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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Car Write Off - Have to give up work?

187 replies

Wild123 · 26/11/2019 15:03

So some dick went into the back of my car nearly 3 months ago and has written off my car which is on finance.

It took me a couple of months of research to buy a car that was going to be reliable, economical, at a low risk of faults, cost effective and with low mileage (12070 at time of purchase).

I am no longer in a position to buy or re-finance another car and my daughters school is 2.4 miles from my house in the opposite direction of where I work. I currently do the school run in the morning and take my lunch break to collect her in the afternoons. I can't use public transport to get to school and back to work on time and i for sure can't afford the additional childcare to put in morning and after school club.

AIBU to feel like this is not fair? What the hell do I do now? I can't give up my full time job..

OP posts:
Original poster
Wild123 · 26/11/2019 15:49

AlunWynsKnee - i moved out of the area are she started reception when i left her dad.

I love my job and they are great about me doing the school run and bringing her into the office (even during the holidays) and they are already as flexible as they can.

OP posts:
HirplesWithHaggis · 26/11/2019 15:54

At eight and a half, could she not get a bus to school on her own?

safariboot · 26/11/2019 15:55

Unfortunately that's the way it is. If another driver is at fault for an accident, their insurance must pay out direct costs but they're not liable for your future increased expenses as a result.

If the other party has been deemed liable and has paid all costs, enquire about getting your own premiums refunded. Most insurers probably won't though.

Sad to say, if you haven't been able to get the savings or credit to cover unexpected expenses like this, you in a very precarious position and all it takes is one problem like you've had to cause serious issues.

I don't know what to suggest except you beg someone else to drive your DD to school while you save up for a new vehicle and insurance. If you have bad credit you'll find many car insurers won't offer you monthly payments which makes it even worse.

BritInUS1 · 26/11/2019 15:57

Would work consider loaning you say £1,000 for a run around and taking it out of your pay monthly?

Ellie56 · 26/11/2019 15:57

Can you move your daughter to a school near your place of work?

Nearlyadoctor · 26/11/2019 16:00

If you’ve paid the insurance in full till March you should get a rebate on that. I know it’s not enough to to buy another car but maybe a start towards a cheap runaround.

flipperdoda · 26/11/2019 16:00

Do you both (you and DC) have bikes? At least for the short term, as long as your work isn't miles away!

Original poster
Wild123 · 26/11/2019 16:06

@safariboot i hadn't even thought about insurers not given me monthly option for payment - as if i wasn't stressed enough.

HirplesWithHaggis - no definitely not an option for her to go on her own.

I suppose i could ask some parents i just hating relying on other people.

I've already had a breakdown this year think i'm heading for another..

OP posts:
Nearlyadoctor · 26/11/2019 16:06

Just read back through and if your Dd is at that school because the LA can not get her in her closest / catchment school at 8.5 yrs old and 2.4 miles do they not have to provide transport - I know here, primary is 2 miles as long have you haven’t refused a place at the local school or if your local school is more than 2 miles away.

Original poster
Wild123 · 26/11/2019 16:07

No neither of us have bikes we live in flat with no storage to keep them

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 26/11/2019 16:07

How long does it take you to get there by all available options - bus, walk etc.?

Speak to school!

NoSquirrels · 26/11/2019 16:10

I suppose i could ask some parents i just hating relying on other people.

Offer petrol money, make it as convenient as you possibly can for them. If you can solve the morning that is a start. I’d speak to school about after-school club - I know you say you can’t afford that but it’s going to be cheaper than a taxi there and back to your work every afternoon, surely?

RandomMess · 26/11/2019 16:11

Speak to work.

Perhaps they can advance you a loan.

If you started using childcare do they offer tax free vouchers or would you be eligible for UC assistance?

Ask for a pay rise?

It is an awful situation to be in Thanks

Try all the schools again and ensure her name is on waiting lists.

Nearlyadoctor · 26/11/2019 16:14

Also could you use breakfast after school club at school as an interim measure - I know you say it’s expensive but if you’re not immediately replacing the car that would give you £110 towards it.
Are you on working tax credit - again you make get some help with childcare and also means that nationally up until 11 yrs age over 2 miles from local school you are entitled to free transport ( assuming you’re getting the full WTC award)

BrieAndChilli · 26/11/2019 16:18

You need to apply for your nearest school - if they can’t provide a place there then they should be providing transport to another school.

Hont1986 · 26/11/2019 16:19

I think you need to get on Autotrader and buy the cheapest run-around you can get. Toyotas are pretty reliable and you could get an OK Yaris for less than £1k. Obviously you don't really want to be getting in further debt, but I don't see many other options.

Beveren · 26/11/2019 16:21

You need to apply for your nearest school - if they can’t provide a place there then they should be providing transport to another school.

Unfortunately that won't apply as the duty only kicks in for over 8s if the school is more than three miles away, and OP's child's school is 2.5 miles.

Invisimamma · 26/11/2019 16:22

Please forgive me if I missed something here... insurance have covered the finance which was £110 per month. Doesn't that now mean you now have that spare £110 to finance/pay a loan for another car?

AlunWynsKnee · 26/11/2019 16:22

If you moved after she started reception then you won't get transport to the school I don't think. Worth trying or applying to closer schools, being rejected because there are no spaces and then trying.

Elbeagle · 26/11/2019 16:22

If you give up work, what will you live off? I didn’t think you got many benefits if you voluntarily give up your job?

Nearlyadoctor · 26/11/2019 16:25

@Beveren it depends where the OP lives - lots of LA use the 2 mile rule for the whole of primary school, so it will depend on that, the 3 mile rule is national standard.

Original poster
Wild123 · 26/11/2019 16:30

@Hont1986 - funny that that is the car that i decided to buy and is now written off with only 16500 miles on the clock!

@Invisimamma in theory yes but my credit rating is so low as i had a breakdown a few months back and i missed some payments on my CC

I do not get any help or benefits as it is deemed that i earn too much money.

I can't afford breakfast club and afterschool club as well as transport and my daughter would hate to change schools - why should i have to change my everyday life because someone couldn't use their bloody brakes..

I currently have a hire car and i'm stringing out the insurance settlement as much as possible (whilst still having to pay finance for a car a can't drive)

It's been written off as a category S - it can be repaired but they won't as its un-economical!!

OP posts:
nannybeach · 26/11/2019 16:33

I cannot advise, but I do sympathise with you. I worked in a Hospital 15 miles away but completely rural, no kind of public transport there. i was run off the road by a drunk hit and run, who had already lost his licence, the car was written off, on finance ,my now ex H had lost his job,I was the sole wage earner, and had to hire a car, while the insurance company were dealing with the claim, which took 3 months, it cost most of my wages.

Looking4wards · 26/11/2019 16:33

I'm not 100% sure I've got this right so correct me if I'm wrong:

The insurer is paying the company you hired the car from directly.
You said you were paying £110pm for the car - if the insurer is paying that means you can stop paying now right?
So can you not hire another car for £110pm?

(whilst still having to pay finance for a car a can't drive)
I'm confused - I thought the insurer was paying directly?

listsandbudgets · 26/11/2019 16:37

Have you spoken to the school?

If you explain the situation, they may be persuaded to waive or give a discount on the before / after school clubs. You'll have to be entirely honest with them that you can't afford to give up your job, you can't deliver your child and get to work on time, you can't afford the clubs at X price but would they consider 50%

Is your child getting pupil premium? If so you could talk to them about whether it could be used in this siutaiton.

As the others have said, you'll have to buy yourself a cheap run about as soon as you can. Put the £110 a month aside at the very least.

Good luck