new career opportunity..will bankruptcy mess it up? Advice please

22bear

Hi everyone, I'm hoping that I can get some advice with this..

After taking the proper advice after years of burying my head in the sand about my finances, I will be applying for bankruptcy at some point over the next couple of months. I am full time employment so realise I will have a three year repayment to make through the OR to my creditors

Thing is, I've just been offered a much wanted and highly competitive salaried specialty training position within the NHS which if I take it, will mean a move from London where I am now up to the West Midlands for a period of 4 years (the duration of the training). I would plan to house share for that time to keep costs down and because the training post would mean moving around the area at least 3 or 4 times during the 4 year period..

I've researched all the details of bankruptcy pretty much fully and since losing a clinical job in the NHS due to sudden development of a medical condition that meant I had to give up work 4 years ago (which has been the cause of my bankruptcy), I have gotten used to getting by on very little so I'm fully prepared for making the necessary pay back for the 3 years period, knowing that the OR will allow me my rent, food, clothing but not much else...

My problem is that with this training post, it is a necessity that I have to register with the professional body that the speciality post relates to and it is also compulsory to sit 2 professional exams, one at the end of the first year, another after the second year...as well as this, I would be expected to attend training events such as annual conferences as the like, for which I understand each trainee is given a small allowance for but any costs would have to be paid upfront by me and then claimed back from the NHS...

...the exams have to paid for by myself and passing them is a requirement to stay on the training post and completing it. The exams are expensive (each one costing about £700 and are held in London over a couple of days each which of course would mean travel fares and accomodation too...not to mention that there is a high failure rate on the exams for about 50% of trainees at the first attempt, so necessitating another £700 for a resit!! (I'm hoping that wont apply to me and I can use my skint period to get some serious studying done!)

Now, I know that the OR will allow the bankrupt to claim professional registration fees if these are a requirement of continued employment (which in my case they are) but would the OR accept that the examination fees and associated other costs/expenses associated with my training period and allow me to pay them from my salary? Of course, I can provide the OR with all the evidence of these costs from the faculty I'll be training with and how they are compulsory...also, because I would have to move location within the training region a few times during the posting, would the OR allow things like paying for a one-off house-share deposit and any associated removal expenses?

...I would hate to accept this opportunity only to find that the OR wouldn't allow me these necessary expenses out of my salary, forcing me to quit and ending up jobless..so I'm really faced with a difficult decision here...stay in expensive London in a job that is ok but has no real future or to grab this fantastic training post which will pay me a higher salary (meaning I can pay back more) and will give me a guaranteed senior managment post at the end of the training period?

I would really appreciate any thoughts or opinions please

debtinfo

Hi 22 bear,

Yes the OR would allow the examination fees as they are a requirement of the job, that is really the key. The travel and subsistance should be neutral as you get them back but you may have to plan carefully leading up to them as you pay out first, possibly you might be able to get the collections agent (moonbeever) to agree to a lower payment one month that you make up when you get them back the next month etc.

The moving house bit is a little bit more tricky, but really all you can do is show then that it is necessary for the training you are doing, i think you will find that if you are paying a decent IPA and you keeop them updated with any changes at the first opportunity you will find that they will be accomodating.

Also just wanted to say well donr on the position, quite often we get people who take the opinion that they will just not work to avoid an IPA (which is perfectly legal) and we aften try and stress that its not just about the immediate payment it is about the opportunities that you open up for yourself, so i hope it goes well for you

22bear

debtinfo wrote: »

Hi 22 bear,

Yes the OR would allow the examination fees as they are a requirement of the job, that is really the key. The travel and subsistance should be neutral as you get them back but you may have to plan carefully leading up to them as you pay out first, possibly you might be able to get the collections agent (moonbeever) to agree to a lower payment one month that you make up when you get them back the next month etc.

The moving house bit is a little bit more tricky, but really all you can do is show then that it is necessary for the training you are doing, i think you will find that if you are paying a decent IPA and you keeop them updated with any changes at the first opportunity you will find that they will be accomodating.

Also just wanted to say well donr on the position, quite often we get people who take the opinion that they will just not work to avoid an IPA (which is perfectly legal) and we aften try and stress that its not just about the immediate payment it is about the opportunities that you open up for yourself, so i hope it goes well for you

Thanks so much for your advice and for your words of encouragement...very much appreciated! This training post (which is in Public Health, btw) is something that I've had my eye on since illness meant I had to give up my NHS clinical work 4 years ago...there are only about 50 posts available throughout England and Wales every year and the compeition is fierce! I tried applying last year and got through to the last round but didn't make it..so I spent the last year learning where I could improve and...yay!! I got a registrar's training post in West Midlands and will be a public health consultant in 4 years (subject to satisfactory completion of course!!:j)

Just this blasted bankruptcy to get through now!!...I must say though that this site has been a real help and I've found out loads about the process..the post doesn't start til end of July and I've been putting money aside to pay for the court fees and to for the move to Brum for house share deposit...the NHS will pay my removal expenses (again its a case of I pay then claim back...I'm looking forward to getting my life back on track financially and using the training period to get through the OR payments for the 3 years...was just so worried though that my bankruptcy would mess up this great chance for me...so you've really helped to settle my mind....thanks again!

Florence22

Best of luck with your training 22bear, I'm so glad the future is looking good for you now :beer:

And thankyou DI - I have just found out today that I have been successful in a job application and am only too happy to pay my dues via an IPA - your words were very encouraging.

22bear

Florence22 wrote: »

Best of luck with your training 22bear, I'm so glad the future is looking good for you now :beer:

And thankyou DI - I have just found out today that I have been successful in a job application and am only too happy to pay my dues via an IPA - your words were very encouraging.

Thanks Florence, and big congrats to you too on your new job!! Onwards and upwards!!:T

Florence22

Oh indeed - and thank you too :beer:

iquit

Congratulations 22bear, wishing you all the best with your training.

jayk

Flo am really pleased for you re the job all the best for future. Good luck also 22Bear. I to hope to go back one day into NHS as I miss it but am trying to get over my illness and sadly my mother is now terminally ill and we know it is only a metter of weeks now. On a positive note I am coming to terms with recent BR and am in a better state than I was last month. Will keep taking days at a time.