When someone goes bankrupt an Official Receiver is appointed to review their bankruptcy forms and also to interview the person who has gone bankrupt.

This interview can be quite short in nature or more complicated, this depending on the complex nature of the bankruptcy, and also if the OR has any questions related to the bankruptcy forms or any assets the bankrupt may have.

In most instances this interview (usually done via phone) goes smoothly and if there are assets involved the OR may request the bankrupt person to provide more details of that asset. The OR is also looking to see if the person who has gone bankrupt has any surplus income after their allowed living expenditures so that they can pay into the bankruptcy. Payments into a bankruptcy are for three (3) years, even though a discharge from bankruptcy occurs in just one (1) year.

There can be instances where someone who has gone bankrupt feels they are not being treated fairly by the OR, or feel their bankruptcy is unduly harsh.

The first thing to do if someone finds themselves in this situation is to try and communicate with the OR and resolve the issue between the two of them.

If this cannot be done, there is a complaints procedure on the government's insolvency web site:

www.bis.gov.uk/insolvency/contact-us/IP-Complaints-Gateway