I have been paying bankruptcy for almost a year and I cant afford too.  All  i get out of my check ever other week is 69.00. I paid over 10,000.00 last year alone . Ive paid almost 4,000.00 this year.
120253
Contact the attorney who filed your case for you. You may be able to roll it over to a chapter 7, but you might lose property in the process. If your debts are that high, and your income that low, you might need to just let everything go back and start over.
413817
The state rules generally apply to what your exemptions are...or what you are allowed to protect after you file for bankruptcy.  \n\nYou still have to follow the general US bankruptcy laws.  If your income is high you won't qualify for chapter 7, and will have to repay a portion of the debts.
159398
First let me say DO NOT use a credit counseling service.  They charge extremely high fees and your first payment goes directly to them, NOT your creditors.  Which means by the time they get your payment plan set up, you're another month behind.  Also they don't do anything that you can't do on your own.  They merely call your creditors and request an extension, lower payments, or a lower interest rate.  All things you can accomplish on your own with a telephone and some motivation.\n\nSecond, although it is highly recommended, you do not need an attorney to file bankruptcy.  You can purchase the forms you need at any office supply store.  The cost of filing varies from state to state, but is generally a few hundred dollars ($100-$200).\n\nAn attorney is helpful to explain the laws, your best options, and walk you through the meeting of creditors.\nAny good attorney will also let you make payments on his fees for filing.  \n\nI filed Chapter 7 in 2001 and paid $400 total.  My attorney allowed me to make payments to him in 3 installments.  However he would not file my bankruptcy until the total was paid in full.\n\nIf you do choose to seek out an attorney, interview several before committing.  Good ones should allow for a free consultation and not make you feel ashamed or embarrased.  He/She should speak to you like an adult and educate you on your options without passing judgement.\n\nIn terms of the aftermath of bankruptcy on your credit, most creditors allow you to rebuild your credit almost immediately after the bankruptcy is discharged (about 3 months after you file).  Mortgages companies allow you to qualify for great rates after two years, as long as you have successfully reestablished your good credit.\n\nIf you can get a parttime job to assist you in paying down your debt, I suggest reading these books to determine the best approach to take:\n\nPay It Down by Jean Chatsky\nThe Automatic Millionaire by David Bach\n\nAlso check out the money section of msn.com.  There is great information and advice on the site.\n\nHope this helps!
36533
I filed anyway one year, when I only made like $6,000-$7,000 and I got back over $600. I was very surprised. You might do it online for kicks just to see if you have anything coming to you. If not just leave it unfiled. Good luck !
186435
Need more info, especially how much income do you have, and is it possible to get a part time job?\n\nNot knowing your situation, $12,000 is not enough money to justify bankruptcy yet.  \n\nDo you own a home with equity that you can borrow on?  That would be your first choice.\n\nConsolidations is always an option with that amount of debt, but you need to stop using credit and get control of your budget.  \n\nYou need to sit down and carefully look at the money you are spending, and pay as much as you can to get your debt lowered.  That means no more dining out.  Take your lunch to work.  Forget going to movies or other entertainment.  Everything you buy has to be something you need.....not someing you want.\n\nIf you file for bankruptcy, this is exactly what you will have to do anyway.  The trustee will look at your income, do some calculations, and decide how much of your money is "disposable income" that he will take from you to pay off your creditors.  And I can guarantee it's going to be a lot more then you think.  \n\nAbout 2/3's of all Chapter 13's fail because the debtor is not able to stick with the budget.  If that's the road you want to take, good luck.\n\nBut for only $12,000, that's not enough!
338528
Most experts do not think it is a good idea to file for bankruptcy even though it is tempting.  Why?  It does more long term damage than you can imagine.  Talk to your debtors about payment options, sell things that you can, and go work in McDonalds if you have to.  Good luck.
386913
If you are totally desperate, and you have no assets to protect, you can file bankruptcy pro se. Many have done this.\n\nIt's harder now under the George W. Bush-sponsored 2005 Bankruptcy Code amendments. But it can be done. There is help online, especially at the newsgroup alt.bankruptcy http://groups.google.com/group/alt.bankruptcy?lnk=sg&hl=en\n(You need to register with Google. Set up a new Yahoo! or Hotmail account for that, otherwise you'll be bombarded with spam once  your real e-mail address gets online.)\n\nYou need to go through CREDIT COUNSELING first. There is a list of approved agencies, some online. Some of them -- perhaps most -- will waive their fee for really indigent people.\n\nYou CANNOT FILE until you have had that "counseling". It's a waste of time, of course, but it's part of Bush's law -- and the credit card companies bribed Congress to pass it with $40 million in campaign contributions (it didn't help the Republicans win, but it did get them the law they wanted). http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm (list of approved counseling agencies) \n\nSo all you'll need is money for the forms (you can hire a forms-filler person, but really you can do them yourself) and the filing fee ($299 for Chapter 7). Or (best of all) use Blumberg.com http://www.blumberg.com/ -- you may be able to do it for $50 online, although I'm not sure how that Web site works and don't have the time right now to figure it out. (I know the company's other forms very well.)\n\nI suggest you get the Nolo Press book on bankruptcy: http://www.nolo.com -- perhaps your public library has it, or maybe you can get it even cheaper on eBay -- but Nolo is very good for do-it-yourself lawyering.\n\nThere is other free legal help, but really bankruptcy isn't difficult when you have no assets (home, car, valuables) to protect. You get certain exemptions, depending what state you live in. Some states (Florida, Texas ...) are generous; others (Ohio, Illinois ...) not. But when you have nothing, it doesn't matter. Once you get a discharge, you will use debit cards. \n\nOpen an account with a bank where you have no loans or credit cards, and have only a few dollars in it when you file. And make sure you have no money in any bank you have loans or cards with because they will take that money -- even your unemployment check -- as an offset to your debt.\n\nVisit the bankruptcy court. Sit in on some sessions, talk to people there. Even lawyers if you like and if they have time. Also sit in on some "341" meetings of creditors where the bankrutpcy trustee interviews the debtors. You will be less apprehensive if you are familiar with what's going on.\n\nGood luck.
109512
There are a few approaches you can take:\n1) File for Bankruptcy - The Court will determine how much you have to pay back and work out a schedule. Where I live it is usually about 20% of the total amount. You don't need a lawyer just go to the Bankruptcy office, fill out a form, and pay a filing fee. Their office will take it from there. The bad news is that even if you pay it back it maybe years before you can get another loan.\n\n2) Go to an accredited Credit counselor who will work out a greatly reduced payment schedule for you for a small fee.\n\n3) Contact you state or county BAR association for a recommendation of a lawyer for you who will work pro bono (for free) or at a reduced rate.\n\nGood luck.
510137
Bankruptcy shoudl be a last resort! \n\nIf you have to file, then make sure you know what your getting into. \n\nHere are some very informative bankruptcy facts. \n\nhttp://www.expert-credit-advice.com/bankruptcy_facts.htm\n\n\nGood luck to you!
292932
Man!  Do I disagree with the comment about filing your own bankruptcy!  \n\nIf you are low income, there are provisions in the law allowing for some financial help.  Just ask the bankruptcy attorney.
37577
File for bankruptcy instead. You'll end up paying a much smaller percentage of what you owe and then creditors constant calls will be on hold. While your looking for a job try to get a temp job. You'll have money in your pocket, new references, and an inside chance at jobs that open up at the place you are temporairly working. Good luck.
203340
I WORK FOR A STUDENT LOAN COMPANY IN TEXAS, AND IF A BORROWER IS UNABLE TO MAKE PAYMENTS THEY CAN TRY TO QUALIFY FOR A DEFERMENT OR A FORBEARANCE TO POSTPONE PAYMENTS UP TO 12 MONTHS AT A TIME.  HOWEVER IF THIS IS A PRIVATE LOAN, THERE MIGHT BE DIFFERENT STIPULATIONS.  YOUR BEST BET WOULD BE TO CONTACT WHOEVER IS SERVICING YOUR LOAN AND TRY TO MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS.  IT WOULD NOT HELP YOU TO FILE FOR BANKRUPTCY BECAUSE STUDENT LOANS CANNOT BE DISCHARGED BY BANKRUPTCY, AND THE BANKRUPTCY STATUS WOULD STAY ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT FOR 7 YEARS.  I WOULD JUST GIVE THEM A CALL AND TRY TO WORK SOMETHING OUT, IF YOU DON'T YOU COULD DEFAULT, AND THEY WILL GARNISH YOUR WAGES AND TAKE YOUR INCOME TAX RETURN, AS WELL AS REPORT IT NEGATIVELY ON YOUR CREDIT.  GOOD LUCK
524081
you don't want to take bankruptcy for $1500.00  if you want to try to pay call them make a deal if they don't go for it they can take you to court probably won't for $1500.00 if you don't want to pay the status will run out 5-7 years it will come off your credit report by law,but you must know how to do it.
535813
Fraud on your part, or theirs?  Your response is simply that the credit card company told you what consitituted "income."  The bankruptcy court is likely far more interested in what your CURRENT ability to pay your debts is, than it is what you put on an application six years ago.\n\nSounds like a question for your lawyer (you do have one, right?) just to make sure, though.
2719
Credit is nothing more than an agreement, a promise.  If you failed to pay in the past, and you want to get someone to loan to you again, you have to repay what you borrowed.  If you are going to instead see how little you can pay to eliminate your past debt, your new lender has got to think that you will treat him the same way.\n\nPay your debt...or suffer the consequences.  As you said, you made some bad previous choices.  Either own up to them (and pay) or work through the various options of being a renter until your bankruptcy is discharged, etc.\n\nIt's hard to get a new lender to believe you are credit-worthy (aka, "trustworthy") if your primary goal is to *NOT* pay your debt in full.
610210
If you haven't had any more bad credit on your record since the bankruptcy a year ago, you probably won't have too much trouble getting a loan, actually.  You will pay a higher rate, to be sure, but you can't file bankruptcy again for quite a while so you're a pretty good credit risk, actually!\n\nA good friend filed bankruptcy about 18 months ago due to high medical bills (nearly 7 figures) and recently bought a new car.  She's paying 8.5% with 15% down but had no problem getting the loan approved through the auto maker's financial wing.\n\nA local credit union would be a good place to start, as another poster recommended.  You won't get their prime rate but you won't be raped either!  Just move all of your banking business with them and start rebuilding your credit!
58483
Hey, I've been following your line of questioning.  You seem to be in a tight situation.  I don't want to sound like I'm lecturing you but there are many great books out there to help you in your situation.  You might try Suze Orman, she is a guru on personal finance and getting some tips from her books will save you $loot$!  \nI was in your same situation, I went to school and got lots of debt trying to get my M.S. as well.  I even filed for bankruptcy.  Even when you do that it is not over.  I learned a big lesson on personal finance that way.  I now have a 728 credit score, I own 3 houses, one credit card with a $13000 limit (i never carry a balance over), I lease a $38000 car with no downpayment, and can get financed anywhere I want, if I had to.  Plus, that bankruptcy is still visible on my Credit report (it was almost 5 yrs ago).  Hopefully you will never have to do that. \nAll I'm saying is, stick with it.  Don't let other people tell you it's really bad where you are.  It is going to get better, it is just going to take some time.  If I were you, I would keep renting, especially if you have some debt you need to take care of. UNLESS you are going to get into income property, such as a duplex, that pays for itself b/c of the tenant's rent pymnt.  You are doing the right thing and getting the facts about how to overcome your current status.  \nYou really should call the company about your above question.  When lenders get the sheet on you, they look at the money you owe.  If you owe twice as much as you really owe it is going to look horrible.  One of my reports said I owed the Dept. of Education twice the amount of my school loan!  Can you imagine?  Over $80K!  That looked real bad.  It really doesn't matter if it is a duplicate, lenders only care about the amt. you owe against the amt. you earn.  \n\nGood luck friend!  If you ever have any questions or advice about personal finance I am willing to share with you what I did or read to do it, I really like to help people with finances.  I'm not a guru just a real person with a similar background.\nqumungis@yahoo.com