No - I can't manage that. Registered office is in London (well one of them). Shame the cost has gone up to £100, and last time the baliffs went in for me the 1st I knew of it was when they had got my money for me. Then of course it's a case of waiting for the cheque to arrive at court, clear and then the court to send it on to me. Less then 2 months then................... but at least I finally got round to it. Throw it at other debts, donation here and put £100 aside towards spending some days in London in summer holidays where we will be staying at a YHA which is really good accommodation in other parts of the country - good grub at affordable prices in unusual locations. We are thinking of staying at Holland House near Notting Hill. Assuming of course the judge allows my wasted court order - I asked for just over £200 in time and letters. Got an extended weekend off so I'm off to the pictures later. Saw Avatar on Wednesday - mindblowing in 3D - so am considering the Vigo Mortenson film 'The Road' today. The Book of Eli was good last week. I certainly make use of my unlimited cineworld card.

It's all a bit sad on this site at the moment then - no new POC for bank charges. We'd hetter just press on and file where we can. Sending in the baliffs and have spent a few hours doing forms for wasted cost order................. I need a drink now. Popping into court tomorrow.

No of curse I won't do that -can't belive I sent to PO address in the first place - momentary lapse of concentration. I shall wait till payday and then send in the baliffs and wasted order at the same time. They do love to make you think you have done wrong don't they. Onwards and upwards then.

Bump Again

Ooooohhhhhhhhhh I so agree. Now we just go round with a calculator so I can't do that (or my daughter). Silly to overspend instead of saving me money.

I finally got my claim in last month. Just had it back for my contribution to the fee. So glad I did this before Supreme Court ruling although I expect I will have to amend poc but so what. Obviously it refers to the UTCRR but mentions regulation 5 (1) and I've gone for compound interest at the authorised rate (well they didn't manage to charge me the unauthorised rate) and I'm not sure I could argue that successfully. I also used the unjust enrichment arguments. We shall see. Still have one stayed which I know I will have to amend in the near future...............

Bump!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Going off at a tangent slightly but I found out today that the wholesale fruit and vegetable market her in Brum will sell to ordinary members of the public (as long as you are on foot) betwen the hours of 03:00 and 11:00. Going to check it out next week before going to work. It must be true in other citries you would think. Lots of lovely shallots to pickle and cook with.

I've had a letter from their solicitors saying they didn't hear anything from the courts. Looked at my claim and I put the PO address down by mistake (silly me). Can I still send in the baliffs as to my way of thinking they would have become aware I had filed and should have complained at incorrect contact details at that time.

It's part of the civil service so the answer is 'yes'. I had to go there yesterday and whilst looking at membership criteria it said if you work for a bank, insurance company (things to do with finance), or if you are a chartered 'anything', education, travel company (I think) then you can join. Even working for an airline qualifies.

The 4 week HB/CTB on-on is automatic now - you used to have to apply for it. This discussion is just because it may not last 5 weeks but if it is a housing officer that has stated this their understanding of benefit may not be as knowledageble as a housing benefit processing officer - me for the last 2 years.

stewing steak, lamb shanks, lenor, lurpak, heineken, sausage rolls, philips DAB radio, ferrero rocher, wines, ainsley harriott instant soups, kenco rapport, mars celebrations, badger beers, case of grolsh (275ml) at £8.63 (but is this cheap) - same query for stella - £22.99 for 24 x 568ml, cadbury's drinking chocolate, fairy dishwasher tablets, tia maris (1 ltre) £11.49 plus handbags, womens slippers etc etc. Grundip freeview box at £27.59 and breville handblender at 28.74. All prices are with VAT

Sorry to be late getting back to you - not been well. As long as your expectation is that the job will last 5 weeks you can apply for the 4-week run on. If it ends before that you will not be comitting fraud. I hsave checked this with a more experienced processing officer at work (she has been in benefits for 20 years) so it is not just my understanding this opinion is based upon.

Yeah - some things like coke and breakfast cereals etc when on offer in supermarkets can be dearer at Costco but overall I find them a lot cheaper so really surprised to hear you think that they are not worth considering. Hey-ho, each to their own.

You have to reasonably state that the job is expected to last 5 weeks to qualify. Your problem is that it has been stated it could stop just short of that. I can see the council officer's problem with this as you seem to be in a grey area. I will try to remember to ask about this at work tomorrow and get back to you.

Don't know the answer about contribution-based jsa but if you have to reclaim within 26 weeks of jsa ending you make a rapid reclaim

A job grant is not counted as income for HB/CTB (just in case you get someone who didn't know this at the council).

Will you be having lunch there - I can recommend the jacket potatoes.

I changed providers in the spring and did my own reading.

And with orange wednesdays plus unliminted card it only costs £0.70 to take another person (cost of the text). There is no age limit now - I got my youngest her card when she was 15. They only took the payment once though but she decided she wouldn't have used it that often anyway.

And then there are the money-off vouchers which they post to you. It is a litre of Tia Maria for £10, stewing steak for £3 a pack, cadbuty drinking chocolate (1 litre) selling at 15% off - so only going to cost me £3.56. Quaker Oat so simple (twin pack) at £2.99 - going to stock up on those. Going to do an on-line check but the brevill handblender VHB011 at £28.74 may be a good buy. Oooooohhhhhhhhhh and the smoked salmon/trout is pretty good too not to mention the sushi tray - havn't bought it yet but I promised my youngest it would go on our 'treats' list for christmas if not before. What about the fancy breads - croissants, belgium buns, tear-and-share brioche. Oh well only 3 weeks before I get to go again. I have always wanted to try Dom Perignon champagne and If I've got the name right they sell that at £17 a bottle (is that without vat I wonder) - it's normally £36 in supermarkets, so my treat for Christmas Day or for New Years Eve when I'm watching Jools Hollands Hooternanay (how do you spell it?). Lulu - only £10 - did you hit the wrong number. They do keep though don't they - it took the 4 of us over a week to eat the last one - still don't understand how the sponge and cream stayed good BUT THEY DID.

Pension credit - Help claiming benefits - Help the Aged would be a good place to start. They will help you fill in all the forms necessary, claim winter fuel allowance (although you should be getting that now) and will also help you with the problems you are having claiming housing benefit etc. It is very difficult when you have worked and never claimed anything before. I see it all the time in my job - people like yourself thinking they should be able to manage on their pension and savings and then after this credit crunch an awful lot of people in their 60s and 70s are finding they just can't manage so ask for help for the very 1st time. I expect it will be on the news some time this winter as this must be hapening all over the country.

Do they pay you after 5 weeks? If so this answers your question. If the job ends earlier you will be making a rapid reclaim (which you can do if reclaiming benefit within 26 weeks of jsa stopping). If they pay you earlier and job ends I don't know the answer.

If the job is expected to last more than 5 weeks you may qualify for discretionary housing payments. Your council will be able to advise you about this. Good luck for the future.

I would put in a claim for Pension Credit. A single person by law should have a weekly income of approx £120 per week. When your claim for pension credit has been processed this may have a beneficial efect on your claim for housing benefit particularly if you receive guaranteed pension credit. There are two types of pension credit - guaranteed and savings pension credit. If you don't qualify for guaranteed pension credit you may well qualify for the savings element. Keep us informed how you get on.