Need to go Bankrupt - running too long!

rog2

dezire1971 wrote: »

Hi everyone - I am a complete newbie to all this! I need your advice please.

A few years back I got myself into debt with credit cards (about 15-20k), water bills and bank overdrafts etc. For years now I've been running away from the debts, have moved flat 2-3 times and buried my head under the sand. My own fault. I can no longer live with this huge weight on my shoulders and need to start a fresh. The problem is that I have lost track of what I own and to which credit card companies I owe the money to. In order to file for bankruptcy I need this information, but i threw reminder letters away and acted like a fool. How could I retrieve all the information I need to gather what is owned and to whom? I'm afraid if I just called around the credit card companies they would want my address and send the bailiffs in! Help!

Your post raises several questions, dez.

You say that you need to go bankrupt - have you looked at all the options, and there are many, that could be open to you?
Some of the 'debts' that you describe, may be legally unenforceable now, anyway - how long ago did you last make any payments, or contact your creditors in writing?
I think that you probably need a one-to-one session with one of the Debt Counselling Charities, such as:

• CCCS - https://www.cccs.co.uk/ - tel. 0800 138 1111
• National Debtline - https://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/ - tel. 0808 808 4000
• A Debt Adviser at your local CAB

Any of the above organisations will be only too happy to help you to see, more clearly, what your actual 'debt situation' is, and will advise you on the options available to you.

Certainly, if they feel that bankruptcy is your best option, then we will offer you all the support, and advice, that we can, but there really is no need to 'jump' for bankruptcy as your first option, without having first looked at all available alternatives.

And, Congratulations, on taking the first step in facing up to your situation.

dezire1971

Thanks. I have given it much thought and looked into the options - there are too many debt haunting me to afford any plan of repayment and as I am self employed it is very hard to predict my income from month to month. I just want rid of them all - I care little for my credit rating as I seriously cannot imagine applying for credit ever again! I will pay for what I've got in my account., that;s it.

Holes_in_my_pocket

i also ran living on a boat moved around no one could catch up with me i got credit report and theres is no debts on it . I couldnt be found for 6yrs though mistakenly made token paymenst so no statue of barr

dezire1971

Holes_in_my_pocket wrote: »

i also ran living on a boat moved around no one could catch up with me i got credit report and theres is no debts on it . I couldnt be found for 6yrs though mistakenly made token paymenst so no statue of barr

No statue on barr? Yes, honestly i cant seen much point approaching them to make token payments - it;s money down the drain. The only debt I will have to suffer beyond this is my damn student loan! Any ideas how I handle this one with them? It;s been a few years now!

RAS

dezire1971 wrote: »

Thanks. I have given it much thought and looked into the options - there are too many debt haunting me to afford any plan of repayment and as I am self employed it is very hard to predict my income from month to month. I just want rid of them all - I care little for my credit rating as I seriously cannot imagine applying for credit ever again! I will pay for what I've got in my account., that;s it.

Hi

Do you understand that once 6 years have elapsed without payment your debts become statute barred and you do not need to re-pay them at all, unless there is a CCJ and even then court permission is needed?

dezire1971

Hi - I didn't know that! But hey, it's only been nearly 3 years for me. It would be insane of me to duck and dive for the next 3 more years!