A frugal life is an easy life!

Last night was episode 2 of the series, where four "stars" move in with a family and attempt to live "on the breadline"

Mel B has to look after six kids on a limited income. To her credit she tried to use her influence to help them out, free gym membership (instead of the £300 gym membership at the local gym) for the mother and children she was teamed up with. A 45 minute journey to get to the gym though didn't make sense, a common sense approach would have been to hit the local school? where they let the public use their facilities? or exercise without the need for a gym on tennis courts, swimming baths, etc?
I am not going to knock her though, because she is trying - that's all you can ask really.
In episode 2, Mel tried to sort out the girls bedroom by black bagging all the clothes that were everywhere in their room, but way too much washing to be done in the home, so she took it all to the launderette, a service wash for all these clothes cost £100, which she made the camera crew fork out for hehe.
Mel then went to Asda instead of the nearby supermarket, as it would be cheaper. (All us common sense users know that NO supermarkets are cheap, it is a false economy, what you get for a reasonable price with an offer, they more than add on to the regular products that are bought every week)
Unfortunately, Mel took one of the children to Asda in a taxi, which costs £6.50 one way, £13 just to pick up shopping is not a great way to save money, using the free bus from the supermarket would have been! (At least she got the camera crew to pay for the taxis!)

Next up, my favourite one of the four celebs, Keith Allen. A family of six living in a two bedroomed house (if my memory serves me well) and the front room doubles as a bedroom for a 17 year old.
I was impressed last week with Keith's approach, he didn't try to lay the law down, he didn't use his celeb status at all, he looks right at home.
Whilst the other three celebs went to bingo or went to the gym as a treat, Keith got some ingredients together as a treat and let the young children in his care make their own pizzas (see what I mean? good old common sense Keith, well done!)
The home has a problem with rats, which Keith tried to resolve, ringing the council twice but receiving no reply, so he tried again a few times a day later and finally got a call back. Stressing the urgency, they sent someone out to have a look around and Keith made the teenager pick up the dog muck in their back garden, "Don't give them an opportunity to put down in their report that there was dog muck and it is attracting the rats!" Simple, effective words of wisdom, you should never do anything to let the authorities get off the hook without doing anything.

Keith then arranged a meeting with the local council, about rehousing. Along with the single mum of the family before going in he provided her with information on what the law says must be the case, forwarned is forarmed and all that.
It highlighted for me a failing of many people, they envy others for simply knowing their rights and making sure they are enforced, help yourself appears to be Keith's way and I agree with it.
Keith introduced a keyboard into the front room for some fun, he told the cameras that "If you leave the instrument in the room and the kids are around it, they will mess about with it!" which they did.

Next was Trinny, who was caring for a lady who couldn't walk very well. She introduced her to a mobility scooter which is free for the day to get around town, using the benefits on offer which the lady had no idea about.
Trinny also talked to the lady about being rehoused, to a place without steps to help her get out more, another good example of helping yourself I thought.

Finally we had Austin, the former England rugby player. He was dealing with a young offender on a tag and awaiting trial for stealing a car.
As with all kids/teens, there is a good side if you take the time to look for it and we found it this week, as this rebel teenager who has caused so many problems for his mum, it was revealed he visits his grandad everyday and clearly has a soft spot for him.
In this episode, Austin went along with the teen to have a game of footy, down at the local astroturf pitch. Playing there was a group of Iraqi lads and Austin asked them if they wanted a game with the estate lads.
All seemed well as they had a good game, but two of the lads refused to play, they didn't want to associate with them as they were, "arrogant!"
Austin picked up on it straight away and rightly so... sport has no barriers, which is why it should be used to solve problems everywhere. Why not fly over afghanistan and drop thousands of footballs instead of bombs?

Next week is the last episode I think, personally I would rather have seen 4 politicians take part in this for the week, as it is they that control the country and create the climate these people live in.

In my "Frugal wars" (section coming soon to this website!) I am taking on the might of the o2 mobile phone company.
I came to the end of an 18 month contract recently and without notice they removed my negotiated discount and charged me an extra £7 per month and this month an extra £9, on top of what I normally pay.

Where they get these varying amounts from is anyone's guess, as I haven't come close to using up all my allotted minutes. Anyways, I went to their website to see what nokia phones they have available to people upgrading, as 3 months ago, when the wife upgraded, they had just five. (out of a range of nokias in excess of 80 currently available)

Two were handsets last seen in 1997, standard features of less quality than the phone I currently have that is almost two years old. One half decent one but again less features than my current handset, the fourth handset was ok, same features as my current one, but is the size of a 1970's tv remote control. The final handset they had was a bit smaller than mine and similar features with a large memory built in, cool I thought, that's an improvement on what I have now, unfortunately the website quoted a price of up to £195!

As I always do, I rang the "cancellations department" and asked straight away for  my PAC code (to transfer my number to another network - it frightens the company into thinking you are leaving them and they offer discounts to keep you straight away) I had the honour of speaking to Dave.

After telling me how I am only a light user and refusing to answer my question of why I should have to pay £360 per year if I hardly use anytime up or send many texts, he informed me that I could always stay with o2 on a £10 per month plan until they get more mobile handsets in stock. I declined and asked for my PAC code to transfer to another company.
Dave, was not a happy chappy, when I refused to reveal which rival network I was going to go to, as I told him politely, "that is none of your business!"
Dave, then tried the old "it will cost you just as much with another company - we are very competitive you know" routine, which I dismissed out of hand as a new customer I would be getting a top grade handset and low cost contract.

After brushing off his pointless questions and defying his all his changing reasons of why I should stay with o2, I repeatedly asked for my PAC code. In the end Dave conceded, informing me that my PAC code would be sent out via text message in the next two hours.
"Don't you read it out to me over the phone David?" I asked, "No we always send them out via text message!" he pointed out - an absolute lie, I have worked for o2 in the past and know exactly that the code is generated by another computer and you can easily read it back to your customer.

"So what happens when, after two hours, I still do not have my PAC code David?"
"You will have it, text messages do not take that long!"

Almost 3 hours have passed since that call and guess what? Thats right! No PAC code has been sent via text message... if only the national lottery was as easy to predict!
I will be ringing back no doubt and asking the advisor "what was the last action carried out on my account please?" What are the odds on there being no mention of Dave and any PAC code request?
This is the problem we all have with call centres, not just you o2, but ALL call centres.

Dave has to meet his targets for a bonus or a prize, etc. By convincing as many customers as he can to stay with o2, so when I come on the phone and he cannot persuade me to take out a new contract, he simply ends the call as normal, tells the customer that a PAC code will be sent out via text message, ends the call and then closes the account notes without generating a PAC code, sending one out or adding that he failed to keep my custom.
His figures are not then affected by my call and he keeps his bonus or record exempt!

All well and good for Dave, but what about the customer?

• I wait for almost three hours for a PAC code coming through that hasn't even been generated
• I have wasted my time waiting on the phone in a queue for 20 minutes and however long my follow up call will take
• Not keeping accurate account notes on my records is a CRIMINAL offence, under the Data Protection Act!

It makes Dave look like the complete tosser he is - why work in customer service if you couldn't give a stuff about customers?
O2 now, in my eyes, treat customers with contempt, we are just a number who they can milk money off.
Everyone loses out...

What did you want to do when you were 7 years old?

For me, I wanted to be an astronaut, for a week or so, then a footballer, then a train driver, then an astronaut again...
The sooner we let our children be children again the better, social breakdown in the news every other week, yet the state continues its blinkered approach to improving its own statistics, whilst pouring more taxpayer's money down the drain.

Do we not work hard enough already as adults?
I'd wager good money that the majority of people, would rather go back to the days when they were kids, as it had less pressure and was an easier way of life, having fun has huge benefits to the human being, we are not all work horses.

It's time some surveys were carried out looking at the values and benefits of being allowed to be aimless children having fun, but of course this wouldn't help the statistics - so it will never be done.
To those in power, demanding we follow like sheep, get a grip and start applying some common sense, before you are out of office for good!

Halloween is also known as "mischief night" in some areas of the country, eggs and flour are thrown etc, that kind of thing.

It is only this way for a selective age group, from around 13 to 16 year olds, it is harmless, of course most parents will have their children indoors early on Halloween?
Especially with ducking apples and other assorted Halloween games to be played out?
Luckily, close by to where I live is Pendle hill - famous for its witches! (no doubt charging tourists a fortune to look at three blokes dressed up and sat around a big black pot in the pouring rain?)

It is always good fun scaring the little children who are foolish enough to knock on my door, the suddenly green window in the door attracts them like flies?

I wouldn't have thought most kids will be out on the streets, it is not as if their parents turn halloween into an excuse for a booze up is it?

It is essential, that should a bank, building society, loan company, etc. be requesting a charging order through the court system in England and Wales, that you defend against it!

When a charging order is sought after, it secures an outstanding debt against your own home. You will be told that "its just a formality before we accept your proposed monthly payment arrangement" - which is all well and good, but if your payment is missed, then the company can enforce the charging order, to demand the full outstanding balance immediatly, in effect forcing the sale of your home to pay off your outstanding balance.

Under normal circumstances, with a large debt, this appears a good option, giving you more time to pay, with no interest (from the date of your court case) and no more of those £25 letters reminding you that you owe them money (unenforceable under common law).
Problems arise, when a more common practice is, for unscrupulous agents and solicitors representing these banks/building societies, are using them to pressure people owing relatively small amounts. These agents are telling people that the charging order will not be actioned, when it comes before the court, if unopposed, they seek immediate enforcement, which could cost you your home!

A few practical steps you can take to help your case:

• ALWAYS have the case transferred to your local court - bulk clearing courts (in Northampton for example) grant a large amount of charging orders despite written objections from the defendant - There have been reports all over the internet about a loan company who have been using one particular local court in the south of England, which finds against the defendant on a high percentage of its cases!
• ALWAYS argue against paying costs - highlight any delays the company have created in bringing the case to court (ie, sending reminders which they charge you for, even after you have been told it will be going to court!).

The process has reached your local court, prepare a simple (but polite) defence, print three copies, one for yourself, one for the claimants and one for the court's reference.
It is essential that you attend the court in person!
Here are some useful points to highlight to the court, to argue against the charging order being granted:

• Payments promised by you, are up to date - list briefly how much you have paid and dates when they were paid. (Remember: a company cannot refuse any payment offer from yourself - despite what their advisors tell you. Once you default, then start paying an amount that you can afford on a regular basis, even if it is refused as "not being enough" by the company.  When it comes to court, this will look better to the judge and help your case.)
  Respectfully draw the court's attention to the case of Mercantile Credit Company v Ellis 1987 (Google it to read the case findings in full) in which the judge ruled that a court has to first issue a judgement and this must be in arrears before a charging order can be granted.
• Unfair priority over other creditors - list for the court other creditors you are paying by instalments.
  Chances are if you are struggling with one loan etc, you will have a couple more that are demanding money from you. Pay them all the same amount each month and list the monthly amount you pay them here for the judge. I am assuming you have the common sense to be offering the same level of payment to the claimant in your case?
  Respectfully make the court aware, that should a charging order be granted in this case, your other creditors would be "unduly prejudiced" and this would put them at an unfair disadvantage (Ref: Charging orders act 1979)
• The orginal loan was "unsecured" - this should apply to everyone, as a charging order is a way of securing the debt against your home. Payments have been made on your account, at a higher interest rate, as the loan, debt etc, was unsecured. Had the debt originally been "secured" it would have incurred a lower rate of interest. The company was happy to provide the loan etc, without security when it was taken out.
• Family hardship - if any person lives in your home, who have no connection with your debt, then highlight to the court that should a charging order be granted and your house is sold, this would cause undue hardship for other people not connected with your debt. This can be very effective if you took out your finance in your name only and not in joint names with your partner!
• Original amount proposed has not been objected to - not everyone can use this.
  When you were sent the allocation questionnaire, when the court process started, if the company did not object to your low payment amount you proposed, but instead said they would agree to it on condition that they secure the debt against your home, then point out to the court that "the company have not objected to the payment amount you proposed."

My apologies for this long winded post, but it angers me when people get pushed around and suffer at the hands of reputable high street banks/building societies/loan companies, etc and their agents, who do not give a monkeys about real people!

Should you win your case to not have a charging order placed on your property, then it will stand you in a great position should any other company attempt to have one placed on your property - in effect, it cannot be granted as the courts have already refused one company and this would disadvantage another party, against the charging orders act 1979.
Keep smiling...

* IMPORTANT:
The information given here, is from my own personal experience only.
It is posted to give ideas to visitors and to be a point of reference for myself, should my help be needed in this area in the future.

This post IS NOT legal advice and should not be treated as such.
I'm sure I don't need to point this out, but I would always advocate that you should speak to someone who is legally qualified to give legal advice, especially in the case of a charging order, as your home could be at risk.