Is this fair?

[melimeli]

Ok my husband got laid off 2 years ago (architect) After looking for a non existent job for 6 months he decided screw sitting at home, I will go off unemployment and back to school.  So he went back for his masters, he has 1 year left and hopefully the housing crisis will have worn down by then and there will be some jobs for architecture... at least that is what we are praying for.  So anyway we are now a family of 5 living on MY one income a teachers salary at that which we all know isn't much.  Anyway, that is not the point... the point is we have a 99 plymouth breeze that broke down.  The darn thing just won't start and we don't have the money to fix it.  It has been sitting on my middle-low income neighborhood in front of my house since march.  I have kept it insured even though I can't start it because that is the law.  Well we got a 24 hour tow note on it 3 weeks ago and so my dh and some nice neighbors helped us push it up our driveway (we are an incline) I thought ok that is that until we get some money to fix it.  Well, two weeks later we got a letter from the city saying we have 2 weeks either fix it or get rid of it or we will get fined for a code violation.  I couldn't believe it!  It is on MY property, it isn't an old trashy junker, it is a 99 plymouth that has been well cared for.  It's tires aren't flat, it isn't up on blocks, nothing...  We just don't have money to fix it in this economy...  So now I am faced with having to junk it with one of these companies that junk your cars and they will give me 200 dollars for it.  I mean it has a nice stereo with 4 good kenwood speakers in it that we don't even know how to take out.  So, I have set up for it to be junked for 200 dollars but I am mad.  I mean we are going through a hard time, not taking any handouts I am doing my best to pay for my house, 3 kids and a unemployed husband without being a burden on the tax payers.  We do two  soup and sandwich nights a week to save money and eat a lot of beans and rice.  ( I am sure the people on food stamps are eating much better than we are) and now I have to junk a car that we want to fix and sell but we just can't right now.  It is in my driveway and it is insured.  Why can't it stay?
Do you think this is fair?

[margypops]

that was hard luck meli must be enforced in your area , have you thought of craigslist if you are going to sell it, shame though I think you are right some over zealous Twit ..say that 100 times and you will feel better .

[Dazon50]

:-)  Glad to hear you get a bit more time.  However with no garage...where do they expect you to put it...in the house...lol!  ? would a neighbor store it????

[melimeli]

Ok called the code person at the city and they are going to give me until sept 6th he did say it cannot be parked in the carport either only in a garage which I don't have

[Dazon50]

I wanted to commend you and your husband for your determination to make lemonade out of lemons :-)

When you use the best of who you are to make the future better for you, you inspire others around you who are watching.  So many drop because they don't have hope....don't believe they can get back up.

It is important to encourage each other not to quit.  It is far too easy to give up but then we never experience the joy of living life to the fullest.

thank you for sharing this issue that is near/dear to you and YESYES....it does matter!!!!!

Keep us posted, please, as to how this shakes out.  Of course, we are hoping you win, win, win!!!

[Dazon50]

Things like this get me thinking about all the crud that goes on inside a person and how it is an age old thing to focus on the outside.

Adages & wisdom books (bible especially) mention this kind of focus.  Cleaning the outside while the inside is full of dead bones!!!

You can be made to paint your house if the paint is coming off.  Regardless of how many $ thousands it will cost.  You are expected to come up with the $.  You are told to go for a low interest loan.

That is when you realize how "free" you really are.

[melimeli]

Ya I am going to call tomorrow and see.. I was kind of in denial and now I have till wednesday to get it done.  I did set up the car sale through one of this junk car companies and they will come pick it up and tow it and pay me 200.00 but that just goes to show that they can sell it for much more when they fix it.  I just want the chance to do that.  i could understand if it was an eyesore but it really isn't.  

[Dazon50]

I don't think it is fair.  Did you ask them who is going to pay for it?  Do they have an extension on this?

Did you call them & let them know you don't have the $ right now to fix it & it has some value that in the future you would like it fixed to drive and that you are making car insurance payments on it.  I wonder if making the car insurance payments matters.  

I would look into every angle possible.  This *****!!!

[melimeli]

I have a car port so no dice.  They know because the tags are expired.  But we can't afford to fix it right now.  I don't know how strict it is here but let me tell you it is not an upper class neighborhood.  It is a working class neighborhood.  There was a car around the block that stayed in their driveway on flats for 5 years.  Two houses down there is a home that has been repo'd and the bank hasn't taken care of it and the grass is up to my chest.  I think there is an overzealous city code person that is out to get me for some reason.  I think they came back to see that the car was out of the street and saw that I just moved it to my driveway and now they have it in for me.  I am just so frustrated.  It lets the air out of my sails...  There are 7 houses in my block that have been taken by the bank and sit for sale and they are worried about the car I have on my own property.  I just don't get it.  My nextdoor neighbor has an broke down fridge and a bunch of other crap in her carport.  ufff

[April2]

No, I don't think it's fair but I don't know how strict your housing codes are out there. Is it obvious or that noticable that it needs fixing? How do they even know?

Is there anyway you can put it in your garage and out of sight? Gosh, I don't know what to tell you! So sorry you all are going through a tough time right now. I hope things get better soon!