Newbie with a bankruptcy question - any advice very much appreciated!

MissPants_2

Evening all and hope you have had a great Bank Holiday weekend.

I am new to this - joined today - so I apologise in advance for any breaches of etiquette!

I am a single mum to a five-year-old son. Have approx £45K of unsecured debt (ouch) and was advised by CCCS last week that bankruptcy is my best available option. I have spent the best part of today scouring the forum and thanks to all you helpful people think I now have a reasonably good handle on what going BR entails. However I do have a couple of questions and would appreciate some guidance soooo much!

I have seen arranging prepayments for utilities mentioned - how can this be done? Is it as simple as contacting your suppliers and telling them you are going BR and that is why you want to arrange prepayment? Does this affect the way you pay - i.e. do they then want more money up front?

I live in London - so am assuming I will need to go to the Strand. Have tried to search on this and have found lots of useful info about going there - but is there generally a long wait for an appointment? Or can you just turn up with your forms? Will phone them in the morning, but was wondering if someone could put me out of my misery now?!

Thanks, MissPants

Bakeybadoo

Hello and welcome to you!

Ok, the utilities question. Anyone can have prepayment. It is done via meter usually which operates on a card, token, key or coin system. You don't have to tell them why you want to change to that system.

You should do it before BR as they MAY make it difficult if you do it after and say you are BR. They might then start asking for a security deposit or such like, especially if one of them was a creditor of yours.

No help with the Strand but someone who is will be along soon so sit tight!

philnicandamy

Hiya..i went BR back in march this year, I contacted my utility providers scottish power/united utlis informed them of my bankrupcy & they switched me to a pre payment scheme and changed the meters (all free of charge though NO cost involved)..this now involves cards for gas & electric meter that I top up at local stores (like a pay as you go mobile) then insert into the meter, to be honest since doing this i've got a better handle on the bills & it's much easier so just give em a ring and ask...as far as the BR its usually your most nearest court so if this is the strand then give em a call on 021 854 7217/8 they will probably be best to inform you of the waiting time for appts as these do tend to vary from court to court

Phil

MissPants_2

Thank you all. I am living in rented accommodation and in fact the gas is already on a meter - was here when I moved in - so will see what happens. I'm not in arrears with utilities or rent or council tax so that is good I guess. Am hoping they will continue to let me pay in the normal way as I have always been a good customer - do you think this is possible?

Thanks

Bakeybadoo

Oh definitely. Yes, you can continue to pay as you always did. Unless you owe them money or are in huge arrears, just going BR will not affect how you can pay your utilities. Infact, they probably will never know of your change in situation.

MissPants_2

Oh thanks - that is a relief - you are all fab - and that is coming from a very ungushy person!!

Richard_S

MissPants,

Can I say what a most adorable user name you have ? All I would say about pre-pay is that it's a more expensive way to pay for your power but if you're considering bankruptcy it doesn't really matter too much.

Best regards

Richard

NekoZombie

I too am from London - though I must ask which part you are from. For example, people from croydon usually have to petition in their local courts.

No appointment's are run at the Strand - you merely turn up on the day, around 10 a.m.

MissPants_2

Hi Nekozombie - I am in NE London. Called the High Court today and yes, that's where I'm going, intending to do it on Friday if I can get the bloomin' forms done!!