Declared Bankrupt yesterday... And very confused!

yuki132

I filled in the forms, handed them into an admin clerk at a desk in the Courts offices. The clerk checked them in less than ten minutes and took the fee. She didn't ask for any ID, ask me any questions or explain anything. She was slightly abrupt and not approachable.

After the 10 minutes, she said that was all. I asked her when I would be going into court, to which she replied that I would not be going as mine was a simple case and someone would call me later that day. She gave me a case reference reciept; said I was now bankrupt and that was that.

I left the court feeling stressed and a little bewildered. It was as if it hadn't happened.

I didn't expect anyone to be friendly or anything but I expected a little bit of an explanation as to what would happen. If I hadn't have asked her when I was going to Court she would not have explained that the OR would call me later that day.

On one hand it felt too easy.... on the other, I don't know if I did anything wrong or forgot to do something......

The OR did call me later that day and said I would get a call on 24th July. I did not get much info from him as he did not have all of my information.

I still feel like I am in limbo..... like I did before that bankruptsy!

Any other experiences like this?

debtmonkey1

Hi! Yes-strange feelings! YOU ARE NOW DEBT FREE-that will sink in soon! As your affairs are striaghtforward that's good & also the fact that the OR has booked you a phone interview means that by the limited info we have it looks very very straightforward!

Well done-imagine how good it will be that if you get a phonecall from a creditor-tell 'em to contact the OR-not you!

This board is great for support-anything you need just post on here!

fermi

Hi yuki132.

The experience of the majority of people is that the court staff and the OR are very helpful and informative.

I'm sorry that it wasn't so in your case but individual people/places can always differ from the norm, and it sounds as if you got someone unhelpful in both cases.

If you have questions about anything to do with the process then please continue posting and asking, and we will do our best to fill in the gaps.

The emotional side of BR is different for everyone, and so is the point where the light at the end of the tunnel starts to really brighten. Hang in there.

rog2

Hi Yuki - I am sorry to hear about the attitude of the admin clerk, at the court. She, in my opinion, should NOT have been abrupt, NOR should she have told you that 'you are now bankrupt and that's that'.

1. She is NOT a judge - only a judge can declare you bankrupt. It is, by the way, important to know at exactly what time you were declared bankrupt, and in acting in this manner, you have been denied that knowledge.

2. She should treat you, and indeed anyone going to the court, with courtesy and politeness - regardless of why you are there.

3. She should have taken the time to explain, clearly and fully, the court process to you.

Fortunately, as most here will testify, your experience is NOT typical of the experience that majority of us have received. HOWEVER, Bankruptcy, and the decision to file for it, is an extremely traumatic experience and you did not deserve to be treated in what appears to have been a 'judgemental and arrogant' manner, by someone whose job is NOT to act in either of those manners.

Personally, I would write a letter to the Court, expressing your concern at the way you were treated.

Broken_hearted

I disagree Rog, I think they should get help and advice on how to move forward and leave the stroppy mare to her own devices. The best way to deal with people like that is to be happy and enjoy life.

rog2

Broken_hearted wrote: »

I disagree Rog, I think they should get help and advice on how to move forward and leave the stroppy mare to her own devices. The best way to deal with people like that is to be happy and enjoy life.

You're probably right BH - It's just that I have a problem with people who treat others as if they are just a 'bad smell'.

Yuki - I hope you receive better treatment and advice from the OR.

yuki132

thank you... it does feel a bit strange that I can move on with my life. I have been very sensible for the last few years but getting nowhere with the repayments. Now its like another chance at life!

yuki132

rog2 wrote: »

Hi Yuki - I am sorry to hear about the attitude of the admin clerk, at the court. She, in my opinion, should NOT have been abrupt, NOR should she have told you that 'you are now bankrupt and that's that'.

1. She is NOT a judge - only a judge can declare you bankrupt. It is, by the way, important to know at exactly what time you were declared bankrupt, and in acting in this manner, you have been denied that knowledge.

2. She should treat you, and indeed anyone going to the court, with courtesy and politeness - regardless of why you are there.

3. She should have taken the time to explain, clearly and fully, the court process to you.

Fortunately, as most here will testify, your experience is NOT typical of the experience that majority of us have received. HOWEVER, Bankruptcy, and the decision to file for it, is an extremely traumatic experience and you did not deserve to be treated in what appears to have been a 'judgemental and arrogant' manner, by someone whose job is NOT to act in either of those manners.

Personally, I would write a letter to the Court, expressing your concern at the way you were treated.

I have since read about the experiences of others and it seems that the clerk I dealt with was just very stern and didn't feel like she was there to help or to answer questions. She expected for me to know everything and was just there to take the forms and money - not to explain anything about the next stage. Others it seems have had a much better experience and I am very pleased to hear that!

I got the feeling that my lady was just a stand in and that the person I was supposed to deal with was not there for whatever reason. So, it may have just been my bad luck! But it did get me thinking that it may have been the case that they tried to be stern and standoffish to everyone because of what they were there for!

Anyway, at one point I nearly started crying so her expression did soften a little but not much.

I don't want the hasstle of complaining, (although it is probably the right thing to do!) She may just be having an off day. I just want to move on and be stress free from now on as much as I can. I just hope that is not how she treats everyone.

Thank you for your support and for everyone elses support! Its really good to talk to someone about it because it is such a big thing which is still very taboo. xx

rog2

Thanks yuki - I do understand, and as BH says 'It is probably best to forget 'the stroppy mare'.
I had no such problems, and I was declared bankrupt by a creditor and, as such, almost expected to be dealt with like a 'pariah'.
I just think that people in that position should realise the anxiety of those, like yourself, that they have to deal with.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and courtesy - that woman was no better than you and, who knows, someday she may also be in the same position as you.

Posthinking

yuki132 wrote: »

I don't want the hasstle of complaining, (although it is probably the right thing to do!) She may just be having an off day. I just want to move on and be stress free from now on as much as I can. I just hope that is not how she treats everyone.

I agree with rog. Complain. She's a public servant and as such accountable to we who pay her wages. There is no excuse!!! The courts have a complaint procedure, use it.:mad: Apart from that, you'll feel better once it's all sunk in. We are much kinder;)

yuki132

By the way, I also told my Mum about the whole thing yesterday. She is always sensible with money (spend only what you have attitude) Even though she could not understand how I could have let it get this far, she was happy that I finally told her about it.

I felt really glad that I told her everything. It was like a weight off my chest. Nobody wants their Mum to be disappointed in them! I explained everything I have done and she asked me questions about it all and I was completly honest with her. She was concerned about the mortgage factor but I explained that was something I would have to deal with later on in life. I couldn't afford a mortgage at the moment anyway.

She was really good about it. I thought she would be disappointed but thats all she said was to learn from it, treat it as a clean slate and aim towards my future.

I have learnt my lesson! And geting on with my future is exactly what I am going to do from now. I have learned what the repercussions are with credit and debt the hard way and will never go there again.

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: