Life after bankruptcy?

johnygambles

Nohope wrote: »

Hello to all you people on here.

Amazingly, i've only just found these forums by accident today, as i try to find answers to yet something else, bankruptcy has thrown at me.I wish i'd found them sooner, as i've been going through torture, for a year now.But as i read some of the replies, i realise there is no hope of a future for me. At least, thats what its felt like for an eternity, now.

So what brought me here? I'm trying to find out why the OR has frozen my national insurance contributions. I'm responsible for paying my own contributions, and i'm now so stressed i've had to bite the bullet and give up work, for now. I realised i had'nt heard from hmrc for several months, regarding payment, so i rang them yesterday. All they would say is its been frozen by the OR, and i'm not allowed to make any more payments. Thats all they would tell me. How can anyone stop you paying National insurance ? it does'nt make any sense to me.

Let me just say, i have always worked hard, i'm considered to be a ' grafter ' , i've never been off work other than the odd day, in 35 years of work, so i feel maybe i'm entitled to £50 a week sick pay ? In fact, i was working night shifts, then going to work during the day, 7 days a week maybe getting 2 hours sleep, a day, in the run up to my bankruptcy. But no one can keep that up for an indefinite period. I managed it for 4 months.

So, i went bankrupt early this year, no one to talk to about it, and feeling there was only one way out. I still feel there is only one way out of my situation, because nothing has changed, in the meantime. I'm going to court next week, so i can finally get a date for the repossesion of my home, which i desperately wanted to keep. But now, i can't wait for it to be over. The only problem is, i've got nowhere to go, when i finally hand over the keys. I've been trying to find somewhere for a year now, but no one want to rent to someone who is self employed, and i've learnt to keep my bankruptcy hidden, if i can. Estate agents, out of the question, all the private landlords i've met, too. The housing association is now doing its best to help me, with my impending homelessness, despite the fact i've made myself deliberately homeless. But i've still resigned myself to the fact, the day i hand over the keys to my home, i'll more than likely be sleeping in my car that night, as its the only possesion i still own. The OR let me keep it, as its so old. But i can't do that forever, i know that

So i got myself in a mountain of debt, robbing peter to pay paul, and i never considered it just was'nt possible. I had every intention of paying my debts and getting myself out of the situation. Until i realised it was impossible.

And months down the line, i'm still waiting to see if i'm going to have a restriction order placed on me, although reading some of the threads here, it does'nt seem as though it will make much difference. I should know that by now, when you can't even find somewhere to live. I've wrecked my life, with the help of the reccession, and i just don't see any future. I know i've got to get rid of the past. I've got to throw out, largely, the contents of my home, in the next few weeks. Then, at least that is sorted.

Maybe mine is an extreme case, but how do you ever move on from bankruptcy ? I'm too old to start again, realisticly, and i've spoilt any plans for retirement.

Sorry for the essay, but just had the need to get this off my chest.I'm not asking for anything from anyone except maybe the odd kind word or maybe some helpful advice.

Nohope

Hi nohope, Reading your post was very similar to myself, its a very lonely world when you're at the bottom of the pit. Luckily I managed to sell my house prior to bankrupcy and pay off family and friends (ok I got a smack on the back of my hans for doing so but worth it).
I am living at my sisters flat which was vacant so lucky but I feel that you cannot get thrown out of your house if you have nowhere else to go. The local council should put you up in emergency housing but you need to hassle them big time and insist.

You will find that Banks will hate you. I felt so guilty not being able to pay my debts back to the Banks but a couple of the banks treated me so badly. I had a bank account (with a black horse) for about 22 years and never complained once about charges etc (and there were a lot) and when they found out I was struggling they pulled the plug out and let me down the plug hole.
So now I hate Banks and the like so much.

2 years later and I still have not heard anything about my situation or from Inland Revenue.

Good luck

ani_26

To be honest, its swings and roundabouts, johnygambles. Yes, some banks have undoubtably ' worsened ' my situation, compounded the mess i'm in, and i now treat them with a degree of cynicism. I would recommend to people, beware of this bank.On the flip side, i owe them money.But i'm not going to dwell on it for any length of time. Whats gone, has gone, in that respect, now. I've no reason to complain about the bank i'm using, now, and have'nt found them anything other than helpful, given my situation. I'm well aware i have to continue a healthy relationship with my bank. They really are my last chance, with regard to banking.


SSA - My pay did go to my old bank, and has been returned, thank god. Now i really do believe i no longer have an account with them, and they can't take my money anymore. I've just checked, its not ' arrived ' yet. Maybe tomorrow, hopefully. Theres always some ' little ' problem to sort out, with bankruptcy.

JMV

Good Morning NH...

You are sounding a little more positive...and I notice you have changed your signature...

Good news about the wages and Good to see you

AllNancy

Having read all of the thread and your diary NH I can truly relate to everything you have been through and very gradually there has been a change in you with the odd reversal now and again but a definite move upwards on onwards. It's pure hell isn't it?

As you said ordinary people who have worked hard all their lives, never taken a penny from the State receive no help at all.

I went bankrupt in 2008 (May) and was discharged in November and with the help of this great site it was relatively painless once I stopped panicking. There was no house involved as the cottage I live in was owned by my son in law as an investment for my grandsons. Then they divorced and my ex son in law is now trying to evict me.

Cheese on toast at three in the morning is not unusual as I can't sleep. The Council are useless and during my last conversation with the Housing Officer he kept telling me to be more pragmatic! Dingbat! I don't even qualify for B & B as I'm not on benefits.

My nightmare is that I will finish up in a shop doorway somewhere and I'm 71!

So reading your story has helped enormously.....just in knowing that I'm not on my own and others have overcome.

To the future!


Nancy

JMV

AllNancy wrote: »

The Council are useless and during my last conversation with the Housing Officer he kept telling me to be more pragmatic! Dingbat! I don't even qualify for B & B as I'm not on benefits.

My nightmare is that I will finish up in a shop doorway somewhere and I'm 71!

Nancy, I don't want to hi-jack NH's thread but this rings some alarm bells...

You are in Priority Need (because of your age) whether you are on Benefits or not...they have a duty to prevent you from ending up on the streets...

http://www.homelessdirect.org.uk/policyandinfo/issues/vulnerability

Have a read of this - then find out where you local SHELTER office is and get down there - usually one call from a Shelter Advisor and the Housing Officer suddenly finds he CAN Help

Sorry if I went off on one - this stuff is my bug bear

Good Luck...

lilibet1

Nancy

JMV beat me to this. I read your post and it has really concerned me too. You must speak to someone at Shelter, it doesnt matter if you are on benefits or not. Please focus on this and let us know how you get on.

Sorry about hi-jacking nohope but im sure you understand.

x

AllNancy

Thankyou both....sorry NH I didn't intend this.

I've been to everyone (although this thread produced a couple more I will try tomorrow) including Shelter and I can't remember the conversation there have been so many but they were sending me down roads I've already been on.

I contacted Elderly Accommodation who sent a lovely folder with all the Housing Association properties in the area, none of which I can have so what was the point and some websites. The only vacancy was a flat in Great Yarmouth for nearly £700 per month. That's over half my pension!

There is no help out there and now I'm in panic mode again as I missed the postman and he has a special delivery....I know what that is....court appearance??? Which reminds me I have until November 30th. does anyone know if they can take me to court before then or after?

Private rental like NH is the only answer but I was made bankrupt and afraid to ask the lettings agents but I know I will have to.

I feel guilty about highjacking this thread....is it possible to move it?


Oop! Forgot to add. The Housing Officer told me I wasn't vulnerable because I wasn't ill, could string two sentences together and didn't receive benefits.....so there you go. Ain't life great?

Read the link.........the catch there is you have to be homeless! There is a homeless form I have to fill in 28days from eviction. It takes them 30days to make a decision.

Nancy

ani_26

Its funny. Is it only 6 weeks ago, since i started this thread. I was wondering how i was feeling? Why did i start this thread? National Insururance Contributions. Was that it? Was that how i ended up, inextricably linked with this forum? Hah. Its still not sorted out yet. Hmrc are still investigating, as they have no idea, why its happened. No one has ever heard of that happening before, not even hmrc. It could only happen to me, Thats for sure. So, still waitng for that to be sorted out, along, still, with other issues, as i try to go into hiding, now, because i've really had enough.

I was thinking today. I'm three quarters of the way through actual bankruptcy now. Not that far away from AD. I've been so caught up in everything thats being going on, i have'nt even had time to consider it. Nothing in effect, seems to have changed that much for me, along the way. Maybe for some people it is easier. Every person, and every case is different. I can see that. When i read posts about people just walking away, i wish i'd been able to do that. I wish, i was that sort of a person. But i'm not.

Geebee

Just want to give you hugs.....

out_of_cash

Allnancy and no hope,

i am also in the same boat although i feel im in a rowing boat at the moment my home will be taken any month now and the social housing where i live has a 10 year waiting list its bloody ridiculous and with bankruptcy sitting on the cred ref files i think it will be more difficult for all us brs to find accomadation so i too will be off to the letting agents for some serious chats on 15th november will come back and report what my options are?

stay strong.

regards
ooc