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Three Years to the day - a reflection.

rog2
Posts: 11,650 Forumite

I could not let today pass by without comment, as it is now three years to the day since the High Court Judge announced those life changing words - 'At 11.26 on 26th October, 2006, I declare you bankrupt.'
Most of you already know my story, so I will not bore the rest of you - suffice to say, as per my signature, that I was an 'HMRC Statistic' - a small businessman who could not fight the huge machine of bureaucracy that is void of any mercy. I suppose I finally 'gave up the fight'.
So, has it changed my life? Too right it has - some changes for the better, some for the worse - and I doubt that my life will ever be the same again.
The positives - Bankruptcy certainly dealt with my personal debts, and there was a certain amount of satisfaction in being able to tell those persistent creditors, and a couple of 'rather nasty' Debt Collection Agencies, to leave me alone - which, eventually, they did, although in some cases not for several months (over a year in the case of Mercers).
The negatives - unfortunately, quite a few - from having to deal with my family, by whom my bankruptcy was seen as a personal failure, to the protracted dealings with my Trustee over my Beneficial Interest in the Family home. This is now, long sorted and we are, like many others, coming to terms with the prospect of another 10 years of mortgage (after 15 years of being 'mortgage free').
All in all, we have 'come through' the situation, relatively unscathed, financially, and I would say to anyone, for whom Bankruptcy is the only option, that it is not to be feared. Like any situation it will have its advantages and disadvantages, but it is, after all, only Society's way of dealing with an otherwise hopeless situation. It is far more civilised than the Debtor's Prisons of Dickensian times, and can genuinely offer a 'fresh start' when one is needed.
Of course, life can never be the same as it was before bankruptcy - whether that bankruptcy is debtor or, as in my case, creditor petitioned. I, like many, harboured intentions of being able to 'start up' my business again, almost as if the bankruptcy were little more than an annoying little 'glitch' in my history. But, as we all know, reality has a habit of kicking in, often when we least want it to, and I have been forced to admit that my 'dreams' were just that. Having come to terms with the fact that I was not eligible for any benefit payments, I have, for the last two years been working as a 'Home Shopping Delivery Driver' for one of the supermarket chains - it is a job which pays marginally more than the legal minimum wage. I still hope that, one day, I will get back into the business that I was, reasonably successfully, conducting before my bankruptcy, but bills still need to be paid, so I will put up, at least for the foreseeable future, with 'trundling the highways and byways of the West Country in order to deliver groceries to those who are either unable, or unwilling, to walk around a supermarket on their own.
Although recently I have not been around the forum much, I still acknowledge a debt of gratitude to this board, albeit at the time it was just a single thread on the old DFW board, for all of the help, support and advice, that I received both prior to my bankruptcy, when I was trying to deal with my debts through negotiation, to the serving of the Statutory Demand and the ensuing Bankruptcy hearing, right up to, and beyond my Early Discharge.
I have tried, often in the face of unwarranted criticism or attack by those who have no understanding of the process, or effects, of bankruptcy, to pass on my own experiences in the hope that they will be of benefit to others. I appreciate, also, that a board like this will, inevitably, attract the attention of those whose sole purpose is to vent their vitriol on people who find themselves in less fortunate circumstances than they.
This board, like Bankruptcy, is not always an easy place to be.
It is, nevertheless, an essential source of both information and experience, without which Bankruptcy, for many people including myself, would be a veritable minefield, populated by 'scavengers' intent on profiting, to the last penny, out of our misfortune.
So as I spend the third anniversary of my bankruptcy in slightly sombre reflection, I pause to thank the members of this board, from the most experienced to the newest, for having helped me through the last three years.
A special thanks to Mike St. Helens, whose 'Bankruptcy Supporters Club' thread, of three years ago, on the DFW board, led to the inevitable creation of this unique forum.
Thanks for reading
Rog2
Most of you already know my story, so I will not bore the rest of you - suffice to say, as per my signature, that I was an 'HMRC Statistic' - a small businessman who could not fight the huge machine of bureaucracy that is void of any mercy. I suppose I finally 'gave up the fight'.
So, has it changed my life? Too right it has - some changes for the better, some for the worse - and I doubt that my life will ever be the same again.
The positives - Bankruptcy certainly dealt with my personal debts, and there was a certain amount of satisfaction in being able to tell those persistent creditors, and a couple of 'rather nasty' Debt Collection Agencies, to leave me alone - which, eventually, they did, although in some cases not for several months (over a year in the case of Mercers).
The negatives - unfortunately, quite a few - from having to deal with my family, by whom my bankruptcy was seen as a personal failure, to the protracted dealings with my Trustee over my Beneficial Interest in the Family home. This is now, long sorted and we are, like many others, coming to terms with the prospect of another 10 years of mortgage (after 15 years of being 'mortgage free').
All in all, we have 'come through' the situation, relatively unscathed, financially, and I would say to anyone, for whom Bankruptcy is the only option, that it is not to be feared. Like any situation it will have its advantages and disadvantages, but it is, after all, only Society's way of dealing with an otherwise hopeless situation. It is far more civilised than the Debtor's Prisons of Dickensian times, and can genuinely offer a 'fresh start' when one is needed.
Of course, life can never be the same as it was before bankruptcy - whether that bankruptcy is debtor or, as in my case, creditor petitioned. I, like many, harboured intentions of being able to 'start up' my business again, almost as if the bankruptcy were little more than an annoying little 'glitch' in my history. But, as we all know, reality has a habit of kicking in, often when we least want it to, and I have been forced to admit that my 'dreams' were just that. Having come to terms with the fact that I was not eligible for any benefit payments, I have, for the last two years been working as a 'Home Shopping Delivery Driver' for one of the supermarket chains - it is a job which pays marginally more than the legal minimum wage. I still hope that, one day, I will get back into the business that I was, reasonably successfully, conducting before my bankruptcy, but bills still need to be paid, so I will put up, at least for the foreseeable future, with 'trundling the highways and byways of the West Country in order to deliver groceries to those who are either unable, or unwilling, to walk around a supermarket on their own.
Although recently I have not been around the forum much, I still acknowledge a debt of gratitude to this board, albeit at the time it was just a single thread on the old DFW board, for all of the help, support and advice, that I received both prior to my bankruptcy, when I was trying to deal with my debts through negotiation, to the serving of the Statutory Demand and the ensuing Bankruptcy hearing, right up to, and beyond my Early Discharge.
I have tried, often in the face of unwarranted criticism or attack by those who have no understanding of the process, or effects, of bankruptcy, to pass on my own experiences in the hope that they will be of benefit to others. I appreciate, also, that a board like this will, inevitably, attract the attention of those whose sole purpose is to vent their vitriol on people who find themselves in less fortunate circumstances than they.
This board, like Bankruptcy, is not always an easy place to be.
It is, nevertheless, an essential source of both information and experience, without which Bankruptcy, for many people including myself, would be a veritable minefield, populated by 'scavengers' intent on profiting, to the last penny, out of our misfortune.
So as I spend the third anniversary of my bankruptcy in slightly sombre reflection, I pause to thank the members of this board, from the most experienced to the newest, for having helped me through the last three years.
A special thanks to Mike St. Helens, whose 'Bankruptcy Supporters Club' thread, of three years ago, on the DFW board, led to the inevitable creation of this unique forum.
Thanks for reading
Rog2
I am NOT, nor do I profess to be, a Qualified Debt Adviser. I have made MANY mistakes and have OFTEN been the unwitting victim of the the shamefull tactics of the Financial Industry.
If any of my experiences, or the knowledge that I have gained from those experiences, can help anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, then my experiences have not been in vain.
HMRC Bankruptcy Statistic - 26th October 2006 - 23rd April 2007 BCSC Member No. 7
DFW Nerd # 166 PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBTS
If any of my experiences, or the knowledge that I have gained from those experiences, can help anyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances, then my experiences have not been in vain.
HMRC Bankruptcy Statistic - 26th October 2006 - 23rd April 2007 BCSC Member No. 7
DFW Nerd # 166 PROUD TO BE DEALING WITH MY DEBTS
0
Comments
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Thanks for that rog..Great post :T0
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wow rog2!
Firstly, congrats on making it to year 3! I have only just passed year 2 although being at high court, i didn't have to face the scary judge.
I wholeheartedly agree with you that this board and the BSC boards have been a lifeline to some - myself included. I joined you all a little later and feel that we are all here for a reason.
I am truly sorry for all that you have been through. But the fact is you are getting through it. If it helps, my partner many years ago declared himself bankrupt. He was, like you, a victim of circumstance only he decided to do it before the tax collector to help himself feel a little more in control of some aspect of his life (only psychologically of course. i think it helped him somewhat) and through hard work and a bit of graft, he now has a home that he owns with only a small mortgage left and his credit score is almost unaffected. It took him a while to get to this point - I believe it was almost five years before he was able to get a 'proper' bank account and other stuff but he slowly built himself up and is doing fine now - self employed, the works. you will get there so keep hanging on. you are doing yourself proud and I wish you every success. xxxProud to be Member of BSC #92Hoping to get debt free again :wall::heart2: working hard to make my daughters proud :heart2:0 -
Thanks Rog for inspiartional post i am sure it will help people go through what you have. I am also in wiltshire0
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A very enlightening and inspiring post, rog2, thank you. And congratulations on "getting on with it" after the event. I wish you every success in following your dream again some day.Starting Debt: ~£20,000 01/01/2009. DFD: 20/11/2009 :j
Do something amazing. GIVE BLOOD.0 -
Thanks so much for that Rog. :T
I can hardly believe it is over 3 years.Free/impartial debt advice: National Debtline | StepChange Debt Charity | Find your local CAB
IVA & fee charging DMP companies: Profits from misery, motivated ONLY by greed0 -
Hi Rog2, you're a name I recognise in my 3 months of being here. The wealth of support from friends on here is outstanding, the informative do's and dont's or cant's and shouldnt's is always there of course but it's the friendliness, the fact that there is someone always there just waiting to help any person out. I don't think I have ever seen a post on this board skulk down the 1st page without a reply.
Like you say you're through it. Dreams and aspirations are a must and hopefully you will get the opportunity to work at what you really want. Thank you for your message, It's good for those who are about to contemplate BR as well as myself who 'only' has 9 months to go till AD.0 -
I feel the sentiment in that post so much. I have yet to hit BR but that can only be a matter of time. This board and the individuals here have given me the strength to carry on and seek a resolution.
I hear the impact on your life but however damaging, the alternative was probably much worse. Thanks for sharing.0 -
Rog, you were one of the first to offer me advice and gave your support selflessly when I was at a point in my life when I had all but lost hope of finding that elusive light at the end of the tunnel.
I admired your courage defending this board from the posters that would drop by and deposit a ill thought out, inflammatory comment only to follow on with amazement and disdain for any of us that sought to not only defend ourselves, but to protect the new arrivals in the hope that they would not be put off by the negative posts they may have been unfortunate enough to come across.
That was all a fair few months ago. I too, with the support of many on this forum have now petitioned for bankruptcy. I have thought time and again how I would still be ploughing my way through the minefield of information that constitutes the entire process if it were not for people like you.
To shift focus, it was both humbling and inspiring to read about your life since you filed for BR. Whilst you may not be quite at the summit of your aspiration, your attitude and ability to forsee a difference in the future you would like for yourself is testimony to us all.
Be good to yourself, and I wish you all the best for your future.
DPThere used to be a street named after Chuck Norris, but it was changed because nobody crosses Chuck Norris and lives.0 -
Thanks for sharing your experiences of life post BR, much appreciated.:beer::pB&SC No. 298
Life`s Tragedy is that we get OLD too soon
and WISE too late!0 -
Hi Rog Sweetheart....missed you these last few weeks.....glad you are Ok . At least now I don`t have to send the search parties out down those country lanes:D
You are an inspiration to this board & I truly hope that you realise your dreams to get your business up & running again.
BR happens....same as sh*t happens.....thats life & I congratulate you for the advice you have imparted to others ( me included) & the support that you show is beyond any monetary value.
Remember - money has value....time spent supporting others is priceless.
Well done & hope you get to raise a glass...not in celebration but in looking ahead to your future.
Hmmm....god I do waffle don`t I....now get over to DFW & bump the troll thread...we ladies (& Numpty) have missed you !:D:D
Angiexx0
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