We made a HUGE mistake

[helpsoneeded]

We are filing a chapter 13 due to alot of gambling debt. We both have stayed away since April. Well, we out with some friends last night and after dinner, they wanted to go to the casino. We new better, but we went. We ended up taking a total of 1500 out of our checking account and lost it. We have retained an attorney, but have not file yet. What should we do? Do we try to wait another few months so our bank statements dont look so bad? I know that was so wrong, and we have been so good about not going . What will they think? We havent paid on credit cards since March, but we did something like this, that was so wrong, when we could of paid creditors instead. We are pretty much now broke, that was it for savings for us. Its funny , you would think if your not paying cards , you could save so much more, but when your paying for cash for everything, there is nothing left. Thanks again for all your help......

[rrockinggramma]

Well all of us have relapses now and again. Perhaps counseling would help you be stronger or perhaps you should just be up front with your friends that casino's are out and because of your situation, you are filing BK. Then next time it won't be suggested. Or next time, take 20.00 and when it is gone, it is gone.

GL

[ready2puke]

Altho your thoughts are very well meaning and thoughtful, I think the OP would like to know how that reflects on their upcoming BK...I'd chime in on it but I dont know the answer

[rrockinggramma]

The trustee doesn't look at bank accounts line by line. A 1500 withdrawal probably won't be noticed since they haven't even filed yet. What they care about it how much money you have in the bank on filing day. I don't think this incident will have any bearing on the BK filing other than the guilt it has invoked.

[NowImDownInIt]

You didn't use credit, so technically this didn't put you in anymore debt than you were already in. I don't think it will have any bearing on your filing, but I would seek counseling for the gambling BEFORE filing. As, doing this in the middle of your plan will prove disastarous and I don't think that y'all will be able to resist the temptation in the future if you were swayed so easily even with impending BK in the present. Good luck and God bless.

[justbroke]

I concur with NowImDownInIt. I printed up 6 months of statements, and they didn't ask for one of them!

The key here is that you didn't "borrow" the money without the intention of paying it back. If you had used a credit card, that's what you would be accused of, and you'd still end up having to pay it back through your Bankruptcy.

My step-father got over $100K in debt on credit cards, gambling. They had to file Chapter 7 to get out from under the debt. It's a serious enough issue that requires help.

I wish you the best of luck.

[Tbornetun]

The trustee doesn't look at bank accounts line by line. A 1500 withdrawal probably won't be noticed since they haven't even filed yet. What they care about it how much money you have in the bank on filing day. I don't think this incident will have any bearing on the BK filing other than the guilt it has invoked.

oops, sorry, left a post before I saw that it was Ch. 13

[BigJohn]

I once owned a house in which next door was a casino.

The urge for easy money was great but what I loved to do was go to the casino and before I would play, I would calculate the odds. After calculating the odds, I didn't have much desire to play.

From what I see, you have 2 problems. The first is an addiction which you got to work more on. Taking $1500.00 out of your checking account for gambling might be considered serious, the other problem is will this affect your bankruptcy? If somebody notices the 1500 withdrawl, you got to explain. I would wait a few months at least before filing. But then if you get in a bind, file. What can they do to you? I would say nothing.