Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Other subjects

going to try and escape again

45 replies

CKMUM · 22/06/2006 16:08

I have finally been given a loan from the DSS and have found a flat that accepts Housing Benefit.

The only thing is the place is unfurnished, although has a cooker and carpets and I'm not sure I have enough money for removals.

Any one got any bright ideas? I need to hurry up before someone else gets the flat as it's about the only place that takes benefit without a guarantor

OP posts:
CKMUM · 23/06/2006 09:38

thank you so much everyone.

I could afford a van if I had someone to drive it; i don't drive; it would be cheaper than proper removals company

OP posts:
CKMUM · 23/06/2006 09:41

i have just had to oder somenew debit acrds as I lost them so can't pay the subscription for CAT. although my settings are so that other musmnetters can CAT me

OP posts:
crumpet · 23/06/2006 09:51

CKMUM, when are you moving? I am not to far from Oxford and could help out with an old kettle, some duvet covers, I think a duvet, and several plates. We also did have a set of cutlery in the shed - if I can find it you could have that too. I don't now Oxford at all well, but would be happy to leave the stuff at a church or something if (understandably) you don't want to give your location away

Skribble · 23/06/2006 09:54

Hire a man and a van, look in the local paper. Get a price before hand preferably on paper and only pay once you get unloaded. They will help load up and will be loads cheaper than a full size truck and removal team.

Blu · 23/06/2006 10:13

CKMUM - a 'man and van' is usually available from about £15 an hour. Determine that you are going to accept the flat you have on offer, and just do it - whatever the temporary inconvenience and slightly increased debt. MN-ers will then help you with basic essentials - and you can contact freecycle - who bring free furniture.

The important thing is to get you and your dd away from this man in one piece. That is the only priority.

Have you told women's aid about this move? they helped you before, didn't they, by finding a hostel place? maybe they can advise you on getting an injunction, or even helping you move houe.

Good luck, anyway, i am realy pleased to hear you have the offer of a flat.

Skribble · 23/06/2006 10:24

Where in the UK are you I mean very roughly

CKMUM · 23/06/2006 12:18

i'm in skribble oxford. Am now just wondering whether to see about atoring some stuff, if its justa few boxes but I don't have any friends who could store stuff for me

OP posts:
CKMUM · 23/06/2006 12:22

i mean oxford skribble!

OP posts:
CKMUM · 23/06/2006 13:09

i think i may just take clothes and toys and use the rest of the loan to buy stuff new. and just see if anyone wants any of my furniture for free rather than let housing dump it

OP posts:
lexiemum · 23/06/2006 13:32

have CAT you

CKMUM · 23/06/2006 15:13

thanks lexiemum have just emailed you back

OP posts:
Charlene1 · 23/06/2006 18:06

Is there no "self storage units" you can use? these would only cost about £5 - £10 pw and you could put things in in bits or move it all in one go and then go and take it to your new house.
As for HB not paying on two places, you just need to do it as "change of address" - what my council did when we moved and were claiming HB was cancel the claim at the old address from the date you left. You then have to put in a new claim, wait for rent officer, provide proof of rent etc, but as long as you give them all the proof etc, and they only need the rent officer to come out to you, then they HAVE to give you "payment on account". This will probably be a lower figure than what you are actually entitled to, but they have to redo it when the rent officer's been out, so you get a nice lump sum if they've initially undervalued it. Keep hassling them, or they'll ignore you and you'll be left with no money for months like we were.
I have read somewhere on the net of "men for hire" (!) - don't know if it covers your area - these will act as "handymen" - packing, lifting, carrying, driving a van to new house for you.
When I was in this position, I got a flat, moved stuff on my bike everyday (it was in the same town), so he wouldn't notice. (Probably told you all this on the old thread) Anyway, when I finally left, the police let me load their car up, and then came back with me to get the rest, but I had my dad's car to fill up then, although the police were quite happy to let me put bags of clothes in their boot etc. Not sure if they're supposed to do that in general, but before I left, I'd put boxes and my bike in a black cab and rode the bike back etc. I did it whilst he was in the pub/too drunk to notice what I was taking etc. Still remember balancing 2 table lamps on handlebars, tied on with string.
I did lose a lot of posessions and important papers / bills etc. because when I actually left, I was in a state and forgot them and he hid them cos he knew I would need them and tried to blackmail me to go back in the house without the police - which I refused cos I knew he'd hurt or kill me if I did. I have also used our local furniture recycling charity for cheap removals when moving house e.g. I gave them £15 and a few bits of unwanted furniture and they transported the rest. Is there anything like that near you? I had a budgeting loan also, and you can pay it back for a few weeks, then tell them you can't afford it and they will let you pay it back at a reduced rate - just takes longer obviously.
Have you got local papers with "free offers"? We have "swapshop" ads - you could ask people to take the furniture to new house and pick up your items from your present house. Sell anything you don't want, put money towards removals - if he catches you, you're having a "clearout"....
Have you got stuff in your loft? That's easy to get out as he won't miss that. Stuff in drawers/cupboards he doesn't look in etc.
Is the biggest problem having no one to physically move stuff/extra pair of hands etc?
If it's money, and there wasa no other choice, I would say get a Provident loan etc, but they'll only give you £500. Once you've signed for the flat, that's legally your address - so you would have to make sure they only had your new address to deliver money and collect payments to, as otherwise the agent might turn up at your old house and drop you in it.

Skribble · 23/06/2006 23:12

Shame Oxford is miles from me! Hope you are manging to formulate a plan.

nannyme · 24/06/2006 03:26

I can do van driving!

Is the share of a van as per earlier suggestion any use to you or do you have to move very soon if you take this flat?

Looks like we may be moving 2nd or 3rd week of July if it would be of any use and I don't mind sparing the time to move you. I do piano removals too, don't you know!

CKMUM · 24/06/2006 07:34

are you in my area nannyme. I am moving quite a distance

OP posts:
lionheart · 24/06/2006 21:05

bumpity.

collision · 25/06/2006 14:24

.

pecka · 25/06/2006 15:01

bump

CKMUM · 26/06/2006 20:51

chased up DSS the money they loaned me wont actually be in my account til next week! Flat i was moving to has gone now as I haven't been able to pay deposit yet!

OP posts:
tortoise · 26/06/2006 20:59

Oh CKMUM thats bad news.Have you tried womans aid again? With the situation your in someone must be able to get you and your dc away from there.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread