Trying to Help Somebody See Their Plight?

My wife works with a gal who is in debt $35K unsecured, drives a wreck of a car, and owns a condo which she is upside down in for $30K. She asked my wife about our BK. But she is on the hook with a "credit counselor" whom tells her she will be debt free in 5 yrs. (the counselor has negotiated some deals with the creditors, but is telling them pipe dreams). I know her and her husband well. There is no way they will ever be debt free under the plan they have. A BK would allow them to get their finances straightened out - and probably save their marriage as they fight over money matters daily. Is there anyway I can talk some sense into them about seeing an attorney?

If you know them that well, have them over for dinner some evening and bring up the subject and fully discuss it. Otherwise, if they are just "friends" and you do not get involved in their lives at all or do things together, it could be a touchy situation. But it seems like one of them is being a bit open so it's up to you to make the first move if you want.

I wouldn't address this with them at all. If they seek advice suggest an attorney. You don't want to affect the working relationship your wife has with this gal.

If one of them has approached your wife for information, have her come to this site to just browse and read the stickies. It may help them to formulate questions to ask you - or to even go to an attorney. But then it is their choice for the next step.

We are in a similar situation as well with some close friends of ours. They are travelling down the same road we went down....carrying well north of $60k in unsecured debt, robbing Peter to pay Paul, etc. Part of us wants to tell them about BK and how it could help them get the fresh start they need, but part of me doesn't want anyone to know that we filed BK ourselves. If we start sharing our knowledge of BK with them, they might start to wonder how we know so much about the process

We are in a similar situation as well with some close friends of ours. They are travelling down the same road we went down....carrying well north of $60k in unsecured debt, robbing Peter to pay Paul, etc. Part of us wants to tell them about BK and how it could help them get the fresh start they need, but part of me doesn't want anyone to know that we filed BK ourselves. If we start sharing our knowledge of BK with them, they might start to wonder how we know so much about the process


If they're close friends they probably already know your situation. I can't imagine suggesting bankruptcy to anyone other tha a family member unsolicited.

I like the idea of turning them on to this sight. That's what I'll do. If she/they decide to ask questions and move forward, then great. If not, I feel comfortable in that I tried to show them a light at the end of the tunnel.