Worried about face to face interview with Official Receiver

Dailey

I was made bankrupt by HMRC a month ago due to my then business partner making some errors on the VAT forms for a business we had 6 years ago. They basically slapped us with penalties and fines. My ex business partner managed to sort out an IVA as she is in full time employment but as I was unemployed and had no means to pay, they decided to bankrupt me.
I will be seeing the OR for a face to face interview next week but am so worried as all the business records my business partner had in her possession ( she was responsible for the financial side so it made more sense at the time of closing the business for her to keep them) were mistakenly disposed of in a house clearance a few years ago. I have been trying to get hold of copies of bank statements at least, but Natwest have been an absolute nightmare to deal with saying that because it has been 6 years, they are in storage and they can't seem to locate them.
I have all the other relevant paperwork concerning my personal finance.
Has anyone else not had all the relevant business records prior to an interview?
I am making myself sick with worry.

Mouse1812

Don't worry just be honest. All you need to do is tell it as it is - as you have explained above. The OR is not looking to trip you up, they just want to understand what happened. If you have done nothing wrong, nothing will come of it.

(It’s late - and I’ve been dealing with a small personal problem, but a promise is a promise, I’ll be back with more later)

tigerfeet2006

As Mouse says just explain as you have here. If the OR really needs anything that you can't get access to s/he will be able to do so.

Dailey

Thanks for your replies, I feel much better about it. I am just one of those people that if something is asked for and I don't have it I panic wondering what will happen. Will let you all know how it goes on Thursday.

Mouse1812

You are under no obligation to provide or supply something which you do not have. You have no obligation to create or put together anything other than the paperwork in your possession. So while it is commendable to make effort to obtain copies of bank statements you need not worry. The OR will get whatever they need without you having to do much. Indeed you main obligation is to co operate (help them) by answering their questions, not running around doing things.

During my interview (chat) I answered several question with “don’t know” or “no idea”. It was not a problem and nothing came of it. Some things were identified during this chat which I was asked to find and send in. I also found a couple of other things I had forgotten about and promptly handed them over a few months later. A polite thank you was all I received, no rebuke, no telling off, no funny looks.

Despite rumours to the contrary I can assure you the OR and his/her staff are not descendants of the Gestopo. You will be treated with respect.

Dailey

Well I had my interview today and it was ok. It lasted one and a half hours with lots of questions.
It was pretty straight forward and the OR I saw was actually quite nice and helpful.
He actually said off the record that he thought I was just really unlucky to be made bankrupt by HMRC in the first place.
I just have to wait to see if I have to pay anything even though I am currently on benefits.
Thanks again for all your support.

22bear

That's great, Dailey...good to hear it all went well for you...I'm expecting to be made bankrupt by HMRC in the next few weeks so will be facing a F2F interview too...so good to hear that they don't "eat" you..grrrrr! LOL!

jayk

I had a F2F interview with OR and it lasted nearly 2 hours. Was very anxious but it all went very well. He was polite, professional and did not make me feel like an idiot or a bad person. Went through some paperwork, asked questions all straightforward.

At the end of it all he agreed that I had done right thing in going BR !!!

I did receive a BRO/U but I dont mind that as never intend to have any credit again and only wish I had declared myself BR a long time ago it would hae shortened some of the stress went through for years prior to. Not saying any of its been easy it has not been and still isnt really but loads better than it was.

Good luck for your F2F but you will be okay and will know whwere you stand which is a relief in itself.

22bear

jayk wrote: »

I had a F2F interview with OR and it lasted nearly 2 hours. Was very anxious but it all went very well. He was polite, professional and did not make me feel like an idiot or a bad person. Went through some paperwork, asked questions all straightforward.

At the end of it all he agreed that I had done right thing in going BR !!!

I did receive a BRO/U but I dont mind that as never intend to have any credit again and only wish I had declared myself BR a long time ago it would hae shortened some of the stress went through for years prior to. Not saying any of its been easy it has not been and still isnt really but loads better than it was.

Good luck for your F2F but you will be okay and will know whwere you stand which is a relief in itself.

Thanks JayK..like every bankrupt, I've got a story to tell about how I got into my situation and I'm actually happier that I will get to tell it to the OR face to face rather than over the phone...like you I'll be expecting a BRU as well for neglecting my tax affairs for the last year of my self-employment and using the money to fund a year living in Italy recovering from my stroke that I had in 2008...but so be it, it's done now and its time to make a new beginning!