On benefits and need help to go bankrupt

smt1

Hello,

My partner and I we have so many debts and can't afford to pay them and now feel the only way is to go bankrupt....the problem is we can't even afford to pay to go bankrupt as we are currently in receipt of benefits.
Do you know if we can get help from anywhere?

Also we owe 2 years back payments of council tax, will they take this into account with the bankrupcy?
We have moorcroft debt collecting agency pestering us aswel.
We also have utility bils that are outstanding, would they be also taken into consideration for the bankruptcy?

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. x

tigerfeet2006

The first thing you MUST do is ring one of the debt charities, links and phone numbers in my signature, and get professional advise. If you don't and go to court the judge can refuse your petition until you do.

If you are on benefits then you are exempt the court fees of £150 per person but you will have to pay the OR's fees of £345 per person.

Remission of court fee's
If you click on this it should get you to the ex160 form

http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/c...orms/ex160.pdf
http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/c...rms/ex160a.pdf

One is the form, the other is the guidance.

smt1

Hi Tigerfeet,

Thank you for your advice. Can i just ask why would they refuse my petition if i don't go to one of the charities?

Sorry new to all this and just found this site. xx

Merry_Gentry

smt1 wrote: »

Hi Tigerfeet,

Thank you for your advice. Can i just ask why would they refuse my petition if i don't go to one of the charities?

Sorry new to all this and just found this site. xx

They need to know you have taken the proper advice before making the decision to go BR.

fiveyearplan

Hi and welcome to the board!

I wasn't asked if I had taken advice before bankruptcy but I would wholeheartedly advise you to phone CCCS or National Debtline (contact numbers in Tiger's signature above). They will be able to give you all the options open to you and you will find a lot of support on here. Council Tax can be tricky. If you have been sent a Statutory Demand then they will be included. If you are on benefits don't you get CT benefit? I would seriously try and keep on top of utility payments. You should try and keep on top of all your priority debts which are housing, CT and utilities. If you decide BR is for you then stop paying any other debts like loans or credit cards.

There is a site that lets you know if you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to. I think it is https://www.entitledto.com (hopefully someone can confirm or correct!).

Good luck and once you speak to one of the debt charities and know where you stand you will feel much better.

Broken_hearted

You also need to get help sorting out your budget, you have to pay the essential bills as after BR they will start running up again. BR is a way to get a new start but you have to show reasons and learn from it.

smt1

Thanks for your advice everyone.

Fiveyearplan this council tax is from previous years when we were on low incomes and fell behind with payments. We are now getting CT benefits for this current year, but still owe outstanding. I have contacted them and they have advised we have to pay £5 per week which is not too bad...this has been to the courts and they have decided this....so would this be included in the bankruptcy?
I don't have thousands of pounds worth of debts, its just i owe BT over £1,000 and have a credit card debt of £350 and a few catalogues....i seem to be more in debt with my everyday utility bills now.
How do i get back on top of them when they are so so far behind? we now have a prepayment metre in for the gas and electric which is good as i now know the debt will be getting paid.
Maybe bankrupcy would be the last option for me...with not having much debt.
What i want to know is if myself or partner start work within the time of bankrupcy would we have to start paying our debts?

Thank you x

tigerfeet2006

You will only pay anything towards your debts if you have a surplus of over £99 after all your essential household needs have been met.

You really do need to speak to one of the debt charities and talk through all your options with one of them. They will help you with ways to pay your creditors if BR is not for you.

Also pop up a SOA, see link, on the Debtfree wanabee board and they will help you make any savings and maximise your income.
http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

Please also do as Fiveyearplan suggests and pop your details into https://www.entitledto.com and see if you are getting everything you are entitled to.

(((hugs)))

fiveyearplan

smt1 wrote: »

Thanks for your advice everyone.

Fiveyearplan this council tax is from previous years when we were on low incomes and fell behind with payments. We are now getting CT benefits for this current year, but still owe outstanding. I have contacted them and they have advised we have to pay £5 per week which is not too bad...this has been to the courts and they have decided this....so would this be included in the bankruptcy? YES
I don't have thousands of pounds worth of debts, its just i owe BT over £1,000 and have a credit card debt of £350 and a few catalogues....i seem to be more in debt with my everyday utility bills now.
How do i get back on top of them when they are so so far behind? we now have a prepayment metre in for the gas and electric which is good as i now know the debt will be getting paid.
Maybe bankrupcy would be the last option for me...with not having much debt.
What i want to know is if myself or partner start work within the time of bankrupcy would we have to start paying our debts?

Thank you x

Yes, that would be included in BR. Please please please ring one of the debt charities tomorrow. You will feel much better once they've told you your options, then you can start your plan of action.

Let us know how you get on.