Good morning Caggers, I am wondering if someone can help me out with a bit of an issue to do with lease of a retail kiosk. Back in February of this year I rented a retail kiosk from my local council which was in a High Street but was classed as within the local market. I was selling cut flowers and plants. This was a completely new venture and basically took all spare money I had to set up and it looked really good. The problem started about a month after I opened when the market manager (council run market) allowed a huge plant and flower stall to pitch up a few yards from the kiosk. When I say huge it was the size of 8/10 normal size market pitches. Apparently, this stall was a nursery and therefore grew a lot of the plants and was able to sell them cheaper than me. Now the market was on 3 days a week and to be fair he was only there on a Saturday but it was a waste of time me opening on a Saturday because people walked straight past and made a beeline for him. To add insult to injury, the market manager in his infinite wisdom, allowed 2 other stalls onto the market selling plants and flowers and they were there every day. The problem was I just didnt take any money. I think I had a couple of weeks at first which were ok but as soon as these stalls were allowed on I didnt even take the rent!. I complained to the Council and the local councillor but it all fell in deaf ears and eventually I had no choice but to return the keys in April, I was there about 10 weeks in total. The original lease I signed was a year with a six month get out clause and the council were chasing me for the full six months. | sent them a letter when I gave the keys back explaining why and how I felt they had let me down by letting all these other stalls on and basically killing any hope I had to build a business. Unfortunately I had no money so consequently got into arrears with the rent because I had no customers and no savings because I had spent it all setting up the kiosk. Eventually after a few backward and forward letters they agreed to accept me terminating the lease when I returned the keys and said they would cancel any invoices after that date but I would still owe the rent upto that date, which was fair enough. I told them I would have to pay it off with a small amount weekly as I was out of work. I have now received another legal document which I believe is a Deed of Surrender for which the councils legal team have produced and are charging me £200 for the privilege. They know my current situation, another £200 really? I dont understand it, I dont know what they will do if I dont sign it. any input on this situation would be really appreciated.

I took out a Unsecured Personal Loan with Halifax online in December 2011. I was NEVER asked questions like, can you afford the payments, are you employed/unemployed, and I certainly was not asked about my income. This have got so bad I am currently on an IVA - Halifax increased the IVA from 5 years to 6 years forcing me to pay for longer. I am now wondering if bankruptcy is the best option. Do I have a claim that Halifax lent to me irresponsibly without going through my finances first?

I received a suspended repo on my home last March and have since kept totally up to date with both the mortgage payments and the arrears (the arrears are paid separately). Yesterday, however, my DD bounced for the mortgage (the arrears element was paid last Friday) and I'm worried about what will happen. Will they simply re-apply for the DD and impose charges or will they go straight for re-possession? Some advice would be appreciated. Also, a few months ago, they asked if I wanted to capitalise my arrears because my payments had been so good, will that be something they take into consideration? To summarise, I'm not behind with my arrears payments but the DD for the mortgage has bounced and I won't have the money until next week to pay it. This is the first time since March 2009 that it has happened. Thanks

Hi, I recently asked for a S.A.R from Welcome Finance due to receiving a DCA letter asking for way more than I think I owe. Anyway, it came today (bang on the 40 days allowed) and I am sure my original agreement has been doctored! What if anything can I do?? I distinctly remember telling the guy on the phone when I applied that I did NOT want any insurances or P.P.I and he said OK after badgering me for ages. I remember it well because I said to my husband, gosh that took a lot of saying no. Anyway, a photocopy of the agreement has come and it shows my signature and then just below another signature (I think I remember them saying I need to sign both lines but just leave tick boxes clear as they don't apply) Now next to the signature at the bottom, the boxes have been ticked NOT BY ME and the ticks are nothing like I do they are like ticks that a left handed person would do. It has been ticked on yes I wish to purchase accident cover yes I want to purchase accidental death and yes I wish to purchase P.P.I And is added to the agreement at over £1,500 What do I do now and how do I prove that I didn't want them and that I didn't tick them. Strangely, there is no mention in the S.A.R of the phone conversation I had with them telling them I did not want this!!!