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OR interview today!!

It seems to have come round very quickly - I have my telephone interview with the OR today at 2pm. I have been reading all of the "dont' worry, it won't be too bad" posts on this forum and taking comfort from that, but just last night and today the nerves have really started to kick in and I am truly scared now. I decided last night to work out a "time line" of events from my first problems in 2001 until my BR on 7th April and that has really made me sick. All of the stupid decisions I have made, chances when I could have pulled back from the brink but assumed that everything would "work out in the end", house prices would keep on rising, etc and so continued to spend. I'm not a gambler or anything, and I never cynically thought that I would use massive amounts of credit with no intention of not paying it back, but if I were the OR looking at my personal story I don't think I would be too sympathetic. So now I'm left wondering how the OR will react to my case, and what he can do to me if he thinks I have been at fault. I suppose a BRU wouldn't be that tragic if it came to that (hopefully it won't).

If I can ever offer advice to anyone about bankruptcy in future, either here or elsewhere, I would certainly say that, while it is often the only solution for a lot of people, it is certainly no "get out of jail free" option. It has really taken its toll on me, that's for sure, and I still have the whole BI on my house issue to deal with in due course.

Wish me luck (please!?):(

PS - suddenly my signature below doesn't seem that appropriate. This is certainly bringing me down!
"I got food in my belly
And a license for my telly
And nothin's gonna bring me down"
Paulo Nutini :o
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Comments

  • curly04
    curly04 Posts: 7,247 Forumite
    Hiya
    I was worried sick about mine, and I must admit my OR was a bit of a jobs worth - I wont lie or suger coat it. At one point my storys on here were quite funny (well looking back)
    the only thing I can advise you to do is to have a drink ready, dont fill in the akward silences, and tell the truth, if you can't remember what you spent the £1000 CC on don't worry they can request statements

    and good luck and let us know how you got on
    Total Weight Loss - 28lb and counting
    AD 17/11/2010
  • curly04
    curly04 Posts: 7,247 Forumite
    Oh and dont let this bring you down, there is enough in the world that will do that

    Its not good that any of us has had to go BR, but its good we are trying to get our life back on track!
    Total Weight Loss - 28lb and counting
    AD 17/11/2010
  • You will be fine. None of us would have ever spent anything, if we had foreseen we would end up bankrupt! We worried just the same as you, I suspect everyone does. Relax, do as curly says and you will be fine. Let us know how you got on later.
    fred
  • Angiepange
    Angiepange Posts: 3,521 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    sfjnet wrote: »
    It seems to have come round very quickly - I have my telephone interview with the OR today at 2pm. I have been reading all of the "dont' worry, it won't be too bad" posts on this forum and taking comfort from that, but just last night and today the nerves have really started to kick in and I am truly scared now. I decided last night to work out a "time line" of events from my first problems in 2001 until my BR on 7th April and that has really made me sick. All of the stupid decisions I have made, chances when I could have pulled back from the brink but assumed that everything would "work out in the end", house prices would keep on rising, etc and so continued to spend. I'm not a gambler or anything, and I never cynically thought that I would use massive amounts of credit with no intention of not paying it back, but if I were the OR looking at my personal story I don't think I would be too sympathetic. So now I'm left wondering how the OR will react to my case, and what he can do to me if he thinks I have been at fault. I suppose a BRU wouldn't be that tragic if it came to that (hopefully it won't).

    If I can ever offer advice to anyone about bankruptcy in future, either here or elsewhere, I would certainly say that, while it is often the only solution for a lot of people, it is certainly no "get out of jail free" option. It has really taken its toll on me, that's for sure, and I still have the whole BI on my house issue to deal with in due course.

    Wish me luck (please!?):(

    PS - suddenly my signature below doesn't seem that appropriate. This is certainly bringing me down!

    Hi Sjfnet

    Just wanted to wish you all the best with your interview later. I found the build up to it on the day awful, stomach like a washing machine! But mine and DH interviews were an hour long each and I went first. The time went in a flash and the examiner was professional in his approach but also made an attempt to understand and show a little compassion. I ended up in tears and was allowed a break and he rang me back after 10 mins. What im trying to say is it wasn't as bad as I was expecting and hopefully you will be on here later saying the same thing.

    I too had a timeline of events in front of me going right back to 2001 but he still stumped me with a couple of questions on the mortgage. But it did help to have it all on paper in front of me. We thought we would be judged on how we had used credit over the past years but the OR is only doing a job and needs to establish the facts. Good luck with it today will be thinking of you.
    curly04 wrote: »
    Oh and dont let this bring you down, there is enough in the world that will do that

    Its not good that any of us has had to go BR, but its good we are trying to get our life back on track!

    Couldnt agree more with Curly's words, at the time its all consuming but as you progress through the 12 months it does get easier to accept you did what you had to do.

    Angie x
  • You'll get through this just keep breathing..
    Remember that hindsight is always 20:20 - I know if I could have foreseen this consequence of decisions I made 3/4/8/15 etc years ago then I might have made a different choice - who knows where that would've ended?
    I didn't so I'm going to forgive myself for the choices I made and try to do better from now on.
    Some of my inspiration
    Good luck
    lbm
  • rugbymum
    rugbymum Posts: 984 Forumite
    Hi Hun
    I will be thinking of you this afternoon.
    Don't worry too much. If you knew then what you know now, you wouldn't be in this situation, but the point is, that none of us is perfect and that is why we are all here.
    Just think of it like this..... the OR is human too. He/she isn't perfect and you have judged yourself harshly. STOP!
    You have done what you can & have made an incredibly difficult decision.
    WELL DONE :T.
    Be honest and remember that when it is over your new life starts fresh tomorrow morning. I hope the sun shines for you.
    HUGS!
    LBM:FEB 2008
    MEMBER ABC 2010
  • mum2b
    mum2b Posts: 79 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    you'll be fine - it's not easy like you say but you only have to go through it all once......and in a few hours it will all be over and a little bit more weight will be lifted.
    xx
    Mine was yesterday 2pm!
    Sep GC £235.51/£225.00
    Oct GC £240.44/£225.00
    Nov GC £170.76/£235.62
  • David_F
    David_F Posts: 101 Forumite
    sfjnet,

    Best of luck for today. I can't really add to the already excellent advice given other than to say have a copy of your SOA in front of you and just tell the truth. Don't worry about the OR thinking your situation is the worst they've seen, believe me it isn't.

    My OR said to me, "well I've counted all your credit cards and you had 11 cards, 5 loans and 4 bank accounts". I must admit I had never looked at it like that, to me they were just debts, a lot of debts but just debts. I felt quite embarrassed and just said yes I know, I just kept borrowing to live and moving the debts around between lenders. My total debt was £129k and that was all just me and on personal debts!! I'm not bragging but trying to make you realise that they have seen much worse than us, some people go BR owing £Millions. What ever your reasons.... they have heard it before.

    The key point to remember is that the past is the past and it's today that matters, and the fact that YOU are facing up to your responsibilities TODAY and dealing with your debts once and for all.

    Don't worry, you will be fine!!
  • dojoman
    dojoman Posts: 12,027 Forumite
    Good luck, hope everything goes well for you.:)
    :pB&SC No. 298
    Life`s Tragedy is that we get OLD too soon
    and WISE too late!
  • IF
    IF Posts: 34,349 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Hello sfjnet, I think everybody has said everything I would especially curly.
    But wish you all the best, and hope it goes well...last big step now. Your doing so well. And remember were all here for you!!

    All the best
    If...x
    "If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride"
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