Gambling CC abuse? Please help!

[Firewomen]

Ok that makes sense, but I do have two CC that had balance transfers that I have just been making the minimum payment on, no transaction activity for at least 6 months, maybe I could stop making the payments on those?[/FONT]

[LadyInTheRed]

You've been advised by an attorney to keep making minimum payments because of the recent charges. So, don't stop making the payments until the attorney says it is okay.

The advice to stop paying credit card bills is standard advice given to most people once they decide they will definitely file BK. But, your situation is an exception.

When it is time to stop making payments, the CC companies can do nothing to you other than call you and, eventually, sue you. By the time they get around to suing you, you should be ready to file BK. Read tips for dealing with the calls in the "collections" forum.

A note for anybody who read this. If ever the advice you get here differs from the advice of a BK attorney, make sure you understand the reasons for the differing advice before you decide how to proceed. Attorneys do get it wrong sometimes. But, you should be darned sure an attorney who has reviewed your situation got it wrong before you take advice you get from a well-meaning stranger on the internet. If you do think an attorney got it wrong, go consult with another to confirm what you learn here.

[Firewomen]

Thanks to everyone who has wrote me, suggestions ect. This sure is a very interesting website. Well I did send my dog to the HAPPY place where she will meet all her predecessors and friends. Last week was probably one of the toughest of my life, thank god it is behind me.
In direct response to albacore44 you say "plan your bankruptcy", stop paying your cc. So as I have said in the past I have never missed a payment. What will the CC do once I stop?? The most wonderful thing about this forum is no on judges you, so when I say this I am no means doing that. Was you cc dept $187,000? Mine is about $42,000, what will they do to me as the months go on? My quit date for the gambling is this friday June 7 when I get a "decent" paycheck. This winter was slow for me so paychecks have been barely enough to live on. Again thanks to all of you!!

[catleg]

As someone who's been there, fix the problems in your life that are causing you to gamble. Usually it is boredom. Sometimes it is stress, sometimes it's the side effect of medications. GA can work but the success rate is much lower than AA.
If you are in the casino's player card program, call them and have them flag your account as no calls/no mail/no-email.
If your state has a self exclusion program you may want to look into that.

[albacore44]

Plan your bankruptcy, stop paying the cards. it will take a year or more for them to get to the point when they will sue you. then right before that happens, file. by that time it will be so long from when you made charges there wont be any questions. by that time they will all have been sold to Junk Debt Buyers anyway

[DaisysMom]

I'm so sorry about your dog. I know exactly how you are feeling. My shih-tzu Daisy (10 yrs. old) had to have breast cancer surgery a couple of months ago. The surgery was $600....money I never would have had if I hadn't filed BK a little over a year ago. She's not out of the woods yet...she gets regular check-ups to watch for recurrence. But if it does come back, I may be making the same decision that you are. I promised her that I would never allow her to suffer.
She's my baby.

I am so sorry. {{HUGS}}

DM

[murph996]

Sorry about your dog.

I had a decision to make this week. My dog had pyometra and we took her in Monday. She needed surgery or would die. I think it was a sign of some sort that my Fed tax refund was coming the next day (what part the state didn't grab--but that's a different thread). The surgery was more difficult than they expected but it looks like she will be OK. If she had been sick a month earlier, I don't know if I would have been able to figure a way to save her without really really being in a tough spot financially. She's 11 but acts like a puppy..She's already looking and acting way better than before the surgery.

I know it is tough to put an animal down. I had a cat for 15 years, and weeped like a baby for hours after putting her down. I was prepared to do the same with my pup if that's what the vet thought would be right..

As far as the rest--take care of the gambling. Find a way to do it with support. maybe a 12 step program is for you, maybe its not. I had a gambling problem--not as severe as yours. Had a stretch years ago..where I lost way more than I could afford. And many times where I should have lost alot more. My issue was my obsessive personality. I never do anything part way. If I gamble or drink, that's a bad thing. So I refocused my efforts on sports. Golfing, and running. Worked for me. My point is, everyone is different--don't expect the first thing you try to be the 'cure' and if it doesn't work..don't give up.

[ksgirl38]

Sorry to hear about your dog. From the purchases you mentioned, most of those sound like basic living expenses which are fine - clothing, groceries, tp, etc. I thought I saw a cash advance listed (forgive me if I incorrectly read that, but it was a long thread so I skimmed over parts due to time) and that would be the one I'd be most concerned about. If that's the case then it would be best to put some time between that and your filing. Using your credit cards for basic expenses isn't going to get you into credit card fraud if they are legitimate expenses - gas for your car, clothing, food, etc. It's the extravagant things that will be questioned. If you spent $3000 on designer clothes then that might be a problem, but I wouldn't stress too much over the basics.

[gina2000]

Firewomen, so sorry to read of your once-in-a-lifetime dog to whom you'll say goodbye tomorrow. It is so so hard to do. I wish your pooch godspeed.

[AngelinaCat]

My little avatar over there is starting to show and feel her age (10). She is extremely allergic to fleas, and we are having a bumper crop this year. As long as I can keep her comfortable and reasonably healthy, I will do so. When it becomes too much financially and physically for both of us, I will have to have her put down, so I feel for you. We have five other cats buried in our yard, one of them being this cat's predecessor, who dropped dead of a heart attack at age 18.

{{{{HUGGS}}}} for you and your doggy.

[ValleYum]

So sorry about your doggy. So much love from them but they leave such pawprints on our hearts when they go, though.

[Pjmax]

Sorry about your dog, many of us here understand letting go of your best friend. I have 3 buried out back, 2 old age and 1 cancer. Spent some dollars too on diagnosis of dog 3. My thoughts are with you.

[Firewomen]

Interesting things, I have never missed any of my payments, nor behind, late yes. Yes I need help with the gambling, am working on that after I bury my dog.

[Firewomen]

Thank you for all your kind and hard words. I will be putting this pet down, tomorrow. She has a massive tumor the the vet bill was determining this diaganois. She is the once in a life time dog, we have been through so much togeather. work the system? Bill wilson??

[JimKutkowski]

Ok I got to thinking today about the $6,000.00. In addition car repairs and huge Vet bill.

As a BK lawyer, the first thing that jumps out at me as a potential land-mine is this... its going to sound cruel, but how long before Fido or Fluffy has another big vet bill. How old is the pet. Is it worth it? My hunting dog is 12 years old and starting to circle the drain, when the time comes, he'll have to be put down because a huge vet bill on an animal that is going to live maybe another 2 years and not all that comfortably is not worth the expense... not to mention at some point it become cruel keeping dying animals alive.

I will also look up to see what others did for their gambling problem. I hope I am not fooling myself but my mind set right now is if this CC dept could be earased I would NEVER gamble again. What am I going to do with that time, RIDE my bike, get in better shape. I realize I do have a long road ahead, I hope and pray I can keep my head up and above water!! I will keep you all posted, thank you again!

Find a meeting. Go to the meeting. Work the system. Become a friend of Bill Wilson. Please for the love of God get some help before you file BK, because if you get a BK discharge and then rack up more gambling debts, it is eight years for another discharge and you probably won't survive the wait.

This is speaking as an addict (of other things), good luck and God Bless.