Money Question

EnslavedByDebts

Hi, i went bankrupt on 4th March 2009. I have today received a refund of something i paid out september of last year. The company have sent me a cheque which i can't bank as it is in my maiden name for one and also i do not have a bank account. They have said i can write to them and ask them to change the payee to someone else if i need them too. The cheque is for £900 and would be handy as i need to buy a new cooker plus our electricity and gas bill came in which i can't include in bankruptcy as it is in joint names so would fall on my partner to pay and it has a debit of £450.00. If i cash the cheque then i can get a new cooker and clear this debt and be left with not alot.

Do you think i will get into trouble for this? I haven't had my OR interview yet it is on wednesday. I didn't even realise this refund was coming as i had give up all hope of it. I don't want to get in trouble but at the same time we have to sort out the cooker and electricity bill and we don't have the money. We also have to buy a new car as my car which we both need (myself for work, hubby for seeing his daughter) is being taken by HP company so we have to replace it.

Any advice would be gratefull

StuntmanBob

I'd cash it. After all, how will the OR know?

EnslavedByDebts

I don't think the company will tell the OR and if i get it put into my husabands name then it will go into his account and if they were to trace the cheque then it would be payable to him. Just wanted to see what the general advice was as i don't want to get into trouble. My only other way to cash it is by going to a cheque cashing place where you lose some of the money but don't know if this is more likely to get found.

StuntmanBob

The company refunding the money don't know you're BR so they won't be informing anyone. I'd ask them to make the cheque payable to someone else, maybe your hubby or maybe a trustworthy friend?

affluenza

The money shop can cash cheques for you with id. OK they will charge a fee but it might solve your problem.

EnslavedByDebts

The company who sent me the cheque do know i am bankrupt as they wrote it in the letter. The refund is for services they can no longer carry out.

SO now what do i do?

startagain_2

It sounds like you are wrestling with your conscience more than anything.
You could argue that the services were for your husbands use as well and he is just as entitled to the refund. If you feel that you can't cary the guilt of having the cheque made out to him and spending it then tell the OR and live with the reply. If however, like DON79 recently, you need the money for essentials and a "reasonable" standard of living get the cheque made out to him, pay your bills and whatever and move on.
It is a straight decision that you and only you can make - we can advise but you are the one to live with it. If it was me and I really did have these things to pay/buy I would get the cheque made out to him.
You could always take the chance and contact the OR and both inform them but make a case out for why you need the money more than your creditors.
Good luck with whichever you decide.
SA