My Bankruptcy Diary

TheEditor_2

Hi,

I'm officially BR, and I have to say I feel relieved, not only because of the debt, but as today is now behind me. I also realise that the next 12 months will be filled with new problems, and for anyone thinking that this was an easy out, the last 3 years have been a painful experience - and today is an end of the pain and stress incurred. I am no longer in debt because of positive action I took today that was necessary because of my actions in the past. A clean slate.

Today started at 8.30 after a unexpected lie-in as my wife took the kids to school. I got showered and dressed and checked my bag still had all the forms in it. It did.

We drove to the bank and withdrew the fee and then headed to court. We parked up, I walked in with my wife. At court security, my bag was searched and we were metal-detected. The security guard did take my small digital camera and gave me a receipt so I could get it back. I don't know why I put it in there, just what I do normally when I go out...

We went into the general office and rang the bell and someone took all my forms off me and checked it over. I was then sworn in and I paid the fee's. It was all done really professionally and I felt at ease, and having applied for business loans and grants in the past - it just felt like a normal business application, not really that legal if you know what I mean. I'm not saying I wasn't nervous but I did feel confident that I was making the right decision.

A lot of credit to you lovely people for that, and also the way in which it was handled today by the clerks. I did have to fill in a couple of sections which I did not realise that I needed to but the clerk gave me advice and clearly marked the sections with post-it notes, then I filled it in - in triplicate!

The folder was prepared and I was taken upstairs to the courts. The woman who dealt with me was very nice, and I could tell was doing everything in her power to put me at ease.

I sat in the waiting area for an hour as it was a very busy day. I did forget the book! At long last my name was called out and I went into a very airy modern room with a meeting table. I sat opposite the judge and he asked if I had received professional advice, I answered. He also confirmed that my level of debt made it the best option. He asked if I wanted to go BR, I said yes and he stamped the order. 12.20. It's official.

I left the room, I thanked him and added "with all respect, I hope never to see you again!" He laughed and added "At least not in these circumstances". I thanked him again, and left the room - both smiling.

I took the paper work back to the office I started in. I was told to take a break for 20 minutes and go and get a coffee while they prep the folder for the OR call. I handed my paperwork over and headed outside for a smoke. My head was whirling, but in a good way I think! and I thought about what just happened. It was just like the many helpful diaries I have read here, and now it was me going though it. Surreal really.

I headed back in, and was taken to a small meeting room and told I was going to talk to the OR. The chat was polite, asking a few question about my situation. My date for the interview as booked in, and that was it. I handed the phone back and headed back to the car full of positive advice from the OR.

It's early days, I know, but I hope this will be the start of something great and the first time in nearly 10 years that I can actually make sense of my finances.

Having done it, I would have to say that if you have taken advice and you are considering going BR - do not let the court appearance put you off at all. In my opinion - banks and angry credit companies are much more scary!

Thanks again for all your support and I'll keep you posted on how things are going. Many, many thanks to you all.

Kindest regards,
TheEd.

fermi

Glad it went well.

It's hard to convince people that in reality court isn't scary in the way you imagine it. Now you know what we all mean.

Good luck with the interview.

creditcardshuffler

Many thanks to TheEditor from me

I am going to court tomorrow!!!!
I have not slept properly for days or is it weeks?

Reading your post has quelled some of the anxiety I am feeling. I don't have an appointment for tomorrow just turning up as I was advised to however there is a chance that if too many others are in the same boat then I would not get to see the Judge and have to go back.

I know I will not get much sleep tonight but hopefully tomorrow night will be different...

Many thanks again :beer: and good luck for the next twelve months.

betterlatethannever

:T Glad it went well.
Your post is really going to help those about to go to court (such as CCS above) they are generally lovely and helpful people.
now...we need to sort out your smoking habit..tut tut;)

JulesJay

Glad it went well today for you.

Jules x

fiveyearplan

Pleased it went well for you Ed. I look forward to hearing how your OR interview goes.

CreditCardShuffler - good luck for tomorrow. Post and let us know how it went.

FeelingLow

thank you for sharing that i am sat here in tears (literally) i just hope i feel the same relief when my day looms, like you BR is one of if not the hardest choice i've ever made,

TheEditor_2

CCS - Good luck tomorrow!!! Thanks for your kind words one and all!

TheEd.

TheEditor_2

FeelingLow,

I'm sorry you are sad, but if debt is making you that sad - be glad that we have the choice to fix it and for me BR represents that. I told this to the OR and I think he appreciated it.

I also took stock of my life - and it's not really money that makes it what it is, but being in debt just makes you think that it is. Remove one source of sadness and your one step to being happy - that's the way I look at it.

I've become very goal orientated to and that seems to really be helping me sort my head and life out.

The Ed.

TheEditor_2

Betterlatethannever,

Sorry, about the smoking but those patches smell awful when you light them - I don't know how people smoke those things!

Thanks...

TheEd.