Bankruptcy

If you are made bankrupt, you must not make payments directly to creditors.

Creditors to whom you owe money when you are made bankrupt should make a claim to the trustee of your bankruptcy estate. The trustee is either the Official Receiver or an insolvency practitioner.

Non-payment rule

Creditors should not ask you directly for payment. If you receive any requests for payment you should pass them immediately to your trustee to deal with and tell the creditor that you are bankrupt.

Exceptions to non-payment rule

There are some exceptions to the non-payment rule. The main ones are payments to:

• secured creditors, such as mortgage creditors
• non-provable debts, such as Court fines or child support
• benefit overpayments
• student loans

Debts incurred after bankruptcy

Any debts you incur after you have been made bankrupt must be paid. You must also pay any continuing commitments such as rent to a landlord if you rent your home.