Behind on mortgage now passed to solicitor

Behind on mortgage now passed to solicitor

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vw_99

Original Poster:

180 posts

50 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
This is my fourth attempt to write this without you all falling asleep. Soooo...

Im behind on mortgage (due £2300 ish) due to many things mainly having my son (12 yo now) full time over last 3.5 years and being in and out of work due to looking after him and mental health problems caused by the mess that started 3.5 years ago.
My monthly payment due is £250 and thats secured until 2026.

No matter how much i try to cut living costs my universal credit does not give me enough to pay it.

Living off £650 UC and 150 child benifits a month does not cover me and my sons costs.


Point being because i am behind and have been 9 months the bank (mortgage lender) has passed it over to a solicitors.
The solicitors have not been in touch with me direct the bank told me it had been passed when i called them for help tonight. I have some letter from the bank warning of this but nothing saying it has. I have spoke to CAB and been informed that i should have a letter saying it has been passed over. Then i have 2 months until anything is passed to a court.

My plan has always been for last 3.5 years is when my son goes to high school (after summer holidays) i can return back to work full time doing what i did before. This is all in place and i could have returned to my old job a few months ago but cost of child care over summer would have left me worse off.

Has anyone been through similar. I am worried i will loose me and my sons house. And have done everything i could over last few years to keep it so far.

Just to add i am only 34 so very green around the gills. Had a bad break up with my sons mum, who has no contact with him and he does not want any either.


Rufus Stone

8,171 posts

63 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Have you tried to claim child maintenance from the mother?

vw_99

Original Poster:

180 posts

50 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Yes i have.
I have had 5 payments over 3.5 years at £30 ish a time.
I cannot rely on getting them

ellroy

7,237 posts

232 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
May get better advice in the legal/finance forums?

Wilmslowboy

4,312 posts

213 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
A friend went through similar, the bank and court were supportive and in the end he managed to dig himself out of a hole, retain the home long enough to sell it at mkt value and pay off the arrears.

If I read your post correctly, you are about one month from starting a job ?
I assume this will allow you to restart paying the mortgage, and perhaps chipping away at the arrears.


In my friend’s situation what seemed to matter, was that he could demonstrate his situation would not get worse (for the mortgage co), and he had a concrete realistic plan to pay off the arrears.

It feels like all your focus should be to make sure you can start the job in early September, if you can evidence this it might stop any court proceedings, or if not, at least make your position much stronger in court.


StevieBee

13,545 posts

262 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Get in touch with Step Change: https://www.stepchange.org/

Do this today.

They will deal with the bank and their solicitor on your behalf. This alone gives you the headroom to think through things. They will also negotiate a temporary and affordable plan that will keep you in your house.

The most important thing is to pay something, each month. Even £50 shows willing.

But do call them. They are an excellent organisation and I speak from experience.

Good luck.

valiant

11,318 posts

167 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Have you gone through all the bank's arrears processes or have you buried your head in the sand?

It's vital that you're in communication with the bank and to involve charitable organisations like the one above if you're in trouble. Yes, banks will want their money back but they can be very flexible if there's a credible plan on the table and the last thing they want is to re-possess.

My sister went through similar due to a dead beat partner who skipped town and she got her payments massively reduced to a level she could afford until she was in a better position to start repaying properly which she did and the arrears are now well cleared.

If you do nothing op, events will happen around you that you won't like. It's vitally important that you engage with the bank (if you haven't already done so) or seek the services or a relevant charity who may be able to put a hold on proceedings.

Good luck mate.

Eric Mc

122,854 posts

272 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Could you take a lodger?

pavarotti1980

5,453 posts

91 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
StevieBee said:
Get in touch with Step Change: https://www.stepchange.org/

Do this today.

They will deal with the bank and their solicitor on your behalf. This alone gives you the headroom to think through things. They will also negotiate a temporary and affordable plan that will keep you in your house.

The most important thing is to pay something, each month. Even £50 shows willing.

But do call them. They are an excellent organisation and I speak from experience.

Good luck.
2nd this

Sister in Law works for them and they seem very supportive and very good at dealing with things on others behalf.

Doing something is better than doing nothing

languagetimothy

1,239 posts

169 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
vw_99 said:
Yes i have.
I have had 5 payments over 3.5 years at £30 ish a time.
I cannot rely on getting them
get that sorted too, legally, with arrears. im sure if it was the other way round she would rip you a new one. perhaps some people on here have had to deal with child maintainence and could point you in the right direction.



Caddyshack

11,806 posts

213 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Some religious groups have church funding, Christian’s against debt or something, the can hand out grants to help.

RazerSauber

2,533 posts

67 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Communication from you is key. Tell them you're drowning. They will help. They don't want to turf you out and sell your house. The paperwork involved is long, complicated and no guarantee that they'll get their money back. They will want to keep you in your house and paying money. Keep them constantly up to date. Your plans, your affordability, everything.

Take a look at 2 Good 2 Go and food banks, too. Anything you can scrimp and save on food right now will help. Might only be a fiver a week you save but that could be crucial.

Remember that every day is one day closer to this being sorted.

2Btoo

3,564 posts

210 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Caddyshack said:
Some religious groups have church funding, Christian’s against debt or something, the can hand out grants to help.
Christians against Poverty. They don't charge and can really help, and you don't need to be a Christian to use their services.

https://capuk.org/

croyde

23,894 posts

237 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Sorry to hear your troubles. I know a few families in the same situation.

Key is, as others have said, is to keep all the banks, utilities etc in the loop and up to date.

I know one woman who owed British Gas around £5000 after paying low monthlies for years. They did put her on £50 a month when she explained having run out of savings and getting only £600 a month on Universal Credit.

As an aside, I have no idea how these mythical benefit scroungers afford holidays and cars.

Everyone I know that has been so unfortunate are not getting anywhere near enough to cover basic bills and food, let alone a new car.

Good luck, and I hope it all works out in the end.

BrettMRC

4,450 posts

167 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
pavarotti1980 said:
StevieBee said:
Get in touch with Step Change: https://www.stepchange.org/

Do this today.

They will deal with the bank and their solicitor on your behalf. This alone gives you the headroom to think through things. They will also negotiate a temporary and affordable plan that will keep you in your house.

The most important thing is to pay something, each month. Even £50 shows willing.

But do call them. They are an excellent organisation and I speak from experience.

Good luck.
2nd this

Sister in Law works for them and they seem very supportive and very good at dealing with things on others behalf.

Doing something is better than doing nothing
3rd-ed.

Don't be daunted, just take a deep breath and make contact.

POIDH

1,046 posts

72 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
BrettMRC said:
pavarotti1980 said:
StevieBee said:
Get in touch with Step Change: https://www.stepchange.org/

Do this today.

They will deal with the bank and their solicitor on your behalf. This alone gives you the headroom to think through things. They will also negotiate a temporary and affordable plan that will keep you in your house.

The most important thing is to pay something, each month. Even £50 shows willing.

But do call them. They are an excellent organisation and I speak from experience.

Good luck.
2nd this

Sister in Law works for them and they seem very supportive and very good at dealing with things on others behalf.

Doing something is better than doing nothing
3rd-ed.

Don't be daunted, just take a deep breath and make contact.
4th'd having seen a friend go through it - they were excellent, they kept the house, managed to get enough time to get life on a more even keep, find a job and move on in life.
The bank do not want to kick you out - it is in thier financial interest to work with you.

vw_99

Original Poster:

180 posts

50 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
I have spoken with the bank many times and it is now out of there hands. Just 3 weeks ago i explained about going back to work but because i didnt have a contract right then there was nothing they could do. And because i have more out goings than income there was no affordability to set anything up.

I have used step change in the past so will lool into that again today.


I have chased child maintance and i am due over £500 but because his mum does not work they cannot force her to pay anything.

Thank you for the help. I will keep working on it

jamesson

3,188 posts

228 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
I have nothing to add other than what has already been said above, but just wanted to say good luck, OP. I hope this gets sorted for you and that you can keep your house.

Sounds like a really difficult situation to be in but keep fighting.

Spare tyre

10,333 posts

137 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
Hi OP, I don’t have any advice other than saying good luck & the fact you are tackling it means it will all work out in the end

Onwards and upwards!

languagetimothy

1,239 posts

169 months

Friday 2nd August
quotequote all
vw_99 said:
I have spoken with the bank many times and it is now out of there hands. Just 3 weeks ago i explained about going back to work but because i didnt have a contract right then there was nothing they could do. And because i have more out goings than income there was no affordability to set anything up.

I have used step change in the past so will lool into that again today.


I have chased child maintance and i am due over £500 but because his mum does not work they cannot force her to pay anything.

Thank you for the help. I will keep working on it
Hows your relationship with your parents and the in-laws? Can they not help you out for a bit financially between them? Do they take an interest in their grandson?