OR Interview - Questions

gavsterry

And car is my father's. But I'm allowed to use it as long as I pay my own insurance and fuel. Had to sell my car when I originally got into debt.

elljay

Don't panic. There's plenty of time till Thursday and we've all been there and can get this straight with you. The interview will be fine, my OR was dead friendly, we even had a laugh about my cat which crashed noisily through the catflap while mid conversation.

There's a few basics that need to be considered here, who did you take advice from before going to court? Some of this should have been covered during those conversations, a bit surprised that bankruptcy was recommended for that level of debt. However, the main thing that stands out for me here is your concern about repaying creditors. All of the debts that were listed on your bankruptcy forms, as well as any that you forgot to include, are now gone. You don't have to repay them nor will you have to work out who would get what. Not your problem. I know Alastair said this but I'm just reinforcing it.

If you think you've missed off something from your SOA when you discuss it with your OR it doesn't matter, it isn't set in stone. In my case, mine suggested a couple of things (like parking that I rarely pay but she suggested I include a bit for just in case) and if you suddenly remember something else you pay out for some hours/days/weeks later then it doesn't matter either. Just ring or email and if appropriate, that will be taken into account or you will be advised why it can't be included. For example I have to pay petrol to visit aged parent 200 miles away, it couldn't be included in my expenses but she upped a couple of other categories so I still ended up with enough for petrol for the monthly journey. She also added in haircuts, holidays and you get a standard £10 a month emergency allowance anyway. You don't need to worry that you need to have everything sorted by Thurs.

As well as a drink and locking the cat out, make sure you have your bankruptcy forms with you. Mine kept saying, and now we'll look at page 6 etc, so make sure you've printed out a copy so you can make notes on it. The other thing is I asked for a copy of her calculations and she emailed it to me, which has since been really helpful when I've needed to ask for a reassessment. She sent it on a spreadsheet which was really useful. The only items on your statements s/he'll pick up on is if you've made considerable payments within the last 6 months in case you've been trying to make preferential repayments to one or other particular debt but everyday stuff won't interest her.

I've ended up far better off than pre-bankruptcy and have managed to build up a little savings pot.

So A) Don't panic, there's really no need and Ask away!! We've all been there.

EJ

gavsterry

Hi EllJay thanks for that. It's not repaying debtors that I'm struggling with. I have expected i will have a IPA to pay. What concerned me is the thought of the OR taking all available monies as a monthly payment. Being left with nothing at all after my bills come out, in which case should and emergency arise ill be stuck. Does that make sense?

elljay

gavsterry wrote: »

Hi EllJay thanks for that. It's not repaying debtors that I'm struggling with. I have expected i will have a IPA to pay. What concerned me is the thought of the OR taking all available monies as a monthly payment. Being left with nothing at all after my bills come out, in which case should and emergency arise ill be stuck. Does that make sense?

You won't be - really! Though you won't be able to have a champagne lifestyle either, we're not all Kerry Katona (ouch, judgemental comment warning!)! Once your IPA has been agreed, and it's usually a couple of months after the interview that you are expected to make the first payment, you can then spend your money as you like and if you're frugally minded, you'll be quids in and able to save like I do. For example my food allowance is £50 a week. I actually struggle to spend as much as £25 so already that's £25 a week into savings. Petrol similarly, and sometimes I can take the bus (free) to work so again, quids in. I get £15 a month for haircuts. Once every 3 months I go to the local college, costs £7.00. The savings pot grows!! Also if you have an emergency, such as needing all 4 tyres at the same time, you can ask not to pay your IPA that month and generally, assuming the OR has agreed your car expenses are essential, you'll be allowed to use the money towards the tyres. I've been able to have considerable work done on my car as well as pay up front for a years insurance because of the savings pot so have never had to do this however.

The old-style board on here is great for ideas for cutting down without doing without. I eat and generally live far far better since before being bankrupt when I was spending less than £15 a week on rubbish food and digging down the back of the sofa for pennies to buy dog food. Just so I could pay creditors. And by the way, I get £40 a month for pet food/vets bills too.

Because of my income (I have several jobs) I pay just over £500 a month IPA. Hope that helps. Keep asking!!! This board was a life saver for me when I was panicking.

gavsterry

So if there is anything else i can think or or payments that may be wrong, can they be changed whilst on the phone?

elljay

Yep absolutely. As I said, my OR changed the figures I put down all the time, adding a bit here, changing a bit there while on the phone. All very reasonable. The figures you have on you now are only a starter for 10. They do tend to use the Family Expenditure Survey figures as guidance though the latest ones publicly available are now a bit out of date.

It's a 2 way conversation, not an inquisition!

gavsterry

Thanks Elljay. I'll have to have a sit down this week and have a good think of expenses and what i Should/shouldnt be claiming for.