The "what do you need to know before you go bankrupt?" thread!

ClaireLR

allofadither, I have a problem.

earlier on in this thread you said you made a case towards keeping your car and included quite a lot of info, i.e. how far away the shops are/school is/bad street lighting etc.

My main reasons for keeping the car are that my dad sometimes relies on it, I'd be cut off from friends/family without it, and as i said I dont live in the best of areas and wouldnt really fancy hanging around waiting for buses in the dark.

I was wondering do you have any other ideas on what I can put together for my reasons for keeping it?? I dont have children so schools arent a problem. There is a supermarket by me but not the one I like to use! Somerfield which I find more expensive and so would therefore push up costs of housekeeping, could I say that??

allofadither

I think your first major point for keeping it is work, and your father, like savage vixen said. The trick Claire is to state the obvious then have some back up info ready if you are questioned further. The OR may accept straightaway that you need a car for work and not question you any further. But you could anticipate a follow on question..such as "are you on a bus route?"...in which case you will need to say that the buses don't run at a suitable time, don't stop near your place of work, that kind of thing. But I will give it some thought and see what else I can suggest.

ClaireLR

Thanks for that AOAD!

Now for my next question:

Occasionally (and I do mean occasionally) I can do some overtime, do I need to declare this? And if I do, should it be declared in the first meeting or when I have actually done the overtime and actually have the money?

allofadither

Claire...these are my suggestions for now:-

1. Get a written valuation for the car (as low as possible).
2. You NEED the car for work, it is essential
3. Taxi's too expensive to get to work (get quotes)
4. Bus times do not coincide with your contracted work times (be specific if asked)
5. An elderly relative relies on you for shopping etc (distance to travel, no bus route, taxi too expensive etc if asked)

It may not come to this Claire, but 1,3,4, & 5 will require some considerable checking on the OR's part and they may decide that it's not worth the hassle....and that's the idea.

It does mean a bit of work for you too, but if you really want to keep the car then I think it's worth it.

Gud luk!:D

allofadither

ClaireLR wrote: »

Thanks for that AOAD!

Now for my next question:

Occasionally (and I do mean occasionally) I can do some overtime, do I need to declare this? And if I do, should it be declared in the first meeting or when I have actually done the overtime and actually have the money?

I would say when you have actually done the work and got the money, but if I'm wrong hopefully someone will correct me.

ClaireLR

And another question, can I include tobacco on my SOA??

allofadither

ClaireLR wrote: »

And another question, can I include tobacco on my SOA??

No. You would have to hide it in your food bill or in some other allowance.

ClaireLR

Thanks yet again you!!

ClaireLR

Ok I have started a list of things to do/sort etc before D-Day - 6 July.

Give work dad's bank details for July salary to be paid into

Contact all companies who I have direct debits with to find out where to send cheques to for bills due at the end of July and give them new bank details when I have these

Open Co-Op cashminder account (If I start the process of opening this before 6 July will this be ok as technically I wont have the account so I'm assuming I won't have to declare this to the OR?? This bits stressing me because I've read on here that it can take 3 weeks + to open one of these accounts)

Get car valued

Call car auction place and find out all charges relating to car being auctioned

Work out how much to offer OR to buy car back if need be relating to above

Find out bus route/timetable and get taxi quotes

Get dad to write a letter to OR re his illness

FILL IN THE FORMS!

have I missed anything from here??

Sorry if I'm being a bore now it's just I feel like I'm getting somewhere today and while I'm on a roll I want to carry on!!

wherediditallgo

Claire, you're allowed to include monthly savings towards holidays. I think the amount is £40pm. That would certainly bring your surplus down.