Hi all, I've just had my OR interview, with a very nice gentleman! As usual it wasn't half as bad as I was expecting! Didn't sleep a wink last night worrying - but just like the court date - I was worrying needlessly. He just asked about my loans and the reasons for taking them out, and went into why I think I got into serious debt. He asked what I'd purchased on my cards and I was honest and said I don't know! I don't have a flash house, had no major tropical holidays and don't have a wardrobe bursting with designer clothes! So I just explained that I got into debt by relying on overtime, supporting my dead-beat ex-partner and generally overspending! I was slightly disappointed that he's only allowing me 2K for a car, (my current car is worth around £6.5K) but I've got to wait for someone to contact me regarding it's value then I'll have the option for a friend to hopefully buy it back. But at least he allowed me a car so I'm grateful for that. I've got negative equity in my home so will have to wait for the regional office to contact me regarding the BI. Regarding my income and expenditure I've listed below what he's allowed:
Mortgage - £553
Housekeeping - £200 (I had £300 and he reduced it)
Gas/Electric - £80 (I had put down £45 and he increased it)
Water - £30 (I had put down £20 and he increased it)
Telephone - £55
Travelling to work - £60 (he said it was quite low!)
Clothing - £60 (usually only allow £30 but I explained that i'm 6ft tall with big feet so can't buy cheap clothes in "normal shops" so he made an exception and allowed it!)
Council Tax - £70 (I had put down £60 and he increased it)
Secured Loan - £273
Union Membership - £23
Dental/Prescriptions - £10
TV Licence - £12
Car tax and Ins - £40
Haircut - £20
Pet care - £20 (for 8 hamsters!)
Holidays - £20 (down from £50)
Parking - £32
Car Repairs - £40 (I'd missed this off and he added it!)
So whereas I had my I&E calculated as £1585, it's actually increased to £1611!
The only downside is that when I supplied the 3 months payslips as requested, I had had to do some overtime (which has all but gone over the last year), so he calculated my surplus income including this overtime. So whereas my basic monthly takehome is £1747 he calculated me as taking home £2142 making a surplus of £531 (I wish!!!!) I explained that if I did have this surplus every month I wouldn't be in this position!!!!! So I could expect a BRU of £370 a month which there is no way i can afford because I can't guarantee the overtime. But he did explain that it usually takes around 3 months to set the BRU up so if in the meantime my income changes, just to keep my wage slips and send them to the solicitor who's going to be dealing with the collection.
So now just waiting for the paperwork, and waiting to hear about my car and house. It's a big relief that the interview's over but now worrying about the BRU! [:(]