Ok, I called Alaska Legal Services and they said that they do handle bankruptcies and I'd have to call back next week, so at least there is a good chance I can have an attorney, though I'm not going to count on it just yet.
But I did read that I have to have a certificate from a credit counseling service in order to even file, so I called Consumer Credit Counseling Services which I was referred to from the Alaska Bankruptcy Court website. Well THEY told me that it costs 75$ and they have to have it before they will even book an appointment. I called Alaska Bankruptcy Court and asked if they knew of anyone who did it for free, and she said CCCP did. I told her I'd just got off the phone with them and they said it would be 75$ and held firm on that even when I told them I could not in any way afford that. She said that she would mail me a list of their approved credit counseling services and that I'd have to shop around to see if anyone did it for less.
SO I called CCCP back and told the same lady what the Bankruptcy Court person had told me and she hedged a bit and finally said that if I was under the poverty line that they would give me the 75$ back when I cam in for the appointment, but I had to bring in 6 months of back bank statements and six months of back check stubs. I have neither of those things so I called my previous bank where I had just closed my account and they said it would be 15$ to get all of them. Payroll was already closed for the day so I'll have to call them early Monday. I think they should be able to just fax them to me. CCCP is mailing me the stuff to fill out for the credit counseling and I have to mail it back with 75$ before they will make the appointment even.
So now I'll have to tie up 75$ that for all I know I may not even get back, PLUS pay the 15$ for my bank statements. I guess I will need those to waive the filing fees anyway. I am just so frustrated at how much this costs. I mean how do they really expect anyone to pay it if they have no money coming in?! Do they really think it's a good idea for people to risk being evicted, or having utilities shut off in order to file for bankruptcy? Isn't bankruptcy supposed to PREVENT you from becoming homeless?
But I did read that I have to have a certificate from a credit counseling service in order to even file, so I called Consumer Credit Counseling Services which I was referred to from the Alaska Bankruptcy Court website. Well THEY told me that it costs 75$ and they have to have it before they will even book an appointment. I called Alaska Bankruptcy Court and asked if they knew of anyone who did it for free, and she said CCCP did. I told her I'd just got off the phone with them and they said it would be 75$ and held firm on that even when I told them I could not in any way afford that. She said that she would mail me a list of their approved credit counseling services and that I'd have to shop around to see if anyone did it for less.
SO I called CCCP back and told the same lady what the Bankruptcy Court person had told me and she hedged a bit and finally said that if I was under the poverty line that they would give me the 75$ back when I cam in for the appointment, but I had to bring in 6 months of back bank statements and six months of back check stubs. I have neither of those things so I called my previous bank where I had just closed my account and they said it would be 15$ to get all of them. Payroll was already closed for the day so I'll have to call them early Monday. I think they should be able to just fax them to me. CCCP is mailing me the stuff to fill out for the credit counseling and I have to mail it back with 75$ before they will make the appointment even.
So now I'll have to tie up 75$ that for all I know I may not even get back, PLUS pay the 15$ for my bank statements. I guess I will need those to waive the filing fees anyway. I am just so frustrated at how much this costs. I mean how do they really expect anyone to pay it if they have no money coming in?! Do they really think it's a good idea for people to risk being evicted, or having utilities shut off in order to file for bankruptcy? Isn't bankruptcy supposed to PREVENT you from becoming homeless?
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