Another Scottish bankcrupcy diary (this ones long)

Purplekylie22

Should start with how it happened, I was 16 ran away from home to live with a guy I met on the net. Before I knew it we were pregnant and married. Had two kids before I was 18, then we worked out that I could get credit! He had lots of debt – so I took out loans overdrafts so that all of his was cleared. It was working… until one Christmas about 2 years later, then we got stuck with no money and the bank charged me constantly, we go o the point of where I had to write out checks to pay for shopping which I knew were going to be retuned but I had no other way to feed my children. He would never work properly, he would get a job, be there for three months then leave cause he couldn’t be bothered and he had a drink problem so anything that was left of our money went on booze. After 6 months of this he left, went to live with someone he met online and left me, with £15K of debt and two kids and no idea how I was going to continue working. I rang my boss said I didn’t know when I would be in as my husband had left, I went to the council, got an eviction order revoked, rang my bank, tried to sort things out with them and they agreed, all felt like it was going good for a week, then my dad died. A month In England with my disabled mother trying to get that sorted out. Things obviously didn’t keep going on the path I had started, so my account got over drawn again… a visit to trading standards and they told me to stop paying everything, so that’s what I did.

Natwest step account was opened. I actually had money! Wow, that was odd – Nursery found for my kids, and they could take them straight away! After a month in England, it looked like I was right to have came back up to Scotland after all! Kids at nursery – me a work, finally my appointment with the debt advisor came around, she came to my work so it was easier for me. She said I was actually closer to £20K in debt, told me what I should pay (rent) and what I shouldn’t (everything else) and that I would have to wait for someone to take me to court to declare bankcrupcy. God it has been a long wait.

2 years of waiting and my cooker broke, so did my telly, I had no idea what to do I tried for credit cards e.t.c I need a way to feed my kids! Lets face it, two years had passed I got nothing but they occasional letter about my debts, the main things were council tax and I know they have 20 years to get money from me, so they had all the time in the world! I owed £9K to RBS for my over draft and loan – they also owe me £5K in bank charge refunds! So they weren’t dealing with it any time soon or they would have to deal with what they owe me! The idea of going bankcrupt by now was laughable – no one is going to take me to court! I got a call from welcome finance, they had been sent my details and said I could get a thousand pound loan, oh wow! I could get the things I need and feed my kids! So I said yes and they hassled me constantly trying to make me take two thousand pounds… “most our customers find they need more” “it only works out £30 more if you pay it over the extra year…” So I gave in and got two thousand, I got new telly, new cooker and paid my nursery bills up to date. I knew I could afford the payments so wasn’t concerned, paid it twice then got a earnings arrestment fro my former council tax bills…. Oh sh*t.

Cancel DD or I will go over drawn and get charged… Got my pay slip and the money hadn’t came out my pay??? Checked over all the forms (still seething that they could issue a earnings arrestment without giving me the chance to declare bankcrupcy like I had be told) they did it in my married name. I changed back to the my maiden name 2 years ago! And I had informed the council so they should know – my work must have rejected it as they don't have anyone with that surname. Set up DD except the loan, I was still worried about my pay. A month later got another earnings arrestment still in my married name eeck.. this is getting a habit. I did research online and seen that I can now do bankcrupcy because I receive working tax credits! Wow I don't need to wait any longer! Planned to do bankcrupcy.. I kept putting it off, I don't want to do it, it scary.

But then on Tuesday, I got a call on my work phone from welcome… “where is our money???” I really don't want the entire work place to know my business. So I told them I would call them back had to fight with the woman on the phone for 5 minutes to get her number so I can ring her back, she obviously thought I was just getting rid of her… okay – so I was but that’s not the point – I was getting funny looks from my boss! Yesterday – filled in all my bankcrupcy forms, rang all the place I can think of that I owe money to, BT wouldn’t tell me the amount or account number over the phone. They are sending me a letter. My boyfriend paid the £100 fee for me so it is in there account, I'm just waiting to get the BT letter.

All my debt totals £21K, only 1K more than it was two years ago, the loan plus interest was 3K which means in the past two years I cleared 1K of rent arrears and 1k credit card bill. It feels good to know that at least.

Right now, looking back…

• My life is so much better than it was with my ex husband, even though I am doing bankcrupcy.
• Hardest point – telling my new boyfriend and one of my closest friends about the debt.
• The best bit – knowing that whatever happens my boyfriend and my other friend will always be there and they will lend me their shoulder whenever I need to cry and it gets too much.
• Current fears – interview with AIB explaining how it all went wrong. Getting discharged, how do I stop myself getting here again?
• Hopes – I'm going to be free. No debt. No controlling husband. My life. I can life it.

There are a lot of personnel details in here, but I really needed to write it all down to make sense of it myself. I know I am a strong person and I can do this. Life wont get me down…

k2nga

Well like you say you have people in your life you can lean on and thats inmportant and just as important you have come on here to tell your story and you will find we are a friendly lot on here (well at least most of us).

Sounds to me like you have it under control. Certainly for the next 6 years you should not really get yourself onto trouble again as i doubt anyone will lend you anything anyway but if you are like me you wont ever want to touch credit again.

Its interesting that the banks hate people like us who go BR but were very happy to keep throwing money at you when things were still not great. Thats why most of the country are in the mess we are now.

Purplekylie22

k2nga wrote: »

Its interesting that the banks hate people like us who go BR but were very happy to keep throwing money at you when things were still not great. Thats why most of the country are in the mess we are now.

I seen an advert on the telly last night from a bank saying they have been helping "responsible borrowers” for the past 30 years, I couldn’t help wonder at the time if that meant they only take people with a perfect credit rating any anyone who ever forgot a bill is rejected, or if they help everyone till you miss a payment – then they don't help you at all! The later was certainly my case with RBS – honestly, If I were RBS I would feel bad, I blame them a lot for my situation. In my worst period they charged me around 3K in the space of a few months, I had 0ver £300 in one day come out in charges alone! I know I have to take responsibility for my mistakes, but I was young and naive, the banks weren’t, they knew what they are doing!

k2nga

I wonder if thats why the OR's dont care about the banks when they see your debt. Mine was over a long period of time in fact 15 years and i was unlucky along the way but they still gave me more money as i got close to my limits. I did start to feel guilty when i was looking at BR as i really did intend to pay all the money back but once i loked into it more with National Debtline i got angry when looking at the interest charges. Now i feel they deserve what they get to be honest and i am still wondering now when we will see the first bank collapse in the country.

Purplekylie22

Local bank holiday in Aberdeen, this would be the day my BT bill arrives, wouldnt it?! Well there is one PO open, but it is a bit far away and in a very awkward place to reach, so I will have to do it, its just a pain, plus I cant get there until after work. I need to re-print out the bit od my forms I have dated, then i can re-sign and date today as it has been 5 days since i did it! then I can add my BT bill, total up my debts (21K) and mark down todays bank account balance (£2.02).

There is light at the end of the tunnel!

MY friend is expecting twins, she is now 10 weeks preganant, I cant help worrying about whether i will have any more. Still waiting for results from doctor to see if I am ovulating... Hope I will find out soon.

Purplekylie22

Off work today, my back hurt so much I could hardly move. E-mailed work, then later realized that I was meant to be in a meeting today, opps. I’m waiting for HR to tell me if my job will be affected or not. I work in accounts - so I don’t know. Its shouldn’t but we will see.

Forms all sent off, photocopied at the local library who charge 10p a sheet! I was going to photocopy it all, but not at that price! I copied the sheets I had written on, I can re-print the others from work. Didn’t get to the PO after all yesterday, got there then thought I should photocopy it, kids complaining e.t.c. At least it is done now.

Rang the rent after panicking and having a go at people on here. My rent arrears really concerned me. But the council said once I do bankruptcy - the slate is wiped clean - they won’t kick me out. But they have stared the legal process already, so I need the BR to come through quickly, need to ring them all the time and chase, I know they are busy because of the change in rules.

Spoke to DR as well today - I’m a bit anemic (or however you spell it! - short on Iron) which I get told every time I go in, take Iron. My Thyroid results all came back fine as well, the important ones still rant back. I’m to try again on Friday - the day my period is due, oh the Irony. Watched last weeks Hollyoaks, cried my eyes out the whole way through the funeral, it brings back a lot of memories.

Purplekylie22

Im preganant :j

frosty1970

blimey! congratulations!!!!

tigerfeet2006

:TCongratulations:T

Purplekylie22

Been checking Recoreded slip with Royal mail, forms were sent off last Tuesday over a week ago and they still havent been received. Argh I dont tknow what to do. It is classed as a "delayed item" apparently. So Do I re-send Special delivery or do I hold off until the 2nd when it will be classed as lost if it hasnt been delivered by then? I got a letter of Proceeding from the council re my rent arrears. They know I am going bankcrupt but need my papers so that they can canel it. If I dont get them befor it goes to court I could be kicked out.

I HATE ROYAL MAIL Everything was getting sorted and they go and loose my paperwork.

tigerfeet2006

If it were me I would send it again today. Better safe than sorry.