Ask a StepChange (formerly CCCS) counsellor a bankruptcy question

StepChange_Rachael

Hi

Thanks for posting.

It depends on the organisation, having defaults and a low credit rating wouldn’t necessarily stop you being a signatory. It’s different with insolvency like bankruptcy where legal restrictions can apply.

As you’ve mentioned, the bank is likely to run a credit check so it might be worth discussing your concerns with someone at the charity in confidence first. Defaults wouldn’t legally stop you but the charity may have their own criteria regarding credit checks.

If you follow this link you can find support and advice on dealing with your creditors and help becoming debt free.

Take care
Rachael

HarmonyDragon wrote: »

Hi

I'm a volunteer with a small charity and have been asked to become a signatory on the bank account. I have a very poor credit rating, with several credit card debts and I have recently had a default posted.I am in the process of making arrangements to clear these debts.

Will this be a barrier to becoming a signatory? Is it likely that the bank would run a credit check and disclose this to the trustees or other signatories?

worried789

Hi

I am wondering if anyone could advice me of charities that help towards bankruptcy fees. I have applied to british gas but they have declined. I am a full time student and my husband works full time.

Kind regards

philnicandevan

worried789 wrote: »

Hi

I am wondering if anyone could advice me of charities that help towards bankruptcy fees. I have applied to british gas but they have declined. I am a full time student and my husband works full time.

Kind regards

May be worth a look..

https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/grant/turn2us-search-tip-16908?iframe=False&postcode=ha90rg

worried789

Thank you for your reply, I have had a look on turn2us website but can’t seem to find any charities that offer help 😞

Kind regards

StepChange_Allen

worried789 wrote: »

Hi

I am wondering if anyone could advice me of charities that help towards bankruptcy fees. I have applied to british gas but they have declined. I am a full time student and my husband works full time.

Kind regards

Hi there

Thanks for posting.

It's useful to be aware that trust funds are usually very limited and there's no guarantee of successfully applying to one for bankruptcy fees. The best options are usually your utility companies or one in an industry you may have worked in, but they'll all have criteria to meet to be eligible for their help.

Other than that, we usually suggest speaking with Turn2Us as was mentioned above because they specialise in grants and trust funds. If they advise there's nothing that they can see that would be available then I'd imagine it'd be difficult to find anywhere and you may then need to save.

I hope it all works out for you.

Allen

Rscott93

Hi guys.

I received a fine in the post from a private parking company way back in 2016. Anyway, I went bankrupt in February 2017, having not responded to any of the threatening letters I had received, I advised the Official Receiver about this debt as I had received a letter regarding a county court claim for this fine. The Official Receiver wrote to Civil Enforcement LTD advising them of the bankruptcy order and that all correspondence etc was to go to them now. Anyway fast forward around 2 weeks I receive a CCJ in the post. Me being a bit naive I ignored this (thinking that the OR would be taking care of this). Anyway, I have checked my credit file in January 2018 as I am excited to be at the end of my bankruptcy order and I see an active CCJ for this fine on my credit file. I have contacted my OR who it turns out is someone different now as the previous guy has left, she has confirmed to me in writing that this matter should have been dealt with, that the debt had been included in my bankruptcy. I found Civil Enforcement LTD address online and wrote then a very strongly worded letter (see below) on the 16th January, this was delivered and signed for the next day. I contacted the County Court about this and they emailed me saying they do not have the training to remove this CCJ and that I should contact the creditor (which I have). My OR also says they do not directly deal with the county court business centre and that I have to sort it myself with Civil Enforcement LTD. Anyway, here is the letter:

I am writing to you today with regards to a PCN issued to myself on 22/04/2016. A bankruptcy order was made against me on 28/02/2017. I have enclosed documentation to confirm this. I contacted yourselves and notified you of this by phone soon after to which I was advised to send proof of this to your office in Horton House, Liverpool. I sent this to you on 21/03/2017. It was to my surprise that I received another letter from you dated 07/04/2017 advising you had issued this claim to the County Court Business Centre, therefore clearly ignoring my previous correspondence to you.
At this point I sought advice from my insolvency practitioner who informed me they would write to you themselves confirming the fact that I had indeed been declared bankrupt and that the debt should have been included in this, as I am sure you are very well aware.
This brings me to the point of the County Court Judgement which was made against me on 08/05/2017. I have sought further advice regarding this matter from my solicitor, my insolvency practitioner and the County Court Business Centre who have all informed me that as you were informed of my bankruptcy before the county court claim was issued, it should have never been referred to them and the debt should have been settled within the bankruptcy order.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of all the circumstances surrounding this mistake you have made and to give you the opportunity to make amends. You are being advised to amend your records and show this debt as being settled. You are also being advised to inform the County Court Business Centre of this mistake and ensure that this CCJ is set aside and removed from any records.
If I have not received confirmation of this within 28 days of this letter being sent, I will be referring this case to my solicitor. You may contact me by letter or email.


This was received on the 17th January and whilst 28 days have not yet passed, I am a bit worried they will just ignore this letter. I need this CCJ removed from my credit file as I have obtained an offer of employment abroad for a foreign exchange company who have stated this offer will not stand if I can not get it removed. I am due to start on March 20th.

Given the fact that I have proof that the claimant was advised about my bankruptcy order before the CCJ was issued, what else can I do to get this sorted if they ignore my letter ?

I appreciate this has been a long winded first post, I am really just at my wits end with this now.

I also did try and start a thread for this however I cannot find the start thread button.

Thank you.

fermi

Rscott93 wrote: »

Hi guys.

I received a fine in the post from a private parking company way back in 2016. Anyway, I went bankrupt in February 2017, having not responded to any of the threatening letters I had received, I advised the Official Receiver about this debt as I had received a letter regarding a county court claim for this fine. The Official Receiver wrote to Civil Enforcement LTD advising them of the bankruptcy order and that all correspondence etc was to go to them now. Anyway fast forward around 2 weeks I receive a CCJ in the post. Me being a bit naive I ignored this (thinking that the OR would be taking care of this). Anyway, I have checked my credit file in January 2018 as I am excited to be at the end of my bankruptcy order and I see an active CCJ for this fine on my credit file. I have contacted my OR who it turns out is someone different now as the previous guy has left, she has confirmed to me in writing that this matter should have been dealt with, that the debt had been included in my bankruptcy. I found Civil Enforcement LTD address online and wrote then a very strongly worded letter (see below) on the 16th January, this was delivered and signed for the next day. I contacted the County Court about this and they emailed me saying they do not have the training to remove this CCJ and that I should contact the creditor (which I have). My OR also says they do not directly deal with the county court business centre and that I have to sort it myself with Civil Enforcement LTD. Anyway, here is the letter:

I am writing to you today with regards to a PCN issued to myself on 22/04/2016. A bankruptcy order was made against me on 28/02/2017. I have enclosed documentation to confirm this. I contacted yourselves and notified you of this by phone soon after to which I was advised to send proof of this to your office in Horton House, Liverpool. I sent this to you on 21/03/2017. It was to my surprise that I received another letter from you dated 07/04/2017 advising you had issued this claim to the County Court Business Centre, therefore clearly ignoring my previous correspondence to you.
At this point I sought advice from my insolvency practitioner who informed me they would write to you themselves confirming the fact that I had indeed been declared bankrupt and that the debt should have been included in this, as I am sure you are very well aware.
This brings me to the point of the County Court Judgement which was made against me on 08/05/2017. I have sought further advice regarding this matter from my solicitor, my insolvency practitioner and the County Court Business Centre who have all informed me that as you were informed of my bankruptcy before the county court claim was issued, it should have never been referred to them and the debt should have been settled within the bankruptcy order.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of all the circumstances surrounding this mistake you have made and to give you the opportunity to make amends. You are being advised to amend your records and show this debt as being settled. You are also being advised to inform the County Court Business Centre of this mistake and ensure that this CCJ is set aside and removed from any records.
If I have not received confirmation of this within 28 days of this letter being sent, I will be referring this case to my solicitor. You may contact me by letter or email.


This was received on the 17th January and whilst 28 days have not yet passed, I am a bit worried they will just ignore this letter. I need this CCJ removed from my credit file as I have obtained an offer of employment abroad for a foreign exchange company who have stated this offer will not stand if I can not get it removed. I am due to start on March 20th.

Given the fact that I have proof that the claimant was advised about my bankruptcy order before the CCJ was issued, what else can I do to get this sorted if they ignore my letter ?

I appreciate this has been a long winded first post, I am really just at my wits end with this now.

I also did try and start a thread for this however I cannot find the start thread button.

Thank you.

Copying to a new thread here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5788459

DrowninginDebt

Hi, when obtaining quotes for contents insurance, I am asked if I have ever been made bankrupt. I took out an IVA in January 2011 and repaid early however I understand IVA is one step away from being made bankrupt so will answer 'no'. Is this correct?
And will the IVA stay on my credit file for 6 years from the repayment date?
Thanks in advance.

StepChange_Kirsty

Hello,

Thanks for your post.

I can see that Fermi has started a new thread for you and you’ve now received some useful advice about the CCJ.

In the situation, given the time restraints for your new job I think it’s best to be proactive as you are by completing the application to set aside the judgment.

If you need any further help and advice you can also contact the Insolvency Service helpline on 0300 678 0015 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

I hope you manage to get everything resolved.

Kirsty

Rscott93 wrote: »

Hi guys.

I received a fine in the post from a private parking company way back in 2016. Anyway, I went bankrupt in February 2017, having not responded to any of the threatening letters I had received, I advised the Official Receiver about this debt as I had received a letter regarding a county court claim for this fine. The Official Receiver wrote to Civil Enforcement LTD advising them of the bankruptcy order and that all correspondence etc was to go to them now. Anyway fast forward around 2 weeks I receive a CCJ in the post. Me being a bit naive I ignored this (thinking that the OR would be taking care of this). Anyway, I have checked my credit file in January 2018 as I am excited to be at the end of my bankruptcy order and I see an active CCJ for this fine on my credit file. I have contacted my OR who it turns out is someone different now as the previous guy has left, she has confirmed to me in writing that this matter should have been dealt with, that the debt had been included in my bankruptcy. I found Civil Enforcement LTD address online and wrote then a very strongly worded letter (see below) on the 16th January, this was delivered and signed for the next day. I contacted the County Court about this and they emailed me saying they do not have the training to remove this CCJ and that I should contact the creditor (which I have). My OR also says they do not directly deal with the county court business centre and that I have to sort it myself with Civil Enforcement LTD. Anyway, here is the letter:

I am writing to you today with regards to a PCN issued to myself on 22/04/2016. A bankruptcy order was made against me on 28/02/2017. I have enclosed documentation to confirm this. I contacted yourselves and notified you of this by phone soon after to which I was advised to send proof of this to your office in Horton House, Liverpool. I sent this to you on 21/03/2017. It was to my surprise that I received another letter from you dated 07/04/2017 advising you had issued this claim to the County Court Business Centre, therefore clearly ignoring my previous correspondence to you.
At this point I sought advice from my insolvency practitioner who informed me they would write to you themselves confirming the fact that I had indeed been declared bankrupt and that the debt should have been included in this, as I am sure you are very well aware.
This brings me to the point of the County Court Judgement which was made against me on 08/05/2017. I have sought further advice regarding this matter from my solicitor, my insolvency practitioner and the County Court Business Centre who have all informed me that as you were informed of my bankruptcy before the county court claim was issued, it should have never been referred to them and the debt should have been settled within the bankruptcy order.
The purpose of this letter is to inform you of all the circumstances surrounding this mistake you have made and to give you the opportunity to make amends. You are being advised to amend your records and show this debt as being settled. You are also being advised to inform the County Court Business Centre of this mistake and ensure that this CCJ is set aside and removed from any records.
If I have not received confirmation of this within 28 days of this letter being sent, I will be referring this case to my solicitor. You may contact me by letter or email.


This was received on the 17th January and whilst 28 days have not yet passed, I am a bit worried they will just ignore this letter. I need this CCJ removed from my credit file as I have obtained an offer of employment abroad for a foreign exchange company who have stated this offer will not stand if I can not get it removed. I am due to start on March 20th.

Given the fact that I have proof that the claimant was advised about my bankruptcy order before the CCJ was issued, what else can I do to get this sorted if they ignore my letter ?

I appreciate this has been a long winded first post, I am really just at my wits end with this now.

I also did try and start a thread for this however I cannot find the start thread button.

Thank you.

StepChange_Kirsty

Hi there,

Thanks for your post.

As you did an IVA you can answer no on the application form because it’s specifically asking about bankruptcy. If it asked if you’d ever been made insolvent then you would need to answer yes as an IVA is a form of insolvency.

An IVA should normally come off your credit file 6 years after the IVA was approved and removed from the Insolvency register three months after the IVA was completed. Given that your IVA started in January 2011 I would expect it should have been removed by now.

Kind regards,

Kirsty

DrowninginDebt wrote: »

Hi, when obtaining quotes for contents insurance, I am asked if I have ever been made bankrupt. I took out an IVA in January 2011 and repaid early however I understand IVA is one step away from being made bankrupt so will answer 'no'. Is this correct?
And will the IVA stay on my credit file for 6 years from the repayment date?
Thanks in advance.