Some questions...

charlie666

Hubby and I are about to fill out our statement of affairs but first we have a few questions.

• Should we open a suitable bank account now or once we've filed?
• If the answer to the above is after, what do we live on in the meantime if the accounts that our wages go into are frozen?
• We have some arrears on our mortgage, once we file we plan to hand our keys back asap, how long do they give us to find alternative accommodation?
• What sort of accommodation can we reasonably look for, hubby is worried that we might end up in a caravan and the kids will get picked on!
• We don't currently claim any benefits at all, should we get this in order before we file or after?
• When we get our court date, do we have to sit face-to-face with our creditors?
• We have some debtors, what happens about the money they owe us? Some of them are banks we are currently trying to claim back charges from....one of them is quite a substantial amount but the case is with the FOS who have frozen all action pending the outcome of the appeal. The rest of them are quite small amounts (but growing week by week) should we scrap them and just put all details in our SOA?
• Once we have filed, what should we tell our creditors when they phone all day long and come banging on the door when they can't get us home?

Any advice will be gratefully received

justwanabefree

don't know anything to help you but if I bump - experts should help

flowergirlgush

Hi,

ill try and help but someone else may come along and offer better help.

your bank account, you are supposed to open after you have been declared bankrupt but if you have just opened one eg a coop basic account they may let you keep it open.

I would withdraw all your money out of your bank leading up to the bankruptcy hearing.

Put all your debts in your SOA, the official receiver should inform them all of your bankruptcy and you could also prepeare a letter to send to each of them to give them details of your bankruptcy date and number. They can no longer harrass you as it is illegal to harrass a bankrupt and they are breaking the law if they continue to do so after you inform them.

Im no expert but i would enquire about benefits as soon as you can as they take ages to start paying out anyway.

Accommodation you can rent something suitable for your budget but you may be best sortin this before you go bankrupt or apply for council re housing.

Maybe make an app or ring one of debt charities who could advise on this

hope this is some help, im not an expert im afraid

deedee_3

Hi and welcome to the board.

The first thing you must do is get professional advice from one of the debt charities. There is a list in the Bankruptcy Help sticky. You must do this as the judge can delay your petition until you have.

charlie666 wrote: »

Hubby and I are about to fill out our statement of affairs but first we have a few questions.

• Should we open a suitable bank account now or once we've filed? You can open a Co-op Cashminder or a Barclays Cash account and get all your DD's etc. set up before hand. They are bankrupt friendly and don't yend to freeze these accounts. If it does happen then a quick call to the OR, who will fax the bank and it will be unfrozen On the day of your bankruptcy you tell your OR that this is the account you set up for your bankruptcy and he should express no interest in the account.
• If the answer to the above is after, what do we live on in the meantime if the accounts that our wages go into are frozen?
• We have some arrears on our mortgage, once we file we plan to hand our keys back asap, how long do they give us to find alternative accommodation? It will take the mortgage company several months to sort out the eviction, meanwhile use the money to save for your rental deposit.
• What sort of accommodation can we reasonably look for, hubby is worried that we might end up in a caravan and the kids will get picked on! You can rent anything that is suitable for the size of your family ie: if you have 2 children then you couldn't rent a 6 bed mansion but a 3 bed house is fine. The OR's know what the average rental prices are for areas.
• We don't currently claim any benefits at all, should we get this in order before we file or after? Start your claim now, as these things take a while. If they have not come through before your bankruptcy you then inform the OR of the change of income as soon as you start recieving them.
• When we get our court date, do we have to sit face-to-face with our creditors? No. Look through the threads for peoples experiances at court. It is all very simple and quite easy.
• We have some debtors, what happens about the money they owe us? Some of them are banks we are currently trying to claim back charges from....one of them is quite a substantial amount but the case is with the FOS who have frozen all action pending the outcome of the appeal. The rest of them are quite small amounts (but growing week by week) should we scrap them and just put all details in our SOA? Any monies owed to you will go to the OR. The bank charges included as when you go bankrupt your account will become the property of the OR.
• Once we have filed, what should we tell our creditors when they phone all day long and come banging on the door when they can't get us home? If after you have declared yourself bankrupt a creditor rings etc you tell them your bankruptcy details and tell them to bogoff. It is illeagal to harass a bankrupt.

Any advice will be gratefully received

The best advice I can give you is KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. So read through the Bankruptcy Help thread and as many threads on the board as possible. Read, read and read some more. Ask as many questions as yyou need, even if you think it is a silly question, just ask.

You will get a lot of help and support on here.

suegoo

charlie666 wrote: »

Hubby and I are about to fill out our statement of affairs but first we have a few questions.

• Should we open a suitable bank account now or once we've filed?
• I opened a co-op cashminder account before I filed and had everything paid into it, also transferred direct debits to that account. I have had no problems, it was not frozen. Just put on your form that it is the account to use during bankruptcy.
• If the answer to the above is after, what do we live on in the meantime if the accounts that our wages go into are frozen?
• We have some arrears on our mortgage, once we file we plan to hand our keys back asap, how long do they give us to find alternative accommodation?
• What sort of accommodation can we reasonably look for, hubby is worried that we might end up in a caravan and the kids will get picked on!
• I believe you can have any accommodation you want as long as the rent is reasonable for the area in which you live.
• We don't currently claim any benefits at all, should we get this in order before we file or after?
• I would do it asap.
• When we get our court date, do we have to sit face-to-face with our creditors?
• No, it is just a judge.
• We have some debtors, what happens about the money they owe us? Some of them are banks we are currently trying to claim back charges from....one of them is quite a substantial amount but the case is with the FOS who have frozen all action pending the outcome of the appeal. The rest of them are quite small amounts (but growing week by week) should we scrap them and just put all details in our SOA?
• You have to put it all in the form
• Once we have filed, what should we tell our creditors when they phone all day long and come banging on the door when they can't get us home?
• I just told them I was bankrupt when they phoned. Have had very little problem with them.

Any advice will be gratefully received

I hope that helps a bit.

suegoo

Must have been typing at the same time!

charlie666

Wow, super quick responses and every question answered, I really appreciate this and am now clear as to what I need to do tomorrow!
Thanks so much to everyone, will keep the thread up to date with where we are and if I think of anything else to ask, I know where to come!
A big thank-you to all who advised tonight! :hello:
charlie xx

charlie666

Ok, so now for the next question.....:p
Hubby's former accountant raised an action against him at court (Summary Cause at Sheriff Court as we are in Scotland) He was going to apply for a time to pay order but I have just got him to look out the papers to put into our SOA.....the hearing date was 13th Jan! This means that as he did not attend court or apply for the TTPO in time that the court has ruled in his favour, doesn't it? It slipped his mind as everything is so up in the air at the moment. The amount will be just over £1500 by the time they apply interest, can this be included in our debts listed now or not? We can't afford for it not to be! :eek:

charlie666

Bump....anyone?

charlie666

Helloooooo?

tigerfeet2006

Sorry Charlie, this got missed. Yes I think it should be included If you are not sure give the AIB ring and check