Happy to be bankrupt!!!

purdiepoodle · 22 March 2009 at 8:04PM

For the first time in a few years I can say I'm actually starting to enjoy life - are bankrupts allowed to say that?
I had to stop work in 2005 due to stress induced clinical depression - fortunately my employer is one of the few who has permanent health insurance so I do have income. While not thinking straight I decided to sell up and move to Turkey - big mistake, the lawyer I had used for years over there and appeared ok decided this time to put my land in his name, to cut a long story short ende up returning to the uk with only the clothes I stood up in having been relieved of £500k! My only possible recovery was to finally get my SIPP to buy the land from me, and after 18 months and knowing what was happening my pension decided not to invest - had they sorted it in the 6 months they promised I could have stopped the .... lawyer!
So armed with my clothes and a large amount of debt (pending the non-existent pension) I originally used CCCS. That was no answer it would have taken 16 years to repay the debts, and you are caught in a vicious circle with them - extra cash has to go to them so I couldnt save to sue the lawyer, and they are much tighter on spending! So on 3 December 2008 I finally sat shaking before the judge to go bankrupt. I had my meeting with the OR at the beginning of January, and havent looked back!
My expenditure was agreed and I have had my car exempted (probably 'cos of my medical appointments).
I opened an account with Barclays and a prepay credit card (cashplus). Now 3 months on getting through the month is not a problem even with the odd unexpected expenditure -why is it always cars?!? I actually have 2 accounts, one which pays all the direct debits and other regular payments and the other which keeps my 'living' money in -Barclays allow 4 accounts, it just makes it easier for me to manage.

I've only had a couple of problems so far - the only debt I had appart from those covered by CCCS was this years council tax (dont you just love cars - she needed a couple of major repairs last summer hence the council tax!
The bailiffs have called a couple of times this year re this debt which was included in my petition, even though they had a copy of the judgement - they kept saying they didn't care about that and they would keep calling until the council advised otherwise -it took 2 months to get that gem out of them. A couple of letters and peace reigns!
Classically the other problem has been with the solicitors the OR uses to collect the monthly payments! As soon as I got the info I set up the so as directed. a month later I received a letter saying I hadn't made a payment - they had managed to set up my file twice under 2 different references, low and behold last week I got yet another letter under the second reference saying I hadn't paid! On the phone they confirmed that they had received 2 payments from me under my original ref - I will wait with baited breath for their next missive!
Now 1/4 of the way through I'm happier, and quite happy with my simplified life, I no longer miss what I used to have as peace of mind is so much more important, and this is the second month where I have actually got to the end of the month with a bit left over -only a few pounds but.......

fiveyearplan · 22 March 2009 at 8:06PM

Hi purdiepoodle and welcome. Congratulations on your new life. March payment should be the last one to MoonBeever then the nil tax code will stop and you go back to PAYE.