Loopy's Bankruptcy Journey

loopy_lou1

Re - the post about my court experience.

I was alleviating the pain some people go through. Don't think it's eay and don't think it's instant happiness. I have been BR for three days and it's HELL.

My court experience was made to be a lesson for those who are scared not to glorify BR.

Consider everything before you do it. Get help. I tried many avenues first. I've been going over and over this.

I just want everyone to know - I am not a bimbo - I don't have a lavish lifestyle and I don't have 34k worth of clothes and a get out of jail free card. I am devastated but it was my ONLY option. I was ADVISED to do this. By professionals.

I'm not happy - I feel like a failure. I will feel better I suppose. Please learn from someone who knows. Debt is horrible and I will never want to feel like that again.

Lou x

squirrel_pigeon

Lou - as I said on the thread that got deleted - thank you.

Your account of BR was very human, very touching and it's a crying shame it got deleted because of the debacle that followed.

You didn't deserve the abuse and your post really helped me in a week when I am making one of the biggest decisions of my life. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

Stay strong

Vicki
xxx

Richard_S

Lou & Vicki,

It is a hard path to tread but don't berate yourselves too much; that'll only make you feel worse. You've both made some difficult decsions and you'll be better people for the experience.

We're all 50% to blame and no more or less; you can't have an irresponsible borrower without an irresponsible lender. Accept that, and ask yourselves how much sleep the people who are responsible for bad lending decisions will be losing.

If you think none, then you'll be about right; maybe you should think about losing the same; quid pro quo????

Richard

squirrel_pigeon

Richard_S wrote: »

Lou & Vicki,

It is a hard path to tread but don't berate yourselves too much; that'll only make you feel worse. You've both made some difficult decsions and you'll be better people for the experience.

We're all 50% to blame and no more or less; you can't have an irresponsible borrower without an irresponsible lender. Accept that, and ask yourselves how much sleep the people who are responsible for bad lending decisions will be losing.

If you think none, then you'll be about right; maybe you should think about losing the same; quid pro quo????

Richard

Thanks Richard - my thanks button STILL isn't working (tech support haven't replied to my email yet) so I'm having to thank people in person.

The support on this board for me has been great - I really hope Lou can see that the majority support her and that she can still use this board to help her out in the times ahead.

rog2

Lou - I am so pleased that your post lives on - thank you. :T

Richard_S

squirrel_pigeon wrote: »

Thanks Richard - my thanks button STILL isn't working (tech support haven't replied to my email yet) so I'm having to thank people in person.

The support on this board for me has been great - I really hope Lou can see that the majority support her and that she can still use this board to help her out in the times ahead.

Hi squirrel,

You're not using BT Broadband by any chance? If you click the "Keep me logged in" box after you've typed in your password that should do it, or go on line through I.E rather than through your Internet Provider's Icon.

I've had the same problem and I don't think its a fault on the site.

If anybody on here occasionally "feels the heat" a good place to go is:

For more specific advice and support, in an environment that is managed by people with first hand experience of bankruptcy, and moderated to ensure that no deliberately inflammatory or abusive posts are made then please visit:

http://bankruptcysupportersclub.co.uk/default.aspx

Richard

fiveyearplan

Lou - I'm glad I read your post before it got deleted. Best of luck to you.

G-G_4

Well done Lou - just read your post and I was so pleased when you said the court had gone well..

I was made bankrupt on 6th dec and so I know how you feel.. it's hard work but this time next year we will have been discharged and looking forward to a much different mindset at christmas.

Best wishes for your future! x

loopy_lou1

In 1996 I was a happy 22 year old. I had a part-time job and I was doing ok. Not long after I applied for a full time as a receptionist and I remained there for three years. I broke my leg and I was off work for 4 months. By which time I'd ran up an overdraft of about £500 and I was ok I was earning and paying it back steadily. Gradually my hours were reduced and by this time I'd taken out a modest loan to buy a new car, well £1500 - it was my first car and I loved it. I'd also booked a holiday but this was all within my means. I got my hours reduced from full time to a day a week!!! I then changed jobs and it was about the same money but I had to travel further. Petrol costs were more but I was doing ok. I took a loan to consolidate my overdraft and loan and was paying one affordable monthly payment. I worked there for a few years and I loved my job. Didn't like the hours, I had to work christmas and weekends due to the nature of the work but it was fun and I met a lot of great people. Eventually, I decided I wanted to spread my wings so I went for an interview in London. I got there and was horrified. It was a culture shock for me and I wasn't told the position I was applying for was a 24 hour job. I couldn't see me trying to get home in the middle of the night as a single person who'd come from the sticks who wasn't exactly streetwise so I left the interview and broke my heart crying. I came home and I applied for a few others that would be closer to home and after about two or three months I got a great job. This time my debt was manageable but I was paying off a few differen things so I consolidated and got a better interest rate and again I was only paying off one thing. This is where it all went pear shaped. I worked in that position for three years and towards the end I was getting itchy feet and wanted to try something completely new. So I bit the bullet and I did move away. I moved to a city and got a job I absolutely loved - I'm still in touch with my colleagues and the staff I worked with and I was commended on how well I'd done by my boss when I left although leaving was when I knew I'd gone under financially and emotionally. I was from a small place and I think I looked at moving away like a holiday. I had bought furniture for the flat, some clothes because I worked in an office - nothing amazing but it was stuff I wasn't used to. Bills, rent, budgeting. I had no idea. I left in a complete state. I ended up on anti-depressants for a few months, I couldn't leave the house - all the time on sick pay and trying to manage one debt by paying it off with another. A few months later I started temping and I was financially a wreck but I was coping with the monthly payments. I then got another job - I've worked in a few places. And this one was the best job I'd ever had financially. I was given a pay increase at my interview because of my skills and experience. The only problem with that job was that it was a year contract with a STRONG chance of extension. I realised at that point I had to do something so after working there for a couple of months I attempted an IVA. I forgot to mention that whilst I was temping I also tried a DMP but that didn't work because I was unable to meet certain criteria. I phoned Payplan and they tried IVA proposals for me twice and I failed both times due to lack of votes. Mainly, from my biggest creditor to which by now I owed 9k.
And at that point earlier this year I was advised by Payplan to go bankrupt. I didn't. I plodded along and I was getting about 6-7 phonecalls a day from each creditor and I was scared to answer the phone. Everything fell apart in May when I lost my job. I couldn't find work until September and by this time I was considering bankruptcy. The last straw was when a company called HFO spent an hour on the phone with me and terrified me. They called themselves a factoring company which is a fancy name for a debt collector and told me I had to pay £1000 upfront that I didn't have. I eventually got this amount down to about £150 and they were demanding an amount I couldn't afford every month. When I found out my rights and told them I could only pay xxx amount they turned on me. They phoned continuously and even told me that they were putting a charging order against my house when it's not even my house and called my father by name - full name!!!!!!! I was sick to the stomach. I sought advice from Payplan, NDH and MSE and Consumer Action Group and they all advised me to file bankruptcy. 6 weeks ago I lost my job AGAIN - my contract was teminated within an hour of me finishing work. Luckily within a week I had another job and now I am temping long term. I didn't have any money to talk of so I waited until I had the BR fees and I phoned my local court last Friday and I was shaking like a leaf trying to ring them. They offered me a hearing on Monday but I wasn't ready with my papers and then on Wednesday I did it. I don't feel great. I feel idiotic because throughout my twenties - it's entirely my fault - I had debts and I don't think I've lived at all, really. BR really was my only option and I hope you understand that this process took me nearly 12 years to wake up to. If anyone reading this is only in a bit of debt - SORT IT NOW! Do not get to the stage I did. It's cost me a lot more than money - believe me.

I don't know how this post will be received but the truth is it's from a woman who feels like nothing. I have personality issues because of this. I've never been in a real relationship because I was ashamed. I hope now that I can move on from this. I really do. I want to live and have a family and get back to that happy 22 year old. I don't see bankruptcy as my ticket to it. I see the way to financial improvement as that. I sincerely do.

Thank you L x

Graham_Devon

Hope it turns your life around for the better Lou.

You got a chance a lot of people would give a lot for.