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

It is very unlikely that she doesn't know.

For a start, the fee is 760, so I'd assume someone in financial difficulty wouldn't spend that without partner noticing.

If any assets are joint - house particularly, she would have to know as the receiver could instruct house to be sold.

I think you do provide partners details on the application to track gifts made etc. I've done some bankruptcy applications through work, only for single people though weirdly!

None of your business frankly OP, you seem to enjoying this. Nasty little shit stirrer.

You were clearly overstepping the mark and abusing your position. You must realise, you can’t just check up on people on a whim, just because you can.

I don’t know what your employer would make if it. Unethical would be a starting point.

This is just odd, you call them both brother in law ans sister in law, so neither are your sibling, does this mean they are your spouses sibling and spouse? What are their views,

And it’s not your job is it, so what were you doing snooping on these people?

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

But it would never cross my mind to go & search all my friends & family, that is weird.

Is it even possible to become bankrupt without your spouse knowing?

Of course it is. If someone is petitioned for bankruptcy, they don’t ask for the whole family to attend.

For those who are saying it’s a data breach, it’s not, it’s a matter fir public record and anyone can look up that information.

OP, do you know if they own their home and do they have DC? I think that those would be my deciding factors in telling her as the Trustee in Bankruptcy could force the sale of the property if he doesn’t comply.

It's highly likely she will know, as his accounts have probably been frozen, creditors letters arriving, the official receiver might be in touch with her to see if assets have been put in her name to shield them from his creditors.

If she hasn't mentioned it, it's because she doesn't want you to know. Keep your mouth firmly shut unless you want WWIII to break out in your family because of you and your actions, instead of your BILs.

Messengers always get shot!

@MyBadHabitsLeadToYou

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

Exactly!

And it wasn’t by accident, you deliberately nosed into other people’s business unbidden.

@Delphigirl

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.

Thank you. Really useful info. It's her potential lack of knowledge that concerns me.

@PoppyWoods but why do you look them up on the first place?

@MrsSkylerWhite

And it wasn’t by accident, you deliberately nosed into other people’s business unbidden.

Yes and the question is why. You don’t just put your family names in rhe insolvency register, why would you. So the op was snooping on these people, who ever they are , and she wants to know if the woman in the marriage knows.

Do you mean your sister, not your SIL. You snooped, she may or may not know. If she asks for your help then be there for her, if not keep out of it.

@MrsSkylerWhite

You were clearly overstepping the mark and abusing your position. You must realise, you can’t just check up on people on a whim, just because you can.

I don’t know what your employer would make if it. Unethical would be a starting point.

It's not OP's position that gives her this access..

anyone can view it... it's Public

It’s not your job is it op and these are not your inlaws. Or not current inlaws. So who are they you were snooping on?

You can look at it as easily as reading the daily mail or looking at zoopla

It's not quite that easy as I thought you had to search each individual name. Why would anyone do this to their friends & family though?

The stress that poor couple will be under will be compounded by you telling them that you've been doing some snooping and have found out information about them that they have obviously been withholding from family and friends out of utter embarrassment. Having been near the edge ourselves in the past I told NO-ONE, including my brother, out of pride. We managed the situation but if anyone had said to us 'I know what is going on in your life' I would have felt sick. Just leave them alone apart from being kind. End of.

@MyBadHabitsLeadToYou

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

This. The whole POINT is that it's public information. FFS.

Sister in Law will KNOW too lol ..

Am a bit puzzled as to what you think "by accident" means, OP?

Yes how did she type in the name by accident?

@PoppyWoods

But what if she doesn't know?

Is it even possible to become bankrupt without your spouse knowing?

Nobody will thank you for sharing the info. Keep quiet and forget you ever saw it

t's highly likely she will know, as his accounts have probably been frozen, creditors letters arriving, the official receiver might be in touch with her to see if assets have been put in her name to shield them from his creditors

If he’s got his head firmly in the sand and hasn’t spoken to the Official Receiver, his accounts are unlikely to be locked yet.

Whether she knows or not, it's literally none of your business, keep your nosey self out.

@2gorgeousboys

Whilst it's part of your job to check the register is it part of your job to check on family members? I'd be disgusted if a member of my family checked up on me like this. Why on earth would you think snooping like this is OK?

This. Gdpr etc.