Hi all, I had a loan with Halifax and because I lost my job I have had to ask them to accept lower payments for 6 months while I find new employment. I paid all of my agreed payments however Halifax decided that as my account was more than 6 months in arrears they would sell my debt to "APEX CREDIT MANAGEMENT LTD". To cut a long story short I am annoyed that Halifax have passed my account on to the DCA after telling me if I upped my payments from £12 a month to £40 the matter will stay within Halifax and not be passed out to a debt collection agency ( however this is is irrelacvant but I wanted to give you the history of the debt. On the 24/05/10 I sent a CCA request to apex citing S78 and they have replied on 26/05/10 saying that my account is on hold and they will cease correspondence until they "recieve the requested documents to forward to me". Then on the 27/05/10 they wrote to me with a print out my loan terms without any headed paper from Halifax ( it literally was just text and numbers that looked like a print screen from a microsoft dos system. They did however attach a compliment slip that was sent to them from halifax stating that this print out was all the halifax had as this application was either taken out on the telephone or online This is incorrect as the agreement was signed in the branch. Can anyone please advise on what I need to do next because as far as I can see it Apex and Halifax have both failed to supply a signed copy of an agreement??? Have I got this right or am I wrong? I have attached all correspondence I have recieved for those in the know to look at and hopefully advise me. Thanks in advance guys -

Hi thanks for the info, is there anywhere online I can find more info on the rent a room scheme?

I think i will just be honest and upfront if I do end up renting rooms and then let them tell me what I need to do, that way Im not commiting a crime etc. thanks

Hi thanks for the replies, I think I will just sign off benefits and survive on the rental income - I just wanted to know if I would be doing anything wrong and it seems i would so I wont be doing that as its illegal. Cheers for your advice.

Hi all, I am currently on JSA contribution based and will be soon recieveing Interest Mortgage support and Council Tax benefit. I am thinking of renting out some rooms in my home to give me more of an income and help me pay the remainder of my bills. Lets say for instance I rent out 3 rooms for a total of £980 each month and then the mortgage interest support is paying my mortgage do I need to declare this and also will I still be allowed to claim mortgage interest support? Thanks for your advice.

Bump

Thanks for your advice re the solicitor my local CAB office have given me the details of local solicitors who will give me a free 30 minute consultation - I am going to set up a meeting with them and see where I stand legally. I have asked her to write a letter and sign it stating that she doesnt contribute to the house and she wants off the mortgage ASAP to show DWP if they need it. At the moment I am on JSA CB and I need to be on JSA IB to be eligible for Mortgage interest support. Here is my problem - hopefully someone can give me advice on this: I have been signed off sick from the Doctor but I am unsure whether to sign off my JSA CB and apply for ESA. The reasons for this are Im not sure if the 13 week period for help with the mortgage interest will have to start again from the date of my new ESA claim. I have also read about the ESA medicals being geared towards physical disabilites and therefore I am concerned that I will get a raw deal and just because I can bend down and pick something up they will declare me fit for work. The reality is I am a nervous wreck, I am constantly having panic attacks and anxiety attacks and I have been prescribed Lorazepam and Prozac by a mental health specialist that my GP referred me to. To even think about going back to work fills me with fear and I just feel like I cannot take the stress and pressure of another field sales job just yet until I am better. Can anyone advise me on what I need to do next to ensure I get the Mortgage interest support? do I stay on JSA CB or do I start a new claim for ESA and risk being told to go back on JSA. I already have a MI12 form filled in aswell as a JSA 3 form - do I send these in now or wait for the 13 week period? Anyone getting Interest Support and now the timescales I should work to? Cheers,

This sounds promising - thanks for the info I really appreciate it.

I havent got anything that covers me for mortgage payments thanks for the info tho

Can anyone shed any light?

Hi Guys, Been reading here for some time and only just found the time to post - I wondered if someone could put my mind at ease. I am 25 yr old man who has worked since the age of 16, I have recently become unemployed due to the economic downturn and I am having to claim JSA. I have mortgage commitments of £1100 per month on a interest only rate - after the 13 week waiting peroid if still on JSA I can ask the governement to pay my interest repayments to my lender. The only thing is this is a joint mortgage with a ex partner ( I cannot trace her) and I have been making all mortgage payments for last 18 months, my question is this ..... will i be allowed to claim for full interest payments to my lender or only half as she is half liable????? I have also been signed off as being clinically depressed ( you never think it can happen to you - but believe me it does) so I will then need to claim for Employment Support Allowance or ESA - How much is ESA per fortnight and also does the government still support paying the interest for your mortgage if you are on ESA or ca you just claim this on JSA? Cheers in advance guys.