Where do I start

madeliene_2

Please can someone help out and tell me where I start with bankruptcy.
We owe around £36,000.00
Three years ago I suffered a severe stroke and became totally dependant on my husband. He had to stop work to be my full time carer. Our debts kept rising and monthly payments got bigger.
Earlier this year we went to payplan for help.
We got put on a debt management plan. This is 6 months ago. At present we are still getting hassled by phone calls from creditors, still getting letters and still interest is being added to the debts daily. I've spoke to payplan about bankruptcy but they have said they cannot help us and we should go to the citizans advice.
I've looked at the citizins advice and i feel that we would be better off going bankrupt. The problem is, I don't know how to start it or where to begin.
The first problem is, I don't have £350.00 for the forms and don't know how I could possibly get it. Family can't help as they have helped enough in the past.
I have just been told I now have post stroke epilepsy, and my seizures can increase with stress. My doctors told me I will not survive another stroke and I'm seriously worried about how I am going to handle my debts without feeling worried or stressed.

Can anyone please give me some advice on where I start, or any help will be greatly apreciated.

thanks
Madeliene

fiveyearplan

Sorry to hear your problems Madeliene. Give CCCS (you'll find their number somewhere on this site - look for a post by Fermi and see signature). They will best advise you. Good luck.

rog2

There are, also, some utility companies, such as British Gas and EDF, who give grants towards bankruptcy costs. CAB/CCCS should be able to advise.

psycrow57

Hi there

Sorry to hear of your problems - I totally understand as I have recently gone bankrupt partly because a chronic illness has affected my ability to work full time. Are you claiming benefits (ie. incapacity benefit)? I believe you only have to pay the court fee (£150) if you are - CAB can give you specific advice on this. You need to get advice asap - it's a condition of going bankrupt that you get some. If not, can a family member help you out? Your husband may well be able to pay them back once the debts are lifted.

If you decide to go br, most people stop paying their debts / dmp. Would that be enough to help you with the fees?

It took me a year to save up the fees, so I know how you feel (it cost me £485 in total with the court fees and the OR deposit). It was worth it though.

Take care
x

massey_2

Hi I am sorry to hear about your problem but my oh was seriously ill and we landed into difficulty so i wrote to each creditor myself explaining the situation and also sent them an expenditure form and a list of all my creditors and how much we owed and they were all very good and they even frozen the interest for us and payed back what we can aford they do ring up from time to time saying that they want an increase all i say to them i will send you an expenditure form and a list of all my creditors and i get no reply off them hope this will help
take care x

madeliene_2

Thank you for your replies.

At the moment we are paying each creditor a small amount through payplan, the monthly amount is £200.00 we would remain paying this for almost 20 years.

At the moment all our income is benefits, I get DLA and incapacity plus my husband gets carers allowance and income support.
After all our utitlities, groceries, clothing for the kids, we are left with very little to live on. I will never be able to work again due to my illnesses and disabilites, plus I need a full time carer as I am in a wheelchair, and unable to manage some basic things.

We don't own our property and have no assets. I don't drink or smoke and only leave the house to go to doctors or for a drive in the car. My kids have suffered terribly, having watched their mum almost die and then have to help me daily(which they do without me asking), we have been unable to take them places and do things with them. My husband has been fantastic, but he cannot cope with the money problems, and he is now on antidepresants.
If there is one thing I can do it's try my best to get these debts sorted out as soon as possible and give some peace of mind to my dear husband who has given up everything to me.

I will be totally honest, please forgive me for being this blunt.
I am seriously worried. My doctors have all told me that I should try and make the most of what time I have left. My health has gone down hill very fast lately. If I pass away, I am scared what will happen to my family with all these debts in hand.
However, I am prepared to do everything I possible can to ensure I can do this NOW and not next week.

I just need to know where to actually start and who to go to to start the process.

Can I ask, do you have to pay upfront on getting all the forms? Where do I get them from?
Our CAB is always engaged and I cannot get through.

Again thank you

rog2

Hi Madeliene - I'm really sorry to hear about your circumstances, and let me put your mind at rest on a few points:

1. If your only income is benefits, then you would NOT have to pay the Court Fees (about £150) and you would, almost certainly qualify for a grant, from one of the utility companies, that would help towards the £350 charges.

2. equally, you would not get an IPA/IPO as your only income is from benefits.

3. You do NOT need to pay ANYTHING until you actually take the papers to the court.

4. You can download the forms from http://www.insolvency.gov.uk where you will also find guides to help you fill in the forms.

WE will, also, help as much as we can, but you should STILL take professional advice. Keep trying CAB, but if you can't get through, then try CCCS, but, please, keep posting here as we have a member (debt doctor) who is an adviser with CAB.

psycrow57

Hi there

If it were me, I would download the forms now, print them off and start filling them in. Keep trying CAB for advice on how to pay for the bankruptcy itself, and also call CCCS for more indepth advice on the bankruptcy.

If you stop paying your DMP with PayPlan, you'll save £200 a month giving you enough to pay for the bankruptcy in 2 months (I think most people stop paying once they decide to go BR). If someone could lend you the money you can do it even quicker.

How long it takes depends on the court - some offer appointments, others have a drop in policy. I went to the drop in session at my court, didn't even have to see a judge, it was done that day. The OR called me the next day and arranged my interview for 7 days later (I had to delay mine as I was in hospital, but this only added a few days). Technically, once you've received advice and depending on the court's policies, you could be all sorted within a week.

The most important thing is not to worry - you will be able to get it sorted. You have far more important things to worry about and doing this would take a lot of pressure off you.

madoldbat

Madeline welcome to the board.
Please get further advice from CAB they can help you complete forms and guide you with information re your local court.
They will also advice you on fees .
We stopped paying all our creditors when we finaly decided BR was for us.Rent ,lectric,gas ect keep paying .It took two months to get money together.We had to tell creditors who kept phoning we were sorting out a payment plan with CAB.This helped slow the calls a bit.
The most important thing here is your health and that of your OH .
You will get help and support on here so keep posting and asking.
Take care.

debt_doctor

Hi Madieline,
yep no court fee's to pay ( £ 150 times two ) But deposit of £ 335 times two payable in all circumstances. if you purchase your gas or elec from any of the companies mentioned earlier you can apply to theircharitable trusts for help ( it does nt matter if you owe them any money ) I am pressuming that the debts are belonging / shared by both of you, hence the two lots of fee's.

Stop paying the DMP, and use this for the fee's. Ask the local county court what the waiting list is and if its lengthy apply now. Yoy dont have to pay until the day, and you can cancel if your not ready. In your health state you really need this to bring you peace of mind.

Also there are lots of occupational charities may provide help. if you let me know in what areas you and the OH have worked in ill try to find some appropriate one' s for you.

It would help if you could get a letter from your consultant to support you.

Please ask us if you need to know anything else, we are all here to help you

Best wishes
DD x

debt_doctor

Write to your local CAB, fully explaining your situation and disabilities and ask for a home visit.