Nervous about court date next Wednesday

easygoingchap

We took a friend. Having a solid friend helped us. There were loads of others doing similar many with lawyers, most in shorts and t shirt ( it was a hot day) and us , like the court staff we dealt with, in jeans and t shirt.

Went off for coffee and cake after too

( you only see the judge if your owe over £100k or didn't seek debt advice the clerk at out local court told me but I guess different rules at different courts)

AliceD84

Well everyone's making me feel a lot better! I'm now not expecting it to be nearly as daunting as I thought it would be! I'm sure the repercussions afterwards won't be a walk in the park but at least I'm not quite so nervous about the actual process.

Oh, and Mum and I had already planned the big F off cake too!

Keeping_Positive

Mine was split over two days. Friday and then Tuesday not ideal bu DH went with me both times and it was in a process sort of way easy. 4 months in and so glad i did it.

Also went to barclays straight after to open an account and they were so nice as I was feeling like an idiot. Not condescending or critical at all.

AliceD84

Keeping_Positive wrote: »

Mine was split over two days. Friday and then Tuesday not ideal bu DH went with me both times and it was in a process sort of way easy. 4 months in and so glad i did it.

Also went to barclays straight after to open an account and they were so nice as I was feeling like an idiot. Not condescending or critical at all.

Did you know before hand it was going to be 2 appointments or did they just tell you at the first one that you'd have to come back?

I'd really like the Barclays account but I'm not holding out much hope on that! The step change lady informed me that I'd probably be declined as one of my creditors are barclaycard.
Not the end of the world as there's other options but it would be my preference!

Helpmeoutofthismess

AliceD84 wrote: »

Did you know before hand it was going to be 2 appointments or did they just tell you at the first one that you'd have to come back?

I'd really like the Barclays account but I'm not holding out much hope on that! The step change lady informed me that I'd probably be declined as one of my creditors are barclaycard.
Not the end of the world as there's other options but it would be my preference!

I opened my cash card account with barclays before I went bankrupt and they didn't even bat an eyelid that I had 3 barclaycard accounts that I had not been able to pay for 6 months!:eek: I was so embarrassed but she was lovely and I had my new account details in my hand in only 20 minutes. I would pop down to the branch on Monday and try and open the account before you go bankrupt on Wednesday, I think they have started only offering an ATM card to bankrupts now :sad: if the answer is no you still have the option of opening an account after the bankruptcy.

H x

AliceD84

Hi everyone!

I meant to get back on here sooner but the last few days have just flown! Have been a bit poorly the last week (convinced it's stress related!) so didn't manage to get on here and post about my court experience. Feeling masses better today though

Well, I'm officially bankrupt! You were all spot on with your advice! It was nothing like the horrible vision I'd concocted in my head!
I was in and out within 45 minutes, all the court staff I came into contact with were friendly and matter of fact and it really was like going to the doctors or something.

I was a bit nervous in the morning but Mum and I made sure we left in plenty of time. My appointment was 10am and got there about 10 minutes early. It was my first time in a court ever! I didn't know you go through metal detectors and get your bag searched etc. There were loads of people about and like everyone said, I just blended in and no-one's really paying attention to what anyone else is doing!

I went to the main desk and a lady pointed us through to another separate waiting room/ office. Spoke to a guy behind the window who just said to take a seat. Was then pointed to the fees desk where I handed my fees and forms in. The guy said he'd go away and check over my forms so we sat and waited for 10 minutes or so.

There were quite a few people milling around and people coming in with their lawyers and sitting and discussing their cases. I assume their aren't many private offices in the court or something!
I caught little snippets of conversations and realised that what I was in court for was actually very boring and insignificant really! Lots of people with more stressful situations than me.

The guy then called me through to a little private office, my mum was allowed to come in too. I sat and signed all the forms. He then said to sit and wait while he went to see the judge. He came back 10 or so minutes later and said the judge was a bit busy that day and didn't need to see me so he'd approved my bankruptcy and as of 10:40am I was officially bankrupt! I could wait for the form or he would post it to me that night so I said post was fine. He told me that the OR would be in touch for a short telephone interview but that it was nothing to worry about... And that was it!!

I think I actually said "is that it? Do I just go now?" lol. It really was the most straight forward thing I've ever done! It took me longer and was more hassle the day I went and signed my tenancy agreement for my last rental property! This was like a walk in the park in comparison.

It was the strangest feeling walking out. My Mum kept asking me if I felt relieved but I didn't really. I think it was just a bit surreal and I'd already been thinking of myself as bankrupt since I made the decision and booked the court appointment a few weeks before. More than anything I just felt drained! But that was due to the state I'd got myself into in the few days run up, not the court process itself!

We went off for a coffee and big cake and a look around the shops! Ironic I know! Haha. I don't have any money to spend at the moment tough so it was more just window shopping!

It didn't even cross my mind that I'd hear from the OR that day but we'd only been in the door half an hour or so when they phoned. It was a young girl (sounded very young!) who said she was the OR that would be dealing with my case. She said they didn't have my forms from the court yet but had a few questions. She just got me to confirm my details, asked for my last 5yrs addresses and details of any assets and the sale of my car and that was it. I asked if that was the interview or if there's a further one. She said 'if they need to do an interview' they'll contact me and arrange an date.

I don't know what that means now! I'm not sure if I'll hear from then again or not. Suppose I'll wait and see.

So now I suppose I get on with life and deal with the difficulties of being bankrupt as and when they arise. So far though it's been fine and I'm so glad i did it. I might try to apply for the Barclays account just on the off chance. They can only say no I guess.

Thanks so much everyone for all your advice! You were all so right and it was exactly like you said. Your messages really helped to calm me down a bit in the lead up to last Wednesday!

easygoingchap

Well done !

The or will decide if she wants/ needs to interview you once she has the forms and carried out some background checks . Given you don't work and have no assets I doubt she will, unless you 'have been reckless" in your spending and they are duty bound to find that out ( and why you went BR ) so a telephone interview is prob all that will happen and ours was a few weeks after BR and before the 8 weeks " report to creditors" stage

dettelibre

easygoingchap wrote: »

Well done !

The or will decide if she wants/ needs to interview you once she has the forms and carried out some background checks . Given you don't work and have no assets I doubt she will, unless you 'have been reckless" in your spending and they are duty bound to find that out ( and why you went BR ) so a telephone interview is prob all that will happen and ours was a few weeks after BR and before the 8 weeks " report to creditors" stage

i don't work and have no assets but they still arranged an interview with me a week later, its really a piece of cake and at the end of the interview i was thinking is that it! she did not ask anything about spending or even how i got into the debt. Took <15 minutes

Unless the IS has done a sudden change (we know they are now under pressure due to cutbacks) and stop interviewing in some simple cases i would still expect the OP to have an interview, but sounds like nothing to worry about.