Very angry judge, is this normal?

coolcait

Wasabi74 wrote: »

...or a mobile phone for my daughter (she's 13 and her school requires it for lessons to do research online etc).

Brock_and_Roll wrote: »

Aside from the issue here, I find it outrageous that a school is insisting that 13 year old need smart phones to do their homework etc.

I'm relieved by the thought that it is for 'homework', rather than for use in lessons during school time!

Either way, I would challenge any school which had an expectation that pupils should have 'smart phones' for research.

It may simply be the case that the school sets homework which requires research. Nowadays, that tends to be done on the internet.

If so, the school should provide internet access. There is also internet access at libraries. And a bankruptcy I&E allows for people to pay for internet access at home.

A smart phone is not required.

If the school insists that research must be done on a smart phone, then the school needs to be challenged. If the OP's daughter prefers to have a smart phone - which may or may not be used exclusively for researching homework, then the OP may have to face some difficult conversations.

But neither of those outcomes really have anything to do with the judge, at the point of awarding the bankruptcy.

alastairq

Very well put, Coolcait!

In addition, regarding the SOA...using the example of a cheap Sky package [ for internet, phone, etc]...yes, as Coolcait states, the cost of this needs to be put onto the SOA for BAnkruptcy. If the OR challenges this, then it will be disallowed [or, more likely, adjusted to reflect a similar but non-Sky package? The cost of internet access, phone, etc is allowable in the SOA]...but that does not mean one cannot retain the Sky package!

All it means is, the extra costs would need to be found from other areas of the SOA.

[The OR agrees a series of allowable costs..the SOA...which can be deducted from the initial income of the BAnkrupt. The OR does not supervise the spending of those various allowances.]

dancingfairy

Sky is not an essential, however if that is the OPs main/ only source of entertainment then fair enough.
I've no doubt poor budgeting and bad choices contributed to the ops bankruptcy, as they do for a lot of people but people are not born being able to budget. It is a skill that needs to be learnt, and maybe the op wasn't taught this by their parents or at school. I'm sure if any of the critical posters had any helpful budgeting tips then the op might take them on board, but at the moment the op seems to be getting unnecessary flack.
I would also imagine that the op could be feeling vulnerable having just gone bankrupt and has probably had many sleepless nights, and analysised every decision to see whether this situation could have been avoided.
I think some people could do with showing a little more compassion.
Df

lilybankrupt

Urrgghhhh I've been reading and sometimes posting on this board for a few years now, and this is the first time I've seen so many unnecessary judgemental comments in one thread.

We've all made decisions that in hindsight were a bad idea but were perfectly sensible and reasonable at the time, whether financial or otherwise. And sometimes these wind up having grim consequences like BR. Which is far from being an 'easy ride' as some of the posters seem to think.

We have no idea about the OP's situation and history, they came on wanting support after a very usual experience with a judge.

As for the old 'Sky TV' chestnut, with the likes of Virgin and Sky it's almost the same cost to have this with phone and internet as to have phone and internet on their own. And if you're like me, living in a flat with no TV aerial, it's the only option anyway.

As for using savings to pay rent, someone said the OP could have claimed benefits. Actually that's not true, housing benefit is means tested and if you have any savings you can't claim, at least until you've depleted your savings.

[Deleted User]

Why should bennies pay for debt, what worries me is if benefits are ever wrongly paid just who becomes liable!? It probably is the one consistent avenue of my life I'm so glad I just don't have that worry

Bankruptcy is always taking greater responsibility, you'll never convince me any different.

Imagine OP you'll gel better with the OR, just write it of as one of those things x

fermi

lilybankrupt wrote: »

Urrgghhhh I've been reading and sometimes posting on this board for a few years now, and this is the first time I've seen so many unnecessary judgemental comments in one thread.

Has been worse, believe me, but please report posts that are not in the spirit of:

--> This Board Is For Help Not Judgement

Regards, Sky TV, as mentioned, often this is allowed in the I&E if you are not on a premium packages and are getting it as a discounted bundle with phone etc.

https://www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/technicalmanual/Ch25-36/Chapter31/part7/part4/part_4.htm

owlet

lilybankrupt wrote: »

Urrgghhhh I've been reading and sometimes posting on this board for a few years now, and this is the first time I've seen so many unnecessary judgemental comments in one thread.

We've all made decisions that in hindsight were a bad idea but were perfectly sensible and reasonable at the time, whether financial or otherwise. And sometimes these wind up having grim consequences like BR. Which is far from being an 'easy ride' as some of the posters seem to think.

We have no idea about the OP's situation and history, they came on wanting support after a very usual experience with a judge.

fermi wrote: »

Has been worse, believe me, but please report posts that are not in the spirit of:

--> This Board Is For Help Not Judgement

Personally, I think the whole thread should be deleted (and I have reported this).

Any newcomers will be nervous about posting because of the very judgemental nature of this thread.

We aren't here to judge & criticise - we are here to offer support. The reasons behind someone going BR isn't our business. People make mistakes/circumstances change etc. For some, life thows up curve balls, which can't always be dealt with. For others it's years of spending beyond their means because they've never known how to buget or use cards/loans appropriately.

Most of the judgmental & criticising posts are from posters who don't come into the bankruptcy board normally anyway - so I hope newcomers will not be put off.

People in this situation are vulnerable and need support and advice going through the process. Nothing more is needed.

robatwork

Note this comment is nothing to do with the OP's bankruptcy but rather the school.

I simply don't believe that a school insists that all year 8 pupils have to own a smartphone. Would love to see some evidence of that - does the school put that in writing or by a quiet word from the teacher?

If the OP doesn't care to respond I wonder if any teachers reading would.

silverwhistle

I've done some teaching in FE colleges, but I suspect many teachers would rather they didn't have phones (bloomin' distracting social media!). Why a smart phone though - why not a cheap tablet with a one-off cost and use widespread hotspots? But even given the utility of a smartphone why not buy one outright and then get a cheap package from somewhere: my choice is £7.50 a month from Giff Gaff.

I've never owned a colour TV so can't really comment there as it isn't important to me, but I'm sure you could probably save money by shopping around. These days I'd never argue against having home internet which is essential for so many things.

But other things are not. Get your interview suit dry-cleaned by all means, but I can't remember the last time I had anything done, and perhaps your choice of dry-clean only clothes reflects past spending and something to think about in the future.

The judge may have been having a bad day, but they sometimes pick up on the impression people give (in general, not bankruptcy alone!). You need to consider your expenses and perhaps you came over as not have given the matter due consideration.

Either way worrying won't change things. You've had some practical ideas on here, but the biggest change is learning to budget. I've never been bankrupt but realised early on that "But it's only £x"s tend to add up to rather large figures.

doomandgloom

I just wanted to butt in on this on behalf of any newbies.

I haven’t seen the post referred to but have read the other judgmental comments.

If it wasn't for this forum offering support and being able to answer all the questions that I had I would honestly be a nervous wreck and wouldn't have been able to cope with my BR year as I did (still nervous, edgy, self-critical etc but not as bad).

Unfortunately for me when it was clear I needed to go BR (and I tried so hard to keep that from happening for at least 2 years) I could not afford any comprehensive legal or financial advice, as many others who have declared BR. I found initial guidance by looking on this forum and then seeking help from CAB. Don't get me wrong CAB are fantastic but being a free charitable service so appointments are limited in time and any follow up questions are hard to direct to them.

When I started asking for advice on this forum I did not experience any judgment. I received very clear guidance. I hope others are not deterred from turning to this forum because the majority are genuinely here to help. It is an incredibly stressful time and a huge thing to deal with when going BR. To some it is a relief. To others it is a sign of failure. I felt both. My self criticism was enough and I'm sure glad I had this forum to help me out with the odd issues that I couldn't book a CAB appointment for. Keep up the good work guys