"Punishing" bankrupts

wolfers

curly04 wrote: »

Don't forgot these companies have lost a lot of money, would you borrow money to someone who never paid you back last time???

I didn't mean that. I'm talking about being provided a service for which you pay (usually in advance) and perhaps have always paid for but which is not available to you just because you're bankrupt. I don't see how that's good business. Why would Virgin cut off your telly just because you're bankrupt?

I opened a Barclays account -- I've never owed them a penny -- but they won't let me have online banking. Why not? Where's the risk to them? It actually adds to their costs because I have to use the branch, which is more expensive. I can see why they won't give me a cheque book: that costs them money to do and they're not getting any revenue from me (apart from the small amount of interest they get from holding my money).

dojoman

curly04 wrote: »

I dont see this as Punishing bankrupts
I'm BR and as some of you know I've been to hell and I've still not got back yet.

However if I walked out of court, went and got myself a top of the range mobile phone on contract, or cable TV or this that and the other, what lesson would I have learnt

My ex was lets get this now, we never needed most of it, but it was top of the range or the lastest thing out, I have a good job and his wasn't that bad.

However most of this was sold for next to nothing to try and pay back the cards / loans / etc

And now when I do have a bit of spare cash and I go and get something its is special, I've work hard and saved for it.

I see it as a lesson, to make sure I never get into this situtation again.

You all might think I'm daft but this is how I feel about it.

Don't forgot these companies have lost a lot of money, would you borrow money to someone who never paid you back last time???

Well said, that is exactly how I feel :T:T:T By the way I am with Virgin and have been since 2001 and my account was not touched!

curly04

I know BR people have it hard and yes it does seem like they are punished. And I agree turning off the cable TV when you dont owe them money is wrong.

but these companies are protecting themself

example

someone walks out of jail for theft and come to your house to do an odd job, but you had to pop out, would you a) leave them the key and say post the keys when you are done or, b) stay with them until the job is done as you don't 100% trust them.

99% of people who go BR like myself made mistakes, we are not criminal, we are not nasty people, we are nice kind, caring people who never want to be in the awful situation we was in before.

But we have to prove to these companies that they can trust us. We are trust worthy, we have the money to pay, however we just have to prove ourself.

GEEGEE8

Have you tried co-op? they do online banking which is quite good.

It's just a joke really.. BT just charged me £25 upfront for my line rental/broadband/vision tv as I failed the credit check.

I'm going Uni in sept, but won't be able to get a student account with the benefit of no interest etc.

wolfers

curly04 wrote: »

someone walks out of jail for theft

You're a fantastic contributor to these forums and I don't want to get into an argument, but I really don't think that's a great analogy.

If people have been dishonest then, yes, they deserve to be punished. Bankruptcy does not automatically imply dishonesty. It doesn't even necessarily imply stupidity/carelessness/whatever. It can result from a dramatic change in circumstance beyond the bankrupt's control.

And I'm NOT talking about bankrupts not being allowed to borrow -- that's fine, I can understand that. I'm talking about -- for example -- the guy on the Hull telecoms thread who can't get a phone line, despite offering six months payment for it in advance, simply because he's bankrupt. That makes no sense as a business decision, I don't see the business risk that would justify it and, instead, the company loses revenue from a new customer. It is a decision based in either ignorance or prejudice. And neither is appropriate.

I don't actually use Virgin Media but if I did and went bankrupt and stopped paying my bills (because I'm such an untrustworthy bankrupt) it's very easy for them to cut me off before they start incurring losses. You pay them in advance so if you miss a payment they can cut you off immediately. Job done. No loss. No-one screwed over.

This is all I'm talking about. I'm not complaining that I can't get a credit card with a three grand limit because I want to buy a big screen tv.

curly04

Wolfers
I dont want an argument either. All I'm trying to say the companies are like this because they don't trust us. Like I and may others would trust a theft.

There are people on this forum who like me and you we've got to this awful point in our lifes, and we just need a break to get our self sorted and back on our feet.

But there are people out there who have ripped this companies off, I haven't and I don't think you or many others have. But I am just pointing out because they have been ripped off by others they treat us all this way.

dojoman

I know I may be the odd one out, but I do not feel like I am being punished. Yes it is more difficult to obtain things like insurance, but with the internet, for me it has meant sitting at my pc until I find something suitable. When I was first advised to go BR I felt like my life had ended. I honestly could not see anything "good" coming from it, but after finding this site and another one I use, I realised that may be it was the best thing for me. Luckily I found alternative insurance for both my contents and car, and was still allowed to pay by instalments. I managed to change my utility supplier 2 months after BR, but everything else, BB, phone and mobile phone has stayed the same. Only people very close to me know I have gone BR, to everyone else nothing seems to have changed. BR was something I never envisaged, and has taught me a very valuable lesson, I am just grateful that I have got a chance to get my life back and hopefully build on from here.

GEEGEE8

The theif analogy prob wasn't the best idea, but I can see where you were coming from.. lol

This is our punishments guys, we just have to get through the 6 yrs and then we can move on.. I've grown tired of trying to rationalise some decisons in my head.

curly04

Dojoman - thank you!

We are getting our life back and have to suffer a little inconvience for a few years!

Can't get cable TV, but I can sleep at night, I've not been in hosptial since becoming BR, I'm not worried about if anyone is going to be stood there waiting for me.

But is so unfair I can't get cable tv (or what ever!)

curly04

I admit - Theft wasn't the best but didn't want to put murderer or pedo....