re-halifax/sun alliance/curtis solicitors. just come back from my solicitors & feel very dispondent.Ive got court proceedings on the 4th June regarding bankruptcy on a shortfall for a mortgage of £20,000.I have no money & live from week to week on my wages,my solicitor wants loads of money up front & loads of money an hour,how do i get out of this one?

-- peter burrows (pez38buzz@aol.com), May 12, 2003

Answers

Suicide definitely isnt the answer, try ringing the NAMV first thing tomorrow morning to see if they can offer you any help or put you in touch with one of their solicitors.

If you havent any valuables bankruptcy isnt a bad thing, and even with a new home it may be possible to keep the home.

There are many ways to try and stop a bankruptcy, Simon Wiggins at www.debtquestions.co.uk is great for knowing a lot of the legalities.

Has the Halifax already got a judgement in their favour re the shortfall? If not what paperwork have you got in the SARN that can be used in your defense?

-- Sue (bradfordandbingley_suck@yahoo.co.uk), May 12, 2003.

Peter

I don't want to patronise you...but please put the idea of suicide out of your mind. Many of us on this site have been where you are now emotionally. a year ago I was thinking of the same but I'm still here thanks to this site, and all the people who give advice on it.

If you are up to it can you post another message detailing exactly how your shortfall came about. We can all them have a look at your situation and consider if there are any other options rather than bankruptcy. Solicitors don't always get it right.

Bankruptcy might not be as awful as you think and there are new discharge rules coming in next year that might allow you to move on quicker than you think.

I understand you might not be up to reading all the info on the site at the moment...but maybe in a day or so you might feel like tackling it.

Please keep us all posted ...try and get a good sleep and hopefully you'll feel better tomorrow.

Take care

M

-- hanging in there! (Anderston828@aol.com), May 12, 2003.

Peter,

As Sue says suicide is definitely not the answer. Ask youself this question......How much money is your life worth? 1 million? 2 million? Answer - It's too valuable to put a price on. There ARE solutions to this problem. As Sue suggests you can contact the NAMV (01889 507394), but ring them. You could also contact Ahmed Bhutt (who I am told is an exceptional advice worker) at the Mary Ward Legal Centre 26-27 Boswell Street, London WC1N 3JZ Tel : (020) 7831 7079 Another possibility is Derek McConnell He is at South West Law Services (Legal Services in the Community) Ltd, 1 hide Market, West St, Old Market, Bristol BS2 0BH (0117 314 6400). These people offer free help.

Not only that if you are on a low salary or unemployed you can obtain legal aid see: http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/

The Legal Services Commission are also operating a Telephone Advice Pilot Project. You can find the telephone numbers on their website, they cover a large area of England and Wales and are at local rate.

If you have little or no assets Bankruptcy is also an option, discharge will now be quicker due to the new Enterprise Bill coming into force next year. This could give you a fresh start. As Sue says Simon Wiggins is a good man to ask about this.

There are plenty of people on this site too who can offer help and support, so don't let the buggers get you down. Feel free to email me if you need to. I'd suggest phoning but I'm out the country at the moment, and I haven't got a brass farthing either :).

Mark.

-- M Amos (idgroms@hotmail.com), May 12, 2003.

I've just seen your message. Whatever stress you're going through, especially if you are feeling suicidal, you can always talk about with the Samaritans. The phone number is 08457 90 90 9 but you can email them too - jo@samaritans.org.

-- Sean Lang (SF_Lang@hotmail.com), February 12, 2004.

All the above is good advice, with the new bankruptcy changes coming in and if you have no assests, this would be the best option, 1yr from Apr 04 to be discharged, only downside would be an impaired credit rating for 6yrs. Then again if £20k was the actual figure on judgement (what about costs & interest) how much of life would you have, bankruptcy would be small price to pay.As for giving alife i would not give thoes bastards my toe nail clippings.

good luck.

-- justask (justask@btinternet.com), February 12, 2004.

Peter

Suicide is not the answer perhaps you could do with reading The Northumbrian Farmer's book "A LOOSE CANNON" THE MEMOIRS OF DAVID CANNON. It is inspirational. He is the man, now in his 70's, who muck spread all over Nasty West or as the book says Not East Bank.

I believe that NAMV's is no more at least Carol Riley has not offered us any help whilst stating that she has run out of funds. Try the number but I think you will find that you just get an answer phone message- if that!

This site is your best bet. Hard work but excellent.

I wish you all the best in your endeavours don't give the B.....Ds the satisfaction of giving up.

Badger been where you are, got the T-shirt and things now look promising once again.

Do let us all know how you get on

-- (badger@field41.fsworld.co.uk), February 13, 2004.