Taking the plunge - About time

tigerfeet2006

Yes, please do post up your SoA and we will see what we can help with.

Your car will NOT be taken on the day you go to court. If it is not exempt then it will be after the OR interview when things will be explained to you. If it essential for work and within allowances then there will be no problems.

tigerfeet2006

Just re-read your thread and seen the price of the car. Why don't you sell it and get something for about £1200/1300?

We came back to the UK for 7 weeks in the summer and picked up a jeep with 10 months MOT and 6 months tax for £320 from ebay and we drove from Cornwall to Essex and back and back again and everywhere in between and over to France and Belgium and back again in that 7 weeks and sold it on when we left and it was still going strong.

Have you sorted out your bank account yet?

Chasingdreams

Thanks TigerFeet. I'm just about to take my son swimming so I will post and SOA when I get back. Appreciate the response, could do with some people who are wiser and perhaps been through the experience to talk with today.

ampersand

cd - was just closing down and saw your post.

It's never too late to seek good strategies and advice for a clear future from CAPUk - held in high esteem by Martin.

I learnt of them when helping another mser who also went bankrupt and they - CAPUK -were there, from she knew not where. They helped her hugely - she still praises their work years later. Since then, things I do has meant sending others their way, all with total turnaround success.

They have also won reputable Best Small Business awards[ST etc],so know what they're about.

Have you a moment to take a look?

https://capuk.org/i-want-help

All in my siggie - but have a look here and remember they do not proselytise.

jcarver007

owlet wrote: »

For me, filling in the forms was the hardest part of the process. Court was fine, no stress at all. My OR was really nice, he asked the necessary questions but wasn't judgemental or critical. I'm only a few months in so I can't comment about after but I will start looking at my credit file in the autumn. Good luck.

Hi Owlet, I'm curious as to what sort of questions he asked? Does it vary depending on if your self employed or other?

SomebodyToldMe

- How did you feel filling in the forms and waiting for your court date?

Filling in the forms was actually fine- had brilliant help from CAB...waiting for the court date was very nervy on the otherhand.......

- Are the OR people as horrible as you imagine them to be?

They were more incompetent than horrible.....had issues with HMRC which they failed to resolve.....still contacted them via e-mail rather than phone LOL

Are there any stories where people were able to keep their vehicle when needed for work? I currently travel 100 miles per day for work and whilst my car is valued at approx. 3500-4000 I feel I need something both reliable and safe with the baby.

- I was allowed to keep car....school run not 'commutable'....needed for work etc..but 'condition in keeping with car 10 years old'

What happens after the court date?
- a huge sigh of relief......no more calls/ visits from scumbags, but try not to dwell too much on what went wrong..
However I could only really 'celebrate' when it was confirmed I had no IPA & my 'out' in 1 year

And what happens after 12 months?
-let you know?!

best of luck!

Chasingdreams

Well, the dreaded day is upon me tomorrow and to be honest I couldn't be more nervous!!

I promised to post up my SOA the other day so people could help me with some advice. Here it is (taken from the court forms):

Rent - 666
Housekeeping - 344
Electric - 71
Water - 34
Telephone/TV/Sky - 102
Travel to work - 700
Clothing - 53
Council Tax - 98
Other essential - 248 (this includes as per StepChange advice: insurance,spares & service, road tax, breakdown cover, activities, hair cut, sports, sundries)

Total - £2316

Currently I earn £2078pm NET and am supporting my young family as partner is on maternity leave and young son is 6 months old. She did not know about my situation until recently so her income (very minimal) is not available.

Assets - car. Value approx £3000. Very high mileage but reliable and safe which is essential with a young child and 100 mile round trip per day.

I guess my questions are, looking at those figures, can anyone suggest to me if they think 1) I'll end up with an IPA? 2) do you think these are valid reasons to keep my car? 3) will someone be able to double check forms with me at courts tomorrow? 4) do I need to take anything else with me other than forms and money?

Thank you so much for all your help. I'll be checking back here all night as can't see much else taking my mind off tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Chasingdreams

longtermplanner

1) on those figures an IPA seems unlikel. Indeed how do you expect to manage?????

2) I think keeping a £3000 car is unlikely. Safe cars are essential for everyone, you don't get allowed extra because you have a young child.

3) the forms will probably be looked over quickly for missing pages or bits left off. If you find you have made an error, just call the OR up and correct it.

4) Take photographic id if possible (passport or driving license.) Something to read or music to listen to. Change for the car park.

owlet

jcarver007 wrote: »

Hi Owlet, I'm curious as to what sort of questions he asked? Does it vary depending on if your self employed or other?

Hi JC, sorry not to have replied before but I've been away. My case was very sImple - change of circumstances going from employed to carer for my parents & now relying on benefits. I had no property or assets. He just chatted about how I got into debt and the questions he asked were just clarifying some of the entries on my form.
I only spoke to him for about 15 minutes max - but as I say, mine was very simple.
:-)

Chasingdreams

longtermplanner wrote: »

1) on those figures an IPA seems unlikel. Indeed how do you expect to manage?????

2) I think keeping a £3000 car is unlikely. Safe cars are essential for everyone, you don't get allowed extra because you have a young child.

3) the forms will probably be looked over quickly for missing pages or bits left off. If you find you have made an error, just call the OR up and correct it.

4) Take photographic id if possible (passport or driving license.) Something to read or music to listen to. Change for the car park.

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it.

Is it advisable for me to photocopy the forms? I imagine it'll be over pretty quick. I've read many times on here that the day is relatively smooth. Can't help me stop dreading it though. Any other last minute advice?