Disability UK Online Health News Journal, Disability Business Directory, All-In-One Disability Business Solutions. Working in Partnership With Cymru Marketing Journal (CMJUK) & UK Website Designers
The Impact of Modern Technology on Human Relationships
The world is more interconnected than ever before. Social media platforms, instant messaging, and virtual communication tools have revolutionized the way we interact with others. While these technological advancements offer countless benefits, they have also introduced a troubling side effect: social disconnection and detachment. As we become increasingly reliant on screens and virtual relationships, the authentic human connections that once enriched our lives are at risk of fading away.
The Rise of Social Disconnection
Despite the apparent connectivity facilitated by technology, studies show a paradoxical trend of increasing social isolation and disconnection. People are spending more time engaging with screens and virtual personas, leading to a decline in face-to-face interactions. Social media platforms, while designed to connect individuals, often result in superficial interactions, leaving users feeling more detached from real-life relationships.
Causes of Social Disconnection
Virtual Overload: The lure of virtual worlds, online gaming, and social media can lead to excessive screen time. Spending more time in the digital realm reduces opportunities for in-person connections, leading to feelings of social detachment.
Fear of Missing Out (FOMO): Social media presents a distorted reality where people showcase only the best aspects of their lives. Constant exposure to seemingly perfect lives can cause feelings of inadequacy, leading individuals to withdraw or disengage from social interactions.
Erosion of Empathy: Online communication often lacks the nuances of face-to-face interaction, making it easier for people to be less empathetic toward others’ feelings and experiences.
Cyberbullying: The anonymity of the internet can embolden individuals to engage in hurtful behaviors, causing emotional distress and encouraging others to withdraw from social interactions.
Consequences of Social Disconnection
Loneliness and Depression: Social isolation can lead to increased feelings of loneliness and depression. Without meaningful connections, individuals may lack emotional support and understanding, exacerbating mental health issues.
Weakened Interpersonal Skills: Reduced face-to-face interactions hinder the development of crucial social skills, such as active listening, empathy, and conflict resolution, impacting both personal and professional relationships.
Decline in Physical Health: Studies suggest that social disconnection can have adverse effects on physical health, including higher levels of stress, weakened immune systems, and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Disintegration of Community: A society characterized by social detachment can lead to a decline in community cohesion and engagement. Strong communities are built on robust social bonds, and their absence can result in increased division and fragmentation.
Reconnecting in the Digital Age
Set Boundaries: Establish limits on screen time and prioritize face-to-face interactions with friends, family, and colleagues.
Foster Empathy: Encourage open and honest communication, both online and offline. Practice empathy and understanding to bridge the gap between virtual and real-life interactions.
Volunteer and Join Groups: Participate in community activities, volunteer programs, or interest-based groups to meet like-minded individuals and build genuine connections.
Mindful Social Media Use: Be mindful of how social media affects your emotions and self-perception. Unfollow accounts that evoke negative feelings and focus on fostering meaningful connections.
Seek Professional Help: If feelings of social disconnection and detachment persist, consider seeking support from a mental health professional or counselor.
Conclusion
While modern technology has undeniably transformed the way we communicate and interact, it is crucial to be aware of its potential negative impacts. Social disconnection and detachment can lead to various personal and societal issues, but by fostering authentic connections and being mindful of our digital habits, we can reclaim the essence of human relationships in the digital age. Remember, a healthy balance between virtual and real-world interactions is key to a fulfilling and connected life.
Financial hardship can have a significant impact on mental health. Financial stressors can cause anxiety, depression, and a range of other mental health issues. Financial challenges can impact all areas of life, including personal relationships, job performance, and overall well-being.
Financial hardship is defined as a situation in which an individual or family is struggling to make ends meet. This may be due to job loss, unexpected expenses, or mounting debt. Whatever the cause, financial hardship can take a significant toll on mental health. The stress of worrying about how to pay bills or provide for one’s family can lead to anxiety and depression. These mental health issues can be compounded by the stigma and shame that often comes with financial struggles.
The link between financial hardship and mental health is well-established. A study by the American Psychological Association found that people with low incomes are more likely to experience mental health issues than those with higher incomes. The same study also found that people with financial stress are more likely to report physical health problems.
The impact of financial hardship on mental health is not limited to those with low incomes. Even individuals with higher incomes may experience financial challenges that lead to mental health issues. For example, someone who loses a high-paying job may struggle to adjust to a lower income and may experience anxiety and depression as a result.
Managing the stress that comes with financial challenges is critical to maintaining mental health. There are several steps that individuals can take to manage their stress and protect their mental health during times of financial hardship. The first step is to acknowledge the problem and seek help if needed. This may involve reaching out to a financial advisor or therapist who can provide support and guidance.
Other steps that can help manage the stress of financial hardship include creating a budget, reducing expenses, and seeking financial assistance if needed. Taking care of one’s physical health is also essential. Exercise, healthy eating, and getting enough sleep can all help reduce stress and improve mental health.
Finally, it is important to remember that financial challenges are a common experience. There is no shame in struggling to make ends meet, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By taking steps to manage stress and protect mental health, individuals can weather financial challenges and emerge stronger and more resilient.
Financial hardship can have a significant impact on mental health. The stress of worrying about finances can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. However, by acknowledging the problem, seeking help, and taking steps to manage stress, individuals can protect their mental health during times of financial hardship. Remember, financial challenges are a common experience, and seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
How your landlord can cause you emotional distress with rent increases
As a tenant, paying rent is a necessary and often stressful part of the rental process. While rent increases are a common occurrence in the rental market, they can cause emotional distress for tenants. Unfortunately, some landlords may intentionally or unintentionally cause emotional distress through rent increases. Here’s how landlords can cause emotional distress with rent increases, and what tenants can do about it.
Firstly, landlords may suddenly increase the rent without providing adequate notice or explanation. This can lead to a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety for tenants, who may worry about their ability to afford the new rent. In some cases, tenants may also feel betrayed by their landlords, especially if they have had a good relationship up until this point.
Another way landlords can cause emotional distress with rent increases is by raising the rent to an unaffordable level. This can be especially devastating for low-income tenants who are already struggling to make ends meet. Rent increases that force tenants to choose between paying rent and buying groceries or paying other bills can lead to feelings of hopelessness and despair.
Landlords can also cause emotional distress by being unresponsive to tenant concerns about rent increases. When tenants reach out to their landlords with questions or concerns about rent increases, they may feel ignored or dismissed. This can lead to feelings of frustration, anger, and powerlessness.
So, what can tenants do to cope with rent increases and prevent emotional distress? Here are a few tips:
Stay informed: Keep up-to-date with your local rental market and rent control laws. Knowing your rights as a tenant can help you better navigate rent increases and protect yourself from unfair treatment.
Communicate with your landlord: If you have concerns about a rent increase, talk to your landlord about it. Be clear and respectful about your concerns, and ask for an explanation of the rent increase. If your landlord is unresponsive or dismissive, consider reaching out to a tenant advocacy group for support.
Budget carefully: If your rent increases, take some time to re-evaluate your budget and adjust your spending accordingly. Look for areas where you can cut back on expenses and save money.
Consider moving: If the rent increase is too much for you to afford, consider moving to a more affordable rental property. Be sure to give your landlord adequate notice and follow the terms of your lease.
Rent increases can cause emotional distress for tenants, especially if they are sudden, unaffordable, or unresponsive. Tenants can protect themselves by staying informed, communicating with their landlords, budgeting carefully, and considering moving if necessary. Remember that you have rights as a tenant, and you deserve to be treated with respect and fairness by your landlord.
Suing someone for emotional distress
Suing someone for emotional distress is a legal action that allows an individual to seek compensation for the mental and emotional harm caused by the actions of another person. Emotional distress can be a severe and debilitating condition that affects an individual’s daily life and ability to function normally. The legal system recognizes the seriousness of emotional distress and provides an avenue for individuals to seek redress for the harm caused by another.
Emotional distress can arise from a wide range of situations. For example, it can result from the intentional actions of another person, such as harassment or abuse, or it can result from negligent actions, such as a car accident or medical malpractice. Emotional distress can also be a byproduct of a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or crime.
To successfully sue someone for emotional distress, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant’s actions caused emotional harm. This can be a challenging task, as emotional distress is often difficult to quantify and prove. The plaintiff must also demonstrate that the emotional distress was severe enough to warrant compensation.
To prove emotional distress, the plaintiff must provide evidence of the harm caused by the defendant’s actions. This can include medical records, witness testimony, and expert testimony from mental health professionals. The plaintiff may also need to demonstrate that they have suffered financial losses as a result of the emotional distress, such as lost wages or medical expenses.
If the plaintiff is successful in proving their case, they may be entitled to compensation for their emotional distress. This can include damages for pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and medical expenses. The amount of compensation awarded will depend on the severity of the emotional distress and the extent of the harm caused by the defendant’s actions.
It is essential to note that emotional distress lawsuits can be complex and challenging to navigate. It is always recommended to seek the assistance of an experienced attorney to guide you through the legal process. A qualified attorney can help you gather the necessary evidence, build a strong case, and negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf.
Editors Notes:
Suing someone for emotional distress is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly. Emotional distress can have a significant impact on an individual’s life and well-being. If you have been the victim of emotional distress, you have the right to seek compensation for the harm caused by another person’s actions. With the help of an experienced attorney/solicitor, you can navigate the legal system and obtain the justice you deserve.
So to recap on the 27th of July 2022 I was put on a payment plan.
You have to bear in mind when the price rose earlier this year I tried to move my payment date and that is when the problems started in February although I did have a payment plan in place at the time but was told the only way I could move the date was if I set up a Direct Debit with the increased tariff. I wanted to move the date inline when my inbound payments were coming in. (The original payment plan which was at the time £65 and then rose to £90). Soon after I canceled the direct debit because I was not comfortable giving British Gas access to my bank account, this is when they refused to put me on a payment plan where I manually could pay by bank transfer, standing order, or directly on their website.
This has been going on for the best part of six months (Feb -August 2022).
I eventually was put on a payment plan after several phone calls and meter readings proving I was not using much Gas, somewhat five months later.
On the 4th of August 2022, some bright spark (woman) stopped my payment plan because she said I would not be able to pay online if I had a magnetic card, I told her I would pay by bank transfer and she said it was not possible even though I have the bank details to do that or simply pay on their website. There have been many agents that have said this causing contradictions to what other agents say, that I am able to pay online.
I phoned back on the 5th of August and was put back on the payment plan yet AGAIN.
I then got a letter yesterday dated 6th August that British Gas has not heard from me even though I am phoning practically every day.
In the letter, British Gas states my account has been passed to the debt collection team, threatening me with a smart meter which I refuse to have installed. Smart Meters | DISABLED ENTREPRENEUR – DISABILITY UK
I proceeded yesterday to go on their chat and set the transcript to email me at the end of the chat. You can guess I never received an email.
So today I phone up and I was met with a hostile agent who spoke to me in a very controlling manner. I told her about the letter and I said that I did not cancel the payment plan on the 4th, no sooner I had said this she put the phone down on me.
I then decided to have another go with the chat and not trusting British Gas as far as I can throw them, Istarted the chatagain but remembered what my daughter said and that was to screenshot the chat just in case I did not get a copy of the transcript. The agent assured me I would get an email (as per the screenshot)…wrong I had no such email but I did do the screenshots that confirmed I am on a payment plan and that my account has not been passed to debt collections.
When the agent asked me if I have happy with British Gas I was not going to go into an in-depth conversation about why I was not happy with British Gas, so I simply said yes to end the chat.
Technically speaking I should be working but this company has made me so unwell I barely respond to emails and do the occasional update. The amount of time I have wasted with this company is beyond unbelievable.
Moving Forward and My Usage.
I eat sandwiches and salads maybe use the cooker 10 times a month. Come winter I am going to buy oil-filled radiators.
I would rather pay a little bit extra to the electricity supplier EON Next than give a penny more to British Gas.
“British Gas needs to have empathetic agents, not people that think they are so high and mighty and above you. They should be held accountable for their actions”.
This has been going on for six months and the number of calls I have had to make, emails I have sent, and chats are enough to test anyone’s mental health strengthand state of mind.
I have reported this to the ombudsman and will be sending them another update today.
In my opinion it absolutely disgusting how they treat people.
Chris O’Shea CEO of Centrica & British Gas Earns £775K Whilst The Vulnerable Suffer.
Centrica CEO Chris O’Shea has a salary of £775,000 per year and waives a £1.1 Million Bonus. His decision came as gas and electricity prices are set to soar by more than 50% for 22 million households across the UK in April.
Centrica said British Gas Energy saw a 44% jump in profits to £118 million last year.Citation.
** (The following is just my opinion and not fact). However one needs to look at the bigger picture if there is a board of directors for argument’s sake there are 12 as the pdf below suggests, and some not all are on a payroll (Non-executive directors are not directly employed), but that is not to say they do not get commissions or donations) and if each one has received £250K (hypothesis) per annum, that would be £2.75M, you have to ask yourself this question who works for nothing... https://boardappointments.co.uk/uk-non-executive-director-remuneration/
How can you pay for increased prices if you do not have the money, to begin with?
I first would like to add I actually give this company free advertising space on my useful links page under the heading charities and on this page. (Backlinks Cost Money)!! Advertising was requested by British Gas in May.
I would like to introduce myself, I am the Editor of ‘Disability UK -Disabled Entrepreneur Journal’. I am a Businesswoman and Author. I suffer from Cerebellar Atrophy Cognitive Impairment, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Depression. My Disabilities do not define me and I am not afraid to say I have them. I am also a carer for my daughter who has ‘Multiple Sclerosis’.
I have indeed contacted ‘TheBritish GasCharity’ which is a joke (application Number 1035904). I filled in the form and submitted my meter reading and documentation. They said it would take 10 days for someone to approve my application (that was on the 31st of May 2022) and it did not surprise me that they never responded.
It is all smoke and mirrors because if the majority of people in Britain with British Gas are in turmoil, I do not think they have endless amounts of money to give away. So their charity is not worth the web space.
I am a genuine case and for them to not even respond says a lot about them. (Try them out for yourself if you are a British Gas Customer, but do not get your hopes up).
Now if a company has profits into the millions then they should take into account vulnerable people which they do not.
After being prompted to phone British Gas because I was being spammed 6 times by this number: 03332029470, (this is harassment)I took it upon myself to phone and complain. The phone call today lasted 2hrs 18 mins (see screenshot).
The original number that phoned me was (03332029470) to set up a smart meter and I had to justify why I do not want one which I have written previously about: https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/how-safe-are-smart-meters-for-your-health/ The customer representative technical department went on to say they would send someone to my home to ask me why I do not want one. Good Luck to anyone visiting as I am not allowing anyone over my threshold. The woman I spoke to said that because I had submitted a meter reading my monthly bill which was at the beginning of the year £65 rose to £90 in April, then rose again to £138 in May, and wait for this rose again today to £190 per month.
£190 Per Month GasPayments!
I started crying (no word of a lie), I told the operative that the most I can afford is £100 per month and she point blank refused to help spread the costs over 36 months.
She continued to say that my usage is a prediction….well before the meter reading I had my central heating on 24/7 as I have black mold and my daughter who has multiple sclerosis cannot be around the spores, so I need to keep the house warm.
I said my life is not important whilst my daughter is and I said it was unreasonable and unfair to make me pay £190 when I cannot afford to do so right now.
(Obviously, the woman does not know how to count because if I paid £100 already this month and I still owe £333 (1st quarter) and each quarter after that was £400 for argument’s sake that would be £1,600 per annum divided by 12 months = £133 per month and not £190). I am going to bring this up when I submit my new meter reading.
This woman simply did not care what I was saying.
I also said if I cannot afford to heat my home and the black mold spreads I can then sue British Gas if my daughter relapses again. She did not like what I said.
She gave me a complaint reference number: 8013807386
I said,“if I killed myselfBritish Gas would not get a single penny from me”... My point was, do not push people over the edge, not that I was actually going to do it, there is a difference!
My Mental Health.
In my defense, I am NOT feeling suicidal just emotionally distressed, this is why I have an online journal where I can vent my anger and make my opinions known. I have a lot going for me and I feel for people who do not have a strong mind as I have, I see myself as their voice if they cannot defend themselves.
I use this platform to speak on behalf of people like myself or people worse off than me.
With social media, you may be restricted to what you can and can’t say. But on your own platform, you are in full control. Although I use social media to spread the articles I write.
I have a lot to live for, unbeknown to thepeople that are too ignorant to find out but are too quick to judge.
I mentioned this website multiple times “www.disabilityuk.co.uk” which forwards to “www.disabledentrepreneur.uk” in the phone call as I knew it was being recorded. I did it purposely so that people realize who I am. I will not stand for intimidation from anyone of any kind.
What made me laugh was at the end of the call she said it was a duty of care for her to report me to the authorities because I mentioned the dreaded “If I kill myself”. She did not want any repercussions. It was not that she cared. People do not care unless it directly affects them.She did not want ‘British Gas’ to be in the news and I guess they are told if a customer says anything that is a red flag to report it. In other words, she has kicked the can down the road, so nothing happened on her watch.
Bring it on is all I can say because this will cause a domino effect and open up a can of worms.
In fact, I reached out to my GP in a letter over my mental health that was put on the system last year but was never actioned by any doctor.
According to the practice manager, Doctors are too busy to respond to emails or letters even though my daughter’s Neurologist who is also a Professor at Oxford University has the time and decency to respond to my daughter’s emails.
I have another day wasted rather than working, I have had to fart around having to waste nearly two and half hours of my precious time to get nowhere.
Let’s see what the media will say when I send this to every corner of the planet.
British Gas Has Caused Me Emotional & Psychological Distress!
Debt Recovery
Let the fun begin because if ‘British Gas’ decide to try and come after me and they use harassment tactics I am fully armed. Besides I plan to pay them off next month.
This would not be the first time they have been sued and I doubt it will be the last.
I mentioned the National Debt Line: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/gas-and-electricity-arrears-ew/ and said that Utility Companies have to adhere to rules such as and the woman said my circumstances do not apply and it would be impossible to give me breathing space:
People can be vulnerable for a wide range of reasons. Vulnerability can be linked to age, physical health, mental health, or going through a difficult time in life. A vulnerability could be temporary or ongoing. You should let your supplier know if there is anything about your circumstances that makes you vulnerable as they may offer you more support if they know this.
You should also check if your supplier has signed up for the Energy UK Vulnerability Commitment. Energy UK is a trade association. Suppliers signed up to the Vulnerability Commitment have said they will provide extra support to vulnerable customers. This includes:
Make sure staff have an understanding of vulnerability and can identify that you might be in vulnerable circumstances;
Give you an alternative way of contacting them in addition to phone contact;
Provide a freephone number if you are in financial difficulty and they think it is appropriate; and
Make sure you have paper versions of your bill if this is what you need.
This is a B#ll Sh#t because the woman today did not provide any of the above.
Furthermore, she refused to co-operate by turning the onus on me that I am not co-operating by not agreeing to pay £190 per month.
British Gas is having a laugh.
I said if it means I do not use hot water to bathe and not cook as well as not heating my home although I cannot see it being cold for a few months then that is what I will have to do. (This is degrading and affecting one’s quality of life).
I reiterated that I would be writing about British Gas on this websiteand “I quote the woman saying “we do not have anything to do with disabilities”.
I had zero support for my daughter and me who both have mental and physical disabilities.
The moment I can pay this company off I am going to switch providers and will never recommend this company to anyone. They have an affiliate program which means they want help with marketing, so any affiliate marketers should avoid this company. By coincidence ‘British Gas’ are advertisers on Awin who I use for my affiliate marketing projects. Saying this I will never promote this company actively even though I have them listed on my useful links page and mentioned them in my article indirectly.
May I add that they never responded to my letter attachment in the email which had an auto-responder come back that they had in fact received my correspondence on the 28th of May 2022but chose to ignore it?
Condenscending and Intimidating.
People working for these large blue-chip companies should keep their tone neutral, and opinions to themselves they should not be biased.
The woman (Valencia) I spoke to said I should look at stepchange.org I explained I am fully aware of my rights and she became condescending demanding I tell her what they said.
I am not going to allow you to browbeat me as this woman was trying to do.
My gut feeling is they have calculated my meter reading of what I owed prior to the price hike to the new prices to make more money.
I will be posting my new meter reading on here tomorrow including the one on the 31st and will see if my reading goes up again.
**I have published this page but may update it with more information, as when I get any updates from British Gas who emailed me today and said they had deadlocked my complaint, according to ‘Valencia’. As far as I am concerned it is not over until ‘the fat lady sings, in other words,it is a colloquialism that is often used as a proverb. It means that one should not presume to know the outcome of an event that is still in progress. More specifically, the phrase is used when a situation is nearing its conclusion.
So please come back for more updates.
Meter Reading 31/05/22
Meter Reading 15th June 2022
I am now going to be a thorn in British Gas’s side and every month I will be doing a meter reading.
Will I be pursuing “Emotional Distress Compensation” of course I will, and this is what you should do if you too feel you have become unwell because of any company.
Did yesterday’s (14/06/22) fiasco cause me emotional distress, and did British Gas treat me badly of course they did and this is not over until I say it is regardless of their deadlock narcissistic letter.
If you are in a similar position to me, it is not the end of the world and there is a solution to every problem.
If you feel suicidal call the Samaritans116 123 (UK) or visit A&E – (UK) / ER– (USA) or call the Emergency Services 999 (UK) / 911 (USA).
On that note, I did get a welfare check from the Police albeit it was seven hours after my initial phone call to British Gas had ended and guess what the Police said they were on my side and agreed that the CEO needs to be aware of this as they are getting a lot of calls like the one they received about me.
Stay safe and do not let these companies bully you.
It is not your fault that the greedy people blue-chip companies, at the top of the food chain like P#tin, and the Banks, Governments, and Large Corporations want to milk every last penny out of you.
UPDATE 15/06/22
I have received two emails from British Gas and a letter regarding my complaint despite me saying I do not want letters in the post. (How to kill the planet with carbon emissions).
So they have disregarded my new meter reading which is calculated as follows and are not supporting people with mental health or disabilities, let the fun begin because I am going to be messaging the CEO directly:
Below is the email that was sent to me:
Total disregard for my new meter reading and disabilities.
Here are the calculations per unit as per the British Gas Website:
Ironically ‘British Gas’ will report you as “Duty of Care” if you happen to say something out of turn to make them look better but in the next breath disregard your disabilities and worst-case scenario cut off your supply.
People who are vulnerable especially old people may not turn on the heating or cook a hot meal in order to make sure their energy bills do not increase.
So although ‘British Gas’ may come across as they are helping it is all smoke and mirrors and they do not care about your well-being and would much rather pass the buck.
The other joke is why not reach out to organizations that specialize in financial difficulty. If you already know your financial circumstances and do not have the extra money, to begin with, no amount of juggling will pay off your debt and all you will be left with is to sell your assets if you have any or go bankrupt.
Maybe if everyone were to go bankrupt nationwide the Government would do something about it or maybe this is the end goal where no one owns anything (the great reset)?
I am not sure what the hidden agenda is but if vulnerable people do not get the help then unfortunately there is going to become a bigger problem.
Nobody should live in poverty, not in the 21st Century, and not have a good quality of life. People should NOT be killed because of W#rs. W#ars are big business to the people on top of the food chain. If world leaders have no regard for human life by starting w#ars, what chances have the rest of us got?I am sorry but if any country starts a w#r where people will be killed it just shows they do not care about humans in general. Nobody should die to help the 1% richer.
If the cost of living is the cause of the increase in mental health then powers that be that are responsible for the demise need to be made accountable.
Can stress cause your cerebellar atrophy to get worse?
The link between the cerebellum is connected with stress-related brain areas and expresses the machinery required to process stress-related neurochemical mediators.
As most of my readers already know I suffer from ‘Cerebellar Atrophy’. Other than jumbling my letters and words up when I am writing (thank God for Grammarly) and occasionally memory loss, hence I have to jot things down to help me remember, I also have noticed lately an increase in loss of balance.
In fact ironically with what I am about to tell you, just over a year ago I did have a similar episode where I fell down five steps landing on my back and being severely bruised (I do not recall feeling lightheaded at the time just lost my footing). I made sure my doctor (GP) was notified in the letter I wrote that was confirmed was put on the system but no one in the surgery took any action.
However, on 10/06/22 being home alone I was at the top of the stairs and all of a sudden my whole body started to give way. Not only did I feel very lightheaded and the room was spinning, but I also could not balance properly and could feel my body about to hurtle down a flight of stairs. Fortunately, I grabbed hold of the central support pillar to help me break my fall. Had I not stopped myself I would not be writing this post today.
Research suggests people who suffer from psychological stress are more prone to having their condition worsen.
Analyzing why this happened to me yesterday all I can put it down to is I am under a lot of pressure. With the rise in the cost of living and having to also run a business, I am really feeling a financial pinch.
I actually wrote what to do if you are finding it hard to pay your bills, you should not run away from the problem but instead tackle it head-on. I also wrote that some creditors will be condescending and intimidating and what one should do if this happens. https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/creditor-harassment-mental-health/
By coincidence taking a leaf out of my own book, I wrote to all the utility companies and my creditors offering to pay anything I owe in affordable installments. All the utility companies and one of the creditors were all understanding and seemed to all accept my offer Barr one who as it happens I owe the least of money to and no word of a lie has written to me 22 emails to date repeating the same things over and over again. As it is my understanding either multiple people are dealing with one account and not updating one another or they are trying to intimidate me to pay more. I have since written a 10-page letter which took me all day to do and no doubt I will be getting email #23 soon.
My utility bills at the beginning of the year were £154 per month in April they rose to £219 and have risen again to £412. Now here is the question where does one find an extra £267 per month if you do not have that sort of money, to begin with?
So I wrote to all my creditors and explained the situation and all have agreed on my offer and the most I pay is £239
It has riled me that every day I get one or two emails from this one creditor (V) and every day I cannot move forward because I always have this nagging conscious feeling that I need to reply.
They are purposely trying to break me down and they leave me no choice but to report them to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
They have caused me considerable emotional and psychological distress.
If it was not for the fact I am pushing myself to fight this battle I could easily have just given up, turned to alcohol, drugs, or worse.
If you are feeling down and are in a similar position to me DO NOT TURN TO Alcohol, Drugs Smoking, etc, instead seek medical advice through your doctor and professional advice immediately.Here is our useful links page.
You should not suffer alone and millions of people are in the same boat as you.
There is a solution to every problem. Stand your ground and never let anyone intimidate or harass you as I have experienced lately.
Write to your creditors on headed paper rather than just email. Provide them with a breakdown of your expenses. This one creditor never sent me a form similar to the one I have designed below, just bombarded me with daily questions.
According to the harassing creditor (V) they claimed they could not have asked all the questions in one email and in my reply I sent them the form below arguing that if a solicitor or governing body writes to you they do not send multiple emails they send one email and or one letter. 22 emails and counting is harassment and is designed to break you down.
I have a sample template of a form you can send your utility companies and creditors. I can customize it for you, make it editable, and remove any watermarks.
I do not drink alcohol as a rule as it has landed me in heaps of embarrassment and trouble many times in the past doing stupid things and am just happy drinking my energy drinks, but this company (V) which shall remain nameless for now is harassing me and that is against the law, consequently making my illness worse.
I have been meaning to update the GP surgery on my health conditions for a while now and have not found the time, but even if my illness worsens I am not going to get treatment, tests, infusions, etc like my daughter is getting. She is 21 and she can make her decisions but I have my own views which I will leave for another day.
Do contact us if you want the customized form in this article using the form below, **please note we may consider sending the form to you (free of charge) if you are experiencing financial difficulty, however, our business information (Disability UK -Disabled Entrepreneur will be in the footer. It will not have Designed by Renata):
It has been a year since I wrote the letter to my GP (General Practionioner – Medical Doctor) and a year on, I never had a reply.
I gathered that after sending the ‘letter’, that was addressed to a particular GP that she no longer works at the surgery yet other copies of letters addressed to my daughter from consultants from the hospital still mention this GP as the recipient.
This tells me there is a serious breakdown of communication where a hospital does not know that the GP they are sending a letter to does not actually work at that practice.
Moving on I am about to write another follow-up letter to the Head General Practitioner in the same way as I did a year ago and will cite that my health has progressively worsened because of their lack of care.
I wrote about my ordeal and posted an article last November 2021 on“Cardiff Solicitors’ Website”. It is too long-winded to explain here but I have evidence of Medical Malpractice.
I do not envisage getting a reaction from the Surgery unless I start making waves.
At the moment I am not in a good frame of mind to start anything with anyone as I have more pressing things to contend with (the cost of living crisis).
What concerns me is that there must be other people just like me in similar situations that have been failed by the NHS system and are also worried about the price rises and the cost of living.
NHS Short Staff.
According to “The BMJ Opinion site” General practices nationally are at breaking point. This basically suggests that the problem started because of Covid. Primary care is rightly called the “Bedrock of the NHS”.
GPs are seen as the “gatekeepers” to the NHS. Therefore when patients struggle to see their GP, work spills into unscheduled care settings including the emergency department, leading to inappropriate attendance and use of hospital services.
Yet what is not addressed is the vulnerable, the elderly, and the people with mental health disorders are affected the most, and left untreated can escalate to more serious problems.
How many people are seriously unwell because of the Doctor’s lack of care?
It is ok to blame this on bad management or the demise of health care professionals on red tape but at the end of the day, it is the public that is suffering at the hands of the NHS and our Government.
Not once was I offered an online consultation.
If the practice manager read my letter and logged it on my medical records she should have brought it to a doctor’s attention and flagged it, yet she was arrogant and decided to take things into her own hands by not making any doctor at that practice aware of the letter and I quote “doctors are too busy to reply to emails” yet my daughter’s Neurologist who is a Professor at Rockwood hospital who also lectures at Oxford University makes the time to reply to my daughter’s emails personally and he is far more educated and superior than a normal run of the mill (GP) doctor.
Both the British Medical Association (BMA) and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) recently acknowledged that GPs around the country is exhausted by the increasing pressures from the pandemic, struggling with a toxic combination of increasing patient demands, poor retention, and a depleting workforce.
Yet it is said that GP teams are now more accessible than ever due to digital platforms, and online consultations, (yet I have never once been offered a consultation, only asked to phone at 8 am to discuss one problem but at the time I had five), I was not going to make five separate calls, that would be ridiculous so left my health conditions on the back burner but have definitely noticed a deterioration of my health, not only because of the lack of support from my local (GP) general practitioner but also because of the pandemic and the rise of the cost of living.
I wonder how people can manifest money out of thin air because this is the root of some of my problems, hence am requesting people donate as little as £1.00 to support me and keep this website running.
I mainly rely on advertising and marketing and although I have a lot of visitors to this site that clicks on my affiliate ads, they do not seem to convert into anything, which is frustrating because I am doing everything I can to get business in. Believe it or not, I even went as far as asking our Prime Minister for a job. I figured out that someone would be monitoring his LinkedIn account and would flag my comment. Have I had a reply, well what do you think?
If you were to suggest something to find business, I would most probably have already tried it. People and businesses are not spending because of the rise in the cost of living so I can understand why my affiliate links are not converting.
Creditors.
I have one creditor who is asking the ins and out’s of a cat’s ar#e. I feel humiliated because they do not say their name via email just (the team), and I really do not like sharing too much unless I know who I am talking to.
They did offer to phone me but I declined on the pretense that I am not taking incoming calls. I sent them a letter explaining my circumstances and have not disclosed my true identity or what I actually do.
All I have said is I am a website designer. I have not said I am the editor of this site, I am waiting on their response and it will be interesting what they offer in support of this crisis because it is not my fault the Governments, Banks, the Federal Reserve, and Stockholders have raised inflation because of their deficit spending.
There are hundreds of thousands of people like me in dire straits and I will be documenting my journey here.
I will write about how I have been treated and how it has affected me. I will give credit where credit is due.
We will see how the next couple of months pan out but it looks like my food bill will have to be slashed and I will have to eat the bare minimum to survive.
This is affecting my quality of life.
People of high status such as Royalty, Prime Ministers of this world, are no better than me or you, and I will not bow down to anyone.
They came into this world the same way as me and will leave the same way.
The same goes for people working in organizations and institutions, they are just human beings and should not look down on you as they could be in the same situation as you one day or may have a relative or friend pleading with poverty.
Remember no one on this planet is better than you, although some think that they are. Just because they live in Palaces it is because of history and what their forefathers did in acquiring wealth that makes them sit on their shiny thrones.
The ‘Queen’s Platinum Jubilee’ I am not celebrating although there is going to be a street party on Sunday and although I was invited, I have nothing in common with my neighbors and they do not bother with me all year round so why should I waste my precious time making small talk when I could be busy trying to get business in to pay for my bills?
I have never been patriotic and I am not about to start now. The UK is celebrating the coronation anniversary of a little old lady, whilst in other parts of the world, people are dying. Furthermore, the establishment that bailed Prince Andrew because of his antics is yesterday’s news that people have forgotten.
People are so brainwashed that they cannot see what is going on around them.
Cost of Living Crisis.
It is predicted that businesses will go bust because of inflation.
Rising costs have created a “ticking timebomb” for UK small business owners, the chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has warned, with almost half a million firms at risk of going bust within weeks without a fresh wave of government support.
I have contacted a charity, and I have written to my creditors.
Business On The Brink Of Going Bust Or Have Gone Bust in 2022:
So far, three small energy companies have gone bust in the first two months of 2022, according to Ofgem. Whoop Energy and Xcel Power both announced they were ceasing trading. Whoop Energy supplied 50 households and 212 businesses and Xcel Power had 274 business customers.
I now have my phone turned off constantly. I cannot handle talking to people over the phone with their condescending attitudes.
I did speak to one of the utility companies last month and when I said I was disabled she automatically assumed I was unemployed and when I said “I cannot work for the rest of the day because I am emotionally distressed” she asked what do I do? and when I said I am the Editor of (Disabled Entrepreneur – Disability UK). There was a big pause after that and she then changed her tune. Or the time before when I spoke to someone from the same company, they were harsh and condescending (but what makes me laugh is the auto-recording states they will not tolerate rude customers, obviously one rule for one and not for the other), making me feel humiliated for sharing my personal details with them. Sometimes people take their jobs too seriously and think by not showing empathy is going to score brownie points with their employer. In reality, people may be kind to a certain degree but they do not care, there is a difference. You should not confuse kindness with caring, kindness is a temporary action whilst caring is long-term. https://disabledentrepreneur.uk/why-people-do-not-care/
Now if I were to give feedback on my experience they would most probably defend their corner and say that that is not how their staff treat customers and that it was obviously a one-off encounter and they would try to brush it under the carpet.
Creditors and customer services reps should be understanding, softly spoken, and empathetic, they should not judge you or humiliate you. Because who is to say they may not be in the same situations as you one day. If a customer offers only what they can afford then even if they decided to take legal action to recover all the money the court would see that the customer has made an offer and there would little else that could be done other than to perhaps sell any assetsthey may have and (in my case I have none).You cannot take blood out of a stone! and pushing people into corners can send them over the edge!
I am trying to stay positive and not let this situation get to me and believe that eventually the tables will be turned for the better.
Nothing can stay in the same place forever and when one door closes another one opens.
I am forever re-inventing myself and starting new projects to drive more business.
I have just had one creditor blank me regarding them giving me some marketing work which just proves a point no one wants to spend and no one cares unless it directly affects them.
I am persistent and will continue fighting.
If you have financial difficulties write your creditors a letter and be honest.
Tell them you are incoming and outgoing and offer to pay them something as this will stand up in a court of law.
Keep copies of all communication, letters, emails, texts, calls, etc.
If you need some advice just drop me a line.
“Do not confuse mental illness or education with stupidity, you can have a bachelor’sdegree and still be an idiot” Quote – Elon Musk.
Rishi Sunak has announced a £15bn package of support for households struggling with the cost of living crisis, part-funded by a £5bn windfall tax on energy companies.
All households will receive £400 and millions of vulnerable households will get £1,200 of support this year to help with the cost of living.
There is a saying “never look a gift horse in the mouth” meaning do not be ungrateful or don’t question the value of a gift. The proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth.
However, we need to make some calculations and this is by my own utility bill payments per month.
Gas £138
Electricity £90
Water £57
Total: £285 x 12 months = £3,420
Now looking at the website I could possibly get an extra £650 + £150 = £800 – £3,420 = £2620
But compared to last year my monthly bill was:
Gas 65
Electricity £32
Water 57
Total: £154 x 12 = £1,848
Compared to this year’s annual bill of £3,420 leaves an inflated difference of £1572 – £800 gift horse money leaves £772 that I still have to find divided by 12 months = £65 per month I miraculously have to manifest out of thin air.
For people who can decorate their walls at £840 per roll and have never had to worry about putting food on the table this is laughable and what makes it worse is the powers that be, think the whole world is gullible and does not know what is going on.
(In a nutshell, it is called ‘Deficit Spending’).
The Hidden Secrets of Money.
Watch the video to the end after the credits where Ron Paul and Steve Forbes discuss the money system with Mike Maloney the creator of the video series.
But wait for the twilight zone where they give the money in one hand they will take it away with the other.
Regulator Ofgempredicted average bills will leap another £829 to £2,800 on October 1. (Where they get their figures from is incomprehensible because the current price is already £3,240 and not £829 as they claim), which will almost double the number of households in fuel poverty from 6.5 million to 12 million.
If they give you the money, a few months later bills you mark my words prices will go up again, they are simply cat and mouse and its all smoke and mirrors..
Rishi Sunak should have put a price cap on all millionaires and billionaires because even these people will get the £400 funding. He later said in an interview that the wealthy can donote to charity if they do not need the £400. Lets be realist here who wants to give money away especially if it is free money. Millionaires did not become rich by giving money away.
It is all smoke and mirrors and the only people that win are the stockholders at the Federal Reserve.
For the people that voted out of the EU who had not one ounce of knowledge of economics or politics, I say “well done”, now see the state of the economy. You wanted toleave the EU because of immigration nothing more. People complained that foreigners were taking their wages but in reality, the Brits never wanted those jobs in the first place and someone had to fill them. Now that the foreigners have gone why are there so many people unemployed?
What I would do if I had any say, any unemployed person that could not find work for example in a 6-month period would have to start a business. There is no reason for anyone to be out of work, everyone can get a job or if not can create one. Obviously, people with certain disabilities can not work for obvious reasons but some can, as example I suffer from Cerebellar Atrophy, OCD, and Depression, but I am self-employed and am also a Carer.
Brexit & Voting.
You would not allow the public to make decisions on your business but the government gets people to vote on the state of a country that may be uneducated or have zero knowledge of politics and economics. It’s a numbers game nothing more.
Anyway, I am happy that the Government is doing something although this has already affected many people’s mental health. Speaking from experience depression, anxiety and stress can be the start of other conditions.
I personally think they should have done something sooner, but I’m not a PM, BJ is.
By coincidence, I follow him on LinkedIn and made a comment on this post. I reckon his social media team may have read my comment I hope so because I asked if he could give me the opportunity to do his marketing campaigns. I said I would link his new site to mine as not everyone reads the news, watches tv, or has a LinkedIn account.
I asked Boris Johnson For a Job.
It would be interesting if anyone bothers to reply or even donate after all charity starts at home and if I am struggling, how am I supposed to keep this site running?
Furthermore, I am doing the government a favor by sending free traffic their way.
Some people pay for traffic, it is called ‘Advertising & Marketing’.
Here is the link to the sub-domain Boris Johnson incorrectly stated and said it was a new website gov.uk is actually the default website and they have just added a sub-domain and subdirectory.
Disclaimer: This site primarily focuses on residents in the UK, however, it’s okay if you are from another part of the world as we try to help everyone. One thing you must take into consideration is this article has links to UK Government Official Bodies. Should you be reading this in the USA for example please contact your local legal office for advice. Furthermore, if you are experiencing financial difficulty and you are in debt, tell someone, you should not suffer in silence. Write down all your income and outgoings and let your creditors know you are finding things difficult. Ask them for extra time. They may give you an option to pay reasonable amounts without you losing sleep. No one should get themselves so worked up that it affects their mental health.
Who is a Creditor?
A creditor could be a bank, a credit card company, a business, a loan company, or a utility provider.
The creditor usually provides property, services, or lends out money, including but not limited to anything you have taken out on finance such as a car, white goods, or even phone/broadband providers.
A creditor is basically a person, a business, or an institution you own money to.
All creditors should give you the option to pay off the debt in installments even going as far as capping interest rates.
It will take the creditor a lot longer to get his/her money if he/she has to pay a credit agency or if you agree on an IVA where most of your debt is written off.
Most creditors are reasonable but there are a few that are not.
Explain how the debt is affecting your mental health and if you are unable to function properly or go to work, (after all they want you to continue getting a wage, in order to pay them). Most will be understanding and show empathy but there will be a few that may not care.
Remember to document everything including saving emails/text messages and letters which all count as evidence of your communication.
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997
A creditor that continually phones and texts on your business number causing you to turn it off consequently causing you to lose business is causing a criminal offense.
Debt collecting agencies and creditors, especially credit card companies use multiple telephone and mobile numbers and even if you block them they will still get through, even if you have blocked all notifications and incoming calls.
They after getting their money back by any means possible. Some have no regard for your circumstances or your mental health and may become patronizing, judgemental, and condescendingwhen you finally contact them.
Engaging in harassment during the debt collection process is also deemed a criminal offense.
“The harassment may be verbal or written, either via letter, email or text and includes making repeated calls and texts during non-social times or to the workplace of the debtor”.
The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 considers it a criminal offense for a person to take any action that is known or should be known, to be harassing another person.
DEBT COLLECTION GUIDELINES
The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) specifies unfair practices regarding debt collection in its Debt Collection and Debt Management Guidelines. These include accounts in arrears or those having missed payments.
The Guidelines focus on a section about “contacting debtors at unreasonable times and intervals.”
Hours for contact regarding intervals and times that may be considered unfair are outlined. Making multiple calls during working hours, using the business number, phoning at unsociable hours, contacting neighbors and informing them of the purpose of the call, and contacting a debtor at his or her workplace are included in the whitepaper.
HOW TO HANDLE A HARASSING CREDITOR
If you think a creditor has violated one of the above laws or is not in compliance with the OFT Guidelines, you should discuss the issue with the creditor or a collection company representing it. Always reach out to the creditor with the initial complaint and then escalate it with the professional body if you feel your complaint is not taken seriously. Tell your creditor how you want to be contacted in the future and ask them to confirm this in writing.
Your letter should state that harassment is a criminal offense and you can take further action if your creditor doesn’t stop. Initially, you could write to them by email, usually, they have autoresponders confirming receipt of your email. Give them a few days to reply. Follow up by a snail mail postal letter andremember to send all letters by recorded deliveryand keep copies so that you have a record of your complaint.
Prior to making contact, gather all your evidence including calls/texts (screenshot the message and capture the phone number and date) and visit times, and any emails or letters that you consider threatening or menacing.
The letter should include a request that the party immediately stop the behavior. You should also provide a preferred method of contact and acceptable times to make contact.
Once your complaint have be received and acknowledged, your creditor has 3 business days to respond informally. This could be by phone or email (This depends on your preferred method of communication as outlined in your letter of complaint). A final response letter might take longer. Your creditor also has to report your complaint to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), even if they respond within 3 business days.
If the creditor fails to change its practices following receipt of this letter, submit a formal complaint to the Citizens Advice Bureau, Trading Standards, or OFT.
If the behavior of a bailiff, creditor, or collection agency ever becomes extremely threatening or violent in nature, notify the police immediately.
Support Making A Complaint
If you need help complaining, writing letters, or phoning your creditors, you can phone the debt helpline on 0300 330 1313. Lines are open between 9 am and 8 pm, Monday to Friday. Calls cost the same as calls to landline numbers. Alternatively, You can also get help by contacting your nearest Citizens Advice.
You could also contact us and we could send you a template letter and you just need to fill in the blanks.
To escalate your complaint you should complain to a professional body too. Your debt collector may belong to a trade association or professional body with a code of practice (FCA) that sets out how they are supposed to behave towards you.
In Northern Ireland, you can contact the Consumer line at: www.consumerline.org.
Trade associations
If you are wondering if your lender belongs to a trade association that has a code of practice, then check out this link for Further Help. The trade association may also take action against its members who break the code of practice.
If your complaint is against a bank, building society, or credit card company, they may belong to the Standards of Lending Practice.
The Standards of Lending Practice have guidance for members which they should follow.
These include:
Avoid putting pressure on a lender and not allowing harassment.
Should advise to consolidate the debt or debt management.
Should provide support if the lender is vulnerable, for example, if you have physical or mental health problems.
Should use trustworthy debt collection agencies who must also follow the Standards of Lending Practice if the debt is passed on or sold.
You should complain to the bank, building society, or credit card company first, using their complaints procedure. If this does not sort out the problem, you can complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service, telling them that a debt collector or creditor has broken the terms of the Standards of Lending Practice. For more information about complaining to the Financial Ombudsman Service, go to the Financial Ombudsman’s website at: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
For more information about the Standards of Lending Practice or to find out if your creditor is a member, go to www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk.
Complaining about a solicitor acting for a creditor
There may be times when the debt is forwarded to a legal team and initially you get a letter from a solicitor notifying you that you have defaulted and a demand for a payment settlement. If a solicitor then starts to become harassing you on behalf of a creditor, this is considered to be professional misconduct.
To make a complaint about a solicitor, you will first need to use the firm’s internal complaints procedure. What this means is you will have to contact the law firm and lodge a complaint. If the complaint is ignored or handled unsuccessfully, you can then escalate to the Law Society. If this does not resolve the problem, you can complain to one of the professional associations. A bonafide solicitor will be a member of the Law Society and you can find their registration number in the footer section of their website. You can also check the Law Society website if the law firm or solicitor is a member.
If they are registered in England or Wales, you can complain to the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) at www.sra.org.uk. If they are registered in Scotland, you can complain to the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission (SLCC) at www.scottishlegalcomplaints.org.uk. If they are registered in Northern Ireland, you can complain to the Law Society. Go to www.lawsoc-ni.org.
Complaining to the Citizens Advice Consumer Service
If you want to complain about a local firm, you can contact the Citizens AdviceConsumer Service. They can put you in touch with your local Trading Standards Office, which can investigate whether an offense had been committed.
Complaining to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
The FCA has rules and guidance about debt collection. Although the FCA cannot take up your individual case, they can refuse or revoke the firm’s authorization or, for example, fine the firm. It may be worth reminding the creditor that breaching the rules could affect their FCA authorization.
More about the FCA rules and guidance on debt collection in the FCA’s Consumer Credit Sourcebook at www.fca.org.uk.
Illegal money lending
In desperate times we sometimes do desperate things and we may come across companies offering us money dangling a golden carrot until the day come to pay our loan back, we may get into financial difficulty and this is where we end up in murky waters.
It’s easy to borrow money but it’s not so easy to pay it back.
You may have borrowed money from a moneylender who is not FCA authorized. These lenders are for the better word often called loan sharks and they may physically or verbally threaten you if you can’t pay back the money.
They also charge extremely high rates of interest, which means you may end up owing much more money than you originally borrowed.
It’s important to remember that loan sharks are breaking the law by lending you money in this way. They can’t enforce the high rates of interest they are trying to charge. You can’t be legally made to pay back the money and you have not broken the law if you don’t pay it back.
If you are being harassed or threatened by a loan shark and you think your life is in danger you can phone the police. If loan sharks threaten you or your family they can be prosecuted. You should also report them on the GOV website to find out how to report a loan shark on GOV.UK.
Reporting Creditors
Reporting a problem to Trade Standards
If you want to report a problem, you should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service, (citizens advice is a community of volunteer solicitors, usually found in every town/city in the UK). The citizen’s advice will then share the information reported with Trading Standards.
Creditors Are People
Some creditors and debt collecting agency may take their jobs too seriously and may become patronizing, judgmental and condescending, and even sometimes intimidating or threatening.
“You should not live in fear of another person or organization. It is not your fault that the powers that be have decided on price hikes and consequently got you into debt”.
Creditors are the people at the end of the day, either owners of businesses or employees trying to do their jobs.
If you owe money to a creditor and stop making payments, they can take action against you to get their money back. Therefore it is best to write to them, that way everything is documented, giving them a proposal on how you plan to pay the debt off.
“If you have more overheads than the income coming in tell them this. No one on the planet can get blood out of stone”.
Try to exhaust all avenues of getting extra money to pay your debt off before saying you have no money.
If you have reached out to everyone you know and have contacted organizations that may give you grants and been unsuccessful then by all means be truthful with yourself and with your creditors and do not try to brush the problem under the carpet because it will not go away and will only get worse if you do nothing over time.
You could save yourself money with postage simply by emailing them. Explain your incomings and outgoings and ask them for more time. Ask them to spread the cost of what you owe over a fixed term between 12 – 60 months.
“No One Should Live In Fear and pushing people into a corner may send them over the edge”
How Creditors Are Supposed To Behave.
Creditors are supposed to behave professionally, they should not express their personal opinions, or become, patronizing, judgmental or condescending towards you when they are trying to recover their money.
Harassment is any action that makes you feel emotionally distressed, stressed, anxious, humiliated, or threatened. It makes you live in fear and will consequently damage your mental health.
If you feel you are being harassed and becoming unwell because of a creditor, there are several things you can do to stop them from doing it.
If you need help talking to a creditor about their behavior, you can also phone the trading standards debt helpline on 0300 330 1313 if you are located in the UK. For all other countries find your local debt management agency that can assist you further.
Citizens Advice (UK) is open between 9 am and 8 pm, Monday to Friday. Calls cost the same as calls to landline numbers.
If the creditor tries to do any of the following things to try and get you to pay back the money you owe, this could be considered harassment. They include:
If a creditor or debt collection agency contacts you several times a day (during working hours, whilst you are at work), or early in the morning or late at night.
If a creditor or debt collection agency pursues you on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, LinkedIn.
If a creditor or debt collection agency puts pressure on you to sell your home or take out more credit.
If a creditor or debt collection agency uses more than one debt collector to chase you for payment.
If a creditor or debt collection agency does not inform you that your debt has been passed on to a debt collection agency.
If a creditor or debt collection agency uses paperwork or business logos that appear to be official when they’re not, (this is fraud) for example sending you letters that look like court forms.
If a creditor or debt collection agency puts pressure on you to pay all the money off, or in larger installments when you can’t afford to.
If the creditor or debt collecting agency becomes threatening you physically or verbally abusive to you.
If a creditor or debt collection agency ignores you if you say you don’t owe the money.
If a creditor or debt collection agency tries to embarrass, humiliate or intimidate you in public.
If a creditor or debt collection agency tells someone else about your debts or uses another person to pass on messages, such as a neighbor or family member.
If a creditor or debt collection agency falsely claims to work for the court or be a bailiff in England and Wales or sheriff officer in Scotland (this is deemed as fraud).
If a creditor or debt collection agency implies that legal action can be taken when it can’t. For example, implying that your home can be taken from you without a court order.
If a creditor or debt collection agency gives the impression that court action has been taken against you when it hasn’t.
If a creditor or debt collection agency gives the impression that not paying the debt is a criminal offense. For most debts, it is not a criminal offense if you don’t pay them.
What doesn’t count as harassment by a creditor?
Not all actions that a creditor takes can be called harassment. Creditors are allowed to take reasonable steps to get back the money they owe them. These include:
Sending reminder letters, texts, or emails.
Telephoning you to ask for payment (not during working hours and not on your business phone).
Call at your home, as long as this is at a reasonable time of the day.
Taking court action.
Who is harassing you
If you’re being harassed by a creditor it’s important to know who is chasing you for payment.
You may be surprised that the people in your case may not be the people you originally owed money to. This is because your original creditor may have sold the debt to someone else to collect. If your original creditor does this, they cannot come after you for money, instead, you will have someone else in their place. If your creditor decides to pass the debt on, they must tell you in writing before they do it.
Your debt may be collected by:
Your original creditor
A debt collection agency acting on behalf of your creditor
A third party who has bought the debt from your creditor
Bailiffs in England and Wales or sheriff officers in Scotland.
Things to consider before making a complaint, gather as much evidence as you can to support your claim.
Depending on the seriousness of the situation this could include (although not all compulsory) It makes sense to gather as much evidence as possible to build your case:
Documenting the number of visits or calls with dates and times. Write down what was said to you each time and who you spoke to.
Has the original correspondence been printed to include letters, documents, emails, and texts you have received?
Witness statements from neighbors or other people who live with you.
Evidence of your circumstances.
Any medical evidence if you suffering from mental health issues.
Further help and information
Trade and professional associations
Your creditor may belong to one of the following trade or professional associations which have a code of practice that its members must follow. You can find a list of members on the organizations’ websites:
The Finance and Leasing Association Imperial House 15 -19 Kingsway London WC2B 6UN
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A smart meter is the next generation of a gas and electricity meter.
They are being installed in homes across Great Britain at no extra cost, to replace the traditional meters including prepay key meters, which most of us currently have tucked away under the stairs, or outside our homes.
Theoretically, smart meters measure how much gas and electricity you’re using, as well as what it’s costing you, and display this on a handy in-home display. The smart meter, also called an Advanced Meter Installation (AMI), is a two-way device used by utility companies to measure energy usage in your home.
HOW DO THEY WORK?
The advantages of a smart meter are you can wave goodbye to estimated billing. The smart meter shows a digital meter reading and uses a secure smart data network (managed by the DCC) to automatically and wirelessly send the readings to your energy supplier at least once a month, so you will receive accurate, not estimated bills.
Smart meters also come with an in-home display screen that shows you exactly how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence, in near real-time.
WHAT THE UTILITY COMPANIES SAY.
If you ask your utility company if a smart meter impacts your health, you’ll likely be told there is no health risk. They will be biased and will hopefully convince the unaware consumer that there are no dangers. However medical evidence has proven there are dangers.
According to the BioInitiative Working Group, more than 6,000 studies show the correlation of electromagnetic energy with harmful effects, chronic conditions, and disease.
There is also evidence that electropollution triggers an immune system response. That’s because the body thinks the electrical fields are foreign invaders similar to bacteria and viruses.
Amy Myers, MD is a two-time New York Times bestselling author and an internationally acclaimed functional medicine physician. Dr. Myers specializes in empowering those with autoimmune, thyroid, and digestive issues to reverse their conditions and take back their health.
Amy Myers is a successful founder and CEO of Amy Myers MD®.
Dr. Myers has been quoted as saying: “I’ve seen with thousands of patients in my functional medicine clinic, that chronic inflammation leads to fatigue, cognitive problems, brain fog, irritability, anxiety, and memory loss. It is the root cause of autoimmune disease. In fact, chronic electrical exposure triggers symptoms that mirror those experienced in dozens of autoimmune diseases”.
According to David O. Carpenter, MD, radiofrequency exposure at elevated levels for a long period of time increases the risk of cancer, damages the nervous system, and causes sensitivity. It also has adverse health effects on the reproductive system and other organ systems. In addition, it elevates the levels of peroxynitrite (a toxin made by your body), which is linked with over 60 chronic diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, tissue heating is the principal mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency energy and the human body. Sam Milham, MD has spent nearly thirty years researching the impact of electric and magnetic fields (EMFs). He links dirty electricity to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and suicide. He also connects it with neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
RF radiation was classified in 2011 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as “possibly carcinogenic (cancer-causing) to humans.” Furthermore, there is no data that shows RF radiation is safe. In fact, no one has conducted health studies on humans living in homes with smart meters. The World Health Organization is planning a formal assessment of the health effects of RF exposure, however, this report is not yet available.
“People with smart meters in their homes have reported a sudden increase in dizziness, ear pain, memory problems, heart palpitations, anxiety, and sleep problems”.
CORPORATE BULLYING
Whether you owe money to a creditor or a utility company they will not stop until you contact them. They have been known to text and phone multiple times in a day in order for you to react. It is always best to communicate with them so that they can arrange something with you. My interaction was with Utility Companies and they insisted on meter readings, prior to Covid, and even During Covid they would come and read my meter but now they are singing a different tune. Because of the height of where my meter is located, it is impossible to read, yet I do not want a smart meter because of the health implications.
Whenever I communicate I always forward articles I have written, this gives me more authority on what I am talking about.
Learn about Deficit Spending and the Debt Ceiling by watching “The Hidden Secrets of Money” by Mike Maloney To Know Why ‘Our Utility Prices’ have been hiked and how utility companies will bully you into having ‘SMART METERS’!
I had a text message come through on my phone from ‘British Gas’ despite me telling them that I do not give them permission to communicate with me this way and only by email. So they have given my number out without my permission to third-party engineers, which is a breach of GDPR for starters.
This has gone on deaf ears. Needless to say, they have booked me in for a smart meter even though I have told them I do not want one.
Now both my daughter and I have autoimmune disorders (cerebellar atrophy and multiple sclerosis), so if any utility company insists on the installation of these meters I think I have enough evidence, that should either my daughter or I relapse, we would be able to take legal action against the energy providers.
I was told in a conversation I had with ‘British Gas’ that I use more gas than the average household. They even asked me to add a backlink for them on this site on the useful links page, yet they never offered to pay for it. (Which is disgraceful that they can money grab, but won’t compensate for the traffic I send them). The link is useful for my readers and I am not doing British Gas any favors and will be looking for compensation.
I am not arguing if I use more gas or not, although I have a brand new boiler and I have to have my home heated because of black mold that grows on our walls.
I have to safeguard both my daughters and my health because we have black mold.
Our landlord is aware of the situation and has simply said to wash it down with bleach and soapy water. This does not eradicate the problem and the health of my daughter and my own is paramount and I will fight to the end anyone that tries to reduce our quality of life.
Remember the Governments and the Large Corporations work hand in hand. If you read on the government’s website that smart meters are safe, they will never tell the truth.
Why is our cost of living increased?
I will tell you why it is to do with deficit spending and the debt ceiling. Basically, the Government has overspent and in the case of the UK, they owe money to the EU. The Brexit Divorce Bill in July 2021, was estimated at £40.8bn but Downing Street insisted the figure was between £35bn and £39bn. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/51110096 we now have a crisis on our hands. The Government needs to find the money to pay the EU. Goods and services are now subject to tariffs, increasing the cost of raw materials into Britain and finished products out.
If people’s mental health is affected due to price hikes and people are forced to endure corporate bullying and intimidation to install smart meters which leads to illness then the corporations need to be made accountable. If people are struggling to pay their finances before the price hikes how are they supposed to pay after bills are increased exponentially?
“Pushing vulnerable people into a corner can easily send them over the edge”.
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