Friday, 1 June 2007

Where has the time gone?

Is it really three months since I last Blogged? Well, I'm so sorry, loyal follower. I have been so wrapped up in 'real life' that I seem to have forgotten my 'on-line life'.

What's been happening lately? To be honest, loads of good and a very small bit of bad. To get the bad out of the way, my Pop took a tumble a couple of weeks ago and shattered his hip. He's OK, had a full hip replacement and is well on the road to recovery.
Thanks to everyone at EAST SURREY HOSPITAL
You are wonderful people and I love you all.

If anyone reading this blog knows East Surrey, knows anyone IN East Surrey, or knows anyone who WORKS at East Surrey, please point them at my blog. I want to say thank you!

What about me and the money problems?

Well - in chronological order:-
I dumped my Insolvency Practitioner because he was going to cost way too much.
I walked into the County Court on 14th March - and walked out bankrupt. All it cost me was £475.
My Case Manager at the local Official Receiver's Office is wonderful and she has been really looking after me.

Look - don't criticise me for going bankrupt and getting out of debt the 'easy' way. It's not an easy way, believe me. People I know walked up to me and said, "I saw your name in the paper last week. Didn't know you were in that sort of trouble."

Hey, I'm bankrupt. Not spreading some terminal disease among the population of the South Coast. It happens. Get over it.

My employers were wonderful. They understood what had happened, then told me not to worry.

My bank - dumped me. Expect that from Abbey. They don't let bankrupts have even the simplest current account. I kept my Savings Account with them, though. But I can't use it for Direct Debits.

However - after much web searching - I found out that HSBC will give Simple accounts to bankrupts. No cheques (who needs them?) No credit card (That really is the very last thing I need!) Just a simple account that I can use to receive my salary and pay standing orders and Direct Debits.

I've got a Maestro card for shopping and HSBC do great online banking, as well.

So I'm pretty much set up. All the phone calls and threatening letters have stopped coming from my creditors. No more 'visitors'. They have all left me alone.

If you can handle the stigma of being bankrupt, don't mind not being able to get credit for a few years and really have reached the end of your financial tether, in might be right for you.

BUT don't take my word for it. Please do your own research.

Whatever happens in your future - stay happy.

Much love

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