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Hi all, I've my hearing today in the High Court in Belfast. I won't give the time as it would only narrow things down and the court list would show who I am!
I have to say I barely slept last night, have been at the toilet a fair few times, and can't eat
I'm not even sure why I'm so nervous because I'm sure my interview with the OR will be worse than todays hearing.
Anyway, anyone else in NI who is thinking of going bankrupt, I'll let you know later how it was....
I was seen within 5 minutes of my appointment time and the whole thing took about 2 minutes!
I have to say it was all totally painless. I went in and the master asked me if I knew the consequences of going BR, and did I take advice. I said yes, and her reply was, ok I've signed the order and effective immediately you are bankrupt. Your unsecured debts are now basically wiped and the OR will be appointed by the end of today. You have no assets so it will be a phone call interview.
I will be contacted by the OR within 14 days and I've nothing to do till then... How easy was that!
Anyway I'll update here again once I have my interview.
The court is the High Court in Belfast. It's the old building.
When you go to pay your deposit for the OR you have to go to Fermanagh House on the Ormeau Road, you pay them and get a receipt, then you go to the court with your paperwork and the receipt and they ring you with a date. mine was about 9 days from I paid.
The master in the court was very pleasant, she was obviously there to get the work done but was very pleasant and easy to talk to.
If you have any specific questions or anything, feel free to ask.
That one has been bugging me as I would hate to have to take that call in work, even if its on my mobile, just would feel uncomfortable without all of my information at hand.
Nothing as yet, I thought I may have got a call to confirm an interview or something. I suppose they are swamped at the minute and it all just takes time. I do remember that the master in the court told me I didn't need to make contact, and just to wait.
I'm not sure about the work or home call, I'd presume that if you get a call on your mobile you can ask them to call on your home number, or your mobile when you know you won't be at work? I can't see them wanting to embarass you. Unfortunately I'm not working at the minute so I can't help you with that one!
Once i have my interview I'll update here and let you know how it went. In the meantime if I can help you with anything just let me know.
Well I had a call from the OR this morning. It lasted about 10 minutes! All he was interested in was a few minor details that he required to write to my creditors.
I asked him if I needed an interview to go over everything and he said no. He was in the process of writing to everyone concerned with my BR and he'd be in touch if other information was required. I'm waiting on some stuff in the post that I have to sign and return.
Basically he told me that he will conduct his investigation, close it and get me discharged! No timescale for that, but it all sounds very encouraging. He was a very pleasant person to speak to and answered all my questions with no bother at all.
I'm allowed to keep my car as it's under 4K and can be exempted because I use it in the process of searching for employment.
All in all it has been totally painless, and to be honest, was the best decision I could have made. Everyone I have met in the course of my BR has been very friendly and helpful, from the master in the court to the people I sought advice from.
I'll update here again if anything of importance happens.
To anyone from NI reading, if you are thinking about BR and you have taken advice that it is your best option, I can tell you that there is nothing to fear. Infact you have everything to gain from it.
I'm free from debts that were starting to take over my life, I need to remind myself that it's all ok now and I don't need to ignore my phone ringing with witheld numbers etc! Can't wait till I'm discharged now!
I would assume that the OR is a local person i.e Belfast?
Do you know if the phone number was a Belfast number?
I take it you didn't have to enter into an IPA/IPO or anything like that?
Good news about the car! That puts my mind at rest a bit as i need my car to go to work and as it's only worth about 1000 pounds it looks like its safe to me.
I bet you can't wait to get a call from a DCA so you can give them the good news!
How long was it from when you filed until you got the appointment to go to court?
I'm sure i will be back on asking you some more questions in the next few weeks.
Yeah the OR was a local bloke, they are based in Fermanagh House, Belfast, where you will pay your deposit if you decide to go for bankruptcy.
I didn't have to enter into an IPA or anything as I'm currently unemployed.
Yeah I'd say with relative certainty that your car is safe!
It took me about 13 days from I left my forms in till the day of the hearing. I was exempt from the court fee, and they had to check my exemption with the jobs and benefit office so this maybe slowed my application down a day or two?
I'm waiting on paperwork from the OR, I'll hopefully have it Thursday or Friday, there is some stuff in there that I need to sign and return. I was told it's a sort of contract that I sign that basically says I will co-operate with the receiver etc. Once I get it I'll post here and let you know what it was. As long as it's nothing confidential etc...
As for DCA's.... well I can tell them to get stuffed now and know for definite that they will have to do just that :grin:
Had a meeting with the Citizen Advice Bureau, they have confirmed that bankruptcy is the best option for me, which is what I was expecting.
I have most of the bankruptcy form filled in online, just need to add a few details.
When you click “Submit” on the form I take it you can no longer edit it afterwards?
The guy from the CAB said that I need four copies plus the original of the petition form 6.30, and two copies plus the original of the statement of affairs form 6.31, is this what you had to do? (First time I have heard of these multiple copies.)
Well I think that’s it, as soon as I complete the statement of affairs and get a solicitor to do the Affidavit then its off to the courts!
Once you click submit, that's it. you Can't edit it online, but you can save it to your desktop and edit it in MS word if you need to. That's what I did!
As for multiple copies, I had 1 copy of each, and handed it all to a bloke behind a counter in the court. It was all in front of the master when I was in for my hearing. So as far as I am aware it's 1 copy of everything.
Just to let you know they advertise your name and address in the Belfast Telegraph about a week after your hearing. It's in on a Friday night. My name, current address, and previous address were advertised. No big deal to me, but at least you know now!
Good luck with it all, if it's anything like mine then I can say you will be well happy afterwards.
Bankruptcy hearing today in Belfast
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