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BR or not BR...that is the question

My wife and I are considering BR, but have become very confused over the past few days, due to conflcting advice from people who should know better...anyway, not going into that now, as it's a bit of a tangent.

We have debts of £24K, and are also facing the repossesion of our houae due to arrears of £5.5K. Debts are split £20K my wife, and £4K me. No debts are joint, except for our joint mortgage.

We were self-employed, but due to the loss of a massive contract, linked to other smaller contracts, we lost all income (other than tax credits) from the start of Nov 08. I found it impossible to find new employment until June 09, and even then have only found a job paying NMW.

Monthly Income/Expenditure figures are £1257 income, and £1529 expenditure, including the mortgage payment of £640.

We had resigned ourselves to losing the house, and both going BR, until I asked for some advice from my uncle, who is some kind of IFA...

In short, his advice is for my wife to go BR, and for me to not, and for us to do whatever we can to keep the mortgage. (i.e. somehow find the extra £300 per month for the mortgage). He says not to worry about my debts, as they are not with any creditors who would make me BR. In fact, his advice is that, if we were to move into a rented property, not to tell the creditors where we're moving to, and to assume that they won't find us...!?!?! Weird advice eh!

Basically, I'm just after a second opinion on what people think we should do. I know that there is A LOT of extra info that you would need to fully appraise the situation, so I will respond to all requests ASAP wherever possible

Thanks in advance all :)
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Comments

  • antarctica
    antarctica Posts: 499 Forumite
    Not sure that I would go with that advice, surely you'd just always be looking over your shoulder!

    Someone will be along with better advice than me soon though!

    A
    x
    Look down your nose at me and I thumb my nose back at you. :p

    Bankrupt: 8th July 2009
    Early Discharge: 19th Jan 2010

    Proud BSC Member: 278
  • nik_k
    nik_k Posts: 301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    antarctica wrote: »
    Not sure that I would go with that advice, surely you'd just always be looking over your shoulder!

    Someone will be along with better advice than me soon though!

    A
    x

    My thoughts exactly! We want our next step to be, in effect, a step whereby we can improve our current situation and start afresh, rather than continue having to worry about the next knock on the door, or phone call
  • antarctica wrote: »
    Not sure that I would go with that advice, surely you'd just always be looking over your shoulder!

    Someone will be along with better advice than me soon though!

    A
    x


    If you can hide for over 6 years then yes;)
    Better to be poor than a slave to wealth

  • nervousmother
    nervousmother Posts: 2,885 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    They catch up eventually, i suggest you talk to someone like CAB,
    If all your unsecured debts were gone could you afford the mortgage? if yes you may be able to keep your house depends on the size of repayments and equity.
    If you only have 4k worth of debt in your position i would not go BR.

    Get proffessional help.
  • nik_k
    nik_k Posts: 301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    They catch up eventually, i suggest you talk to someone like CAB,
    If all your unsecured debts were gone could you afford the mortgage? if yes you may be able to keep your house depends on the size of repayments and equity.
    If you only have 4k worth of debt in your position i would not go BR.

    Get proffessional help.

    Have tried CAB, but they won't discuss a debt-related problem until the end of August

    Expenditure does not include any payments made against any unsecured debts
  • antarctica
    antarctica Posts: 499 Forumite
    they wont discuss debt related problems til the end of august?!

    try CCCS or national debtline.
    Look down your nose at me and I thumb my nose back at you. :p

    Bankrupt: 8th July 2009
    Early Discharge: 19th Jan 2010

    Proud BSC Member: 278
  • nik_k wrote: »
    Have tried CAB, but they won't discuss a debt-related problem until the end of August

    Expenditure does not include any payments made against any unsecured debts

    Why may I ask until the end of August?
    Better to be poor than a slave to wealth

  • nik_k
    nik_k Posts: 301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    antarctica wrote: »
    they wont discuss debt related problems til the end of august?!

    try CCCS or national debtline.

    Yes, I know, stupid ain't it!!! I think they are so run off their feet with everyone asking for debt-related advice, that they can't cope.

    Would rather speak to someone face-to-face, as I spend all my working time on the phone in a call-centre, so would like to have some human interaction when discussing our debts, if possible!
  • nik_k
    nik_k Posts: 301 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Why may I ask until the end of August?

    End of August was next available appointment time...crazy eh!
  • mr_john_3
    mr_john_3 Posts: 69 Forumite
    I have waited just over 2 months for my appointment as well, so im in the same boat, but getting good advice from here so im sure you will.

    john
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