Don,t Want to be a Repeater...but

[CoCoChanel]

Just making sure I have my info straight from everything I read on this forum about filing bankruptcy.
1. request copies of your credit report and make sure you have copies of everybody you owe money to if they are not listed on the credit report.
2. sign up for a credit counseling class because this may be a requirment.
3. stop paying every credit card and loan payment that you have when preparing for bankruptcy but do pay the essentials like rent, light, gas, car note, car insurance.
4. do not use the credit cards anymore for any reason once you decide to file. Pay everything with cash because there needs to be a 90 day window between use of creditors that you will file against.
5. When you collect everything needed to file, find a lawyer, paralegal or file pro se and follow all procedures presented.

Now if any of this is incorrect, please all of you experts let me know before I mess up bad. I would rather be corrected than to mess up worst than I have already...

[HHM]

1. Yes, that is helpful
2. It IS a requirement (not may be)
3. That depends on your individual circumstances, but generally, if there is going to be some delay between your decision to file, and actually filing, i.e 2+ months, then yes, stop paying your credit cards only. (you still need to pay on any secured debt, assuming you want to keep the asset, i.e. car house, etc).
4. correct.
5. sure.

[JRScott]

I agree with HHMs assessment, I also gave you a bit longer list of things you need in your other thread. Kinda a checklist of sorts.

[hocus]

4. do not use the credit cards anymore for any reason once you decide to file. Pay everything with cash because there needs to be a 90 day window between use of creditors that you will file against.(

That is not true. If you charge luxury goods over $600 within 90 days or do a balance tranfser within 70 days, that charge can be challenged.

Because of my income situation, I filed very quickly after making the decision. I had used the cards within about 10 days of filing and my atty never said that was a problem. It wasn't a problem. Nobody objected to anything.

There are moral issues involved, but there is no rule that you can't use a card within 90 days.