Help for those bankrupt in Scotland before APril 2008

Pammybun

Hi

I just want to share with you what is a very unfair piece of legislation by the Scottish government which affects those who were made bankrupt pre April 2008.

I have read on the forums posts from people who are !!!!-a-hoop at filing their bankrupties after April 2008 and therefore only having a year to serve before discharge - that is great for them, however could they spare a thought for those who entered bankruptcy prior to this date - in some cases in February or March 2008 and who are still having to wait three years before discharge.

We entered into bankruptcy in May 2007 and will not be discharged until May 2010. It has been a total nightmare as we have lost our home and struggled to get anywhere to rent - despite being classed as priority homeless by the council.

To be honest it kind of sticks in our throats that we will have to wait three years before being discharged yet those entering bankruptcy in April will be discharged a full year before us - THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND TOTALLY UNFAIR.

I have spoken to numerous accountants who work with bankrupts and they all felt that there would have been a decision made whereby anyone who was already bankrupted pre April 2008 would automatically be discharged (if they had served a year) by the end of 2008 (or at least April 2009) - this has not happened and a lot of people (myself included) want to know why.

I have emailed the Finance Minister and also the Justice Minister in the Scottish Government to ask that they do something to help those of us penalised and am assured thata reply will be forthcoming.

If I was a prisoner Amnesty International would be up in arms at this discrimination but I am just a bankrupt so nobody seems to care.

I know it is a lot to ask but I would appeal to anyone out there who has a sense of fair play to please email the scottish justice minister (Kenny McAskill)- contact details at www.snp.org and ask that he reviews this legislation to make it equal for those bankrupted prior to April 2008.

Sorry if sound like I am ranting but I am so frustrated by the lack of action on this that I could weep.

Pam

PS sorry for lack of smilies but I am not feeling very smiley at all!

beanielou

Sorry but im not actually sure that it really makes a difference.
At the end of the day it is still on your credit file discharged or not.

Pammybun

Actually it does make a big difference especially if like my husband and myself you work and therefore contributions are taken off your wags every month!

coolcait

Pammybun wrote: »

Actually it does make a big difference especially if like my husband and myself you work and therefore contributions are taken off your wags every month!

But, if you were made bankrupt tomorrow, and it was decided that you had to pay a contribution, you would have to make those contirbutions for three years from the date that was agreed/imposed.

You might get your 'discharge' after one year. But you'd still have to keep making the payments for the full three years.

From the contributions point of view, it looks like people in your position, who have been made bankrupt under the new laws, are no better off than you are