July 2, 2008 Archives

After having some problems with the bank incurring charges for unpaid Direct Debits I cancelled all my direct debits and have been paying my bills via my debit card. Unfortunately, since losing my job I've been struggling to meet bill payments, especially since I've been on hardship payments for the last 3 months, and have not paid my O2 contract bill for those 3 months. It had always been a case of I'll try and keep some money back and make a part payment with the intention of settling the full amount once I had the cash available. However, events have conspired against me time and again and I have been unable to do so.

Anyway, I received a letter the other day from the above company regarding my O2 account and the outstanding Airtime Balance and Remaining Contract Charge. The total amount comes to just about £132 and they wanted payment by 2nd July; today. After getting my benefits payments stopped for the last 3 months or so I am only now back to receiving £121 every other week and cannot meet this full payment. I phoned them earlier today to try and come to some arrangement regarding making a part payment when I next get paid and get the 3rd degree regarding payments I make for lodge, contents insurance, the internet, the normal phone bill and Sky. I was more than willing to make payments every payday to ensure that I resolved this debt as soon as I felt comfortable.

To be honest, I can't really afford to continue making payments for an O2 contract at close to £40 a month when I can just use an old O2 sim-card and top up with credit as infrequently as I like. However, after saying that I couldn't afford to pay the whole amount and that I couldn't afford to just pay the Airtime Balance and get the phone reconnected the woman on the other end of the phone wasn't interested in anything but getting half the payment today and the remainder by next Monday; going so far as to ask if I could get my Dad or other family member to loan me the money to make the payment. She even suggested making a £5 payment today and then paying the remaining amount in full next Monday. Sometimes I wonder what kind of Dream World they live in.

I probably could've made a payment today to cover the Airtime Balance but only if I didn't pay other bills due this week and next; when I don't get paid. However, this would have a knock-on effect for the rest of the month and I would potentially end up in a worse position than I already am. I felt under pressure the entire length of the call and got more and more worked up as she continued to try to get a payment out of me rather than help me come up with any sort of agreement moving forward. I eventually ended the call by telling them to take me to court.

I have since calmed down a little bit and used their online system to make an offer of paying £40 a month. If they don't accept that they can take me to court and see how they will like getting paid £10 every other week for nine months or so rather than 3 payments of £40 or so.

Although, knowing my luck recently, the court would probably end up ordering me to pay the amount in full or go to prison.