In 2016, a new online Bankruptcy Application was introduced in England and Wales. Before then you had to go to court with three copies of your paper “petition” to become bankrupt, and your bankruptcy would be approved by a judge. Now when you submit the online Application it is checked by the Insolvency Service Adjudicator who makes the Bankruptcy Order.
As a result, more people are now choosing bankruptcy, see Court-free clickable bankruptcy ‘removes stigma’.
The online application is a huge improvement on the old court forms! But it is pretty long and you may need to find some information for parts of it. There are eight parts and you can’t move from one part to the next without entering something in the current part. As a result you can’t easily look at the whole thing before you start – or when you are just thinking of going bankrupt and want to know what you might be asked.
This article looks at the new online application form to give you a feel what is involved – and there is a link to a page which looks at each section of the application.
Starting a bankruptcy application
To start a bankruptcy application, you need to supply your name, email address and answers to three security questions you select:
- if this is going to be your “real” bankruptcy application, you should choose an email address which you check regularly, as this is the address the Insolvency Service Adjudicator may need to contact you on.
- if you just want to have a look around, you can use a fake name – I have used Jane Doe to get the screenshot on this page.
You are then emailed a 12 character application number – it will look something like KZR3-HRMZ-PUMG – which you can then use to login to your bankruptcy application.
The Application Overview page
You start at the Application Overview page where you can see the status of each of the eight different sections and also how much of the bankruptcy fees you have paid so far. At any point you can go back and view the answers to the sections you have already done and edit them.
Here is a screen shot showing what it looks like when the first two sections have been completed:
The bankruptcy Application Overview page, showing the first two sections as completed
The 8 sections
See The 8 sections of the bankruptcy application for a detailed look at what you need to put in each section.
When you have completed all the sections…
When you have gone through all the section you will see the above box.
Of course you may not actually have completed everything – you may still have bits to add to some sections, so it’s a good idea to keep a list of things you want to go back and add to, especially if it is taking a while to get all the information.
And if it takes a few months to save up the bankruptcy fees, when you are ready to submit it, don’t forget to go back and check that none of the information you have put in has changed. Have you moved? Sold a car? got a new bank account? etc
Once you have completed everything and paid the fees, when you click on the Submit your application you will be asked to verify some information including that:
- you are the are the person named in the application
- the information provided is accurate to the best of your knowledge
- you consent to a credit search being run using the details provided in the application.
What is this information needed for?
There are four main reasons for asking all these questionsr:
- verifying who you are. Not many people will submit a bankruptcy application and pay the fees for someone else maliciously, but the Adjudicator is going to want to spot this if it happens!
- getting the Adjudicator the information needed to decide if your bankruptcy order should be made or (very unlikely) your application should be rejected. If you have lived abroad until recently and most of your creditors are abroad, the Adjudicator will consider whether England and Wales is the right place for you to go bankrupt. The Adjudicator will look at a summary of your assets, debts, income and expenses to see if you are “insolvent”. If you are worried about whether you are, the best thing you can do is take some good debt advice before submitting your form.
- getting a full picture of your personal and business affairs. After your bankruptcy order is made, the details are passed to an Official Receiver’s office who will interview you about these. A few people try to conceal assets, debts, businesses they have been involved with, the fact they transferred their house into their wife’s name two years ago etc. The only way for the OR to spot the people who are deliberately doing this is to ask everyone a lot of questions.
- getting a fair picture of your expenses The details of who lives with you and how old they are will help the Official Receiver later in trying to decide if an Income Payments Agreement is required.
Help – I don’t have some / a lot of this
Many people won’t!
Apply a bit of perspective for old stuff. If you opened your main bank account in the late 90s and don’t have any documentation saying when, just put down Jan 1997 as the date it was opened the account, the OR isn’t going to care. Of course your bank could probably tell you the information if you phoned them up – it would be worth doing this if the event was much recent.
The OR will also be used to dealing with people who haven’t kept details of everything for the past 5 years. You may have moved house a lot, separated from a partner, have been out of the country, had mental health problems or just not be very good at filing paperwork… Self employed people who are going bankrupt because their business has failed often don’t have perfect business records.
Just do your best to fill in the application and make some notes about any areas where you really weren’t sure what to put down and mention them to the Official Receiver at your interview.
Problems using the application
If you find you can’t start the next section on the main Overview page, it’s probably because there is a question in the previous section you haven’t yet answered.
If you have problems, you could call the Insolvency Service on 0330 331 0020 or email them at onlinedebtsolutions@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk . But they can only anser factual questions, they can’t advise you on what to put on your application.
When will your bankruptcy start?
When you have paid the fees and submitted your application it goes to the Adjudicator’s Office. They approve 95% of applications within 2 working days and many are approved the next working day.
You should check your emails regularly – it is possible the Adjudicator may want to ask something, although this is rare. When the adjudicator has made the decision, you will be informed by email.
You can check if your application has been accepted by logging into the application – if the application has been approved, there will be a copy of your Bankruptcy Order and its date – this is the date you bankruptcy starts.
Rob says
have now started the process of going bankrupt online today and let me tell you it’s so easy to do just take your time if it’s too much just log out and then come back to the page you were at. I myself is going to pay the fee in instalments as l don’t work due to ill health
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Rob, it’s good you are finding this easy so far – I hope the rest of the process goes smoothly for you.
r popa says
What is the actual bankruptcy fee please?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
£655
Stung says
Hi – I am British and been out of the country for 2 and a half years. I live in the UAE. Can I apply online or do I need a solicitor?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
As you are not in the EU, you should be able to use the online application within 3 years of leaving England, see https://debtcamel.co.uk/bankrupt-england-from-abroad/ for details.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Sorry but you have asked 4 rather unusual and very varied questions about bankruptcy on 4 different articles. I cannot give debt advice to an individual and it sounds as though your situation is too complex for general pointers to be useful. I am afraid you need to consult a debt adviser or a solicitor about your range of issues. From what you have said I think you should be taking advice before proceeding with a bankruptcy application.
Best Wishes
Lynn says
Hi I have paid the fee and submitted my application this afternoon. Could you please tell me how long roughly before the bankruptcy will be granted? Also I have a bailiff coming next week, what happens then? As I’m sure I read somewhere that I shouldn’t pay one creditor over another, or does that only apply after the bankruptcy has been approved.
Many thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Most cases are pretty quick unless there are any questions about whether this is the right country for you to go bankrupt in.
re the bailiff, just keep things simple and don’t open the door.
Lynn says
Hi,
I was sent bankruptcy order by link to insolvency website today. Had bailiff text to say they were giving 24 hrs notice of intent to seize goods. This is for a council tax liability order. Told them I was bankrupt, the woman on the phone insisted that I wasn’t. As I only applied Friday, and it was accepted today, she claims nobody gets made bankrupt that quick. Emailed copy of the bankruptcy order she insists that it hasn’t come into force yet as it has a case number and not the traditional BR ref. According to her this is just stating I have applied for bankruptcy, but it states BR order. She checked online but nothing shows up yet for my name, She then went on to say that they will pursue for custodial as I have no money!! They were put in the bankruptcy, but she insists they will still pursue me. Please help, is she right? Phoned insolvency service, they say it takes a day or two to update the online insolvency register, but I am BR as I have been send the BRO. Very confused and worried.
Regards
Lynn
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You are definitely bankrupt.
Unless you have already signed a Controlled Goods Order (see https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/bailiffs/bailiff-has-issued-you-with-a-notice/bailiffs-notices/controlled-goods-agreements-bailiffs/ for what one of these looks like if you are unsure) you can ignore threats from the bailiffs and should not let them into your house. They won’t be able to send you to prison instead!
If you have signed a Controlled Goods Order things get more more complicated and I suggest you call National Debtline 0808 808 4000 this morning to discuss this.
E Camps says
Hi I have bailiffs calling tomorrow, just looked at another answer what is a controlled goods order and can I refuse to sign it looking to go bankrupt by next week when we have raised the money
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi, I think you should phone National Debtline 0808 808 4000 and they can talk you through the details of your debts and what to do about this threatened bailiffs visit.
A kharanjani says
Hi. Do i need to pay all £655 before i can go bankrupt or can i pay that monthly and they will still process my application.??
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I am afraid you need to pay it all before going bankrupt. See https://debtcamel.co.uk/help-with-bankruptcy-fees/ for ideas about how yo get the money!
Ella says
Hello,
Me and my husband made a scariest decision our lives- to go bankrupt. Will not go into much detail, redundancy etc., But now half way through the application there are thing that are not clear. All benefits we are receiving are in joint names ( JSA, Housing etc), paid into my account. So i am the one paying all household expenses. How do we declare our expenses and income separately on our bankruptsy applications? I have emailed Insolvency and they say split it between yourselves the way you think best reflects your current financial situation. Not very clear to me. Would greatly appreciate any help / advise. Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you divide all the income and expenses into two. Nothing you have said suggests you need anything more complicated than that.
Have you talked to a debt adviser about your decision? It may be absolutely the right thing for both of you, but I always suggest it’s worth an hour of your time to get this confirmed. National Debtline 0808 808 4000 are a good place to call.
Jamie says
Following a marriage breakup in November I had to stop making payments on 2 loans. I wrote to them asking them to take a £1 token payment while I hoped to work things out with my wife. Long story short things didn’t work out and am now going through divorce, have now moved into a rented flat and with my current income vs outgoings i’m left with no option other than bankruptcy. I’ve been paying 1 loan company the £1, the second didn’t accept (well requested further info which i sent then heard nothing back) so have paid nothing. I have however been paying the minimum payment on my only credit card since November, will this be seen a a ‘Preferential’ payment and should I include it as such on the bankruptcy form?
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
In section 8 of your bankruptcy application you are asked if you have made extra payments to some creditors but not others. You can describe there what has happened.
BUT this is (a) very small scale (it’s not as though you have repaid a lot of money to a credit card) and (b) very short term, just a few months. I would be extremely surprised if the Official Receiver is at all interested in this.
Aaron says
Hi
I’m just filling in the online form to go bankrupt, if I owe money to my bank do I give their details as a creditor or the debt collection agency they appointed
Thank you
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You list the bank as the creditor, not the debt collector.
Shango says
I would like to ask a question pertaining to Section 8 (Debt History) of the Bankruptcy Application Form.
I am planning to go Bankrupt later this year.
For 10 years I have been in a DMP with one of the “Big Three” free facilitators of this service. I have had a Vanquis Card and another loan with outstanding debts totaling 6k which they are unaware of.
The Vanquis Card has been open for 5years and the loan little over a year. Both are up to date with regard to payments but will be included in the Bankruptcy later this year. The minimum payments to the two total £300 per month whereas my DMP Payment is less than £100 per month on over 100K owed with numerous creditors.
I am worried that the OR may consider this falls into the category of “extra payments to some creditors” and I could be in for a BRO.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I suggest you talk to your DMP provider and ask them to include the Vanquis card and the other loan and add the £300 a month to your DMP payment. At the moment that is all you can do.
A BRO sounds unpleasant but will probably make very little difference to your life. And the OR may not care much anyway – the “extra payments” that they care most about are those where you are repaying a debt to a family member and not paying other creditors anything.
Shango says
I was planning to stop paying the two of them a couple of Months before going Bankrupt using the money saved to finance most of the £680 Fee.
If you have been living in England/Wales for at least 6 Months is it true I can go Bankrupt there rather than in Scotland where I resided for the previous 6 Years.
The reason for my preference is the different way IPA’S are calculated. In England/Wales no IPA prior to discharge and that’s it whereas in Scotland it is still “live” for another three years after discharge.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Well it’s your choice, but I would suggest that as you have decided to go bankrupt, you should be treating all your creditors equally from this point. If you do this now, the OR is less likely to care what you did before you made the bankruptcy decision. So this means adding Vanquis and the loan into your DMP asap and upping your DMP payments. Then when you need to get the money for the bankruptcy fees you stop paying the DMP – this is standard advice and whichever DMP firm you are using should confirm this if you ask them.
re living in England for 6 months – I’ll check up on this and get back to you next week.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I am sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
There is no minimum time you have to live in England before applying for bankruptcy. However, the Adjudicator, who approves applications for bankruptcy, needs to be satisfied that you “ordinarily reside” in England. If you have only just moved from Scotland, you may be asked to provide evidence showing that you really have permanently moved. This could be utility bills, a tenancy agreement, council tax bills, evidence that you are employed etc.
Douglas says
Hi, Does the fee need to be paid in full before the application will be processed? There is the option for monthly payments so just wondering how this works. KIndly they don’t provide this information on their website.
Thanks
Douglas
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Douglas, the fee does have to be paid in full before you can press the Submit button to apply . The monthly payments options is there because many people find it helps them to put the money away towards the fees.
Erika brady says
Hi
Unfortunately I’ve just failed an Iva so now going bankrupt. How do I show my termination certificate to the io as there is no option to upload it with the online application?
Thanks
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Is your IVA still showing as active on the Insolvency Service register?
Erika brady says
Yes as they are terminating it at the moment
Sara (Debt Camel) says
I think the IS will check the register when approving your bankruptcy application, they won’t need to see the termination certificate.
Rebecca feeney says
Who takes a proof of income/expenditure? Surely you have to hand that to someone to go through before you can be confirmed bankrupt 2 days after you fill in the online form.
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You have to complete I&E details as part of the online application. You don’t have to prove this before you go bankrupt – this is just the same as with the old paper-based application at court, you didn’t have to provide any proof of that. After you have gone bankrupt, you will have an interview with your someone at your Offical Receiver’s office, usually over the phone.
Rebecca feeney says
So you don’t have to give bank statements or anything in at all? I sound like I’m trying to hide something I’m not, I just had read that they will want a few months of bank statements and proof every bill that comes out and wage slips so I’ve been trying to get all of that together. Do i not need to send this off or show anyone at any point?
I had a meeting last night with someone from Christians against poverty and they were lovely, but they wanted to set something up to pay my creditors and also put aside savings for myself. I don’t really want to be handing someone money but they said they would help me complete the online appline application etc. Will I need a lot of help or is it pretty self explanatory if you have all the correct documentation?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
You will usually be asked for bank statements etc during the interview after you have gone bankrupt, not before. If you read through the article above – and the link in it to the details of the application – you should get a reasonable feel for what is involved. And if you want to look in detail, just start an application so you can access the real thing. You can do this in a false name and a junk email address if you want, or use your real name and email if you expect to take this forward at some point an actually apply.
Most people’s applications are long but straightforward. If you just work through it methodically you should be fine.
CAP are very good and help a lot of people through this process. You need to save up the bankruptcy fees, complete the application, plan when to go bankrupt, plan to open a new bank account etc. If it is going to take you a long while to save up the fees, there is the question of how much to pay your creditors whilst you are doing this – nothing may be the right answer, but not if you have priority debts – CAP can talk about these.
If you would prefer to do the form yourself and save up the money yourself, I don’t think CAP would mind, but they should be able to answer any questions.
Rebecca feeney says
Thanks Sara,
I have started to fill in the online application and it looks fairly straightforward. How many months of bank statements does the generally get asked for?
My case is relatively simple with approx 26k of debt just from credit cards/tax credit over payment little bits and bobs and haven’t got myself into any new debt in approximately 2 years.
Jane says
I was wondering if most of the credit card debts have been assigned to Debt Collection Agencies is it the name of the Credit card provider that goes down or the collection agency? Also why is a credit search done? Is this so that all of your debts are counted in the Bankruptcy?
Sara (Debt Camel) says
Hi Jane,
as I said when you commented before, you are based in Scotland and I am afraid that I know nothing about Scottish Insolvency. I am not prepared to guess. Please phone National Debtline who have Scottish experts.