Newbie Bankruptcy Questions

kardex

First of all, top site, visited many times and am well impressed with the help others give.

My questions are about bankruptcy.

First of all how long does it take from handing your form and money over to the court to actually being told you are classed bankrupt? And what are the steps that need to be taken.

Secondly, does the court contact your employer? Its a bad enough experience to go through without everyone and sundry at work knowing what you are going through. Office gossip!!

Many many thanks

kardex

Anyone????? Pleeeeease....

CLAPTON

the find the answer to the first question phone you local court and ask..it varies from court to court.

once you have submitted the papers to the court, you are made bankrupt when you attend court. afterwards there are meeting with the OR to complete the details but the judge makes you bankrupt.

second question : the court doesnot directly contact your employer normally but you get a very funny tax code ...which makes it fairly obvious that you have been made bankrupt.

kardex

Thanks for your answer. Much appreciated.

KatrinaC_2

kardex wrote:

Secondly, does the court contact your employer? Its a bad enough experience to go through without everyone and sundry at work knowing what you are going through. Office gossip!!

Many many thanks

Your employer would be very irresponsible to divulge that sort of personal information about you. Every employer who I've ever worked for has had a confidentiality policy (even the v. small companies) which has meant that personal details such as address, wages, date of birth etc are kept private.

If s/he does start gossiping to the staff about it you would be well within your rights to make a complaint over their head (assuming that they are not the head of the company!) and investigate whether they would be liable for prosecution under the Data Protection Act. Even if the Inspectorate (who's name I have forgotten) who would be investigating the case cannot secure a prosecution, I am told by the Data Controller I work with that they can and will audit every single piece of paper containing information about a person and hence make the employer's lives a nightmare.

Oh, and if it does get leaked to the office, bear in mind that the gossip will only last for so long. In a month or two someone will get caught in the stationery cupboard with their trousers down or the like and you will be yesterday's news. Until then, hold your head high and remember that they are the one's with lives so dull that they have to resort to rumour for entertainment!

Good Luck,

Kat

Mike_St_Helens

I have been asking these questions time and time again, there is so much to know before doing the big dead. Good luck.

here is a great site, it has a forum where everyoine is in the same boat, some proffesionals post there as well as people from all walks of life that have experienced or are experiencing Bankruptcy.

http://www.debtquestions.co.uk/debt_forum/

IPlease feel free to PM me if you want any info whatso ever.

Mike

bluezone

kardex wrote:

First of all, top site, visited many times and am well impressed with the help others give.

My questions are about bankruptcy.

First of all how long does it take from handing your form and money over to the court to actually being told you are classed bankrupt? And what are the steps that need to be taken.

Secondly, does the court contact your employer? Its a bad enough experience to go through without everyone and sundry at work knowing what you are going through. Office gossip!!

Many many thanks

Hi there,

When I paid my court fees in the court - I was classed as bankrupt the same day. I paid on the day of my court hearing and walkked out of the court with the notice of bankruptcy in my hand less than an hour later.

In my case they have contacted my wages dept regarding my nil tax code to make my monthly contributions. I actually told my employer before someone else told him. Obviously it does get printed in the London Gazzette and in your local paper so people will know. I was quite open about mine so it wasnt a big gossip issue when it was printed. I actually had a good response from about 95% of my work colleagues as they knew what I had been going through with my ex etc.

I hope this helps. If you want to you can always PM me for more info x

neil.b_4

After paying my fee's i had a court date for the following week. Bancruptcy was 10 minutes after going into the court, i went up and see the OR the same day then went to open a new bank account ( Co-Op is very helpfull).

Even though the OR said they would not tell my employer, they found out anyway because i was also a council tenant, and as my landlord they had the right to know.

Just be honest with the OR and all will be fine.

Neil

kardex

Huge thanks to all that have answered, I will take away some really useful information. I gave my details to CCCS and they suggested my best course was bankruptcy hence the questions. I'm absolutely bricking it but have called the local county court and am having a info pack sent out. HAd a look online at the forms that need filling in...mind boggling...I dont have any assets except an old M reg car.

I recently split from my partner but we lived in a council house anyway. I am now living in a rented static caravan but she said she would pass on my mail.

I've read I will need to set up a new bank account, I have direct debits for mobile, pension and car insurance. When should I do this? Also my pay gets paid directly into my account, when I switch does the OR have anything to do with this account?

Thanks again for the great help from such great people.

neil.b_4

Try and time it right for DD and wages, so if you have them all come out at the start of the month then go bankrupt just after. Going bankrupt at the beginning of the month gives you time to sort everything out. Wages sometimes need to know by about the 15th of the month, so best check with yours.
Don't open a new account before, take you passport ect with you and as soon as you are granted bankruptcy go to your nearest co-op or phone them. I say co-op but originaly i opened a Woolwich but they only give you an account that has a cash card and very basic use. Co-op cashminder gives you all the stuff you need including visa electron but not a cheque book, then contact your wages and who ever else needs to know and let them know your new bank details.

Good luck, and don't worry, the judge just ask's you why you are in such a mess, mine was really good and made me feel at ease after he granted bankruptcy.

Neil