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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

have i been conned.

101 replies

ghostspirit · 21/11/2014 21:04

not sure if i have been conned or if im just being a bit thick. i had a loan. but still owed 150 pounds on that loan. I was told i could have another loan of 500. but i have to use that to pay back the remaining 150 on the old loan, so leaving me with 350.

so now interest and weekly payments are based on 500.

should i have been asked if i wanted to borrow 350 rather than the 500.

but then if my balance has to be zero maybe that was the only way round it.

anyway something does not seem right. maybe it is right and im just being a bit thick.

so i borrowed 500. ended up with 350 due to owing 150 to clear old loan. and now my total repayment will be 945.00

OP posts:
Vikingbiker · 22/11/2014 08:20

Maybe contact stepchange.

Theres a better way forward then this

mausmaus · 22/11/2014 08:29

I think you need to contact shelter wrt the dogylandlord/deposit keeping.
I hope you have anythng (email, text message, paper) writing.

about the dog, I know it's tough, but you really need to think hard about keeping him. you obviously have difficulties to afford him.

Help1234 · 22/11/2014 08:39

Not sure if this has already been suggested as I haven't read whole thread but could you try a credit union? They loan money at a lower rate of interest and you could borrow the £500 from them, pay provident back and keep the £350 towards the deposit.
Can you negotiate the amount of deposit? £500 seems a lot and they may be willing to reduce it a bit if you explain how difficult it is for you to raise this amount?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 22/11/2014 16:21

mausmaus i can afford to keep the dog. its nothing to do with his day to day keep/care....

help1234 yews people have said about credit union im going to pop in on monday

OP posts:
vrtra · 22/11/2014 16:25

OP you need housing advice. Call shelter helpline 0808 800 4444. Find out if the money they're asking you to pay is above board

Original poster
ghostspirit · 22/11/2014 16:44

vrtra i think they can ask for a deposit so i can keep the dog i have heard of it before. its just the way they have gone about it and the fact they cant be trusted.

OP posts:
PopcornFrenzy · 22/11/2014 17:52

You can check whether your deposit is protected by going on the website of the deposit scheme and type in your details and it should come up, if not then get in touch with shelter, bloody dodgy landlords...

Original poster
ghostspirit · 22/11/2014 18:02

popcorn. thats the complication when i first went with them over 5 years ago. they called them self something different. then the old company done a runner with lots of money and deposit. they did not really go anywhere just changed their name and then sent out new tenancy and it says there is no deposit paid under this tenancy.

OP posts:
PopcornFrenzy · 22/11/2014 18:13

I would still get onto shelter as they sound well dodgy, do you have any paperwork/bank statements that proved you paid a deposit?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 22/11/2014 18:23

no popcorn :( even if i did i dont think anything can be done. council know what they are like. yet still paid them loads of money. in their eyes it comes down to a roof over my head weather deposit has gone or not.

OP posts:
Original poster
ghostspirit · 22/11/2014 18:25

mind you. there must be some proof somewhere. as with my very first tenancy had the deposit written on the front. and council would have had a copy when i claimed for housing benefit.

OP posts:
Original poster
ghostspirit · 22/11/2014 18:33

And i was meant to be evicted monday coming. the council have paid them alot of money to fix repairs in the house. on condition that they gave me a new tenancy. which i have signed. but when i spoke to the agency on friday asked if bailiffs have been counselled they said no they will get round to it... so for all i know they could still turn up on monday. im at work could come back and not be able to get in my house. I said this to agency they said that cant happen because bailiffs cant change locks without the agency being there :/

OP posts:
GarlicNovember · 22/11/2014 21:40

No, no, they can't just evict you like that :) It took my bastard landlord six months from initial letter to actual legal date. You need to speak with Shelter and/or the CAB to get your facts straight. Your council sounds amazing! They can probably advise you on the law regarding tenancies, as well.

Ime, it's a good idea to get advice from all sources in case some of them haven't kept up.

Does your new tenancy say six-month assured? Or some other length of time assured? If it does, they can't evict you until that time is up. Check whether it specifically says you can't have a pet. If it doesn't, you are not in breach of your tenancy.

Newshoesplease · 22/11/2014 21:57

op I don't even know what to say apart from I'm so sorry your bastard landlords are treating you like this, it's revolting.
I agree that you should use the cooling off period to cancel the £500 loan. I just hope you're able to live securely! This is a prime example of why there needs to be more regulated social housing. My old landlord has kept my whole deposit. Everyone I know is adamant I'll somehow magically get it back. i won't.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 23/11/2014 12:15

garlic i already had the section 21 and all the toher bits that come was it did not happen fast. that was with the old tenancy which i signed a few days back. as i said they still not counciled the bailfies i don't know what to belive with the agency. they are saying the new tenancy means i can stay here might be true i just dont trust them.

my new tenency is for 12 months.

council are useless. how can that be normal 400 grand has gone missing in housing benefit yet the council still continue to pay housing benefit to them and on top of that pay their repairs that the agency are responsible.

council are also not intrested in personal needs/situation. to us the dog is the world and we dont want to get rid of him and kids would be so so upset as well. to council its just a dog. the agency are in 100% control they say jump council says how high.

OP posts:
GarlicNovember · 23/11/2014 12:57

So you have a NEW 12-month tenancy, which you signed very recently?

The Section 21 is out the window, then Grin

For future reference - the S21 is formal notice of a court application. You have to go to court, the judge grants an eviction order for a certain date, and that is the date you become homeless. It takes at least two months, often longer if the judge is sympathetic to your argument.
england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/eviction/eviction_of_private_tenants/eviction_of_assured_shorthold_tenants

Check your new lease for any mention of pets. If they have written to you and told you the dog isn't acceptable, this might form a variation of terms; you should check this with Shelter.

At the same time, of course, you should open an account with the credit union. Even if you don't need a loan now, the regular savings will provide a small buffer zone and the union will be there for you if you need a loan for something else :)

Original poster
ghostspirit · 23/11/2014 14:10

yeah it all went to go court bailiffs are due tomorrow. but i guess the new tenancy over rides it. but court dont know i have a new tenancy so i could come back to changed locks.... maybe im over thinking.

the tenancy agreement says no pets. but as i said before verbally they said i could. but obviously when they decided to be spitful i did not have a leg to stand on. new tenanncy says no pets as well. although they have said i can keep the dog if i pay the 500.

yeah im defo going credit union. i guess they can give me general advice as well

OP posts:
amicissimma · 23/11/2014 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lacksdirection · 23/11/2014 20:15

Agree with pp. If it is in writing that they don't accept pets living in their property, it doesn't matter much what they say to you verbally.
You need it in writing that they will let you keep a dog or you may find yourself in breach of your tenancy.

As far as the provident loan goes, I'd get it paid off asap.
This thread reminds me of a programme I watched about the provident before where one unfortunate man took out a loan for a small amount and was still in debt to the provident 20 years later. Every time your existing loan is shortly due to end, they offer you another one, on exactly the terms you describe. This is their way of keeping you and thousands of others indebted to them.
Their reps are trained to strongly encourage you to continually take out loans.
The programme was an eye opener.
Totally unscrupulous imo.
They rely on people thinking 'It's only a few pounds every week.'

Nerf · 23/11/2014 20:45

Sorry op but I think you are daft to take on a dog. If you can't find 500 quid for this, what happens when you need 500 quid for travel/car repairs/emergencies? All the money on dog food , insurance and bets could be saved to create a bigger for you so you could avoid these loans in the first place.

Nerf · 23/11/2014 20:46

Vets and buffer not bets and bigger

ilovesooty · 23/11/2014 21:57

Is the dog insured? If you get to keep it I'd be worried about vet's bills, etc.

Tammy1212 · 23/11/2014 23:15

Citizens advice have a consumer helpline.
Loans are so pointless, always try to sell stuff, loans are circles into more n more debt.
I used to work for a loan company and so many people went broke from taking out loans and rolling over the debt it was sad to see, I didn't want to process the loans for these people but my manager was constantly saying I had to it was clear people couldn't afford to roll over

Original poster
ghostspirit · 24/11/2014 07:53

as i (keep) saying i can afford to keep the dog. im not sure if most people can find 500 with a snap of fingers. as i have said its because we are right on top of xmas that i have found it harder. Anyway of to credit union this morning to see if they can give any advice

OP posts:
GarlicNovember · 24/11/2014 08:55

Hope it goes well :)