Royal Courts Of Justice-Walk In?

ilovebanks

Does anybody know if you can just turn up on the day and present your petition for Bankruptcy, or do you need to make an appointment.

Thanks ILB

philnicandamy

far as i'm aware they still do but with everything & the increase in BR numbers its best to give them a ring to check first Tel 0207 - 947- 6000 (main switchboard) or 020 7947 6441 / 6839 (bankruptcy offices)

ilovebanks

thanks for the info.

yes indeed i called them this moning, just after my post, and they said i can just turn up.

pay in one office, heard across the grounds to another, then get it done and dusted.(hopefully)

ta,
ILB

wherediditallgo

A word to the wise - as it's a walk-in service, they can get very long queues at the payment office, especially as it doesn't just deal with BRs. It opens at 10am, so I suggest you get there by 9.30am at the latest. Although you'll have a half an hour wait until it opens, that's better than getting caught behind loads of people with a zillion queries about their paperwork.

ilovebanks

thanks for the advice.
i'll get there early!

ilovebanks

wherediditallgo,

did you go there by the way?
if so how was it?
did you see a judge, and did you see an OR in person straight away?

if you could fill me in (if you don't mind), i'd love to know.
thank you

philnicandamy

Ilovebanks have a read here

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=541002

this was an account of one member who attended the royal courts

wherediditallgo

ilovebanks wrote: »

wherediditallgo,

did you go there by the way?
if so how was it?
did you see a judge, and did you see an OR in person straight away?

if you could fill me in (if you don't mind), i'd love to know.
thank you

Yes, I was 'done' there. I didn't see a judge, & it's so busy there that I'd be surprised if any but the most serious of BRs get to see one. After you've handed your papers in, you're told to come back at a particular time in the afternoon, & you then go into a room with a load of other people all pretending they're not there for the same reason. Your papers are signed & stamped by one of the registrars, & the closest you get to them is seeing them working at a desk at the far end of the room you're waiting in - they don't speak to you, & when you sneak a crafty look at them, you're quite glad about that.

I was greatly helped by having a volunteer from the Personal Support Unit with me - the woman was really friendly, & we chatted so much that anyone seeing us together would have assumed that she was either my friend or I was so important that I had a personal escort. In saying that, all of the court staff that I met were very friendly - there wasn't the remotest indication that they were judging me. The one 'negative' thing about it is that it's a long day - as you go to the OR's office in the afternoon, you end up spending virtually the whole day down there, & though nothing bad happened during the day I found it mentally rather draining. Wear comfy shoes, carry a magazine or newspaper, & get yourself a decent lunch in the gap between the morning session & the afternoon return to the court, as you'll need the energy.

ilovebanks

Thanks everyone for your advice.
Well it's done.
I arrived at 9.30am, joined the queue having found the payment office.
Then a long trek to the Thomas Moore building.

Joined another long queue, then after an hour it was my time to see the clerk.

She was lovely, went through my petition, I swore on the bible, by which time it was 11.40am. She gave me a piece of paper which said to come back at 2.30pm.

Luckily my girlfriend was with me. We went for a bite to eat, then headed back for 2.30pm. Christ the wait seemed like an age, and I sat in a room with maybe 30 others.

At 3.15pm my name was called, and I went to a desk to be given the verdict. I was made bankrupt!!.

The joy was incredible.

I was told the OR will call in 2-4 working days.

That was it. no judge, it felt like a factory, in out and done.

For those attending the Royal Courts, don't worry, it seemed so swift, and the staff were great.

Now just have the fear waiting for the OR call.

Thanks everyone for your advice, it's an almightly relief I can tell you

xxx

Waspeze

Glad it went well for you ilovebanks