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

[PoppyWoods]

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

You snooped and found this information. How would you even explain that to her?
She will almost certainly know, but they probably haven't said anything as they will want to keep their financial affairs private.
Even if she doesn't know - it is absolutely nothing to do with you. You don't say anything. Either way she would be highly embarrassed.

@BobMortimersPetOwl

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??

Exactly, it's a conversation I don't want to have. Hence the post.

Asking again, could this have happened without her knowledge?

[quote luckylavender]@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. [/quote]
lol

I know someone who did exactly this. About 29 years ago. She worked for a bank in a business loan role and searched all family members she could think of in the gazette.

She let it slip to her sister that she knew a family member had been made bankrupt and the family member made a complaint.

Despite the gazette being public she lost her job.

You keep well out of it, OP, that's what you do.

20 years ago

Honestly the mixture of ignorance and outrage in some of these responses is depressing.

Why do you need to know? It's. None. Of. Your. Business.

wow.. this information is not Secret, anyone can view it...

Do people seriously not know this

Lol at the hysteria though 😂

Ok somethings missing here, who goes looking on the insolvency register. So why did you look?

And of course she knows, don’t be daft.

@Miniroofbox

I know someone who did exactly this. About 29 years ago. She worked for a bank in a business loan role and searched all family members she could think of in the gazette.

She let it slip to her sister that she knew a family member had been made bankrupt and the family member made a complaint.

Despite the gazette being public she lost her job.

29 years ago... a lot of things were very different lol

Yes, of course her partner could be made bankrupt without her knowledge - the court doesn't require her permission. However, if they have any joint debts she will now be liable for 100% of the balance, so she will find out that way. If she doesn't already know she may also be made aware by their landlord or mortgage provider, as bankruptcy may impact their tenancy or any jointly owned property.

Do they own their own home? Have they spoken about selling it, if so? Have they recently moved? Have they recently sold the car?

[quote luckylavender]@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. [/quote]
This thread is crackers

What possible problem could there be with anyone using the internet to, you know, look stuff up that the UK government publish for the sole purpose of allowing people to look at it

Do seriously think there's an employment contract that bans employees from using the internet?

One billion percent, stay out of it -although I've a feeling you're not going to-

Jeez. Aren't you a peach. You were nosy and now you're in a dilema. And it's all your own doing. 👏

@Miniroofbox

That’s a data protection breach. What’s your justification for searching family members? I bet your work policy doesn’t say look up your BIL.

OP shouldn't have done this morally. But it is absolutely not a data protection breach. This is a freely available public resource. Op's work can't prevent her looking at things on a public resource. Don't talk nonsense as if it's fact.

Still what you did op wasn't right, it's none og your business. But nit legally wrong.

If they have joint debt or assets she knows.

@TokyoSushi

One billion percent, stay out of it -although I've a feeling you're not going to-

Oh yes, I can just imagine the OP telling her SIL out of concern

It’s as much of a data breach as looking in the fucking phone book 😂

Sometimes bankcruptcy is the only or best financial option for someone at that point in time. I certainly wouldn't judge someone in that position.

Are you concerned that your Sister might not be aware ? How likely do you think that would be ?