couple of questions

[dogbone33]

I have a few questions. We usually get a huge tax return because of low income and we have 2 kids. I read somewhere they will take your tax return. But do they also take our child credit and earned income credit since the government gives those to help?

My husband has a couple of checks coming and we will be filing Friday. These are checks made it him for doing websites on the side. We desperately need this money to get groceries and stuff like that, can we cash those at like Kroger or have them be sent in like my moms name and have her cash them? They aren't that big but I am afraid they will take them.

Also, I have a negative bank account that really shouldn't be. I had an authorization on my debit card from a hotel and the room was free (thanks to my sister) but still needed a card I knew it wouldn't be charged anything. Anyways, the bank charged me 2 overdrafts fees on those. I called and said those were authorizations and wouldn't be charged to my account, they said you promised the money would be in there. Our lawyer told us to open a new account before that so I had it where there would of been like $7 in there until they did that. Now they are charging me $8 per day until it is paid, which I am not paying cuz I didn't over draw. Anyways, will that be dismissed in the bankruptcy?

Thanks for any and all help!

[AngelinaCat]

Something hit that bank account. You and your sister need to track that down and talk to one of the bank officials. You will not be able to close that account until the negative balance is fixed.

Good luck to you.

[Flamingo]

What happened when you used that debit card to obtain the room ahead of time was that the hotel put a "hold" on your debit card for a certain amount of money (usually $400 and up). What that did was freeze the funds you had in there allotted for other bills and, therefore, they bounced. Whenever a credit card or debit card is utilized for a hotel, rental car, etc., a "hold" is placed on the card until the car is returned or the person checked out of the hotel and then the hold is released. It may take several days for it to be removed.

[relief13035]

Flamingo is exactly right. I work in the hotel industry. The hold on a debit card will drop off 3-5 days after you check-out, but the hotel will authorize a certain amount to cover incidentials like phone calls, movies, smoking in a non-smoking room and/or damages to the room etc. This authorization will be done regardless if you are in a comped room or pay cash upfront. Believe me, people steal ALOT of towels and pillows. Heck, I have had them steal the lamps and comforters too. When we have an authorization on a credit card it's easy for us to recoup our guests in-room shopping sprees.

[dogbone33]

Yes, it has already dropped off of our account but they are still charging us the overdraft fees. They just keep saying you promised that money would be in there and it wasn't (even though I didn't need it). So will that be dismissed in chapter 7 or should I have my bk attorney handle it and get those fees dropped since I have the paperwork proving we didn't overdraw?

[StartingOver08]

Dogbone, you probably can get the charges put into the BK. However, you will also probably land on the chexsystems database for overdrafting your account. You do not want to be on that database - it lasts for five years and can keep you from opening up other checking accounts for that time period. It is something to think about and discuss with your attorney

[dogbone33]

Dogbone, you probably can get the charges put into the BK. However, you will also probably land on the chexsystems database for overdrafting your account. You do not want to be on that database - it lasts for five years and can keep you from opening up other checking accounts for that time period. It is something to think about and discuss with your attorney

Will we be able to keep open the new checking account? Our lawyer told us to open a new one since the other bank was taking more then they were suppose to on the credit line. I will ask her Friday but am thinking and thinking you know!

[StartingOver08]

It should not affect your account that you have opened in the new bank (because they pull a chexsystems report right when you open the account). But if your account overdrafts in the new bank, then it could be a real problem for you. Chexsystems is a CRA for chronic overdrafts and checking account abuse. That is why you want to speak to your attorney about the OD's.