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Search forMan in despair over jobs
Wednesday, November 05, 2008, 16:00
Ken Pentelow, 45, has been searching for a job since being made redundant in March 2006, applying for at least 20 vacancies a week.
He has loans and credit card bills which total £45,000 and a mortgage on a house he bought for £210,000 which has dropped in value by at least £30,000.
He will be unable to continue his mortgage repayments by the end of the year and expects to be made homeless in January.
He moved to Cornwall in 2000 from London in search of a stress-free life, but now has creditors on the phone up to four times a day.
Mr Pentelow said: "It is more stressful here than in London. Trying to find work is an absolute nightmare.
"I am literally just scraping through. I have a mortgage which is just about to go into hyperspace as far as the payments are concerned. My house will be repossessed soon.
"I am keeping my head above water with the bills, but often I either eat or travel to a job interview, I can't afford to do both."
In London, Mr Pentelow worked in hospitality and catering, earning around £26,000 with benefits, and has glowing references from employers.
He has received help with his debts from the Citizen's Advice Bureau but without a job Mr Pentelow says the situation is just getting worse.
"I have stacks of letters of refusal from companies because I haven't got the skills match and I can't drive," he said.
"I will do a road sweeper's job, peel potatoes, anything. I just want a job."
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