Did Anyone Find Out?

[gymbo]

I know people on this forum say usually the only people who know you filed BK are your creditors... and I also know it's an open record.

I found the "bankruptcies" listing in my local paper today. There were about 15 names listed for one week. It gave the names and addresses of people but nothing else.

I am semi-well known where I live. I am HOPING no one reads this stuff but WHAT IF THEY DO???

I'm wondering if anyone has had someone say "Hey! Saw your name in the paper!"

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am more afraid about this then anything else

[MomIcantFindmy]

Say...really? (give them an intense stare with big eyes) and walk away.......

[TEW]

[yorkin]

First of all, there's nothing you can do about it...also, there just isn't quite the stigma with bankruptcy that there used to be. We've told a lot of people because they know our situation (my husband closed his business) and we've had 2 of them disclose to us that they did the same thing. I was looking at a foreclosure website and found out our BEST friend's house was in foreclosure...they haven't said anything to anyone and I certainly don't think any less of them. I'll bet if anyone sees your name, they will feel bad for you and it will just hit home for whoever it is that times really are tough right now for lots of people...and if they get pleasure from seeing your name there, are they really people you could possibly care anything about??? Don't worry about it, really, 'cause I didn't even know they were listed in the paper and I'll bet lots of other people don't either. And finally, to reiterate, you can't do a darn thing about it so you should probably not tear yourself up about it! Good Luck

[lillaimof2kids]

At this point and time of our financial stability in this country, it seems the only people who look their nose down at you are the wealthy ones. The ones who don't remember trying to make ends meet, or deciding whether they should go to the grocery or pay the electric bill.

We also had to close our business. So it's not really something we could keep to ourselves. Fuel prices killed us. If it wasn't for that we could've kept going and eventually made a very good living. I usually just tell people we "got rid of the business". They can take that however they want. We did sell part of it.

DH and I still don't make much money, so I'm hoping we can continue to pay our mortgage. If not, so be it.

[AngelinaCatHub]

I liked what TEW said. People can be mean, those who do not know you, do not count, those who do, would be generous enough to know better. Also, most people skim the paper, look at the obits to see if they are there, and watch TV. The fact is, that list is going to get quite long in our present turmoil. ‘Hub

[Flamingo]

I know people on this forum say usually the only people who know you filed BK are your creditors... and I also know it's an open record.

I found the "bankruptcies" listing in my local paper today. There were about 15 names listed for one week. It gave the names and addresses of people but nothing else.

I am semi-well known where I live. I am HOPING no one reads this stuff but WHAT IF THEY DO???

I'm wondering if anyone has had someone say "Hey! Saw your name in the paper!"

I know it sounds ridiculous, but I am more afraid about this then anything else

As to your last sentence...everyone has that dread of their name appearing in the paper but guess what? We filed and ours did not appear - we watched for months and months every Monday when that section came out with the BK listings (right smack dab next to the stocks in our weekly business section). Why it did not appear, I have no idea, so don't beat yourself up over something you cannot control. No one really cares. I am sure those close to you know you are filing BK and that is all that matters. You will probably find that other folks around you, that you know or work with, are all having financial issues and could have, in their past, filed BK. It's just something that no one brings up at a social gathering - can you imagine giong with co-workers to a group gathering at a bar/restaurant after work and someone blurts out - hey, who else here filed BK? It's just not an every day topic so those that file usually hide it as much as possible. It's not up there with religion and politics who who is having the big extramarital affair this week.

Quit worrying about how you appear in others' eyes that do not personally know you, your situation or your family.

[TEW]

I can think of some far worse things to have my name in the paper for. I have exercised one of my constitutional rights. I don’t know about anyone else here but I think what got most of us here us our inability to admit or relies or financial limits. We were unable to say I can not afford this. Some of us had no control over what happened. I think the only shame I will have is if I did not learn anything from this.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

If someone said that to me after filing. My reply would be. It's amazing how some people are so inconsiderate and disrespectful and don't even know it. Then walk away.

[jessegirl]

To tell you the truth I am really nervous about this too. There are alot of clicks in my town and love to chat about everyones personal information. I know it will go thru my toen like wildfire....

[Cali]

I didn't worry at all if someone found out I filed. If they were that concerned they could have given me the money to pay the creditors off. LOL

Anyway, my BK lists my PO addy and not my home addy. And I am not aware of them posting that info in our local paper.

[justplaintired]

I know my local paper doesn't publish it but the city we go to court in, state capital has lots of my family in it. I don't know if they publish it in there, I know they used to, but whenever I try to view it online all it shows is businesses that filed. So time will tell. I am praying no one I know reads the paper the day I file. But if the do and since I have a very unusual name, they'll know. What can you do though? I have 2 choices, let them take everything we do own or file BK and keep what little assets we have.

[magyar123]

Don't worry about it. If anyone ever asks just ask back "SO WHAT"??

[b_girl]

Our names appeared in both the local paper as well as the largest paper in the state...found that out when I googled our names. People have seen it and some have been unkind. I don't like it but what can you do? Take back the bankruptcy? If they judge me, well, they will be judged for that, won't they? If they could 'walk a mile in my shoes' they would totally understand why we had to do this. Otherwise, just let it slide...you have enough stress to deal with...don't let what other people think get you down.

[Heartburn]

At this point, we don't care who knows. As a matter of fact, it gave me GREAT PLEASURE to have to tell my husbands greedy, selfish niece just last weekend "I'm sorry. But your Uncle and I cannot cosign for your new car. Our credit is shot." LOL