Official interview with OR next week feel scared

Sheras1613

Hi All I am new to this forum and am hoping you could help/advise me on a few things please (I will try and explain in a short term as possible) basically I got made bankrupt yesterday due to my credit card spending getting out of control it only really got bad at xmas when I started gambling (more fool me) I suffer with depression and have done for many yrs but this last year it has become worse and I guess I was buying things to make me feel better (never happened) but then I got to a point where my debt was mounting up and I felt at xmas as though I had no where left to turn so I thought gambling may help get me out of this mess (you know the story a big win and my debts are gone) well obviousely never happened ,my husband never knew what I was doing until a month or so a go when I hit rock bottom and contemplated suicide,it all came out in the wash then after I broke down and told him what had been happening,luckily for me he was amazing and so very supportive and after getting advise from stepchange etc we decided the only way forward was for me to go bankrupt,but the first thing he did was take me off the joint account (but I had to draw on credit cards to pay off joint overdraft first) I didn't put that joint account down on my SOA as I didn't want to involve my husband anymore than was necessary as I had already put him through enough,anyhow I had a quick phone call from the OR yesterday asking a few questions before my official interview via phone next week and I am petrified,as my debt escalated through depression but she cut me off when I was trying to explain that to her and said I,m not interested in your health only your debt (my doctor is aware of my bankruptcy and fully aware of my history) can the OR drag my husband into all this mess as in as he only took me off joint account a month ago can she request to see what is now his sole bank account statements etc? I hope someone can advise as I,m working myself up into such a state ive made appoint to see doc again tomorrow, thankyou

Mummy_george

Hi I am newly bankrupt so can not offer too much advice but wanted to reply to say please do not try to worry the OR is normlly very helpful and sympathetic. Maybe they did not want to go into to much detail as your actual interview is next week. You will get your chance to explain why you spent etc so try not to worry but you do need to be completely honest with them regarding everything, ideally you should have included the joint account on the forms as it does state on there bank accounts within a certain time frame but just be honest when asked. Remember they are there to deal with the facts etc and to determine if you have any assetts or funds for IPA. Tr not to worry I was petrified about my interview but it was fine. Wishing you the best of luck and try not to worry your main concern now is getting yourself better and stronger xx

egrescrimp

I'm coming to the end of my bankruptcy, but I can still remember the feelings I had when speaking to the examiner for the first time.

During the initial 10 minute chat, the examiner didn't want to get into any of the reasons why I was declared bankrupt. The examiner just wanted to know who I banked with, more information about our car and who my biggest creditor was. I was then dreading the longer call as the examiner had been so cold in the initial call.

I was very surprised though, during the second call the examiner was very understanding and listened to everything I had to say and was totally different in the approach to the first call. All my dealings with the examiner after that were positive and friendly.

The main thing is to be honest with them, do keep in mind they have probably heard a story similar to yours a thousand times and they aren't there to judge you.

If you've missed anything on the forms, don't worry just tell them on the phone when you get to that section of the form as they work through them I missed a few things on my forms, the examiner told me it's common and not to worry and that if anything big needed changing they would send out some paperwork to sign and confirm the changes

The OR can request bank statements for all accounts that had your name on them, so right up to the point of you being taken off they can request copies of those statements from you or the bank. I'm not 100% on this but I don't believe they could ask for statements on that account if it's no longer in joint names, my examiner didn't ask for my partners bank statements.

The only thing the examiner will ask of you with regards to your partner is what they contribute to the household running costs after paying their own outgoings, be honest with this as it could mean you getting an IPA thats unaffordable if you have surplus income and don't cover all your outgoings. You don't need to give a full break down of what your partner pays out for, just the total amount and then how much he contributes to the house.

Sheras1613

Hi and thankyou very much for your valued points, my husband pays for all the household bills IE rent,gas etc I don't contribute I,m confused about the maintenance side of things also I get £100 per week for my daughter from ex husband and child benefit per month but that is my only income so will the OR take payments from me out of maintenance as I don't contribute to household bills? Also (sorry to be so long winded) I cannot remember the reason I originally started using my credit card back in 2013 is that a big problem? thankyou in advance for your time x

egrescrimp

I'm not sure about the maintenance payment, but I'd suspect they can't touch that and as your other income is benefits you probably won't get an IPA.

You don't need to worry if you can't remember things like that, lots of people take out credit cards. if it was used for general living or buying clothes etc then they won't be bothered. They may look through the statements to see if you've bought anything large that they can take as an asset.

getoutofdebt_2

hi everyone,
my husband has just been discharged from bankruptcy in Dec 2014.
he had a breakdown and wanted to end it all. the OR wasn't interested in anything to do with health but more what caused him to get into debt. they want a list of everything. I took my husband off our joint account 12 months before after taking advice. the OR wanted to know what my money coming into the house as well as my husbands money, even my DLA was listed but then they take off things and expenses. his van that was worth 1,500 more than the 2,000 they allow was either going to be taken by them for auction or a 3rd party could buy the 1,500 equity from it. a friend bought the equity in the van so my husband was allowed to keep it for work - he is self employed so no van no work-we will now start paying the friend back the 1,500 he gave to the OR so my husband could keep his van now that bankruptcy is discharged.
our home has always been in my name so they couldn't put that into the bankruptcy which was what scared us most. I have a motorbility car and that had to go on the form with a note next to it.
my husbands two life insurance policies were of interest to them. they offered that a 3rd party could buy them back from the OR for 50-00. if you don't buy them back he said that even 10 yrs down the line if my husband died they could take the life insurance towards his debts even after the discharge.
its now been 3 months this week since the discharge. my husband has started to speak again and is looking at getting a bank account in his name and starting a savings account as he never wants to get into debt again.
the OR whilst very official and clinical were very good and after the 2nd phone call we never heard from them again until my husband emailed to ask if he was discharged.
There is life after bankruptcy , please do believe that.

JaneDoeJohnDoe

Definitely life after BR. Be honest with OR & they will be fine. Remember they are only doing their job. Just keep remembering why you got into such a sticky predicament & if you need any help with depression or gambling DO seek professional help. There is no shame in asking for help. BR gives you a 2nd chance - take it in both hands & embrace & enjoy. You will be free!:A