Not sure what to do....

SadieDales

Hi,

I've just found out that a UK firm of solicitors have secured a CCJ against me for £36k. It started off as £8k, but I dispute the full amount. It relates to a CC that I had whilst I worked in Dubai, which I thought I'd paid off in full, but they're saying I didn't. For the record, I did not abscond from Dubai leaving a string of debts; The short version is I was attacked by someone I worked with. It's been very hard on my mental health.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, there's now a judgement against me for £36k, which I cannot pay. I've also tried to get advice on how to set judgement aside, because I was too ill to go to court as litigant in person and represent myself. I've tried: CAB, Law works, National Money Advice, National Debt Line. They all say I need specialist legal advice, which I cannot afford.

For the sake of my health, I want to know if declaring myself bankrupt would be the best thing to do. I am employed as a teacher, but on sick pay at the moment, with little realistic means of going back to work due to my on-going mental health.

Also, I don't know if this is a factor to consider, but I did have a house with little to no equity in it. It was falling to bits, as I couldn't take care of it due to my ill health, so with the help of family, I sold it and just about broke even after paying the legal fees, bills for fixing the house to get it sold etc. From what I'm reading on this forum, it seems like the 'creditor' may not be too happy about me selling this, or think I screwed them over. I didn't, I'd been trying to sell the house for years; it was getting me more and more into debt and I didn't make any money off it after paying for repairs.

I've also been screwed over by a firm who offered to try and renegotiate the matter for me. I paid them a large sum for representation and they said they were 95% certain I would not have to go to court, which didn't help at all. Here I am now, with a huge debt I cannot pay.

What do I do....? Hope someone out there can help me...

TimeToRebuild

well, your case may seem awkward and long winded to you, however its pretty simple, you have a CCJ against you for 36k, you cannot afford the money and you are open to bankruptcy......for the sake of your health my opinion would be go with the bankruptcy.

As for the house when was it sold? if you can prove you have been trying to sell it for a while and you have not made a fortune off it there is not alot they can do, they may see it as a preferred payment but that is down to the OR's desecration and would not really have an effect on you.

As you are on sick then it would be very unlikely you would get an IPA, just remember, its only money, just some numbers.

Focus on getting yourself better, feel free to PM me if you want to talk more.

SadieDales

Thanks for the message @TimetoRebuild.

I sold the house 19 months ago if that matters? It was whilst legal action was going on.
Not sure what an IPA is, but will look it up...

Thanks again...

sourcrates

IPA is an income payment arrangement, if you are employed, and you go bankrupt, dependent on your income, you may get an IPA, which is a monthly payment towards your debts, if your unemployed, or on a low income, you wont get one.


Its a no brainer to me, Bankruptcy makes county court judgements null and void, you cannot afford to pay the current CCJ, even if you made an application to reduce the payments, it would still take many years to pay off, bankruptcy is your only option here, all you need to set the ball rolling is the current fee of £680, you make your application online, no court appearance any more, 12 months down the line you will be discharged and able to start afresh.

debt_doctor

Hi,

If you sold the house for roughly what it was worth then there is no issue.

Bankruptcy can give you protection from this creditor. An alternative (if you feel up to it) is to make an affordable payment offer.

In any event, with no assets and currently little income there is not much the creditor can do to get their money back.

DD

maxmycardagain

*sounds like* BR would be a help, so long as the original (unpaid) debt was not for any of the "BR excluded" debts, in which case BR will wipe everything, though dont take my word for as im accused of promoting BR..

(we can party later)