A Scots man was denied a loan to fix his storm damaged fence because he isn't in full time employment and does not make enough money.
Fuming Ian Turner says he has been left in limbo with no way of repairing his garden fence after he was turned down for a £500 loan by Edinburgh City Council and a local community bank.
Ian, who lives on Boswall Loan, Granton, turned to the Castle Community Bank in the hope he would be granted a loan to repair storm damage after he was rejected from the local council.
After using the service in the past, he believed he would be entitled to another loan and attended the Leith based branch armed bank statement and utility bills, Edinburgh Live reports.
But Ian, who can't work due to mental and physical health issues, was devastated to be told he did not qualify for any sort of loan because he is not in full-time employment and earning over £18,000.
He said: "The excuse the bank gave me was Covid, but how can that play a part in me not being given a loan of just £500. I've used the bank before and paid back all of my loans on time, if not early.
"My garden fence has become weathered due to storms as I'm close to the sea, to the point where it is pretty much wrecked and £500 was the quoted price from an independent contractor.
"As the flat is owned by the council I approached them first and they just said it wasn't something they are liable for, they didn't even come to inspect it. I went to the Castle Community Bank expecting it to be a fairly straightforward process as I've used them before.
"I had gas bills and bank statements ready as obviously that's what I did before but they basically told me that because I'm not employed and earning over £18,000 that I'm being rejected.
"I said to them you're hardly a community bank if you're only helping the working half of the community and to be honest, even if they offered me the money now I'd not take it purely based on how I've been treated."
Before visiting the bank, Ian was advised over the phone to apply online for a loan and was not informed that he may be turned down.
He said to make matters worse, he fought for seven years to claim the garden in question and after it was finally confirmed as his, it has been left in a mess.
Photographs of the garden show the fence smashed up with pieces of wood lying across the grass and Ian is also concerned dog Charlie could escape.
Ian continued: "I'm trying to arrange a visit to Cammy Day's surgery to see if he can do anything as I'm getting nowhere with the council. Not even my housing officer is willing to step in and help.
"I feel like I've been put in the house and abandoned. I've been here coming up for eight years and only just had it confirmed that the garden is mine as a neighbour claimed it was theirs.
"I know someone on the street who had to get an independent contractor to come and fix their fence and they told me I was looking at £500. There are also massive trees to be cut back but no doubt I'll need planning permission to do that.
"I don't really know what's going to happen next, I've been left with nowhere to turn. It looks like I might just have to come up with the money myself. If the bank think I'll go back to them after this then can ram it."
A spokesperson for the Castle Community Bank said: "Castle Community Bank does not comment on individual member cases, as you would expect since any individual member financial position is confidential."
The City of Edinburgh Council was approached for comment.
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