7 Years On After Bankruptcy

[chrissa1]

I’m filling an income form to take on a better and cheaper property to rent.

It asks at the end if I have ever been bankrupt? My credit score is “excellent “ now as every bad thing has now been removed.

Do I have to say yes to the bankruptcy question even though it has been wiped from my credit report? Thanks.

[woofgang]

I think you do....I mean you could lie but if you get found out then its won't help at all.

[AuntLydia]

Your credit report is now clean. This is just for a rental check, nothing important like a mortgage so I would be inclined to keep quiet. T

[chrissa1]

I think I’m with you, Auntlydia. What’s the point of having your report wiped clean if you’re going to have to keep admitting that you were bankrupt + everything that goes with it, 7 years ago.

There would be no point in having a fresh start.

[AuntLydia]

Exactly Chrissa. TBH I don't know why they are asking the question. Normally a rental company will do a simple hard credit check and charge you. Once something drops off your credit report its gone 'Poof' lol . Best of Luck with your fresh start.

[kvalidir]

Don't own up to it, they have no way of checking that seven years ago, so what they don't know won't hurt them. Grab your new start with both hands and enjoy it. x

[chrissa1]

Thanks guys. Much appreciated. X

[gness]

Chrissa, have a fantastic fresh start.....lovely feeling, isn't it!...... Gx

[fiction-factory]

If it says "Have you ever been declared bankrupt" then the answer has to be YES, surely. If they wanted to know if you had been bnrupt in the last X years (six?) I think they'd have aske dthat.
Some people draw comparisons with past convictions which are spent- but these still appear on DBS (CRB) checks if relevant.
I'm sure I saw a debt charity site once which said you should declare them.
I'll see if I can find it

[fiction-factory]

>they have no way of checking that seven years ago,
I don't think that's necessarily always the case, kvalidir, unless steps have been taken to remove them- e.g. from Land Registry records

[Barmaid]

They can check - all they need to do is a search of the London Gazette archives.

[SparklyKid]

kvalidir wrong, no, impossible,lol.

[kvalidir]

A letting agent will do a simple credit check FF, and tbh if she puts 'yes I was bankrupt 7 years ago' they will decline her, it's just common sense, so the obvious thing is to say 'no' because that doesn't appear on a normal credit check.

[fiction-factory]

I wouldn't recommend lying- it's a risk that could come back and bite you.

I found this advice from someone who claimed to be from a debt agency


"Hi sab

In our experience, prospective mortgage lenders will invariably ask "have you ever been the subject of insolvency proceedings i.e. bankruptcy?"

It seems jumperjohn was not asked but I would say that was the exception not the rule. Lenders can, after all, search back through old Insolvency Register records if they really want to know. If you are asked the question, you should answer it honestly, but as we are seeing from some of the posts here and on other similar threads it often doesn't bother the lender if you were bankrupt once upon a time.

Dennis @NDL
"

[fiction-factory]

I know some will argue a mortgage is not the same as a rental company but where does one draw the line.
If in doubt you could get someone to ring anonymously and ask them why they are asking it when it's not going to be on the credit file.
Or just take the risk of lying.
Anyway, doesn't matter to me. I'm just trying to make you aware that records stil exist and rental companies might be prepared to accept discharged bankrupts but may mistrust someone who says NO when the answer isn't no.

[AuntLydia]

For goodness sake this is not a 'Lender' chrissa is filling a form in for its a Rental Agency. The worst that could happen would she would be declined as a potential Tenant it it was to be found she had been Bankrupt. A mortgage or Bank Loan is a totally different scenario.

[kvalidir]

Right enough, but my opinion holds that in a buoyant letting market they are unlikely to let to a bankrupt since they won't have to, they can find a lower risk tenant, but depends clearly on your own personal take on it.

[fiction-factory]

Maybe it should be in Chatterbank then.

[fiction-factory]

Aunt Lydia- would you suggest falsifying references too?

[fiction-factory]

It'd be interesting to hear barmaid's take on whether it is illegal to ask the question and whether any laws (misrepresentation ?) are being broken by lying in response.

[AuntLydia]

fictionfactor: No, to falsify references is not advised. They are always checked so what would be the point?