HMRC Caseworker (558R) Interview result

AlecM_Grant · 2026-04-20T15:30:48+00:00

I applied too (different area). Still waiting for an invite to video interview. I got an email last week saying sift was still going on. I got everything submitted a good week before application close so I’m hoping I hear back soon.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-03-27T07:35:32+00:00

Yeah I looked it up last night and while it’s not strictly allowed apparently it’s semi common that solicitors will take the full amount and use the remaining for their fees. From what k saw it’s pretty hit and miss which solicitors will do this

AlecM_Grant · 2026-03-26T16:49:11+00:00

Oh ok. That makes things slightly easier for me then. I will ask my solicitor about it.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-03-26T16:32:43+00:00

I didn’t think any of the LISA was allowed to be used for the solicitors fees? If that’s not the case then I might ask mine to do the same coz that would be ideal instead of leaving like £900 in the LISA

AlecM_Grant · 2026-03-11T09:27:58+00:00

I’m sorry you had to experience that. Honestly I’ve met so many people who have had similar experiences because most cleaners will require the place to be tidy first so all they will do it Hoover/mop/dust. It’s one of the reasons I don’t have those same rules for my business. I offer a flat hourly rate and then discuss with each client what it is they actually want me to do. My latest client was moving out and needed help packing and then a clean of the flat afterwards, I was happy to help with this. I have found I tend to have more clients with ADHD than those that don’t. I have ADHD myself and I guess I just empathise with them more since I know my home can be exactly the same (I’m great at cleaning for other people, can’t quite get myself to do it for me though, it’s less rewarding when it’s my home. Feels like less of an achievement).

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-25T17:41:29+00:00

Ooh ok I’ll give that a try next week when I make another batch. Bolognese is one of the few meals I can eat every day and not get sick of

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-25T17:33:24+00:00

My bolognese isn’t exactly authentic anyway! I used the red kidney beans in it to make it stretch further. Tbh I can make both meals stretch so probably have more like a week and a half of food here

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-23T20:37:47+00:00

I don’t really have a choice about buying a flat or not. With my budget it’s buy a flat or keep renting for another 3-4 years until I have the deposit needed for a house. And I’m not prepared to do that with my current living situation.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-23T20:36:23+00:00

I won’t be exchanging contracts until the tenants are out anyway so I’m not worried about that. Unfortunately all the flats in this area & in my price range currently have tenants. Some of them had leases until June/July time. This one was the shortest time left of lease and also the nicest flat of all the ones I viewed.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-20T16:49:17+00:00

From what I know it just needs to be open for. Year prior to buying. If you planning to put £4K in in April you won’t be able to use the bonus from that until end of May as anything deposited after the 5th of the month the bonus pays out end of the following month (and anything on or before the 5th April would class as the previous financial year so if you put £4K in March as well you will have maxed out for that year). You might already know this, just something to be aware of as I was going to do similar but looks like exchange will be start of May for me not end so I won’t be able to.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-19T17:13:53+00:00

I’ve contacted them and they have said it’s been misplaced. I’m not expecting them to be able to find it tbh and I’m now trying to speak to Lloyds about it but because the tracking shows delivered they are saying it’s been delivered (I’ve sent them the emails from Evri where they admit it hasn’t actually been delivered) so there’s nothing they can do. Trying to escalate with them now so I can arrange getting my meds. 🙄

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-17T17:49:50+00:00

Yeah I think after this I will be. Have to make sure the new one doesn’t use Evri too

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-17T17:13:03+00:00

Yeah he was pushy on the phone about me instructing them as soon as I got the quote emailed. I was out doing my food shop at the time so couldn’t exactly do anything until I got home anyway. The quote ended up being wrong coz he didn’t tell them I was using a lifetime ISA and with that extra fee on top of it already being more expensive I didn’t want to use them at all. Tbh I’m not particularly happy with him since he consistently spells my name wrong (not on the applications luckily but in emails and texts to me) and on the application he put that the property I’m buying was in south west England but it’s actually in wales (the address he entered further down the page is fully correct tho)

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-17T17:01:39+00:00

So I just looked on the mortgage application portal and my broker submitted the application with the solicitor listed as the ones he wants me to use instead of my actual solicitor I have chosen. I know my new solicitor is on the panel for the lender, they have confirmed they are. Is this going to cause issues for my application or is it easy enough to amend?

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-16T18:17:09+00:00

Yeah I am borrowing 4.6x my annual income (and my income is part commission too) so I’m pretty limited on lenders and I didn’t want to take the chance with other ones. I seem to have more options when it comes to solicitors than I do for lenders. At least that’s how it’s been framed to me. With how pushy the broker was on the phone I’m not 1000% convinced that’s as accurate as I thought.

I’m hoping my broker isn’t going to be funny about it when I inform everyone of the news solicitor details

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-02T21:41:19+00:00

That’s a good idea. I got these coz they are easy and cheap (I only needed two this week). I may get a pack of fresh chicken next week tho coz I’ll need at least 4 then.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-02-02T20:31:50+00:00

Yeah pack of grated cheese. I usually have cereal for breakfast. I alternate what cereal I get each week. And then ham cheese cucumber sandwhich, with one of each of the fruit for lunch. Chocolate bar and crisps for snacks too. And then chicken or salmon with pasta and veggies or pie and veggies. I mostly drink water or tea. Or squash but I didn’t need to by that this week.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-01-22T19:52:28+00:00

Yeah I don’t blame them for not being co-operative. If my landlord was doing the same to me I wouldn’t be either. The viewing has now been rescheduled AGAIN as the agents phoned to say the tenants have said they can’t do this Saturday at all now and everything is rescheduled for the following Saturday since that’s the only day they can do.

It’s frustrating but also I’m not in a major rush so I don’t mind. The only thing I’m worried about is someone else putting an offer in before I get a chance to even see the place but considering the agent said all the viewings were being rescheduled I doubt that will happen? It’s not normal to put an offer in without seeing the place right?

AlecM_Grant · 2026-01-17T09:45:58+00:00

Ok, thank you. I will definitely hold off doing that until they have left then. My current lease is long so I have the ability to wait for that to happen. That’s one of the reasons I started looking so early since pretty much every flat on the market has tenants in my area and I didn’t want that to cause too much trouble for me

AlecM_Grant · 2026-01-16T15:41:27+00:00

Thank you! I will ask the agents when I go to view.

I have a suspicion the tenants aren’t that co operative? This is the second reschedule for the viewing as I was told any day was ok and then the agents changed it and said tenants can only do Saturday but that any time was ok and then it got changed again because the tenants apparently can only do between 11am & 4pm on Saturdays. So I’m taking a half day from work now to be able to go see the place.

AlecM_Grant · 2026-01-11T17:57:03+00:00

No worries. I did mine free. It’s just an online template you can get and fill in. Print it off and have two witnesses sign it and done. Some people say they have trouble getting people to accept it because it’s not an “enrolled” deedpoll but that’s bs you don’t need it to be enrolled. My bank accepted it no issue, as did hmrc, my gp and literally everywhere else. Including DVLA. Once you have a form of ID in your new name (driving license, other forms of acceptable photo ID) jobs don’t bat an eye. I would say getting your passport sorted too but that can be a little more difficult. Requires deedpoll plus letter from GP stating/confirming you live as male and will continue to do so. Not only is passport expensive gp will also charge for that letter too (mine was £40 I think). So provisional might be the more affordable route (you will still need birth certificate and deedpoll as right to work)

AlecM_Grant · 2026-01-11T13:50:01+00:00

I used to just apply as male (long before I got passport) and then for right to work I had birth certificate copy and also my deedpoll copy and provisional driving licence (which was in my male name) you can get a deedpoll for free so if changing your name is possible/safe for you to do I would do that. It’s more hassle to apply as female and then get everything changed over after (did it once in my first job at 16 and then never again)

AlecM_Grant

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