No contact from OR yet

FrozenAir

Hi, I  read this forum backwards and forwards before applying for bancruptcy on the 14th. It was approved on the 17th.

I tried to time it to fall between my wages going in, and direct debits/standing orders going out of my basic account (one I've had for years, with Nationwide).

I had hoped to have heard from the OR by now, because my wages went in today, and although my account hasn't been frozen yet, I know I can't touch the it.  It was too late to change my bank details at work to have the money go to the new account (I opened a Barclays account, but haven't had a card or PIN come through yet).

I have about fourty pounds in cash, but only Aldi seems to take cash here at the moment, and I need train tickets for work.

A DD is due to go out on Monday.

Because I don't know who my OR is yet, are they going to disapprove of the balance of my main account going up from the balance I gave on my bankruptcy application, and assume I have that money to spare?

I can get by with the £40 I have over the weekend, but if my wages are stuck in the account I can't use/might be frozen, we'll be properly stuck and the bills are rent won't be paid.

I don't want to/ don't think I'm allowed to move my wages into the new Barclays account before speaking to someone, but I don't know who to contact (which office, never mind person)  and the weekend is just going to prolong the time before I know if I can move it or if I'll have the account frozen.

Which is a very waffley way of saying I messed up the timings and now can't access my wages, and I don't know who or where my OR is.

Thank you in advance to anyone reading this.  I must admit, the OR not phoning soon enough was NOT the problem I envisaged keeping me awake at night.

bradders1983

You need money to live on. Nobody is going to bat an eyelid if you take your salary out of that account.

luvchocolate

Agree with Bradders..take out/transfer whatever you need...just keep your records to support this. 

bradders1983

Move the entire sum of the wages over to the new account (minus the amount to pay the DD) and inform your employer TODAY of the new details. You can easily prove the sum moved post bankrupcy is your salary payment.

You also need to sort your DDs out sharpish.  Did you not use the bank current account switching service?

FrozenAir

Thank you both very much.

I kept reading that accounts were not to be touched, and cards should be handed over, and terrified myself in to doing nothing at all!

I haven't switched DDs and other payments yet because I had a mad hope that my main account would be only temporarily frozen, and not of interest to the OR.  Our letting agent is jumpy because of Covid, and even though we've never missed a payment, or paid late, I don't want to alarm them with a change of bank details.

Then when my wages went in without my having heard from the OR, I panicked.

You were both absolutely right though, I called the enquiery line and they told me which office I needed, and an Insolvency Examiner replied saying moving my wages was OK.

Thanks again!

bradders1983

People change banks all the time for various reasons, I doubt giving someone new details would make them "jumpy".

Yes they do say dont touch the listed accounts but at the same time common sense needs to be applied.  If the account had £200 in it at on the date of BR and you then had £2k wages paid in by accident, taking out the £2k to put the balance back to £200 is more than reasonable. The OR does realise you need to eat 😉

FrozenAir

Hi, I thought I'd update this for any other worried lurkers.

My case was moved to another examiner, which was not a problem, I think they must be busy working from home.

My bank accounts are fine. Nationwide and Monzo both wrote to say I can continue to use them.

The IE/OR was lovely.  She was from the Leeds office, even though I'm miles away,  and was just so nice, and not judgemental at all.  She said she thought my Nationwide FlexBasic woulde OK, and she was right.

Thank you all again.  I worried myself stupid, but it was all OK.

And bradders1983, was right too.  Eating is fine!