The deed is done... my experiences shared

TehRoflcopterz

Firstly I'd like to thank all the people on here, this forum has been quite a goldmine of information, well done to everyone who takes the time to reply to questions and also to those who post up their own experiences of BR... it's all good to read! :beer:

So, my story, briefly I hope, without too many specifics...! :rotfl:

I finally came to the stark realisation a few months ago that despite my best efforts, there was no realistic way I'd get around to paying off my £20k+ of unsecured debts before I died, as I could barely meet the minimum payments despite living like a recluse and working 2 jobs at times. It's a big slap in the face with a wet fish when you realise that you just ain't ever gonna pay them off before you're 6 feet under!

So, dealt with CCCS, and they confirmed my fears that BR was the only option, IVA simply wasn't gonna happen.

A lot of internet searching led me to many places with very useful info, but it was on here that I learned the non-textbook stuff... real people with real stories.

Visited the local court, got the paperwork and a hearing date set for 6 weeks later!

Faced with what seemed like a mountain of paperwork in front of me, it was just a case of knuckling down and doing a little bit every evening after work, it soon gets done when you chip away at it... very useful links were:

http://www.ned-cab.org.uk/debtselfhelp/bankruptcy_627_1.shtml
http://www.ned-cab.org.uk/debtselfhelp/bankruptcy_628_1.asp

It's always easier when you see completed examples! :T

Cancelled the DDs, stopped paying creditors, saved the BR fees... and the hearing date came round very quickly.

So... how did it go? Well, what the hell was I worrying about for all that time!?!

Turned up at 9am with my other half, the hearing was for 9.15am, first appointment of the day. Security guy swiped us clean and let us through to the front desk... girl behind takes the paperwork, looks through it, no mistakes (apart from me not putting my middle name on the forms, doh), then takes my hard earned £495, receipt handed back to me. Holding a card in my right hand, I read out a short few words of oath, then sit back down.

Wait about 30 minutes, then get taken through to another office to wait. About 10 mins later, another girl comes through and says the judge doesn't need to see me... either my case is very straightforward or he doesn't want to be bother so early in the morning! Maybe a tip there, try and get an early hearing appointment time...

Go through to another room with a telephone in it, speak to a woman very briefly, maybe a dozen questions or so, get told the OR will write to me with a date for a more in-depth telephone conversation...

AND THAT'S IT!

Paperwork handed to me saying I'm now officially BR, job done, and it's all taken less than an hour. Result!

So. the court day was nothing to worry about after all... but maybe the upcoming OR interview and the following 12 months are the parts of BR that I should worry about?

For now, I'll feel relieved and happy it's finally happening. I'm writing up letters to my creditors, which is a brilliant feeling... now it's my turn to tell them what they can go and do with their fees and horrendous interest rates.

I hope this helps to reassure anyone (like myself a few months ago) who are dreading the thought of a day in court.

Updates posted on here as they happen, and thanks once again to everyone.

k2nga

Brilliant to read your story and well done. I think for me the decision to go BR was much more stressful than the court turned out to be so i am glad you found the same thing.

So_Sad_Angel

Hi Tehroflcopterz....(wherever did you think up that name???!!!)

Well done on your clear account of the day...did you both go BR?

Hope the `mist` is begining to clear & you can start to look ahead. Funny but crippling debt is like a lead weight ...I bet you must feel so relieved. Hope you can afford a take away & cheap bottle of cider to relax.

Thankyou for sharing it really helps others to understand the day.

Just the OR now!!

Angiex

TehRoflcopterz

Thanks for the replies!

The name? Oh, it's just a silly internet-based "meme", it's probably on urbandictionary.com somewhere!

It was just me who went BR, I left my wife over 2 years ago when I met my current partner who has been my guardian angel, helping to keep me from doing anything stupid in my darkest of times... it's been a long 2 years but she's been there for me and I'm forever grateful to her. She's far more money-savvy than I've ever been, so with my fresh-start now, we can move forward and start to build a better life.

I've made my mistakes, and my God I've learned from them the hard way. I'm just thankful I had someone to help me through it all, as I know not everyone is fortunate enough and may have to deal with all this by themselves. They're the brave ones.

Merry_Gentry

Well done mate, and thank you for sharing your story :beer:

Slay1963

Thanks for sharing that

peachyprice

Well done!:beer:

philnicandamy

fiveyearplan

TehRoflcopterz wrote: »

So... how did it go? Well, what the hell was I worrying about for all that time!?!

So. the court day was nothing to worry about after all... but maybe the upcoming OR interview and the following 12 months are the parts of BR that I should worry about?

In my experience the realisation that I was insolvent (moi?) and the lead up to BR and the unknown was the hardest. The actual court bit and OR interview were a breeze - well the 2 hour 45 minute face to face OR interview was a bit uncomfortable at times but nothing compared to endless telephone calls from creditors pre BR). Thanks to this forum I knew exactly what to expect and actually had a brilliant night's sleep the night before I went to court.

Good luck and happy debt free life - also glad you have someone to share it with!

TehRoflcopterz

Update 17th Dec 08

Just had a phonecall from the OR office, arranging a telephone interview for 9.30am on Monday 19th January 2009...!

Stated they were 'very busy' due to the high number of BR petitions in recent months (I wonder why, lol), and that they needed me to start collecting all my paperwork relating to the last 12 months of transactions on all credit and bank accounts, including any internet-only accounts like EGG... gonna be busy priting all those off I guess.

So am expecting my OR pack of paperwork this side of Xmas then. Not the best of presents really, but it's gotta be done.

aproblemshared

Well done you. :beer: :beer:

Glad it went well fo you, it is the build up to it all that gets you I think, the actual court visit etc is easy unless you have a sickly disposition like me. I think mine was a mixture of a build up of fear and then relief. My blood pressure went through the roof and I was nearly sick in the office after court, but saved it until I got home.......