So here I am.

[Ann]

Allow me to add something here. Many may disagree but I feel the need to say this. We are all programmed to believe that your only worthy if you have a high credit score. For years this is what is being advertised everywhere you look. If you call a creditor and tell them you just can't pay this month you are told that not making that payment is going to hurt your credit score. I took pride in the fact that I would make those damn payments no matter what. If I don't have enough for groceries this week oh well at least my credit score will still be high. What absolute BULLSH** we are being fed. Yes, I know we are the ones that get ourselves into these predicaments and I kept my part of the promise up by making my payments on time but when the banks decided to punish me by doubling all my interest rates because of the bad economy I decided enough was enough. I honestly could give a rat's ass if there is a bk on my record and I care even less that I will be into my 50's before it drops off!!! I am fully aware that it is going to be a tough go to get decent interest rates for a while. That is something I accept. What I wont accept or buy any longer is that my credit score defines who I am. Screw that. I want MY fresh start just like all the banks got when they got bailed out. I live on cash now and I'm not saying I will never have credit again but the next time I use it for sure it won't be to buy groceries and pay bills on. I only wish I had something to "show" for all the debt I incurred. I hope all who feel bad about having a bk on their record for the next 10 years will stop and quit feeling so bad about it. WE ALL make bad decisions but it does NOT make us bad people!!!! Have a great day!!!!

[adm]

I'm sorry and good luck. I have small children too (3 & 5) and I feel sad also that they'll be 13 & 15 when this drop off my credit report. I can't even picture them being that old!!!!! But other than winning the lottery there is no way we can pay off our cc's and we dont know what the future hold w/spouse being unemployed for so long and UI about to run out. If he becomes a "SAHD" we'll be on a budget like nobody's business :/

[jasoninaz]

Tomorrow we are meeting with the attorney and we are going to get this done this year. I think the cc people know I'm done because I don't fight with them. One of them had old data telling me we will take your house! Wow, I short-sold my house last year, well your making payments on it! And where is the money for the sale of your house? Wait what? Do you even know what a short-sale is?

I'm ready to start this process.

[StartinOver]

They will not stop calling just because you SAY you're filing

More likely they will step up their efforts to see if they can squeeze some money out of you. Until you can actually give them your case number, they have no reason to stop calling you. Once they have a case number, they know it's real, and they will stop calling because there are financial penalties if the continue collection contacts after you file.

[ladyjenn]

Well I haven't told them I'm filing. I don't know why but just saying the word "bankruptcy" to them, scares me. Maybe I should so they'll stop calling. I'm in California, where are you?

PA. That is what our ATTY told us anyhow....I should look into it some more. Our ATTY also told us we could refer the calls to him.

[freeatlast98]

scared to tell them

I hope they don't too! We don't have a land line anymore, but they could still call our cells if they already have those numbers. I am hoping we get through this quick! I "thought" once you told them them you are in the bankruptcy process, they couldn't call anymore????

Well I haven't told them I'm filing. I don't know why but just saying the word "bankruptcy" to them, scares me. Maybe I should so they'll stop calling. I'm in California, where are you?

[ladyjenn]

Can't wait to file.. I can't afford an attorney so I file Pro Se end of July or early August.
Good luck to you and I hope they won't pester you as much as they have me.

The best of luck to you too! We wouldn't be able to afford a lawyer either, if he didn't tell us to stop paying our bills if we were def. going to file. So that money now goes to him! The sooner the better!

[ladyjenn]

Hi LadyJenn My creditors started calling none stop 15 to 30 times a day after I was 30 days late. Discover called once in a while however, Chase, BofA and Citi won't stop calling even after you speak to them. Once in a while I answer
and per their script they ask what is causing you to fall behind and they say they will help. Unfortunately, in my current state of finances, I can't accept any of their offers.
Can't wait to file.. I can't afford an attorney so I file Pro Se end of July or early August.
Good luck to you and I hope they won't pester you as much as they have me.

I hope they don't too! We don't have a land line anymore, but they could still call our cells if they already have those numbers. I am hoping we get through this quick! I "thought" once you told them them you are in the bankruptcy process, they couldn't call anymore????

[freeatlast98]

Real soon

So we are not paying our cards as of this week, after we retained our lawyer. We are current on everything as of now. How long until we can expect the creditors to start calling and nagging us? We will have the lawyer paid in 60 days, so we can file then.

Hi LadyJenn My creditors started calling none stop 15 to 30 times a day after I was 30 days late. Discover called once in a while however, Chase, BofA and Citi won't stop calling even after you speak to them. Once in a while I answer
and per their script they ask what is causing you to fall behind and they say they will help. Unfortunately, in my current state of finances, I can't accept any of their offers.
Can't wait to file.. I can't afford an attorney so I file Pro Se end of July or early August.
Good luck to you and I hope they won't pester you as much as they have me.

[horse]

JasoninAZ...you are at the right place. These people are wonderful and they will answer any question you have. Don't despair. It's a good thing you found this forum before beginning the BK process. There is a lot of information here and it will be very helpful! Take Care!

[GettingGoing]

So we are not paying our cards as of this week, after we retained our lawyer. We are current on everything as of now. How long until we can expect the creditors to start calling and nagging us? We will have the lawyer paid in 60 days, so we can file then.

All of my cards started calling after we were 30 days past due. Most of them were sent to collections between the 90th day and the 180th day.

[ladyjenn]

So we are not paying our cards as of this week, after we retained our lawyer. We are current on everything as of now. How long until we can expect the creditors to start calling and nagging us? We will have the lawyer paid in 60 days, so we can file then.

[freeatlast98]

YOU WILL GET THROUGH THIS! It is scary - but since I decided to file, I sleep better. I do feel like I'm getting an ulcer looking and re-looking at my paperwork ;)

BIG THANK YOU for your encouraging words! I can't begin to tell you how much it helps to know I'm not the only one going through this. I know we'll all get through and I know the paperwork is sometimes confusing. I've started mine in preparation of filing in August or so. I'm looking forward to looking back at at this scary time and knowing this all happened so we could have a better future. I haven't gotten to sleeping better yet. Hopefully, that will come soon. Not sleeping causes more confusion and depression..

Good luck with your paperwork. What state are you in? I'm in Los Angeles,California?

[jdcat]

Three to four years from now you can have your credit completely rebuilt. Yes, the bankruptcy will technically be there for ten years, but after 3 or 4 years, it's nearly completely meaningless.

This part is true. We bought a car two years post bk, could have bought a house (we qualified) but we waited until 5 years post bk. Obtaining credit cards post bk, we applied about two years post bk, was just a matter of applying. We didn't have any trouble.

Things might be rough for a couple of years post bk but after that it's like the bk never happened.

[MSbklawyer]

I'm scared, if it was just me it would be easier. When you have children that depend on you and look at you what excuse do you really have?

Having kids that depend on you is an even more compelling reason to get your financial life back on track. It's not an excuse. It's a decision.

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And the whole 10 years thing! 10 years on my credit report, ! I hate that idea my daughter will be 15 by the time that falls off. But I know I can start to build good credit soon. Is it possible to have a 750 credit score again with a bankruptcy?

Three to four years from now you can have your credit completely rebuilt. Yes, the bankruptcy will technically be there for ten years, but after 3 or 4 years, it's nearly completely meaningless.