Newbie with some potential bankruptcy questions

1stbaby

Hello all,
My partner has alot of debt and we have tried numerous times to get help and support with obtaining bankruptcy.
I believe it is around £40,000 and this was all done prior to us meeting over 5 years ago. He cant be registered at an address, so cant get a local doctor, and his mental health is now suffering as a result. 
The biggest problem he faces is not knowing how much he owes to who and how long ago it was. He was told before that he cant go bankrupt if he doesnt know all of his debts because any that resurface after bankruptcy would have to be included. 
He earns very little and is job hunting at the moment, so has no assets as such to sell and no real income at the moment although has great driving qualifications, most places want experience. 
I just want him to be able to get a doctors and a dentist and not live with the fear of debtors anymore. We go round and round in circles looking for help but dont get anywhere. This really is the last resort.

elsien

Can you clarify what you mean by saying that he can’t be registered at an address? For what reason? 

Is it because he’s scared of debt collectors coming round, because debt collectors have no legal authority to do anything. They are not bailiffs and they have no right of entry. 

Who has he tried to get help and support from with regards to bankruptcy?
has he looked online at the three credit reference agencies to see what is  showing on there?
He could also check to see if any of his debts are statute barred if they are over six years old, and depending on when he last paid anything towards them. 

Grumpelstiltskin

As Elsien said why can't he get registered  at an address?

That is the first thing to sort out.

ManyWays

He was told before that he cant go bankrupt if he doesnt know all of his debts because any that resurface after bankruptcy would have to be included. 
This is wrong, bankruptcy clears all debts (except ones like student loans and magistrates court fines) even if they are not listed on the application.

This is not saying that bankruptcy is his best option just that whoever you have spoken to did not give correct information.

I agree with the others that sorting out why he cant be registered at the address sounds the most pressing issue.

RAS

First things first, he can get all three of his credit records for free. That will list most debts.

If he has secured debts, court fines, outstanding Council Tax liabilities or HMRC debts they may not show up, and could be things that attract bailiffs. 

fatbelly

Is he actually getting any problems from these debts? If he has no address and they are over six years old, i'm guessing the answer is no.

sourcrates

Yes, I wouldn`t jump the gun on this, depending what debts they are, and when they defaulted or were last paid, they may be statute barred by now.

A little more information would be helpful, like is he actively been chased for any of these?

Anything show on his credit files?

Any letters etc?

And I, like the other posters, don`t understand what you mean by "He cant be registered at an address"?

Annisele

On the GP issue, he doesn't need to be registered at an address to register with a GP. There's some general information on GP registration here, and some specific information for homeless people here. Unfortunately dentists are more difficulty - depending on where in the country you are, finding an NHS dentist accepting new adult patients might be tricky with or without an address.

1stbaby

Hello thank you all for your replies I have been unable to get back to this until now.

To answer your questions, he chooses not to be registered anywhere as he is terrified of bailiffs and debt collectors. 

He constantly has letters being delivered. 

I am going to talk to him to try to write everything down and see what his files now say.

Grumpelstiltskin

If he is constantly having letters delivered then at least some of his creditors have an address.

elsien

And he also needs to understand the difference between a bailiff and a debt collector. 

Bailiffs only come if someone’s been to court and got a county court judgement against him, or for things like council tax. 

Debt Collectors, he can basically tell them to do one.
https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/debt-collection/bailiffs-and-debt-collectors-differences.aspx

It sounds like he’s been running scared for so long and with quite a lot of misinformation that he might be building it up in his head and stressing  him out a lot more than it needs to. 

If you can persuade him to it would be better for him to come on here himself and give the details that he has got and why bankruptcy hasn’t been an option before. 

Then hopefully he can get accurate information to decide his next steps.