Post bankruptcy, where to start??

Keatster

Hi,

I am looking for some advice, post bankruptcy discharge:

A bit of background:
I went BR in October 2011, and was discharged in October 2012. I got married in August 2012, and my wife has no financial issues. We do not share any financial products/have never been financially linked.

I currently work overseas, paying tax in the country I work in. My wife also works overseas, but pays tax in the UK. I have a local, basic bank account with Standard Chartered, she banks with HSBC UK and has overdraft/credit card etc, all well managed. Our joint salary is good, and we get allowances from our employers that cover all our costs (rent/utilities etc) and have a considerable disposable income, and are doing our best to save as much as possible for a deposit on a house.

Questions:
1: Is it safe for us to now become financially linked (joint savings), or should we not do that?
2: we would like to buy a house in about 4 years (when our contracts overseas end) – her credit is good, will being married to me prevent her from getting a mortgage?
3: her bank offers the facility for her to get a mortgage from abroad, buy to let or family let, will being married to me harm her at all.
4: being overseas (and outside of Europe), what are the options for me to rebuild my credit? Eg. could I list my mum’s house as an address, and get a pre-paid credit card or co-op/Barclays account?
5: Is it possible for me to have my account activity/history in the country where I live taken into account when eventually returning to the UK?

I have lots more questions, but these are the most important for now (I think), yet any other tips would be most gratefully received.

Thanks for reading, (and helping).

Kev

Keatster

Can anyone help with Q1 above, at least?

fermi

1. I would avoid it while the BR is still on credit files.

2. If you are applying in your name only, then probably not. If jointly, then for any lenders who ask if you have ever been BR then it probably will effect it.

3. Not quite sure what you are asking there?

4. Bank account would be tricky, as moneylaundering/fraud checks would likely require proof of UK address. Pre-paid card? Not reproted to the CRAs unless they are a credit builder, and not sure if one of those would be possible for same reason as the bank account?

5. Not normally, no.