I thought I would share with everyone our 341 meeting experience that took place yesterday....
First, I should say straight out that our bankruptcy case was based on gambling losses/cash advances and all the stupidity that comes with it made on my part. My first look at bankruptcy came when my husband and I were late on a few payments (because of my gambling--and yes, luckily I still have my wonderful husband today after all the crap I put him through), and all of a sudden the interest rates shot through the roof! From here, it was a downward spiral that we were unable to control. It eventually led us to an attorney whom suggested that we desperately needed the help. We went with it, and now a month later.........our 341......
Needed:
Photo ID
SS number proof
Last pay stubs
Bank statements showing the balance on our accounts on the day we filed.........
(Nothing else)
We arrived at our place of meeting and had to check in with the lady at the front desk. From here we could see that our attorney was there talking and laughing with several other attorneys in the waiting room (they are obviously very close in this area!). We took a seat and after his little chit chat, we went over everything very briefly. He thought we may have an issue with our two leased cars, and of course, with the gambling...but with that he just said...be honest and upfront....that is all you can do. He told us that there would be 1 of 3 people (trustees) that would be seeing us. Basically, he told us if we got the older lady, we would be good to go.....(kind of funny...but he called her a 'tool'). Well, it just so happened that our time was at 11:20 and it became 12:00 and we still weren't called in. There were a lot of people waiting in the waiting area of the room and lots of lawyers and so forth. Finally, we were told that we were the last ones to go for the morning and we were called in. They called out to the waiting room, "any creditors here for the ____ party?"....THANK GOD NO ONE SHOWED! I would have to say I was thanking my lucky stars because all three couples in front of us had someone show up for them. Sheww.....
The first thing they do is of course swear you in to make sure that all your statements are truthful to the best of your knowledge. She asked a few questions about our assets and our leased cars did come up. She was very quick in asking if we kept the miles down and if we kept the cars up. We are way under our 12000/year limit on both with no damages, so she said we were fine. That was that.....(a lot less difficult than I thought). Then...she got to the gambling. I saw that she had make a small note on the front of the sheet for this. She simply asked if I was still doing this....I answered no...(not a chance)....she asked if I was getting help....I answered yes...and medical treatment for depression. She answered....'great'...and that was that.
I was hoping that since we were the last ones in and that it was lunch time....that she would be hungry!!
I noticed her looking at the clock a lot. She went over a few minor things with our attorney, and then she wished us luck with everything and we were on our way out!!!
It was about 10 minutes long, and was nothing I thought it was going to be. Everything turned out okay, and I finally understood our attorney's reasoning behind the 'tool' coment. She was really slow with things and she just didn't seem to know what she was doing---very odd!!! She never mentioned anything about tax refunds, but our attorney stated that she would probably bring it up before our confirmation hearing on August 24th.
As we got out of the room, our attorney gave me and my husband a huge smile and said it went very well, better than he thought. He said that the only thing we really had to wait for now was the confirmation. I asked if he could predict anything out of the ordinary coming up in the future and he said, "no, your case is pretty much golden-all set." Now.......CONFIRMATION of our $275.00/mth/5 year payment!!!
YEAH!!
I feel so relieved to have this done, and I just wanted to share with everyone that even though this seems like such an awful experience, I think it teaches you more about your bankruptcy and how the whole process really works. It definitely made me face and fix my addiction with gambling and has thus far made me learn a very important life lesson through having to disclose my faults to my husband, our attorney and then again to the trustee. I guess some advice would be to one,.....always be truthful to yourself as a whole and the people you empower to represent you--they are working for you. Two, be straightforward, and disclose all detailed information to your attorney in your initial case filing, and then all information your trustee asks for before and during the meeting. You never want something to come back and haunt you that would lead to a dismissal. Three, BREATHE and thank God everyday that we live in a country that gives us a second chance.
Filed: 6/21/2006
341 Meeting: 7/19/2006 (Over--YEAH!)
Confirmation Meeting: August 24th
First, I should say straight out that our bankruptcy case was based on gambling losses/cash advances and all the stupidity that comes with it made on my part. My first look at bankruptcy came when my husband and I were late on a few payments (because of my gambling--and yes, luckily I still have my wonderful husband today after all the crap I put him through), and all of a sudden the interest rates shot through the roof! From here, it was a downward spiral that we were unable to control. It eventually led us to an attorney whom suggested that we desperately needed the help. We went with it, and now a month later.........our 341......
Needed:
Photo ID
SS number proof
Last pay stubs
Bank statements showing the balance on our accounts on the day we filed.........
(Nothing else)
We arrived at our place of meeting and had to check in with the lady at the front desk. From here we could see that our attorney was there talking and laughing with several other attorneys in the waiting room (they are obviously very close in this area!). We took a seat and after his little chit chat, we went over everything very briefly. He thought we may have an issue with our two leased cars, and of course, with the gambling...but with that he just said...be honest and upfront....that is all you can do. He told us that there would be 1 of 3 people (trustees) that would be seeing us. Basically, he told us if we got the older lady, we would be good to go.....(kind of funny...but he called her a 'tool'). Well, it just so happened that our time was at 11:20 and it became 12:00 and we still weren't called in. There were a lot of people waiting in the waiting area of the room and lots of lawyers and so forth. Finally, we were told that we were the last ones to go for the morning and we were called in. They called out to the waiting room, "any creditors here for the ____ party?"....THANK GOD NO ONE SHOWED! I would have to say I was thanking my lucky stars because all three couples in front of us had someone show up for them. Sheww.....
The first thing they do is of course swear you in to make sure that all your statements are truthful to the best of your knowledge. She asked a few questions about our assets and our leased cars did come up. She was very quick in asking if we kept the miles down and if we kept the cars up. We are way under our 12000/year limit on both with no damages, so she said we were fine. That was that.....(a lot less difficult than I thought). Then...she got to the gambling. I saw that she had make a small note on the front of the sheet for this. She simply asked if I was still doing this....I answered no...(not a chance)....she asked if I was getting help....I answered yes...and medical treatment for depression. She answered....'great'...and that was that.
I was hoping that since we were the last ones in and that it was lunch time....that she would be hungry!!
I noticed her looking at the clock a lot. She went over a few minor things with our attorney, and then she wished us luck with everything and we were on our way out!!! It was about 10 minutes long, and was nothing I thought it was going to be. Everything turned out okay, and I finally understood our attorney's reasoning behind the 'tool' coment. She was really slow with things and she just didn't seem to know what she was doing---very odd!!! She never mentioned anything about tax refunds, but our attorney stated that she would probably bring it up before our confirmation hearing on August 24th.
As we got out of the room, our attorney gave me and my husband a huge smile and said it went very well, better than he thought. He said that the only thing we really had to wait for now was the confirmation. I asked if he could predict anything out of the ordinary coming up in the future and he said, "no, your case is pretty much golden-all set." Now.......CONFIRMATION of our $275.00/mth/5 year payment!!!
YEAH!!
I feel so relieved to have this done, and I just wanted to share with everyone that even though this seems like such an awful experience, I think it teaches you more about your bankruptcy and how the whole process really works. It definitely made me face and fix my addiction with gambling and has thus far made me learn a very important life lesson through having to disclose my faults to my husband, our attorney and then again to the trustee. I guess some advice would be to one,.....always be truthful to yourself as a whole and the people you empower to represent you--they are working for you. Two, be straightforward, and disclose all detailed information to your attorney in your initial case filing, and then all information your trustee asks for before and during the meeting. You never want something to come back and haunt you that would lead to a dismissal. Three, BREATHE and thank God everyday that we live in a country that gives us a second chance.
Filed: 6/21/2006
341 Meeting: 7/19/2006 (Over--YEAH!)
Confirmation Meeting: August 24th
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