CAB

had an appointment at CAB today, after filling in a huge amount of paperwork and finding all the letters etc we needed so they can do our finacial review anyway, the bloke was a nightmare, so rude and deaf to i had to shout all my private things at him, grrr, anyway we had to account for everything, he went right off on one when i saw we have mobile phones  we top up £15 a month each to get unlimited calls and texts to o2, all familys on o2 so a great deal and then the creedits for landline calls and other people! he went on and on that was an unecessary, irresponsible amount, and we should get rid of the mobiles, when asked for a number and he saw mine (actually a 2yr old phone just been replaced by o2 due to multiple faults, same model though) anyways, thats flash, sell that and you might get somwhere oh yeah mobiles are worth thousands arent they.

Anyway he read on through and saw we had two chldren, jack was with grandma, well wheres the other one?? Are you sure?? are you even old enough!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheeky cheeky t~*t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hope you told him you were 12 !!!!!

OMG the cheek of some people,okay you made a mistake,but to be slated for having a mobile???????? For fecks sake,£15 per mth is not a huge amount,and where does he sell his old phones I'm sure we'd all like to go there and exchange. Idiot.

What was end result chucks?

gotta go back because i only had 7 wage slips instead of 8

our next court dates the 24th sept x

Cheeky ****(feel free to choose your own there)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We pay around £70 a month for 2 mobiles,insurance and everything included.2nd hand mobiles are not worth much.

We had problems when we tried sorting our debts through Payplan.Telling us what they thought we should be spending on what.We deal with someone else now.

Some guy in an office can't tell you what it costs you to live .There are guidelines set by the government,you're allowed to spend £x per person on food,£x on phone,rent,etc.I think the maximum we can claim is £40 for a mobile,per month.We have a whole list we have to complete every year for debt management.

Sounds like you got a grumpy bas***d who thinks he can say what he likes and judge how he likes cos you need help.Hope you get a different person when you go back with the wage slips.

Yeah I hope there is someone there who lives in the real world.

I hate it when people have a sheet in front of them with 'guidelines' on it and think everyone should conform to that. It's called 'bollocks' round here! Good luck for sept Lau x

When we do ours we claim stuff we don't spend.They gave us a ridiculous maximum spend on household so we claimed four lots of school dinners (4x£30 a month),a dog we don't have,nursery/childminding fees.The debt management company told us to do that.

Claim the maximum you can,if you have to,be creative.It's not down to them to judge you.That person is there to do his job,that is to help you sort out your problem.

Hope your next court date goes well.

That's a good idea. And why not be creative,all businesses are when accountant gets to work!

It's amazing how much you should be spending,yet looks you get for overspending??? Don't get it???

I remember when I went for first ever mortgage-the guy couldn't believe what little I managed on-he nearly fel off his chair. I must admit it didn't last long-I no longer scrimp and save,you could be gone tomorrow and you canny take it with ya!!!

the CAB was shocked we didnt have savings?

''didnt your parents set up an account for you'' oh so because i was an only child from suffolk mum was a millionaire, she was single and a sahm ''unemployed' when i was about 5 she childminded for some kids at my school which i loved i grew up with them like they were my brother and sisters and it was soo sad when it stopped i was 16 then but they were family to me, then there was the control freak auntie she childinded for from when i was 12. but she did her best for me i had a happy childhood, id rather that than some money put aside! Our children are lucky enough to have the ctf! Were only 20 adn 23 how much did they expect us to have, in excess of 5000!!!! Until we fell pregnant with jack andrew gave mum £25pwk and i was in college any cash we had went on what ever we wanted we ate out 4+ times a week dvds cds movies etc like most teens! Just because we had jack didnt mean wed acted like grown ups until that point! Maybe it was irresponsible but were happy and we will get through this!

Laura-hardly anyone with kids has savings-fact of life! Whatever your age.

I have never been good with money-I'm tight,but not careful just tight!!! I used to have a good job,but rather than save,like you(altho bit older than teens!) any spare cash went on treats,you only get 1 life,what's the point in saving then not enjoying yourself.

My uncle saved all his life,when he had a horrible industrial accident 4yrs ago,he was penalised for saving,couldn't claim income support,got shit bout claiming industrial injuries benefit and disability-so where did that get him?? He said recently he wished he'd blown it in his youth,he'd be better off now.

Sad but true. Must be nice to have an account in case of emergencies like washer breaking down or car going off road but I'd rather enjoy myself and treat the lads!!!

If you had savings does this guy not think you might have used them to sort this out yourself.

We have no savings.The youngest children from Erin down have CTFs.The older two were too old,we'll have to sort something out for them too.We live in our overdraft.We have massive debts,all handled by a debt management company(complete sharks,but it keeps the wolves away from the door).We have no assets.That's how lots of people live,and we're both 36 and 37.

They really ought to employ folk who've a broader experience of life