| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| 2steps |
Does anyone know anything about joint debts?On top of all the other totally carp he's caused me my ex has left me with a load of joint debts, things like water, rent and council tax. To be able to keep my house I had to agree to pay all the arrears myself(though I didn't see any reason why they shouldn't chase him for half when I had his address at the time everything was a mess and I just agreed rather than be homeless! Since then several others have popped up and again I'm getting stuck with them, purely because I still live here. One has been passed to debt collectors who are being less than sympathetic and to be honest I find their staff intimidating. Though they will agree to weekly repayments they want a big lump sum up front and then more than I can afford a week. I've said I can't so they are now saying that they can have my house sold to pay the debt (and wouldn't listen when I said it's not mine anyway  ) or that they will remove items from the house to cover the debt. I have nothing of any real value except maybe my pc, without which I won't be able to do my OU course anymore  the children also have a pc and music system and of course we have cooker, tumble dryer etc.
It appears that ex has everything set up only in his girlfriends name so he is able to say he has NOTHING while I have something so am being held responsible for his utter uselessness
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| Jamanda |
Have you been to CAB? | ||
| Helen_A |
These other debts - did you sign the paperwork for them? If you aren't on the paperwork then you have a fighting chance of getting them set aside. Do go to the CAB, and tell the debt collectors that you will only deal with them in writing. There are limits to what they can take (and they cannot take 'essentials' or anything that doesn't belong to the person that the debt belongs to - although if they are the sort to not listen to 'this is a rented property' hmmmm). Tell them where he lives and that he ran up the debt in question?
But CAB and *now*. Helen_A |
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| jema |
Are any loans secured on the house? | ||
| marigold |
As Jamanda says, go to see CAB and get an appointment with a debt advisor asap. In the meantime don't let anyone seeking repayment of a debt inside the house - they can't take goods unless they have a County Court judgment and a warrant of execution (this can't be sprung on you - they have to issue a summons and you have the opportunity to respond). Tell them that you are sorting things out through CAB and will be in touch.
Info here: http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/debt.htm |
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| Mary-Jane |
Did you get anything in writing (and agreement or any other documentation) to say that you agreed to become solely liable for all the debts? | ||
| 2steps |
No and other than originally signing the tenancy agreement when we moved here I don't remember signing anything. jema, nothing is secured on the house. It doesn't belong to me either, it's housing association Have looked up cab and there is a debt advice place on my estate but only on wednsday, the one in town is wednsday, thursday and friday. have already passed on his address. In the case of the rent arrears the housing association say that unless I agree to pay it all myself they won't allow my exchange to go through A social services report states that he is living in one of their properties but the tenancy is only in his girlfriends name. so dispute owing them £100s and me nearly being evicted over it he's happily living in one of their houses
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| Mary-Jane |
Well, without knowing the details 2steps, the general rule is that where debts are incurred jointly, the parties involved will also be pursued jointly and severally (i.e. individually as well), unless a) there is an agreement that one of those parties will take on all the debts - but this is usually drawn up in writing; or b) one party can prove that it was the other party who ran up the debts, therefore should have responsibility for them.
But yes, I do agree you should make an appointment at the CAB as soon as you can (can you get someone to look after the little one?) as they are very well equipped to deal with debt probelms. They can also contact/write to all the organisations involved and explain what has happened. |
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| Chez |
Nothing practical to add that the others haven't already said - but sending a big hug. Horrible situation to be in .
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| cinders |
Yes CAB are very good.They wrote to all the people my daughter owned money too and said she could only afford £1 per week they will even write to your debt collectors.On joint debts she was told they didn't care who paid and would seek the person who would. | ||
| bernie-woman |
Did you get to CAB 2steps?
I have been away for a couple of days so haven't seen this til now but I will PM you 
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