Using Pacer to view someone else's BK

[Flowers]

Anyone use Pacer to view or track someone else's bankruptcy?
Was there an advantage?
Or just to be nosey?

[AngelinaCatHub]

There may be an advantage in the learning curve. It is totally legal as Public Record. However to track someone down that you know, in my opinion, is a moral issue so let your conscience be your guide. 'Hub

[NoMoreCards]

My friend does not have Pacer, and was patiently awaiting her Discharge. I monitored it for her, and let her know the day it showed in Pacer, at her request!

So you can watch other peoples cases through Pacer, but other than doing it as a favor I do not see the point. Although they are public record, the specifics of anyone's case has nothing to do with you.

[BobMango]

When I was first contemplating filing pro se, a friend that had just filed suggested I look at their filing as an example.

Most of my friends and family know we are filing so they are welcome to take a look if they want. I'm sorry that I had to file but I'm not ashamed. Bottom line is that the double whammy of 20 months unemployment and investment real estate imploding pretty much took it out of my hands.

[southernbelle]

The only advantage I could see would be if the BK was complicated and involved a business or was borderline between a 7 and 13. In cases like those I could see it as information gathering.

[AngelinaCatHub]

As long as the party who is the subject of the PACER account is aware of the view as a favor, there is nothing wrong with that.

Just to cruise through looking can get pretty expensive. 'Hub

[Denart]

As long as the party who is the subject of the PACER account is aware of the view as a favor, there is nothing wrong with that.

Just to cruise through looking can get pretty expensive. 'Hub

Do you need some ID info to view someone case on Pacer.

I would love to go there and look at some cases in my District that might be similar. How would I do that?

[AngelinaCatHub]

Do you need some ID info to view someone case on Pacer.

I would love to go there and look at some cases in my District that might be similar. How would I do that?

Remember what I said above in this old thread. Let your conscience be your guide and don't search down people you know.

To answer the question, in pacer, in bankruptcy, pick your court district like "Florida middle district" or whatever yours is.

Pick any name, like Smith. It will list many many Smiths, so look at the docket number. The first two are the year like 09-12345 and the case type as 7, 13, etc. Then click on the docket number link and go to the case and then look at the docket history. I have done this on AP's as I am in one, just to see how to deal with it. I did not know the person. 'Hub

[lrprn]

Do you need some ID info to view someone case on Pacer. I would love to go there and look at some cases in my District that might be similar. How would I do that?

You can do that - just be prepared that you could get a large bill from PACER for doing it. Depending on exactly what you search for and then what you open, you can be charged $0.08/page to get at the information you want.

Searching PACER blindly when you don't know what you are doing can be a very expensive proposition. Proceed with a *LOT* of caution. It doesn't matter if you generate a really large bill by accident - you still have to pay it. And believe me when I say it's happened to several members before.

[mtbc]

How much information about a petition does PACER give? Every page of every submitted document, including schedules, etc., or a briefer summary? After all, a petition is full of social security numbers, account numbers, etc.

[LimpDisc]

How much information about a petition does PACER give? Every page of every submitted document, including schedules, etc., or a briefer summary? After all, a petition is full of social security numbers, account numbers, etc.

Social Security & credit card numbers will be blocked out, but the entire petition is online for everyone to see.

[Flowers]

I viewed what I needed to and no more.
No need to review the entire petition etc.
I needed confirmation for another matter.
Previous folks posting on this thread are correct, no need to delve into someone else's business outside what it is for you, and getting charged . . .

[DebtEnder]

I've used pacer to fully download, in pdf format, my case. That way I can never lose it. My computer stay organized and backed up. My paper files, not so much

I also used it to look over my sis-in-laws case when she had a question. I got to a total balance of like 6-7 dollars and have not logged in again in months, and don't intend to.

I wonder if I will ever get a bill since I never will get to the $10 billme level.....

[Bell30656]

I have no qualms about looking at the bankruptcy filing of someone else via Pacer. I actually looked up several people that I knew including a few folks that I didn't like. Public information is just that... Public.

[mtbc]

That's actually been my attitude too. Though, I'd be interested to be able to attach something to my filing that lets me know who looked! (-: