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Original poster

Discovered (by accident) BIL is bankrupt. Do I tell SIL?

487 replies

PoppyWoods · 02/09/2021 20:08

Part of my job is to check the insolvency register. It's a public register, freely accessible to all.

I put in various names, mine, my parents, my sisters and brothers, not expecting to find anything. Anyway to my horror I discovered my BIL was declared bankrupt 3 months ago. It's definitely him as it lists full name, address and dob.

My SIL has never mentioned it. We're fairly close and she's disclosed very personal things to me in the past, so I'm wondering if she even knows. Is it even possible that he could go through the process and her be totally unaware?

My dilemma is, do I tell her or not? What if she doesn't know? What if she does know and she's so mortified she hasn't told anyone? What if she accuses me of snooping and interfering?

I honestly don't know what I do with this information (if anything). Appreciate your thoughts

OP posts:
Horehound · 02/09/2021 20:24

"by accident"...hardly. you were snooping on your while families lives on purpose Hmm
Keep out of it.

Miniroofbox · 02/09/2021 20:24

@PoppyWoods

OK, it wasn't by accident and I snooped, but now I know do I do anything with that info?

No Data Protection issues, public register

You are wrong. Because you didn’t do it as part of your private household activity but as part of your job.
user1471457751 · 02/09/2021 20:24

@justfuckoffthelottayer it's a public register,anyone can search it. No rules broken

caughtinanet · 02/09/2021 20:25

@justfuckoffthelottayer

I think you may find you are breaking all sorts of data protection and fsa rules and laws by randomly searching people you know, I wouldn't be surprised if that was a sackable offence people have a right to privacy and you have no right to snoop. None of your business they didn't tell you because they don't want or need to discuss it with you so keep your nose out and stop spying on people.
So you think the OP is breaking data protection rules by using a Gov.uk provided service?

Maybe contact the appropriate authorities and let them know.

Or stop talking nonsense,there is all kinds of information publicly available literally to the whole world

Miniroofbox · 02/09/2021 20:27

The issue is that the op didn’t search it in her own time as a private person. She did it as part of her job.

caughtinanet · 02/09/2021 20:27

www.gov.uk/search-bankruptcy-insolvency-register

Here's the link for all of the posters who think there's some kind of crime being committed by the OP

terrywynne · 02/09/2021 20:27

Free and publicly available register (that OP happens to use more than most) www.insolvencydirect.bis.gov.uk/eiir/ knock yourselves out searching for people

Not data protection issue but definitely nosy and snooping

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 02/09/2021 20:27

You were snooping and interfering and that's what I'd be telling you if I were your SIL.

COLLIESHANGLES · 02/09/2021 20:28

@LittleBirdBlu

Bloody hell why would you even search your family members or friends?? That's appalling!!
This Couldn't you lose your job over that op
LookAtMoiPloise · 02/09/2021 20:28

Why were you even searching it? How weird.

Keep your nose out.

BIWI · 02/09/2021 20:29

You say absolutely nothing. It's none of your business. If I were her I'd be furious that you had done that - regardless of whether or not my partner was bankrupt.

Keep your nose out!

caughtinanet · 02/09/2021 20:29

@Miniroofbox

The issue is that the op didn’t search it in her own time as a private person. She did it as part of her job.
You're talking rubbish, anyone can use the register whenever they like, as often as they like and to look up whoever they like. We could alll look you up as well if only we knew your name
ThisBeTheName · 02/09/2021 20:30

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Original poster
PoppyWoods · 02/09/2021 20:31

I'm not worried about any legal ramifications, there aren't any. Icould literally look up the whole street, it's a publicly accessible register.

Also not worried about how appalled you all are, just genuinely curious as to whether this could happen without her knowledge. Would appreciate anyone in the know to advise

OP posts:
ThisBeTheName · 02/09/2021 20:32

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muffinfaces · 02/09/2021 20:32

Are you even allowed to that in your job?

ThisBeTheName · 02/09/2021 20:34

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BobMortimersPetOwl · 02/09/2021 20:35

I really can't imagine a conversation in which you tell your SIL you spend your free time searching them to find out gossip about them going very well, can you??

muffinfaces · 02/09/2021 20:35

Why would you even think to search their names though?

willithappen · 02/09/2021 20:35

@PoppyWoods

I'm not worried about any legal ramifications, there aren't any. Icould literally look up the whole street, it's a publicly accessible register.

Also not worried about how appalled you all are, just genuinely curious as to whether this could happen without her knowledge. Would appreciate anyone in the know to advise

You have asked if you should tell SIL and people have told you no, and why. It's not just people being appalled, it's literally answering your question.

But no, stay out of it and mind your business. You've already been caught out for snooping. What else are you looking into for all your families background - very strange!

Oogachuckachopsy · 02/09/2021 20:36

@PoppyWoods

OK, it wasn't by accident and I snooped, but now I know do I do anything with that info?

No Data Protection issues, public register

Jesus fucking Christ.
luckylavender · 02/09/2021 20:36

@PoppyWoods - I wonder what your employer would think if they knew how laissez faire you are with such sensitive information. It may be a public register but I'd check your contract if I were you. There are rules around such conduct.

Xiaoxiong · 02/09/2021 20:37

Don't breathe a word, ever ever ever. And don't snoop again, just because the info is freely available doesn't mean you should look! Curiosity killed the cat!!!

Delphigirl · 02/09/2021 20:37

All of you bleating about data protection are entirely wrong. It is a public register by design - names snd addresses of bankrupts are published so the public knows that they no longer own their assets and are insolvent so they should not lend them money or extend credit, and so if a bankrupt owes someone a debt they can register their claim with the trustee in bankruptcy.
You can look at it as easily as reading the daily mail or looking at zoopla. No data protection issues at all and you can do it as work just as easily as you can read mumsnet.

And it is quite possible that his wife knows nothing, as he may only have been served 2 documents, and if he has put his head in the sand he may have been made without even attending a hearing. Alternatively he may have sought bankruptcy himself to avoid paying his debts. A good sister would check that her sibling knew about it as it can seriously affect the family, for example if he owns the family home alone or jointly with his wife is at risk of being possessed and sold.

QueenBee52 · 02/09/2021 20:37

It's in the Public Domain... anyone can look at it... lol

OP your Sister in Law knows.... he would struggle to declare bankruptcy without her knowledge. You will just embarrass her, by telling her you found her on the public register. Others will also have found them on there... it's a PUBLIC Domain.