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Desperately req advice 're potential claim against Local authority
Hi, I hope that I have placed this post in the correct place/category.
I badly require some advice or a point in the right direction.
The case is complex, but I will try to summarise as best that I can.
in 2014 I was evicted from my home through no fault of mine and became homeless. I presented to the local authority (LA) and they placed me in bed and breakfast accomodation while they assessed my housing need.
I was informed that the cost of the accomodation would be funded by HB as I was on a low income and I would have to make a small contribution toward the cost.
I was resident at the accomodation approx 6/7 weeks and then asked to leave because I was not 'priority need'.
Following this, I had a lot of house moves and an extremely unsettled period. I returned to work, but struggled to make ends meet on minimum wage.
In 2017, I was shocked to discover a deduction from my wages via an attachememt of earnings.
when I tried to establish who the AOE was being paid to, I was informed that it was the L.A..
It was apparently the full cost of the B&B accommodation plus legal costs. A ccj had also been placed on my credit file.
I asked them to investigate and continued to stipulate that I was entitled to HB that would have offset the cost of the B&B and I don't owe anything.
Eventually their investigations were concluded and they have admitted (via email) that an administrative error meant that the HB entitlement for the B&B was allocated to the wrong account.
I therefore did not owe the debt that they were pursuing me for.
They have since refunded a small percentage of the money that I paid via the AOE and provided an insincere apology.
The ccj placed on my credit file caused hardship and distress. I was unable to obtain any credit nor obtain privately rented accomodation via a reputable agent.
The AOE deducted from my salary placed me in a impoverished situation, I was already struggling to make ends meet and this had a huge impact.
I feel that I am entitled to the full amount paid via the AOE = £749.00, fees that I paid to a letting agent and then lost = £260 plus compensation for distress, damage of reputation and damage to my credit file/rating?
I am not sure how to pursue this or if it' is worth the cost of pursuing it? Would it be something that I could obtain legal Aid for? What sort of solicitor should I approach?
Any advice or help would be so appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
I badly require some advice or a point in the right direction.
The case is complex, but I will try to summarise as best that I can.
in 2014 I was evicted from my home through no fault of mine and became homeless. I presented to the local authority (LA) and they placed me in bed and breakfast accomodation while they assessed my housing need.
I was informed that the cost of the accomodation would be funded by HB as I was on a low income and I would have to make a small contribution toward the cost.
I was resident at the accomodation approx 6/7 weeks and then asked to leave because I was not 'priority need'.
Following this, I had a lot of house moves and an extremely unsettled period. I returned to work, but struggled to make ends meet on minimum wage.
In 2017, I was shocked to discover a deduction from my wages via an attachememt of earnings.
when I tried to establish who the AOE was being paid to, I was informed that it was the L.A..
It was apparently the full cost of the B&B accommodation plus legal costs. A ccj had also been placed on my credit file.
I asked them to investigate and continued to stipulate that I was entitled to HB that would have offset the cost of the B&B and I don't owe anything.
Eventually their investigations were concluded and they have admitted (via email) that an administrative error meant that the HB entitlement for the B&B was allocated to the wrong account.
I therefore did not owe the debt that they were pursuing me for.
They have since refunded a small percentage of the money that I paid via the AOE and provided an insincere apology.
The ccj placed on my credit file caused hardship and distress. I was unable to obtain any credit nor obtain privately rented accomodation via a reputable agent.
The AOE deducted from my salary placed me in a impoverished situation, I was already struggling to make ends meet and this had a huge impact.
I feel that I am entitled to the full amount paid via the AOE = £749.00, fees that I paid to a letting agent and then lost = £260 plus compensation for distress, damage of reputation and damage to my credit file/rating?
I am not sure how to pursue this or if it' is worth the cost of pursuing it? Would it be something that I could obtain legal Aid for? What sort of solicitor should I approach?
Any advice or help would be so appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
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