utilities (lights)will they get cut off

[NOMOREBADCREDIT]

I was talking to the light company about iam haveing a hard time paying my bill the rep on the phone tells me the she sees i just file ch7 but i didnt list them in my ch7 will my lights get turn off. and also sould i list them.

[HHM]

You filed chapter 7 and yet you still can't pay your normal bills!

The cardinal rule of Bk, is that you only file if doing so will actually improve your situation, meaning that upon filing BK and not having to pay your creditors, you can pay your normal bills, (i.e mortgage/rent, utilities, groceries, etc).

Since you already filed, no you can't ad them. Also, strictly speaking, the electric company is not a creditor, they don't loan you money to pay your electric bill.

There are many laws in place to protect you from a shut off, temporarily, but I suggest you figure out a way to pay them.

[NOMOREBADCREDIT]

You filed chapter 7 and yet you still can't pay your normal bills!

The cardinal rule of Bk, is that you only file if doing so will actually improve your situation, meaning that upon filing BK and not having to pay your creditors, you can pay your normal bills, (i.e mortgage/rent, utilities, groceries, etc).

Since you already filed, no you can't ad them. Also, strictly speaking, the electric company is not a creditor, they don't loan you money to pay your electric bill.

There are many laws in place to protect you from a shut off, temporarily, but I suggest you figure out a way to pay them.

and yes fileing is starting to change my life but its taking time. i was told i could list them youre wrong. and yes iam still having problems paying a bill because my light bill was still in the high range before i filed. i didnt come to hear statements like this. iam in bk if i wasnt i would not be here asking questions why are u so harsh.

[CityGirl]

HHM isn't harsh. If your light bill was in the high range before you filed, you should of had the income to pay it after you ceased to pay your creditors. You could of done a payment arrangement with them and they wouldn't shut you off. I think you just chose not to pay them. How much is the bill now?

[NOMOREBADCREDIT]

HHM isn't harsh. If your light bill was in the high range before you filed, you should of had the income to pay it after you ceased to pay your creditors. You could of done a payment arrangement with them and they wouldn't shut you off. I think you just chose not to pay them. How much is the bill now?

WELL his response was harsh. i ask a question. iam starting to get my life back together aflter a divorce i was told the utilities could be listed and when garnishments started happening to me that when i got behind.

[Lindsay]

How did they know you filed Chapter 7? If your income is low, you should try to get some assistance. I think the Salvation Army has a program and HEAP will help, but I don't think they are open for a month. When I got far behind once, they gave me a special payment arrangement where I only had to put down $50 and they charged a part of the amount due on each regular payment until it was paid off. I heard that you could put the utilities on the bankruptcy, but they can require you to pay a service deposit afterwards. I don't know if adding them to the bankruptcy will keep the service on. Maybe someone else will have experience with this.

[lrprn]

I was talking to the light company about iam haveing a hard time paying my bill the rep on the phone tells me the she sees i just file ch7 but i didnt list them in my ch7 will my lights get turn off. and also sould i list them.

Two questions for you, NMBC....
1. How much did you owe the light company when you filed?
2. Did you file on your own without a lawyer?

Understand that you can add what you owed the light company *BEFORE* you filed to your Ch 7. However, if you do so then the light company will typically require you to put down a new deposit to continue service that may actually exceed what you owe them now.

IMHO, it's far better in this situation to work with the light company and local agencies to set up a workable payment plan to pay them what you owe over time.

[JRScott]

Well if you include them in the bankruptcy they will require a high security deposit most likely and most likely will terminate your service without it. The security deposit may be higher than what you currently owe.

The best thing to do with utilities is to call them up and ask what sort of catchup program they offer. Try to pay the back amount by paying more in the future months if you can.

Good Luck

[cathywhite4495]

I had a utility and a cable bill I put in my bankruptcy. My cable was already disconnected and I don't want it back on so I didn't contact them. However, the gas bill was zeroed out as Included in Bankruptcy and I had to pay a deposit to keep them from disconnecting. Utility companies cannot disconnect you if you include them in bankruptcy but they CAN charge you a reasonable security deposit that you must pay within 20 days. If you don't pay within that time, they are allowed to shut you off.
BTW, I included the gas bill because they were charging me $300 from the previous occupants. They kept saying they would fix it but then it would show up on my next bill. After 12 consecutive on-time payments, I get my deposit back.

[familyof7]

I had a utility and a cable bill I put in my bankruptcy. My cable was already disconnected and I don't want it back on so I didn't contact them. However, the gas bill was zeroed out as Included in Bankruptcy and I had to pay a deposit to keep them from disconnecting. Utility companies cannot disconnect you if you include them in bankruptcy but they CAN charge you a reasonable security deposit that you must pay within 20 days. If you don't pay within that time, they are allowed to shut you off.
BTW, I included the gas bill because they were charging me $300 from the previous occupants. They kept saying they would fix it but then it would show up on my next bill. After 12 consecutive on-time payments, I get my deposit back.

THAT is EXCTLY what happend to me so at least you get an extra 20 days.

[freshstart06]

nomorebaddebt, I understand how it can be not to be able to afford the utilities after filing. Each persons situation is different. just because one person can afford to pay their utilities after filing does not mean another can. Things take time and it will not happen over night or in the next few months.

Even though, I did not make that statment, I apologize that statement was even addressed to you. Some of us was in so deep that we are living off negative cash flow. Since we don't know your situation we can't or should not judge what is going on in your life.

My husband income is over the median, we don't even have any cc debt but times are still hard because for years of not being stable (my husband just got a stable job in the middle of 2006 before then he only made $30,000 a year and we are a family of 6) my daughter's and my medical expenses, the expense to take care of a family of 6.. etc. can add up. It takes time.

So I apologize, most of us understand what you are going through. This judging thing has to stop. BK will allow you to be able to pay the electric bill after all the other debts are gone. It gets better. in the meanwhile, go to your local social services office and find resources to help you pay the bill.

[familyof7]

You can call you electric company and say I filed chapter 7 bankruptcy. They will cancel the debt you have now and turn around and charge you a deposit the deposit usually ends up being very close to the amount you have due now. The deposit is usually due whent the next bill comes out 20 to 30 days. if nothing else you will have a little extra time yo come up with it.

[HHM]

Ok, let's clarify the time line here, another poster already mentioned this...

I got the impression that the bill you "can't" pay occurred "after" filing BK, if that is the case, then you "can't" add that bill because it is an after acquired debt.

If the bill you owe the electric company is a past due bill that existed "before" you filed BK, then yes, you can add that bill to your BK. But as others have pointed out, you will then be required to place a deposit with the electric company.

As for the any other issues, I am not faulting you for not being able to pay your electric bill, but I am pointing out to other members that some thought has to be put into the timing of BK. I don't know your particular situation and why you decided to file when you did, but in general, if, after filing BK, you still cannot pay your normal bills, it was probably not a good time to file BK.

[CityGirl]

Thats what I meant to HHM. Any debt you can't catch up on should be included before filing and all the legwork done in that time. I know this is why I'm here...to make sure I'm doing everything I'm supposed to BEFORE I file so I don't screw up.

FreshStart, I'm sure it's hard with 6 kids to support on a low income. I make double that and I'm single and it's hard. I'm just glad I chose not to take on a burden like children but you're right, everyone is different and I apologize for judging. It's not only feeding kids, but keeping them clothed, educated, and warm. ( On top of making sure they feel they aren't deprived )
My parents were middle income when the 4 of us were growing up. My parents built a new home in the 70's and then realized they got in over their head. I was told by mom that we we ate mac and cheese alot and spaghetti o's. As kids, I didn't care. That was cool food to me. I had NO idea they were struggling. My mom didn't work to raise us and my dad worked 16 hour shifts overtime ( swing shift ) so we wouldn't know we were in a bad way.
They never, however, had late payments, utilities shut off or anything like that and now they are still in the same home and just paid off the 30 year mortgage.
Now, they both work part time after retirement in their 70's to have spending money.
It's all about how you handle finances, I guess. I'm hoping to learn from them how they did it.
Had I known they were struggling, I'd of hit them over the head for adopting me. I'm glad they did, but being in a situation like that, why would they have kids??? That's what I don't get. Then they had 3 more....to add to it....and someday I'll ask her what she was thinking. If she couldn't keep her and dad above water, why add us to the mix?
Anyway, I wish you the best and hope things work out for you. I'm sorry to cause you stress.

[familyof7]

Freshstart dosent have 6 kids she has 6 people in her house that includes her and her husband.