I could puke

[krielly]

did you file with an attorney, or pro se?

Just wondering if you having considered requesting a modification of your plan. Although your income has gone up, I imagine your expenses may have too? Just the huge price increase in gasoline and home heating fuel alone can really do a number on a budget.

Just something to think about, I guess. Maybe take a look at your expenses you initially claimed, and see if you can legitimately increase those amounts to offset the extra income.

K

[brokeguy]

In NY too...

I filed May '05 and the trustee has only asked once(06) for tax returns..
We have had pay increases (new job and OT) and just trying to go under the radar for this last year..We have a great attorney who is very tight with the courts,so i'm not sure if the trustee is lax or he's doing us a favor.
Our plan is scheduled through Dec.,but will be paid off in May.Any break from the system or the extra to creditors ??

[jgarton244]

We went through the same. My wife went from substitute teaching to full time while in our plan. Our payments were increased 48% per month, with no reduction in months in the plan. We ended up at 90% payback. We were able to modify our plan to add some increased expenses, though, when the trustee wanted us to increase payments due to increased income.

We finished our plan 25 months ago, discharged and closed since June 06, last payment made in 12/05. Since then, we have continued to put the payment we made to trustee before into the bank. We paid cash after one year of completion for a decent used car. Still drive the 94 Nissan Sentra. Pay cash for everything, even though we do now each have one CC for travel. It was a tough road, but well worth the trip. Life financially is much better, and we sure have learned how to live below our means.

[southerncomfort]

We went through the same. My wife went from substitute teaching to full time while in our plan. Our payments were increased 48% per month, with no reduction in months in the plan. We ended up at 90% payback. We were able to modify our plan to add some increased expenses, though, when the trustee wanted us to increase payments due to increased income.

We finished our plan 25 months ago, discharged and closed since June 06, last payment made in 12/05. Since then, we have continued to put the payment we made to trustee before into the bank. We paid cash after one year of completion for a decent used car. Still drive the 94 Nissan Sentra. Pay cash for everything, even though we do now each have one CC for travel. It was a tough road, but well worth the trip. Life financially is much better, and we sure have learned how to live below our means.

I'm curious how the trustee became aware of the increase in income--did you report it or did they take notice of it via tax returns or by some other means?

[jgarton244]

I'm curious how the trustee became aware of the increase in income--did you report it or did they take notice of it via tax returns or by some other means?

Wife started job in September, Trustee sent letter in May after reviewing tax return. Fortunately, we only had to adjust June forward, and not back to September.

[shadowb]

I think I want to join in the puking

This whole Chapter 13 thing sucks. I am not liking our trustee one bit. I haven't even met her yet. Our situation is odd I guess. My husband works on the road and I am home working with two boys. Generally my paychecks which are actually about $280 every other week (that is my bring home after all deductions and I am parttime). That money is great for us because I can use it for groceries, hair cuts, school expenses, gas for my car, doctor's appointments, medicines from the pharmacy, lunch money, etc. It really goes a long way and it prevents me to have to depend on my husband for every dime. His checks are deposited in a separate account which we have because he travels on the road and has so many work/travel expenses. Generally that account also pays our bills, i.e. utilities, cell phone bills, etc. Well, our attorney told us our payments would be divided between the two of us, automatic payroll deduction. He had originally said $500 per month which would leave me a whopping $60 a month, so we redid some figures and changed it to $300 a month out of my checks, giving me some money for the household. We signed our papers, etc., and we filed our Chapter 13. I got a letter from my trustee the other day saying it would be the $500 per month. I was in tears. I am waiting to hear back from my attorney regarding this. This is totally ridiculous. My husband and I really wanted that split the way we signed off on.

[southerncomfort]

Wife started job in September, Trustee sent letter in May after reviewing tax return. Fortunately, we only had to adjust June forward, and not back to September.

Thanks, that is helpful. I have sent our tax returns ever year and nothing has happened so far. Fingers crossed till the end!

[arkienurse]

This whole Chapter 13 thing sucks. I am not liking our trustee one bit. I haven't even met her yet. Our situation is odd I guess. My husband works on the road and I am home working with two boys. Generally my paychecks which are actually about $280 every other week (that is my bring home after all deductions and I am parttime). That money is great for us because I can use it for groceries, hair cuts, school expenses, gas for my car, doctor's appointments, medicines from the pharmacy, lunch money, etc. It really goes a long way and it prevents me to have to depend on my husband for every dime. His checks are deposited in a separate account which we have because he travels on the road and has so many work/travel expenses. Generally that account also pays our bills, i.e. utilities, cell phone bills, etc. Well, our attorney told us our payments would be divided between the two of us, automatic payroll deduction. He had originally said $500 per month which would leave me a whopping $60 a month, so we redid some figures and changed it to $300 a month out of my checks, giving me some money for the household. We signed our papers, etc., and we filed our Chapter 13. I got a letter from my trustee the other day saying it would be the $500 per month. I was in tears. I am waiting to hear back from my attorney regarding this. This is totally ridiculous. My husband and I really wanted that split the way we signed off on.

I am sorry they are taking your check. Perhaps hubby could give you a check from the other account to cover this every month?
I know how it feels to lose most of your check. I never saw 3/4ths of my pay the entire bk, after the bk, taxes, insurance, etc.