Filing soon -- Dental Bill and Care Credit - Should I do it?

[simon2020]

OK - like I said, my petition is almost ready to be submitted and I have a nagging question.

1. Year ending 12/31/08 - I was sent a dental bill (had work done 8/2008-11/2008) for $400.00.

2. I have a CareCredit Card -- it's used for heath expenses -- GE Card with $1000 line of credit.

3. I charged $200 back in Sept to pay my dentist for the first dental work.

4. I have $800 C.L. left on the card.

5. I don't want to pay my dentist this extra $400 but instead I want to use my Care Credit to bring the balance to around $600.00

QUESTION: I will be in a 100% plan. My attorney typed in $200 balance for this credit card.

I feel the amount is very small ($400) - Is it ok to call my dentist today and tell him to charge my $400 balance to this credit card so then will have a zero balance with him?

OR will the Trustee yell at me because I charged the card just weeks before filing my chap. 13?

[krielly]

Don't charge it to the card! List your dentist on your 13 petition. You say you are in a 100% payment plan, so he is getting paid in full. Even if you only have a 36 mos plan, and your trustee gets 10%, your remaining dentist bill only amounts to $440/36 mos for a whopping $12.22 per month.

I guess I'm not getting why you want to do this? Why risk causing problems or objections in your plan. If you know you are filing......NO CHARGING!

K

[simon2020]

That is WHY I asked the question. I know I should not charge anymore and in all frankness, I stopped charging on any cards since Sept. 2008.

I am curious, how would a private dentist bill be a risk vs. a Citi Visa where they have all these computers connected to the courts and such? (Don't get me wrong, I do understand what you are saying) Will my dentist all of a sudden challenge me to paying the bill?

[krielly]

No, I think it would be the credit card company who might challenge it. Not that it matters I guess, if you are in 100% payback, but at a minimum, it could be a big fat hassle. (Plus, some lawyers charge you more to deal with objections).

I would just list your dentist on your petition, and let him be paid that way like everyone else if it was me

K

[simon2020]

Krielly thanks for your feedback.

I asked the following question with my "friend $500" question you responded to as well, but if I list my dentist, what exactly would he receive in the mail??

Would he know how much debt I owe??? That would be quite embarrassing.

[krielly]

No, just that you filed. No gory details

[simon2020]

Whew! Thanks.