord and agent. Please someone give me something to work with..

Hello, I will start at the beginning... I am a university student studying building surveying. I moved into my flat and signed an assured shorthold tenancy agreement on 20th April. The contract is due to expire on 20th October. My parents are my guarantors. When signing the contract i notified the agent that i might have to leave early because i was coming to the end of uni, and was applying for jobs nationwide. She said thats fine, give me a months notice. When I left uni in may, I became unemployed so i started claiming benefits, the process was long and laborious and took a while for the forms to process...In this time I missed two rent payments and thus was issued with a section 8 on grounds 8 and 11. Now I have my benefits I have pretty much sorted my arrears, and I want to move out. So I text the agent saying I hereby give you a months notice as I am going to leave the property. Her reply was no you cant you have a fixed term contract. Your guarantor will be responsible for the rent. What should I do? It was verbally agreed infront of a witness that it was acceptable to give a months notice should I want to leave the property... Thanks

Hello My ex landlord and I have had a bit of a falling out. This is largely down to a lack of communication on his part. I have a record of relevant emails sent between both parties and I'd appreciate it if somebody could read over these and advise whether I should accept his terms or pursue this to court. In either case can you advise on what sort of response I should send. Thanks. DISPUTE OVER RENT AND DEPOSIT.doc

no, although the amount of times he came round would convince you otherwise... no I didn't live with my landlord

The tenancy i signed was titled Assured Tenancy Agreement. it says at the bottom 'This is NOT an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement'. Is that relevant in any way? The residence was a HMO.

This might be a silly question but i will ask it anyway..... is there anything in the housing act (or any other acts relating to tenancies) that state a tenant should leave a room in the condition it was in when he/she moved in? the reason i ask is because my ex landlord is giving me a hardtime about my room not being tidy when i moved out. This was because it was a mess when i moved in, and i left it in a similar condition, but a lot tidier. if there is nothing that states this then nevermind. If there is then can you tell me what section of what act etc. so i can say it to him in the email. Thanks

thanks for the reply kentish lass your meticulous eye has helped me out.