If you’ve had a mortgage with GMAC-RFC, you need to know that the FSA has ruled against them recently, stating that some of their charges were unfair and unjust and must be refunded. Certain mortgage arrears fees and charges will be refunded in full and others in part.

GMAC refunds are also being paid out at a premium rate of 8% interest.

The charges being refunded include:

All charges for the non payment of the monthly mortgage charge by direct debit, when the account was in arrears and no monthly payment was being made;
Early repayment charges applied to arears and fees
Part of the Solicitors fee.

GMAC-RFC are a noteable mortgage company specialising in non status mortgages, where the account holder has several defaults and a bad credit rating, mortgaging properties at an enhanced interest rate to cover their risk.

If you have, or have had, a mortgage with GMAC-RFC, you can read the FSA ruling in full in this PDF here: http://www.fsa.gov.uk/pubs/final/GMAC_RFC.pdf

GMAC-RFC have also set up a direct customer line for this ruling which is 0800 030 4662 (9am-5pm, Monday to Friday)

Good Luck With Your Refunds!

We cremated Mary today. The funeral was at Fakenham at 11.30 this morning, and from there we drove to the Crem at Kings Lynn where we said our final goodbyes. RIP Mary.

No doubt you saw the turnout Mary, wasn’t it good? So many people from our estate who, in one way or other, you’d touched their lives, and it was really special for me to see so many turn out for you.

I confirmed a couple of things today in Church. The first was that life is too short to spend time just frittering it away. But then again, I learned this lesson at 15 when my dad died. The other confirmation hurt. I confirmed to myself that my wife no longer wants me; I tried to hold her hand as we were leaving Church but she just brushed it away, making out that she hadn’t noticed.

That’s it then. Final confirmation. I’m now in an empty, totally loveless marriage where I’m not wanted. Although the confirmation hurt; it was nothing unexpected, for the marriage has been like this for two years; I am just tolerated, an infringement on her landscape, an hinderance to her life, but necessary, because I pay the bills.

The business is going to be my new marriage. It will be my life from here on. My life, and time, is too valuable to waste on something that no longer wants or needs me. My business will be my way into freedom.

Here we go.

It would be nice to be told sometimes, wouldn’t it?

Am I really worth so little now that my son, having decided to move to Spain, has now decided that he’s shipping out on the 19th December. Not that he told me of course. Probably didn’t see it as being necessary. And he still didn’t tell me today when he came around to the house this afternoon. Having had a really bad disturbed sleep because of this stupid virus I got up early to find my son and wife talking quietly up a corner.

It’s only that I picked up a certain phrase that I worked out what was happening, and on asking my wife for confirmation, she eventually told me.

And then I immediately caught onto the fact that my baby daughter was taking an active part in the conversation as well. She’s also going to Spain, and spending Christmas in Spain with her brother than with us at home. And she, nor my wife, has told me this either.

I feel a right mug sometimes, you know. Is it really too much trouble to include me in their conversations or lives now? Is this how families start to break up?

Why am I constantly pushed to one side, ignored and excluded? I know my wife is very close to her son, and I can well imagine that, as she’s fell out with me, the son’s been told. So he’s only got one side of the tale. Not that I’ve got anything to add, I haven’t, I’m not the one who’s changed – she has. That would explain really why my son doesn’t talk to me much anymore. In fact, he didn’t say anything to me at all today.

And I’m sick of it.

I have asked my wife when she’s going to Spain. She replied that she doesn’t have a passport. But that’s not what I asked, is it? But, at least she spoke to me, which I suppose is good. I’m just getting really fed up now of being constantly ignored and made to feel unwelcome in my own home.

Not for much longer. I’ll be offering her a few alternatives later this week after Mary’s funeral. If the family don’t want me, that’s fine. I’ll go, and I’ll have no hesitation in going. I’ll be a lot happier – and wealthier – on my own in a flat somewhere.

And make no mistake, if I do leave, I will NEVER share my life with anyone ever again. Ever.

I must admit, I’m glad last week’s over, and even the week before that if I’m honest. Certainly don’t want to go through that again – ever. Now, I’m focussing on the future.

When I started my self improvement program last year, I aimed to earn £30,000 per year as a starting point. I am stopping working for just an hourly wage, and instead I am concentrating on building my future and developing streams of residue income, where, by working once, that one bit of work will pay me forever, over and over again.

That’s why I’m working on publishing books and building web sites. I work once and they’ll pay me for ever. One of my books is starting to sell really well and I’ve sold about 50 or 60 copirs so far this year, and at £7 a time, less a couple of pounds for postage, it’s paying really well.

Work once, get paid for ever.

This is how I’m building my future. I’d love to work from home, and as I love writing, it’s the ideal way isn’t it?

That’s the rut most people find themselves in when they’re in debt. They end up working a day for a day’s pay, which is used once, then gone forever. A big, criminal waste of time. If people concentrated on building, and working, for their futures instead of just for today and this week’s bills, the world – and they – would be much better off.

And that, in turn, would release them from a life full of debt, deprivation and despair. That’s why I’m working for my future. The sooner I can throw my job in and work from home, the better. And no one’s going to give me that chance, except me.

Then , and only then, will I really start to live my life. Let’s face it, as my friend Mary’s just proved, lifes just too short to waste, isn’t it?

Mary died yesterday morning at 10.30am from pneumonia. My wife found out from the doctor treating her that, during the operation, they discovered the cancer has advanced too far and was inoperable. She only had months, if not weeks, left to live.

You know, I think Mary knew deep down, weeks ago. she had cleared out her house, shredding all paperwork that she didn’t want anyone else to see. She’d brought everyone Christmas presents and wrapped them ready. She even did all her washing before going into hospital so everything in her house is totally in order and organised.

Mary left instructions with my wife that she is to contact her solicitor in the event of anything happening to her. Her dog has also had arrangements made for him and will be going to an animal shelter for rehoming tomorrow.

Mary knew, didn’t she?

Rest In Peace Mary, and thanks for inviting us into your reclusive life. I, for one, have enjoyed your life with you over the last few months. RIP

Mary’s death yesterday was sudden and unexpected for all of us, especially my wife, who, to all intents and purposes, had become Mary’s chief carer.

Mary had been looking for support from her family and found it instead from us and our neighbours. Her family from all respects, couldn’t give a damn about her. Then last night, just as we were leaving to attend our other neighbours 90th birthday party, Mary’s nephew rang up, introducing himself as the executor of Mary’s will.

I was really angry Mary wasn’t even cold properly and the vultures are already circling. I hope I don’t have to meet this character. he will certainly be told some home truths from me.

We put Mary top one side last night for the party, as we had to do, as the neighbour isn’t going to be told about her until today. At 90, the party was a shock for him, and we didn’t want to taint his day with sadness, yesterday was his day. And the party went superbly. Except for my bit anyway. I had to announce to the neighbour that I’d made him a special film for his birthday, as I do for my friends. This was a compilation of his life story, including a special focus on Operation Torch which was a world war 2 special operation that he’d been involved with.

The announcement went fine, everyone at the party turned their chairs to watch the big TV Screen – and it wouldn’t work! I died of embarrassment almost. A brand new TV screen that – as we found out – was faulty.

What are the chances of that then?

The neighbours are coming around to our house this afternoon to watch the film here. And there endeth yesterday!

Unbelievable, isn’t it? Despite all the court activity over the last two weeks, the baliffs still turned up at 2.15pm, Wednesday to evict us and take repossession of the house.

The first thing I knew about was when a solicitor type person knocked on the door, and on opening it I saw her car and a big, massive white van that belonged either to the locksmiths or the baliffs.

I didn’t let them into the house, told them on the front door step that everything had been sorted out and that they needed to make a phone call urgently. They left after about half an hour. No apology, no explanation, nothing.

The legal system here stinks sometimes doesn’t it?

From what the solicitor said on the door step, she’d checked with the Halifax Corporate Service earlier that day who confirmed that everything was still on. No matter who was responsible, it’s still nowhere near good enough.

The embarrassment factor with the neighbours was at a premium.

But, it’s over and done with now. Nothing can be done and it’s time to move on I guess.

The relief of winning the court cases hasn’t hit me yet. Maybe it will sometime. all I can say though is that my successes with the courts have been tinged with concern today as Mary, the neighbour we’ve been looking after for three months after she was diagnosed with cancer, or so has taken a turn for the worse this morning and the wife has rushed out to the hospital with a neighbour to be with her.

Mary had an operation Wednesday. She faced her fears – and did it anyway. But in surgery, the doctors found the cancer and other other complications were so severe that they couldn’t operate. Yesterday when I was visiting her, her Oxygen level was low, meaning that she was tested twice in an hour, with the nurse saying that it would be monitored hourly.

She’s got worse through the night. Now, we just wait and see.

Well, I’m glad that weeks over. Certainly, never, ever, want to go through all that again, ever.

Today’s the day that I would have lost the house at 2.30pm, 7 hours time, had I not found out about those N244 Forms at the court.

Monday morning I finished my night shift at 7am, then drove to Kings Lynn and waited in a public car park for 2 hours until the Magistrates court opened. Then I had to wait around the court until 10am until I could see someone about the Council Tax baliff problem. No one in the court staff had seen an N244 form before; and I ended up seeing the Chief Prosecuting Officer.

The result of this was that I rang the council up when I eventually got back home, and explained that i was serving court papers on their chief executive and the baliff company.

The baliff order was immediately cancelled!

Two really major successes in one week. Do I feel a hero? No. Am I relieved? No, not really. I’m just really tired and washed out, and so grateful that it’s all over.

But it just proves that, no matter how bad your situation, you should never, ever give up. God, your subconscious mind and the secret life both give you, really do reward your courage.

Never, ever, give up.

You don’t have to put up with harrassment, and, despite what these people try and get you to believe, the baliffs powers are very limited.

Are they telling you that they can attend your premises with a locksmith to remove your stuff? Wrong! And illegal!

Are they saying they can’t accept installments because their systems set up to accept the total payment only? Wrong!

Here’s what to do:

We’re going to over ride the baliffs. Total. For starters, let’s deal with the no installment part. All the councils are bothered about is getting all their money in for the end of the current financial year, so you’ve got to be prepared to offer them a settlement that clears your balance by next March, including baliff fees. Simply divide your account total by the number of months left until March. that’s the monthly payment you’ve got to be prepared to both offer and pay.

So you’ve got your monthly installment totals, and you’re OK for paying it? Good, we’ll move on then.

When you speak to your local councils’ council tax recovery department, they’ll always tell you to negoiate a settlement with the baliffs. You must talk to the council to get your call recorded with them. Evidence.

Then, you need to speak to your baliff (they always leave their mobile number on that letter they shove through your letterbox.) Tell him that you’ve spoken to the council, and offer him the same monthly installment as you did with the council.

Chances are, they can’t or won’t accept it, for whatever reason they can dream up. Wrong.

Now that you’ve covered your back and got recorded evidence you’re ready. This is what you do.

You’re going to send a court summons to both the baliff company and the Chief Executive of your local council.

What you need to do now is go to the courts service website and download a form known as N244. You can download the form here You use this form to make a formal application to the magistrates court that issued your liability order for a suspension of the liabilty order whilst you make regular payments direct to the council. You are requesting an hearing because of the lack of co-operation of the baliffs & the council.

The result is that the court will serve notices on both the baliff and the chief executive of your local council. Baliff action will stop, pending an hearing, and both the baliff company and the Chief executive of your local council will have to go to court.

There’s a fee for submitting this form – up to £35.00. But, hopefully, you won’t have to submit it.

You now know the process.

Talk to the council first, then the baliff, then the council again. Explain that the baliffs won’t let you reach an agreement, as they want all the money in one go. Explain that you’re going to submit a Form 244 to the court asking for a hearing because of this.

Explain that the form can’t be served on the Local council itself, nor the council tax department. It must be served on their Chief Executive. Again, make a formal offer to the council, telling them their refusual will mean a court appearance.

The councils virtually guaranteed to accept your offer. You will then pay your monthly installment to the council direct, which gets rid of the baliffs out of the equation.

But, if the council doesn’t accept your offer, simply fill in and submit the form to the Magistrates Court and wait for a hearing date.

These bullies cannot, and must never, be allowed to get away with what they try to do. This system works. Beautifully. Try it.

No council wants the publicity of a court hearing or the fact that their nominated baliffs have been breaking the law, or their rules.

Hope it helps!

If you’re like many people, you own one or two vehicles, have a mortgage and are saddled with unwanted debt. Who among us doesn’t like the finer things of life? But what if liking the finer things in life led you into a vicious cycle of debt that keeps rising and keeps your nose to the grindstone?

That newest trinket or gadget might make you feel better for a little while – or until you get your Visa bill. If you’re serious about eliminating your debt, then stop spending and start planning.

Make it a point to never shop just to make yourself feel better. Stress leads people to spend money in an attempt to relieve some of the life pressures they’re under. This is often referred to as emotional spending.

Sadly, emotional spending leads to more stress from having spent the money! When you’re upset, don’t look for answers in retail therapy and don’t shop to keep up with friends or family who can afford a higher lifestyle than you can.

If you can’t afford it with cash, don’t buy it. This will help stop credit card purchases and impulse buying. Carry a certain amount of cash with you and leave the ATM card at home – along with the credit cards.

To eliminate your debt, you need a plan. Using a notebook or ledger on a software program like Excel, and divide it into two sections. The first is for your living expenses such as your utilities, food, etc.

In the second section, make columns for debts and anything you spend money on such as entertainment, haircuts and so on. This will help you keep track of how and where your money is being spent each month.

Once you see where your money is going, take steps to eliminate unnecessary spending. While you’re cutting back, start putting any extra money that you’re saving toward paying off the existing debt.

Once you have it all paid off, don’t make the common mistake of recharging everything up again. This just puts you in the same bind and causes you more stress. There are many people who pay for everything (even cars and homes) in cash – and they no longer have the financial worries most consumers are burdened with.

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If you’re looking for the coming year to be a better one for you financially, make the decision to let the New Year be the time you choose to get out of debt for good and stay out.

Below are some tips to help you get started:

Knowledge is power. Don’t avoid knowing where you stand with your debts. Write them down in order of balance owed. You can use a simple spreadsheet with columns of the debt name, amount owed, interest rate that you’re paying, and minimum amount due each month to keep it current.

Write down how long it’ll take you to pay off them off if you keep paying exactly what you’re paying now. Pay as much extra on the minimum as you can afford each month. Most people usually start by paying off the one with the highest interest rate, but some financial advisors recommend that you start by paying off the one with the smallest balance. Decide what’s right for you.

Ask yourself, “Can I really afford my mortgage?” If you’ve had a reduction in income or an illness that’s caused you to struggle with your mortgage payments, call your mortgage company.

Many offer what’s called a mortgage modification plan. This modification simply means you may qualify to have the terms of your original loan reworked-resulting in a lowered interest rate and lowered monthly payments.

You may also need to restructure your living quarters by downsizing into something more within your means. It doesn’t have to last forever – just until you can get back to a healthy financial bottom line.

Pay attention to your bills. Sounds simple enough, but some people pile bills unopened and just pay the bill without ever going over the bill itself. Do you pay your mobile (cell) phone bill without looking at it?

Many people have noticed that they were overcharged not once, but multiple times. Wouldn’t you rather that go in your pocket than the phone company’s bank account?

Put something in savings every payday. Even if it’s only £20.

You can get your debt under control just by staying alert to what’s going on and working toward paying it off little by little.

Don’t let yourself see the situation as hopeless. There’s help available if you feel lost, confused or frustrated.