BR Appointment, did others just turn up?

RustyB

Hi,

I have read various posts on here and other websites of people saying they've waited hours to be seen.

At the court I'm going to I had to make an appointment, in my case nice and early around 9am, at other courts can you just turn up with the petition or have you all had "appointments" as well which have still taken forever to see the judge?

Just curious, I have the whole day off so If I'm there all day it won't be the end of the world just hope this cloud lifts off me when I walk out the court

fermi

Varies by court and how busy they are. Many people with 'appointments' have to wait, but you may not.

alastairq

I simply had a 'date'...or, series of dates....since at my court, BR was not dealt with on every single day.

The time one is kept waiting will depend on, how many staff are available in the office, what time the Judge turns up for work, what other types of work they have to do as well....whereabouts one is in the queue, etc etc. Remember, Courts themselves have been subject to severe budget cuts over recent years...mainly achieved by reducing staff posts.....Needless to say, the staff will be sympathetic to your plight [most would have been better off on benefits probably, financially?]....and will obviously not keep you waiting any longer than necessary.

Of course, if you are not currently satisfactorily prepared for becoming BR..ie bank accounts, etc not in place [as per the advice on here?]...then you do not need to turn up.....simply book another day when you are ready?

RustyB

Thanks Alastair, I really have taken on board what you have said about Bank Accounts and that is the only thing I haven't "sorted" in my name, it really is no issue for everything to go through my wifes name for now so I'm not going to stress about that aswell.

Its amazing how helpful this board has been and I really appreciate everyones comments and advice, I wish I'd used it more over the past few months.

elljay

It seems as though all courts have different systems. In my case it took a number of phone calls to even establish which city's court I needed to go to as no-one knew! My appointment was also 9 am. Forward planning is key! It's around an hour's drive away, more as I needed to allow for rush hour. Also not knowing the city I searched on Streetview etc for parking. Even so I just made it in time and joined the queue outside the court.

I wasn't prepared for the security and had to empty out my handbag, (they took my Impulse body spray off me, I got it back when I left). I was then shown to another window where a clerk took my details and I had to wait for 15 mins or so. I was taken into a small interview room with another clerk who went through my forms, made a couple of amendments and took the cash. I went back out to wait (there was a tv, I couldn't have concentrated on reading, I was in another world with nerves and embarrassment!!) Interesting to people-watch however. I was then taken into a courtroom - just me in all these seats and the judge up on her high table. I felt smaller than small. She asked what advice I had taken and then looked at the clock and pronounced me bankrupt and wished me well. All very formulaic!

I left and was taken to another waiting area where another clerk brought me a copy of the certificate and said the OR would ring me in about an hour. I explained I wouldn't be home by then (seemed surprised I'd come such a long way) but as soon as I arrived home the OR rang. Just basic info, there was one issue which needed sorting immediately with one creditor, and that was it. I was in work by 1pm, very glad to be back in the 'normal' world!

I was also grateful for the advice on here and from Stepchange and Business Debtline who were unfailingly helpful. I could've proposed to the guy on BD who was slightly older than me (just had his 65th birthday) and truly lovely!!!

LoveLifeAgain

Hello RustyB.
It has only been 2 weeks since my BR (still waiting for telephone apt) but I rang the Court and they told me that ours has between 10am and 11am where you can just turn up, no appointment necessary and wait in the queue. I turned up first and it was all over within an hour and I didn't even have to see the judge, so paper in hand I left the court feeling weird, lighter - but weird.


Sounds like they all have their own way of doing things. Good luck


It will be interesting to see how you get on.