Where do I start

BLUEWKD

I had problems like you getting though to the CAB, always engaged here as well. I had to go on one of their drop in days to make an appointment to see a debt advisor. Stress to them you NEED a quick appointment with the debt advisors as they are taking court action. My electric being going to cut me off got me a quicker appointment, but still a couple of weeks. From going to see the debt advisor, it is just a case of them getting a court date for you. They filled in all my paperwork for the bankruptcy, but you need to take all the original debtors bills, or else they can still come after you if you have not included them. As soon as the bankruptcy papers are filled in then there is only about 2 weeks before you get a court date and you are then bankrupt from that date. My CAB are great (when I finally got to see them). I should be all sorted in 3-4 weeks (would have been sooner if I had taken with me all by bills). I was told about the chance of a utility co or charity helping by my brother, but there is none in my area who do it. If you could get a friend or relative to hellp you, you can honestly tell them that you can oay it back quickly because you will have not debts, just your bhills starting on the day of bankruptcy. If you can't get to the CAB to make the initial appointment, maybe a friend/family member can gowith a signed letter from you to make an appointment. Don't know if this will work, but worth a try. Absolutely great feeling when you know that the debts are going to be gone. In a couple of weeks I will be able to answer my door knowing it will not be debt collectors.
Also the CAB will personally ring your creditors to say your getting debt advice from them and this should put a stop on them

debt_doctor

Yep the above is good advice, and im glad Bluewkd was happy with theCAB. The only thing I would like to amend is that if you do forget a debt or are not aware of a debt when you fill in the petition then this is still written off under the bankruptcy, you do however have a duty to register all debts that to the best of your knowledge you owe.

The reason for the local paper ad, and the london gazzette ad is to publicly notify everyone of your bankruptcy, and for your creditors to notify the OR of any debts owed.

Good luck with everything, and post any questions you have.

ps Well done Bluewkd, glad you ve won the long struggle to be debt free, and get control of your life back, bankruptcy is a great relief

BLUEWKD

Thanks for your message Debt Doctor. I didn't realise how easy it was to get help when I finally decided to take my head out of the sand and face the mess, which is what I suspect a lot of others have done. I had a pile of unopened letters, because I knew the addresses of the Debt Collectors used, so couldn't face opening them. This is part of the reason I got into such a bad situation, because by ignoring them, I got a lot of court fees etc.

Anyway, good luck to Madeline. I too am a fairly new member and I must say finding this site is one of the best things I did. Please let us know how you get on whatever decision you decide.

madeliene_2

Thank you so much for all your advice and I know I will need further help along the way.
I telephoned the CCCS and I have a telephone apointment at 10am this morning. I am a bit more hopeful now I have got some help. I willl update after my apointment
Thanks

tigerfeet2006

Hope the appointment went well,

madeliene_2

CCCS told me to stay with payplan as they will help me sort everything out.
Back on phone to payplan who told me they don't deal with bankruptcy, and advised us to go to citizins advice for help. Been on the phone all day trying to get hold of them and just can't it's engaged continuosly, so I don't know where to go from here, it's closed now! I feel like I've wasted a whole day.

Any advice what I should do? I have hospital apointments tomorrow.

tigerfeet2006

Ring CCCS back and explain what Payplan have said. They should then help you . Or ring National Debtline.

National Debtline - Tel: 0800 808 4000

debt_doctor

As earlier post, please write to your local cab and ask for a home visit. If you hear nothing then I and we will go through the whole process with you

Best wishes

BLUEWKD

Personally, I would do as advised and use the CAB. I sent an e mail to local office (you can find the e mail address if you go into their website and then find your local office which will give opening times, e mail address etc. As mentioned, I had trouble on the telephone. Wern I went to the drop in all the people there said that they tried to make an appointment but the phone continuall engaged. This must be a common occurence everywhere. What I think you should do when you are thinking of sticking with a payment plan, is the amount of years that it will take for the debts to be cleared if you can get away with paying as little as you can afford. I am only 35, but when I worked out how long it would take to pay one of my debtors the minimum amount required, I would be 77!

Think carefully, CAB tried 1st of all to get me to make a payment plan (not to hard), they realised that I had made up my mind and quickly helped me sort out the paperwork. Please see above message from me at to other ways to get in touch with CAB.

GOOD LUCK, from somebody who has been there and is nearly at the light at then end of the tunnel

madeliene_2

I finally got through to CAB, they don't do home visits but I have made an apointment for next wednesday, and they are sending me the forms to complete and everything. It will be a big struggle for me especially if it is not one of my better days healthwise. But it has to be done.


Payplan have not told us to stop our payments into our debt management plan, does anyone know what I do now?
Do I stop the payments as from now or continue until the bankruptcy starts?

I am really really grateful to all the advice I have been given on here, I wouldn't know where to start without you all.
I'd like to keep this thread open for future help and updates as I know I will need more questions answered. About things like what I may loose through bankruptcy.
We have 2 computers, a pc and my laptop. The pc is mostly for the kids studies but I would be cut off without my laptop, I sit in bed with it as often I cannot get up, if that was taken away and my TV that be all the last little bit of pleasure that I have.
I'm also worried about the kids things, they both have TV's, gaming consoles, but we have not bought them, they are what they have bought themselves through their jobs.

We also have a car but that is on lease through motability, and I am presuming because of that, it will not be taken from me.

Thank you again for all your help.
I'm very scared about alll this, but I don't see any other way.