Can they do this?

[fionas]

Darl, as some of the others have urged you, I think this is a good time to either see a financial advisor or take a good, hard look at your budget.

I know I'm an old fart and I will sound like it, but as someone else said, a laptop is a luxury. Nice to have, sure and damn handy but you CAN do without it - especially if you and DP have one each. If the budget is tight you really have to cut back on that stuff.

Please go through your budget and really be ruthless with what you can do without.

FWIW - I earn a good, professional salary but in the past I've done without a laptop, a couch, a car and a mobile. They really are luxuries, especially on an unpredictable and/or low wage.

[Inanna]

I think though Fionas it's too late now to cut back on the lappy's as she is under contract.
Berenice has offered you some in sider advice so hopefully you have taken her up 1st time... Please phone the Salvos this financial problem you are in isn't going to go away. It's going to get worse with another person to support and losing your income. So I strongly urge you to rethink your layby's etc, contact Salvos. There are ways out of this mess if you make the contact & take the steps...

[allycat06]

I meant do this once the laptops had been repossessed and the debt collectors are after the rest, I wasn't suggesting to do this to keep them.

My partner lived in a share house before we got married. The 2 other guys worked full time and he was at uni full time living off centrelink. Once or twice when rent was due he would be strapped so the agents would only get 2/3 of the rent then DH's 1/3 a couple of weeks later when he had the cash. He would always go up and explain himself a few days before rent was due and they said it was fine. The landlord didn't get his money until the end of the month so as long as DH payed them before then they didn't mind. Maybe his estate agent was just really nice who knows.

All I'm saying is it wouldn't hurt to ask.....but only if you know you can definitely give them the rest in a week or 2. I doubt the estate agents would even tell the landlord. I know with my parents investment property they get their money once a month from the agents, they have no idea whether it comes in one lot or not.

[*LittleMissSummer*]

I don't want to not pay my rent. I don't want to put someone else out because i'm in debt, its not fair on them. As for the laptops, stuff them, but i refuse to pay for goods i won't have, that is what is upsetting me the most. When they get taken away i still have to pay whats owing plus the rest of the contract.

Tomorrow when i have calmed down and i'm not so emotional i will call them back and ask to speak to somebody high up whos not in the collection department about my options. And if they still wont hear it i will take it further.

Thanks again ladies for the advice.

[Doing my best]

Wasn't until recently when i had no job at all and i made the arrangement of $30 a week, which actually that added up to a full payment at the end of the month... so i don't know how i am $600 behind.. anyways so thats why i'm so upset that they are being like this, its not as if i have just not paid them i have had good reasons not to..

Can you read through the smallprint cause it might explain this part. We had our original mortgage through a financer (Not a bank), and the contract stated that if we didn't pay on time, as well as having to pay the mortgage amount for the month, we also had a $200 dishonour fee issued by them. So you might have something similar in your contract..

Unfortunately some finance/credit companies make their money from non-payers. They have high penalties for late payments, and once you get behind, it is very hard to catch up.

[allycat06]

Can you read through the smallprint cause it might explain this part. We had our original mortgage through a financer (Not a bank), and the contract stated that if we didn't pay on time, as well as having to pay the mortgage amount for the month, we also had a $200 dishonour fee issued by them. So you might have something similar in your contract..

That is great advice....no point talking to people on the phone until you are well versed in their fine print. I think you'll find that they'll just want their money and goods and will do whatever they can to get it, especially as you have already defaulted on payments. If you want to take it further go chat to legal aid.

[Doing my best]

Ibut i refuse to pay for goods i won't have, that is what is upsetting me the most. When they get taken away i still have to pay whats owing plus the rest of the contract.

Please think very hard about that.. IF this is what you believe, it will be very hard to get the basics like electricity, phone that isn't prepaid, rental properties. Once the goods are repossessed, you will get a black mark on your credit rating which can sometimes be removed once paid, however non payment will result in the bad credit rating that will stick around a lot longer.

[LimeSlice]

Yes of course you have to pay out the contract! That's why it is called a contract. You need to stop being upset about paying for something you won't have - it won't change a thing and you don't need the stress.

Good luck with them but I really doubt you will get far and letting it go further is only going to cost you more money. Very hard to stand on principle when you are in fact clearly in the wrong In a black and white situation.

[*Beema*]

I would be very surprised if the estate agents agreed to this. They only collect rent on behalf of the landlord, who will probably have a mortgage to pay so is unlikely to agree. I know as a landlord I would never agree to an arrangement like that.

Being a landlord as well I would not be happy with this either, my rental people have been a week late before and it has a big impact on how I deal with my own finances.

Unfortunately I know that they places like My Budget (in SA) and similar agents some of the first payments they delay ARE rent

[LimeSlice]

^ Really Beema?? That is so wrong! I didn't realise that is how they operated, I always thought that My Budget woman must be making a mint, it is such a good idea.

[allycat06]

yep alright guys it was just a suggestion no need to jump all over it.

[Inanna]

I don't want to put someone else out because i'm in debt, its not fair on them. As for the laptops, stuff them, but i refuse to pay for goods i won't have, that is what is upsetting me the most.

Sweetheart I think it's a really wise decision to wait until tomorrow & think with a clearer head. Rental companies make their money renting out. If you take a lease out on your house and you decide you can't afford it... That's too bad. You have to do it. That is what a contract is honey... Or you find someone else to fulfil your lease or contract. It's the same deal...

You are using someone elses goods. If you are supposed to be paying $30 per week and you are now in arrears to the value of around $600 it means you haven't paid them for a long time. Of course they are taking action.

It's important that you realise this will affect your credit rating. As I understand it you have entered a contract & you are defaulting on it. You are expected to read thoroughly all contracts that you sign...

There is no way out but to pay but it would be better for you to offer an alternative payment plan...

Remember someone is going without because you aren't paying. This time it's the rental company. Sometimes it's a decision on who to pay first. Eating cheaply for a few weeks...

[*Beema*]

^ Really Beema?? That is so wrong! I didn't realise that is how they operated, I always thought that My Budget woman must be making a mint, it is such a good idea.

Yes we were really surprised, we had a single woman with two children interested in renting the property (and this is definitely nothing against single parents with children, I truely admire you), we were happy to give them ago, our agent looked into her history and she had defaulted on her current rental, and was under My Budget, and my agent has encountered "My Budget" before with other properties and the first payment to go was rent.

So unfortuntately I couldn't take the risk....

[krysalyss]

If I were in your shoes I would look for something that around the house that I don't really need and sell it to get the money.

[LimeSlice]

Ah Deb, you are so gentle!


I would imagine not Beema! How off they think a landlord can afford to go with out before anyone else.

[Traveller]

yep alright guys it was just a suggestion no need to jump all over it.

no-one is jumping all over you hunny, just disagreeing
xx

[allycat06]

Thanks Traveller, I think I'm just a bit sleep deprived and over sensitive today

I've always wondered how that My Budget works....interesting!

[Madissun]

Krysalyss i think thats a great idea! Have a look around 1sttime and see what you can find to sell. I know my sister has done this a few times to get out of a tight spot.

You WILL work it out. I agree with Inanna, sleep on it tonight and deal with it in the morning with a clear head.

I dont know what your current credit history looks like, but i do know you've posted a number of times about debt collectors etc.

In October this year, i will finally have (after 7 years) a completely clear credit history. I cannot tell you how excited i am and how wonderful it feels!! Im urging you to do all you can to avoid getting a mark against your name if you can avoid it. It's simply not worth it to think "stuff them". Cos you know what? They dont "get stuffed". It wont go away. And it stays for a long, long time.

Over the last 7 years, i managed to clear my debt, start my own business and raise my now 2 and a half year old son, all without credit and debt. It can be done and you WILL find a way out of this mess.

I know it feels overwhelming when things all build up and it seems never-ending, but as long as you put a good plan into place, there WILL be an end to it.

Good luck