The January 2009 BR Club

PockettMoney

I will, unfortunately, be joining the club shortly. Should really have been a member of the 2008 club but tried to get things sorted myself, which was working out until my redundancy was announced at end of November. Have had CAB meeting, read excellent MSE guides, downloaded forms and am now about to phone court for appointment. One thing I didn't ask, or have forgotten as my mind has been a complete whirl for the past month, is exactly what can or will be taken away from me? I live in a rented house, the only real 'luxuries' I have are a pair of sofas, a TV, and a PC with internet connection that is currently my main jobseeking and CV/letter writing asset. Am I likely to see the end of them? I think I also forgot to ask if being on Income Based JSA means you are 100% confirmed to not have to pay the £150 court fee, or if it just means they take a view on it? Have only just managed to raise the £345! Suppose I can ask the court when I phone. Oh dear sorry for rambling, as I say, mind is a bit of a mess.

Anyway, I'm, sort of, glad to be in the club. Well, I'd prefer not to be of course, but great not to feel alone.

Joburgtaxi

PockettMoney

Welcome to the club. In answer to your first question, the OR is unlikely to be interested in the items that you have mentioned as they are house hold furnishings and in the OR's opinion have little resale value. The OR would normally only be interested in things like expensive cars, boats, caravans or real estate. As I said I would not worry about loosing the stuff that you have mentioned.

Hope that sets your mind to rest a bit.

PockettMoney

Joburgtaxi wrote: »

Hope that sets your mind to rest a bit.

Cheers. Phoned the court now. My town only has a magistrates court so will need to get the bus to the county court. Got my appointment at 9.30am next Monday. Could have had it for 9.00am tomorrow but haven't quite completed the forms yet and didn't want to stress out rushing through them! Was a bit worried about PC and TV being taken away as there is no net cafes around here that I know of that I could have used to search for jobs, write letters etc. Darn, forgot to ask court lady if being on Income-based JSA guarantees exemption from the £150 court fee.

DON79

Hi PockettMoney

let us know when you get your court date booked - we have a February club too if you can't get one until February. There is a sticky at the top of the forum which gives links to the courts, to the form to get exempted - ex160 - from the BR fees for the courts and it should give you an idea too of whether you will be exempt or not. The OR is not interested in the general household items, just things over £1000 normally or any unusual items or even unusual pets unfortunately for some poor people lately.

Hope this helps a little.

Donna

PockettMoney

DON79 wrote: »

Hi PockettMoney

let us know when you get your court date booked - we have a February club too if you can't get one until February.

Must have both posted at same time, see above! Are people really having to wait such a long time for a court appointment? I could have had one at 9am tomorrow morning but had the flexibility of choosing which day and time I wanted so went for Monday so I have weekend to fill in forms. I guess different courts have different workloads. Feel a bit of weight lifted off my shoulders now I've got ball rolling and am looking forward to what I hope will be a new start. Be handy if it could coincide with a new job, but I don't think that's something the court will be able to help with!

DON79

Hi PM

there are really long waits for some courts, could be upto six weeks or more. now that you have your appointment, start on the forms - when you do your statement of affairs - prepare it at www.makesenseofcards.co.uk under the calculators section and then format it for MSE and copy and paste it onto a new thread on the main board, then lots of helpful people can give you suggestions about the amounts you will be allowed and things not allowed or things you have forgotten to add.

Welcome to the club! :T

nervousmother

hi everyone,
BR as of 6th January 2009 :-(
I am hoping the sad face will become a happy one soon but still so much to sort out with the OR

DON79

Hi nervousmother and welcome to the Club! :T

Don't worry we are all a bit :sad: some days then we are all a bit or :j other days, just take it one day at a time and anything to do with the OR, just post up your questions on the board and usually we can cobble together an answer for you. Things can only get better for you and stay positive!

Donna

startagain_2

nervousmother wrote: »

hi everyone,
BR as of 6th January 2009 :-(
I am hoping the sad face will become a happy one soon but still so much to sort out with the OR

Welcome to the Jan Clan nervousmother, :wave:
Everyone tells me that the worse bit is the Court and being declared BR and the rest of it is the easy bit.......
Stay positive and look forward to a debt free future......
Good Luck and Best Wishes
SA

applepiencustard

Hi Jan Clan,

don't want to jump in on anybody's discussion but noticed the problems with benefits going into frozen accounts and just wondered whether anybody has tried a post office benefits account. I got one, as a back up I might say just in case nobody would give me a bank account after going br, and it was really easy and quick to set up. You just need to call whoever you get benefit from child, dla, tax credits whatever and get them to send you a letter requesting an account, take it down to your local post office with your id, it gets sent off and then you get a letter back with your card. Can't have wages paid in but all and any benefits can go in there. I went to the website first for the info, but basically you have to call them it's mostly done on the phone and at the PO.

Sorry if i've trod on anybody's toes!