Bankruptcy date on Wednesday

TerryandGaby

Hi all, wanted to give you an update on how yesterday went.

I was the first one into the court yesterday, the security guard only just beat me! I went to the clerk's desk and had to wait around 10 minutes until my time. I had checked and re-checked the forms but she went through them, clarifying a few things and asking me to sign them. After I'd paid the fee, she gave me details of when the OR was likely to contact me and general information.

Then I sat outside the judge's rooms. It was like a doctors waiting surgery - just a few of us BR's there, along with someone complaining about CCTV and a paternity issue from what I overheard. After approximately 15 minutes, I was walked to the judge's room

"Call him judge or sir"....gulp

I went in and sit at the chair. He looked very stern, but really wasn't. I told him I was nervous, he said there was no need to be.

He said he had a few questions - at which point, considering my gambling, my heart was beating really fast. He asked me what advice I sought, he asked me if I had a contract mobile or PAYG...and that was it. He said that every petition has Wonga on nowadays, he doesn't know they survive! And then at 9:55 he declared me bankrupt. It was quick and painless - much more painless than the torture you inflict on yourself when you are considering and going through the process of bankruptcy. For me, it was the culmination of years of stress and anxiety, the bad memories, the sleepless nights. I truly feel that is the strongest deterrent of all - I will never let things deteriorate like that again, so I never have to go through those emotions again.

5:00pm...the OR rings me! I couldn't believe how quick. They asked some basic questions and then arranged a telephone interview for four weeks time. I explained that I have limited information available and I don't know that I will be able to answer all the questions they have - I was told I can only answer what I can answer. She could tell I was anxious about it and asked me if I would like an interview sooner to get it over with. So my telephone interview is booked for 30th July, far quicker than I expected!

I am obviously anxious about the interview but all I can do is tell the truth and whatever happens, happens.

longtermplanner

What a great start - I love the judge's comment about Wonga! My fingers will be crossed for you on the 30th.

debtinfo

i always point out that although it may be the most significant day in your life but for the judge and the OR its just another day at the office and no matter how bad you feel your actions have been they probably have much more difficult people to deal with that day so they probably look forward to just having a polite person presenting some forms.

Just to give you an idea of what will probably happen in the process so you are not worrying about it. When you have your interview they will go over the gambling and question you about it, do your best to answer as best you can, they will be aware that you don't have a photographic memory and wont expect you to. I find it helps to try and put things in context if you cant give an exact answer. so for example if they say what was the biggest amount you bet, you might not know exactly but you could probably say if it was in the tens hundreds or thousands. or they might say how much have you lost which you might not be able to answer but you could tell them how often you were betting, every day, whether it was bookies or online. that sort of thing. They can and will get bank records and gambling accounts so if you can give them at least some info they can get alot of it themselves. Also be prepared that after your initial telephone interview they will go and gather all the evidence and you may have a second interview at the office. Alot of what you talk about will be the same but the reason they do it it so that they can have an official written record so they can prepare the BRO/U if they want to impose one. Again nothing to worry about and just the process they go through

tigerfeet2006

Don't know if anyone has pointed you to Amiga's fantastic thread. It may help a little.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1802595