AIBU to thank David Cameron and the other one for buying me a cooker

[CreamolaFoamless]

My cooker oven exploded about 3 weeks ago.

and thanks to the great british system .......which everyone berates at times

I have been given £280 to buy a new cooker.

(I have paid my taxes) but seriously £280 for a new cooker , the month before christmas , thank you

I would never have known this was possible unless a really clued up person advised me about it

They made her detail to the last pence all that she'd spent on food, power/gas, clothes, everything. Then told her she needed to do better.

They made her detail to the last pence all that she'd spent on food, power/gas, clothes, everything. Then told her she needed to do better. bit like my bank then when I asked for an overdraft to pay my bills then .

It's a crisis loan, Kitty, for people who would be laughed out of a bank before even being considered for an overdraft .

We get no help with school uniforms at all, nothing is offered in this area so buying 3 bloody school uniforms and all the bumf they need is a nightmare. I would love £50-£60 per child. I think it is a disgrace that a uniform can be compulsory with punishments attached but no help is given with the cost.

Although I hate the idea of no school uniform more.

Kitty a bank would never consider giving an overdraft to someone on benefits regardless of how desperate there situation, which is why budgetting loans, crisis loans and community care grants exist.

"eminencegrise"

It is only right that she should have to demonstrate her incomings and outgoings, just like when you ask for an overdraft, that's what Kitty meant.

I agree but the kids don't need tops that cost £20 and school jumpers are £19. I mean ffs! Uniforms don't have to be expensive do they?

Sorry, completely off topic!

Thing is - if someone cannot manage on their fixed income it is not actually a crisis it is an on-going situation that they need to sort out. A crisis is meant to be something unexpected that you could not have anticipated. You can't pay a crisis loan every fortnight because you can't manage on the benefits you get.

'Thing is - if someone cannot manage on their fixed income it is not actually a crisis it is an on-going situation that they need to sort out. A crisis is meant to be something unexpected that you could not have anticipated. You can't pay a crisis loan every fortnight because you can't manage on the benefits you get.'

It was an unexpected bill. She got turned down. She went to Provident instead.

op, why do you keep insisiting you are surprised to get this money, surely you must have applied for it?

and if you did apply for it, what did you apply for?

zukiecat

I'm not sure why you're outraged at having to provide all your outgoings information. Do you think money should be given no-questions-asked?

Even banks don't do that.

If unexpected or because money has not been paid then a CL can be considered. However you can only get 3 CL's a year now (since April) and it is a last resort - so if you can access some money via Provident or family or friends then you ate meant to do that rather than a crisis loan. Don't shoot the messenger !

zukiecat

When asking for an overdraft or loan due to unexpected bills or the like your bank will often want to know about your weekly shopping costs, your travel to work expenses, very similar things. A couple of you mentioned that you were asked to provide this information, it sounded as if you thought that was unreasonable, otherwise why mention it?

If they asked you how many slices of bread you have left and how much sani towels cost that is obviously ridiculous.

I'm not grudging you the help, I'm just saying that it's right that you provide evidence that it's needed.

Zukiecat

From what you have said it does sound like you were treated harshly. The person making the decision does have to justify the reasons on paper why they are or are not paying you. You also have the right to have the decision looked at again if you are not happy with the reasons given to you. Without knowing the full details I cannot really comment on why that decision was made in your case.

v pleased you got the grant but that was available under labour too and maybe before that? I'm surprised they went up to £280 for a cooker as the application is product specific and you can usually only apply for a minimum cost. but hurray!

rational: It is only right that she should have to demonstrate her incomings and outgoings, just like when you ask for an overdraft, that's what Kitty meant.
That's exactly what I meant yes.
Zukie crisis loan/ bank loan whatever, you have to answer in depth questions if you are a high risk borrower. No not about sanitary products but about outgoings. If I applied to the bank for a loan/ overdraft and they thought I was overspending/ living beyond my means, they would tell me.

zukiecat

I agree with Carben, you do sound as if you were treated harshly.

Unfortunately with things like this you have to know how to play the system, it tends to be those who can play it best that get all the breaks, and they're possibly not going to be the most deserving cases.

zukiecat

You absolutely should ask for help from your doctor about what may be available to you. There is still help out there.

Zukie, when I was younger I couldn't get an overdraft. I had an interview with an overdraft advisor and I was grilled in the same way you have been. They have to do this to weed out the scammers who don't tell the truth.
It is harsh but as you have nothing to hide, just answer the questions and hopefully you will get the help next time round.