A chance for all bankrupts to change your life - Your help needed!

DON79

On another note, I have nine "local" lords & ladies I could also write too plus one Lord Rowland who shares my birthday! Worth a shot???? :D

PixiePie

DON79 wrote: »

On another note, I have nine "local" lords & ladies I could also write too plus one Lord Rowland who shares my birthday! Worth a shot???? :D

Haven't had a single Lord or Lady get back to me as yet (but I think they only officially go back next week, so am being ultra generous and giving them a little longer) so don't know.

On a good note, have had an excellent response from MEP saying he thinks exactly the same as me, did a big article somewhere or other on it the other year and is forwarding my message on to Conservative HQ and will keep me updated (will name and pride later when I remember his name - but very good chap indeed )

4$£&*(£$&*(!

These are really great letters coming in again. Don79, that is an excellent response.

I haven't had a reply from any Lord/Lady as of yet, but I keep sending occasional reminders as I've already written.

Has anyone else besides me written to the ABI yet? We really need to keep the momentum going and keep this thread alive if we are going to change the law. I can't do this on my own, your contributions to this thread are vital (if nothing else, than to give me hope others are as passionate about this issue as I am).

wayforward_2

Could you possibly post the address and the basic letter you used to the ABI and I will certainly write to them! Cheers

nomis21

wayforward wrote: »

Could you possibly post the address and the basic letter you used to the ABI and I will certainly write to them! Cheers

Il do the same.

4$£&*(£$&*(!

ABI's details are here - http://www.abi.org.uk/Contact_Us.aspx

I'm not too keen on producing a stock email because that looks stale and boring. If people put together a brief note along the lines of how it will affect them - for instance higher premiums for the rest of your life, or a potential voided claim, or moving in with a partner in several years time without thinking to mention it which could invalidate a claim - this will go down far better than me putting up a template letter.

Please post back when you have done this to encourage others.

It has been a busy day here. I received an email from one of my MEP's to say this is a UK issue and I should take it up with my MP, sorry they cannot help. I replied to say not to apologise, but they can indeed help - if Euro legislation is introduced, the UK must comply. Another MEP already wrote back to me to say they have instructed colleagues to look into it and see what disparities exist across Europe, and I went back to say if one MEP can do this, why is another MEP saying they cannot do anything?

I stopped my reply before it turned into a rant (I would much rather persuade than moan at politicians, it works so much better), but made it clear that a sorry-but-we-cannot-help reply isn't good enough for me and I want a second bite at the cherry.

Lord McKenzie of Luton instructed the Insolvency Service Policy Unit to write to me. They have been in touch with the FSA regarding the insurance issue and attached a letter from them. More on that in a moment. The IS continues to say they feel the Gazette strikes a balance between needs of the bankrupt and anyone they have future dealings with.

The letter makes clear some positive changes for bankrupts have happened, such as the changes to discharges in 2004.

The letter does, however, conclude that 'the Government does not consider that a change in the law is necessary'. I will be putting that to my MP and telling them it is the people who instruct Government, not vice versa, and this statement is fundamentally wrong. I would encourage others to raise with their MP the details of this very thread, and to tell your MP that a policy unit of the Insolvency Service cannot tell a citizen what the Government considers is appropriate for a law change, we instruct MP's as their employers.

Statements like that are on the verge of getting very bad media attention for the Government, so we all need to apply pressure on our MP's in relation to this point.

Going back to the FSA letter I said was attached. Their reply? It amounted to shop around, and they effectively washed their hands of the matter.

Based on all this, there are now more reasons than ever before to get involved if you haven't already done so. We're slowly starting to open doors, no-one said it would be easy, but we will get there if we don't put our foot on the brakes.

geoffky

i have just sent my mp a letter..

4$£&*(£$&*(!

I have just emailed my MP again with a reminder how important this issue is, and how we need a change in UK legislation. Also reminded them there is a General Election between now and next June, and I'd appreciate them putting forward the relevant changes to ensure the Gazette erases bankruptcy records after six years in line with the Credit Reporting Agencies; and for it to be unlawful for any business or individual to take bankruptcy into consideration after this time too.

If you have sent your MP a reminder, please share it with us.

4$£&*(£$&*(!

It has been very kindly pointed out to me the Gazette has been challenged already and courts argue it is valid and must still stand.

Therefore, I think we could alter our argument a little to say although the Gazette data may still stand, any information on it regarding personal insolvency cannot be taken into account by any individual or organisation in providing their services.

Is this a fair point?

wayforward_2

definitely - it's not so much the record of being BR it's the fact that it is used against you for ever!