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Just got the date for my OR Meeting on the 19th Nov ,telephone interview.

Is there anything I should know before that day, also what paperwork will I need at hand my end.

Is there any difference between a telephone interview and the interview in person, and is there any reasons they choose one against the other.

Any other tips or suggestions welcome, feeling a bit nervous now.

Mick

Hi Mick

I had a telephone interview with my OR and it wasn't bad at all. It was rather lengthly, she did ask loads of questions, particularly regarding loans. She didn't ask me about credit cards at all. There were questions regarding life policies (lapsed or not), house and content insurance and wanted copies of these sent to her. I had my initial conversation with her 2 hours after going BR and my telephone interview on the 2 days later.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Sue

Ho Hum! Think I'll bang my drum!

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I had a copy of my BR forms and copies of all the statements and loan agreements that I had sent to the OR. It made it easier when the examiner asked me things as I had much of the information in front of me. I would also make sure you've got a pen and paper and a glass of water - it's amazing how dry your throat gets! I would also make sure you have peace and quiet - I made Dave go out!

I'm not sure why some people have a face to face interview and others have telephone interviews - I think it may depend how complex your case is. My interview was scheduled to last half an hour, but it only lasted 20 minutes in the end.

The only other tip I can give you is answer the questions you are asked (obviously!) but don't offer any extra information, and if there are silences don't feel the need to fill them!

Good luck, and please let us know how you get on

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

I had a 3 hour face to face interview, which was quite hard going, but quite unusual from all accounts too. My interviewer was being appraised at the time which was the main reason for the length.

My only advice is to prepare, prepare and prepare.

Have as much information about your loans, cards and spending history as possible so that you can answer the questions they put to you.

Good luck, you will find the sense of relief afterwards amazing.

Hi Mick, I too had a telephone interview which lasted about an hour. Have a copy of your BR form in front of you, also any loan/credit card statements. And if you have had any major money transactions, it would be handy to have your bank statements in front of you so you can explain them. The OR didn't really ask me questions regarding credit cards just my loans and basically just asked me how I'd got myself into this situation. If s/he asks anything about transactions and you can't remember - just say so. And as Skippy says - only answer whats asked! If they want more information they'll ask for it!! And go through your I&E again - if there's anything that you've missed off, or any amounts that you think you've miscalculated tell the OR duing your interview. But try not to worry too much about it - the OR's not there to give you a tough time. Good luck.

Thanks for all the info regarding the interview I have listed below my I&E does this seem ok, or do I need to amend anything before the meeting.

Income

Wages £950
Pensiom £55
ChildTax Credit £160
Child Benifit £18

Monthly Outgoings

Rent £104
Food House Keeping £350
Gas/Electric £80
Water Rates £0.00
Telephone £55
Travelling £40
Clothing £80
Council Tax £97
Car Tax Insurance £25
Car Repairs £50
Life/Household Insurance £42
TV £12
Internet £13
Pet Care/Insurance £44
Hairdressing £20
Medical £20
Holidays £50
Sky not sure if this is allowed £35 added it here but not on forms.

This is to cover myself and my 15 year old daughter.

Is there anything I have missed that I should mention.

I know the rent is low but my house goes with my job and don't have to pay water rates.

Income Total £1,183

Outgoing £1,082

Regards Mick

Can't offer any advice but wanted to wish you the best of luck!

Arghhhhh!!!!!!!!!
If only I'd said NO!

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Hi Mick, as you know I had a face to face interview with the OR, which lasted for ages! Still, done now! Regarding your I&E, I would say your Gas / Electric is a bit low, as mine costs circa £100 a month, travel seems low, but clothing a bit high! Just my thoughts, and please be assured I AM NOT AN EXPERT!
I took all bank and credit card statements for the last year, which is what the OR asked me for, along with loan agreements, pension statements, and cut up credit and debit cards. Also unused cheque and paying in books, along with my wage slips for the past 3 months.
My examiner was very nice, didn't treat me like dirt, and was very compassionate.
I wish you the best of luck Mick. D.

Hi Douglass,
thanks for the info as regards Gas/Electric it may be a that I worked this out fron my last few bill, and that I have kept them low because of the situation I was in. With outgoings on my loan and credit card costing me over £500 a month I just had to save somewhere, If you know what I mean. The travel cost are low as I live and work on site, I work a split shift which is mornings and evenings. So I don't get a lot of time to go out, only weekends. So car is only used to run my daughter to her friends and general shopping and the occasional trip.

One thing I did wonder if I would lose the car, but then again only valued at £800 and also its a Plastic Pig (Reliant Robin) to those who don't know about the nickname.

As for clothing I did think this maybe a little to high but then again have not bought anything new to wear for a very long time, so thought if they allowed it I could at least treat myself and my daughter to some new cloths. Still all they can do is reduce it I suppose, no harm in trying.

Regards Mick

The gas and electric does seem a bit low - don't feel you have to cut back just to make the OR happy. Is the clothing allowance for you and your daughter? I was allowed £40 a month for me on my own, but I don't know if the OR takes into account the fact that children are still growing and therefore might allow more. The telephone does seem a little high - does that include a mobile phone as well? I seem to remember reading that the maximum allowance for pets is £20. I'm not sure about Sky as that was in my partners name so I never had to find out.

Regarding your car, unfortunately you might lose this as you don't need it for your job. Is there anyone who would be able to make an offer to the OR to buy it for you. And I must just say - a Robin Reliant? Excellent!!!

Good luck, and please bear in mind that these are only my opinions based on what I've read on the forum and my own experiences.

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Regarding your car, unfortunately you might lose this as you don't need it for your job. Is there anyone who would be able to make an offer to the OR to buy it for you. And I must just say - a Robin Reliant? Excellent!!!

I may not use it to get to work, but I use it on occasions to go out to get parts for my job, also have to use it to go shopping as the nearest supermarkets are between 1.5 and 2.5 miles away with no easy way to get to them. My local shop is around a mile away also.

My daughters friends don't live close either. But I suppose we will have to wait and see. I cannot see any other way to get transport as I only have a bike licence and have not passed my car test. So the only option would be a motor cycle which you cannot use for shopping or getting spare parts.

As for the phone this is for the home phone and my mobile and my daughters too both pay and go.

Make sure the OR knows that you need it to get to parts of your job and you shouldn't have a problem. I didn't realise that when I posted!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Skippy13 wrote:

Make sure the OR knows that you need it to get to parts of your job and you shouldn't have a problem. I didn't realise that when I posted!

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Its not to get to parts of my job, its to get parts for the jobs I do. I work as a Caretaker at a school.

As for the phone this is for the home phone and my mobile and my daughters too both pay and go.

Sorry, I'm having a bad day today and seem to have lost the ability to read!

I don't think you will have a problem, and the phone seems reasonable as well.

Good luck for the 19th

Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.

View my blog at http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/

Thanks for you kind wishes Skippy and all the rest. Still waiting for my Thinkbanking card to arrive so I can set up direct debits. I opened a Alliance & Leicester basic bank account prior to going BR, but OR said it would be frozen. They fax the bank to release my wages. I them read on this forum the trouble one person had getting the wages out, took two weeks if I remember correctly. So this week I went to the A&L to get wages thinking I would get the same treatment. How wrong I was, firstly they said that they have not seen a fax from the OR and on checking my bank details, said there was not a block on the account. I promptly withdrew all my money with the Manager. Told them that I was doing this because I was made BR and the OR had told me the account would be closed. Their reply was why did they tell you that this is what this basic account is for, people in your situation. She then said what I suggest you do is take another application for fill it out and then bring it back into the branch and I will send it off for you. So much for thinking they are all bad.

I will do this and keep you informed how I get on. Even if I don't use this as a main account. I am going to use it for savings for long overdue holiday.