Creditors after bankruptcy

viktory

Hello :j

I have been following the bankruptcy threads for a while and would like to raise a relevant point.

Following my bankruptcy I was told by the Official Receiver (OR) that I was to have no more contact with my creditors. I was advised by him that they would inform the relevant people that I had declared myself bankrupt and that the creditors would have to deal with the OR office.

However, on some excellent advise from the CAB I did also inform all my creditors,sending them copies of the bankruptcy documents with a covering letter. That didn't stop them though. For a full year after the bankruptcy I was still receiving threatening letters, phone calls and promise of all sorts of dire retribution. I did respond to a few of the letters and call, advised them tha I was now a bankrupt and that they should deal with the OR. Most ignored me and carried on. I even contacted the OR and advised him of the situation. In the end, I just ignored them.

The Student Loans Company actually started taking money from my wages 6 months after the bankruptcy (I was one of the lucky ones that got to put the loan on the bankruptcy). They took 5 payments and it took from October 2004 until May 2005 to get the payments stopped and the money returned to me.

So, just a warning. Although there is nothing the creditors can actually do (imagine how foolish they would look if they took me to Court!) they are persistent.

pug_in_a_bed

Cripes! that doesn't sound too goOD!
My OR advised me that he would contact all the creditors, but he also said that if I had any letters i could ignore them or do as you did and send them a letter with a copy of the bankruptcy order, which I did.
The only other contact I had was from the card protection plan company from one of of my old cards which wrote to me about 2 weeks ago informing me of my annunal payment. There's obviously a break down of communication somewhere, as I'm actually discharged in two weeks!

I also had letters from some dodgy credit agencies offering me ridiculous loans and high interest mortgages to help me out anow I was bankrupt. I guess these places must use the info from the bankruptcy website.

How did you resolve the student loan issue, as I also had my loan included? Just hoping i don't have to deal with that but just in case...

viktory

The Student Loan Company started taking money directly from my salary in October. I noticed immediately and called them. I explained the situation and once they had checked, they admitted that a stop had not been put on my account back in February. I was then told that it would take 40 working days for the stop to come into effect and in the meantime they would continue to take the money. I wrote to them, confirming the conversation and once the 40 days were up I contacted them again.

I was told that the stop had not taken effect. The Studen Loans Co. blamed the Inland Revenue. Finally, they put the stop on the account. Once that had happened I sent them all the wage slips that proved they had taken the money. Despite sending the letter recorded delivery (as instructed) it took the Studen Loans Co. a further month to acknowledge that they had even received it. I then waited another month for a cheque.

Although they admitted they were in the wrong, it took from October to May to get the money back and this was all due to their inefficiency. They lost letters (and faxes) I had sent, they blamed others and they prevaricated.

Not a good service! Hope it doesn't happen to you.

pug_in_a_bed

Hmm, perhaps I will get in contact with them to try and pre-empt this ridiculousness - do you think its worth me giving a call to make sure they are aware of my status? I havent had any problems with hassle from creditors so I assume all parties are in the know. Not working at the mo as I'm doing my masters but i hope to be in september.

viktory

Yes, with hindsight I should have called them, but I had no idea they could just help themselves to my wages!

Give them a call and update them on the situation, it can't hurt.

Good luck!