I am 26,000 in credit card debt. My life turned around completely last year and I lost many things in my life, family, job, etc. I am not making enough on my job to pay the basics and have been using up all may savings. Now I have no savings left and am short 600 month just for basics and providing for my daughter although she doesn’t live with me. She lives with my mom who is living on ss. I need to file chapter 7 but can’t afford the fees and am not smart enough with paper work to do it myself (I’m terrible with directions). I can scrape together money for the useless credit counseling stuff (so they can figure out how I can pay 1800 bills on 700 income, lol) if I don’t buy groceries for a couple weeks but I have no way of getting 500 dollars. My employer cuts hours every week and it’s that way on all retail jobs. I can’t just get a better job and even with that, i would only have the money I need for the basics. My small tax refund will only be 30 dollars.
If I was able to get a second job (not easy with no transportation and if I work after dark, I have to take a taxi (I spend 20 dollars a week now on taxi rides when I get off at night as my neighborhood is very dangerous and I can’t move). If I can find extra work hours, it will just keep me from being homeless a couple months longer, it will not cover bankruptcy costs. I have no resources, family and friends have no money to help. Is there anywhere in Houston where I can find free legal help (not just a consultation but actual filing assistance without cost?) If I have to pay the fees, I will not be able to pay rent. At the rate I am going, I will be homeless as of July 1st providing I don’t lose my job or have any more hours cut.
They are only a week late but I am already getting calls all day during the week. No one leaves a message on my machine so I presume it’s one of my creditors. I need to file bankruptcy because if I don’t they will sue me and freeze my bank account which only contains my pay deposits which are only 700 but if they take that, I can’t pay my rent. I have nothing to sell as I lost everything I owned last year when my family through me out. They gave away and sold all my stuff. I have a 50 tv and a40 boombox that doesn’t work and a 2year old computer that runs slow.

Technorati Tags: all retail jobs, bankruptcy costs, chapter 7, consultation, couple weeks, credit card debt, credit counseling, creditors, family and friends, free legal help, groceries, lol, many things, mom, money, neighborhood, second job, ss, tax refund, taxi rides

I am about ,000 in debt but I already have a judgement against me for ,000. I was served with papers for past medical bills and I had a car repo’d about 3 years ago and they are threatening a lawsuit. I have numerous other things on my credit. I make less than ,000 a year and have no assets. I’ve contacted several Credit Counseling companies but there is just no way I can pay the monthly payment they come up with. Help!!! I dont know what to do. I really don’t want to file but I’m beginning to think its the only thing I can do.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, assets, car repo, credit counseling, judgement, medical bills

I am 22 years old and have ,000 worth of credit card debt and ,000 in student loans that I have to start paying off in 2 months. I talked with a credit counselor and asked him his opinion whether or not I should do the program or declare bankruptcy. He could not give me a specific answer, but he was leaning towards bankruptcy.

I just graduated college and have a job making very little money and paying off the debt is going to take me over 10 years because my monthly payment (with the credit counselor) is very high. I know even if I continue with the credit counseling, it will still hurt my credit.

My parents declared bankruptcy 5 years ago and had no problems getting a new car and built a brand new house with an average interest rate. I know some employers look at credit reports, but credit counseling will affect that anyway. I just want to start over and need some advice. I appreciate it!!

Technorati Tags: 10 years, 22 years, bankruptcy, credit card debt, credit counseling, credit counselor, credit reports, interest rate, job, money, new car, parents, student loans

Has anyone ever done credit counseling or debt settlement? I am looking for an option other then BK. Any advise?

Technorati Tags: bk, credit counseling, Debt Settlement

Over the past few years, my husband and I have had several financial setbacks. First, he had a severe heart attack which left him unable to return to full time work. Because we were very proud, and I had a good job, we chose not to file for disability for him. Then, I lost my job…. Because of his health, I signed up for Cobra, thinking I’d only be out of work for a few months at most. The monthly payments were 0 more than my unemployment benefits! What little savings we had were eaten up, and then I started charging the Cobra payments. With the credit cards maxed, I was forced to give up Cobra. To top it all off, our ARM skyrocketed last year, and we ended up losing the house. Thankfully, we were able to do a short sale, so we at least didn’t have to foreclose. I am working again, but have no benefits. He suffered Congestive Heart Failure this spring, and now is receiving disability pay. We get our medical services through a community clinic, but make too much to qualify for free services, and of course his lab work is sent to the local hospital which offers no discount. So, we have approximately ,000 in unsecured debt, with a combined income of about ,000. About 15K is credit card, and the rest is medical. We get conflicting advice on how to get out of this mess – bankruptcy or credit counseling?

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, cobra, congestive heart failure, credit card, credit cards, credit counseling, disability, financial setbacks, full time work, good job, health, heart attack, heart failure, local hospital, medical services, unemployment benefits, unsecured debt

Hello,

I know someone in tremendous debt, greater than 75,000. For Christmas, I would like to give them the gift of some kind of consultation with someone who can help, something like a debt settlement company or a credit counseling company, something like that. This is, it HAS to be something good/ high quality, and in Brooklyn, NY, or perhaps in Manhattan as a last resort. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated!

thanks!

Technorati Tags: brooklyn, brooklyn ny, christmas, consultation, credit counseling, Debt Settlement, high quality, last resort, manhattan, settlement company

I was laid off in February of 2009 and have not been able to find a good job since. I have been without medical insurance for almost 3 years and have to pay out of pocket for a required medication costing roughly 0 per month. I have moved back into my mother’s house (I’m 26) and I am overdrawn on my bank accounts every week just from paying off my car, my storage (I moved home from another state since I could no longer afford rent,) my medicine, groceries, and then attempting to make payments on my debt. I have spoken with a credit counseling organization (MMI) and they have offered me a plan by which I would pay them about 0 per month. This plan would entail 0 per month for debt payment, 5 for car payment, 5 for my student loan, 0 for medicine and 5 for storage of all of my possessions. This is 95 per month. It does not include food. It does not include emergency preparation. And it is also 0 over my monthly income.

Issue #1: I need a new job. On average, I apply for 20-30 jobs PER DAY. I have been told that, since the economy went bust, EVERYONE checks the credit of a potential employee. Obviously my current poor credit is enough to render me unhireable. If I declare bankruptcy, how much worse can (will?) my job hunting situation be? I currently temp at a front desk for just 30 hrs a week, no benefits.

Issue #2: I need to be able to move out of my mother’s house. She is very kind to have opened her home to me when I am in such need, and I try very hard to stay out of her way, but she makes it very clear that it’s a huge burden on her to have me around (I know she is right, but it makes it no easier). She is also 100% against me declaring bankruptcy, not only for the impact it will have on my life but for the stigma it will bear on hers. I need to be able to have my own place again. But, my current credit is so poor AND declaring bankruptcy would remain for 10 years on my credit report, that no one would possibly rent to me. Which is less devastating to a potential landlord? Terrible credit and a ridiculous debt-to-income ratio, or a recent bankruptcy claim?

Issue #3: My car is currently worth about k less than what I still owe. I have tried to sell it back to the dealership, they charged me k and even when I left the car with them, they immediately called me back to pick it up because apparently something in the undercarriage was repaired wrong (oh and getting my k back was a real hoot, let me tell you.) It has already been repo-ed once and I had to pay money I didn’t have to get it back. I have tried selling in private forums, I have tried refinancing, I don’t know what else I can do. No one will buy a car worth almost ten grand less than they’re paying. I want very much to keep it, but I can’t afford it. And yes, simply letting it go would COST ME MONEY. Dave Ramsay says, "sell the car." What would Dave Ramsay suggest in this situation?

Issue #4: I have no savings. If I declare bankruptcy, I will be living off of my income alone (my savings deteriorated during my time when I was unemployed, after which my debt increased exponentially. HOWEVER. If I declare bankruptcy and can divide my piffle paycheck so that at least SOME of it can go towards savings, then at the end of ten years when the bankruptcy falls off my credit report I will have something, instead of nothing. Or just…more of the nothing I have right now.

Issue #5: I can’t pay these bills. (see the price outline in the first paragraph.) Won’t these companies just sue me anyway, if I don’t declare?

Look. I love and respect my mother (who is not a financier.) I do not want to make her sad because her daughter went bankrupt before the age of 30. But let’s be realistic here. How much worse could my situation POSSIBLY GET if I declare, file for Chapter 7 and get my debts forgiven so that I may begin to rebuild.

I would very much appreciate ANY input, on a REALISTIC, REASONABLE alternative to me filing for bankruptcy. I have listened to "Financial University" by Dave Ramsey about 1000x and I’ve read Suze Orman’s books and seen her show.

It would bring me so much comfort, and I would so appreciate it, if my peers on yahoo who have experience or knowledge with this kind of thing could reach out and give me their honest, informed opinions.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, bust, car payment, credit counseling, debt payment, declaring bankruptcy, emergency preparation, front desk, good job, groceries, issue 1, job hunting, landlord, medical insurance, mmi, new job, poor credit, possessions, stigma, student loan

I am 27 and 3 mos. behind on a total of 24k in unsecured debt. My credit score has already been negatively impacted and am left with two options: credit counseling at 0 a month for 6 years or debt settlement at 0 a month for 3 years. All the research I’ve done seems to give debt settlement a bad reputation because it makes your credit rating bad, but I don’t see how much worse mine can get anyway. Which option should I choose?

Technorati Tags: 24k, 3 years, 6 years, bad reputation, credit counseling, credit rating, credit score, Debt Settlement, unsecured debt

After credit counseling filing chapter 7 has been recommended since I am on disability and working only part time. Problem is attorneys I’ve contacted want 00, 500 upfront before they’ll even submit the paperwork. Obviously I do not have this. Legal aid is not available in my county or city for bankruptcy. Can I just get the paperwork from the clerk of courts and do it myself?

Technorati Tags: attorneys, bankruptcy, clerk of courts, credit counseling, disability, filing chapter 7, legal aid, paperwork, part time, time problem, upfront

I was laid off in February of 2009 and have not been able to find a good job since. I have been without medical insurance for almost 3 years and have to pay out of pocket for a required medication costing roughly 0 per month. I have moved back into my mother’s house (I’m 26) and I am overdrawn on my bank accounts every week just from paying off my car, my storage (I moved home from another state since I could no longer afford rent,) my medicine, groceries, and then attempting to make payments on my debt. I have spoken with a credit counseling organization (MMI) and they have offered me a plan by which I would pay them about 0 per month. This plan would entail 0 per month for debt payment, 5 for car payment, 5 for my student loan, 0 for medicine and 5 for storage of all of my possessions. This is 95 per month. It does not include food. It does not include emergency preparation. And it is also 0 over my monthly income.

Issue #1: I need a new job. On average, I apply for 20-30 jobs PER DAY. I have been told that, since the economy went bust, EVERYONE checks the credit of a potential employee. Obviously my current poor credit is enough to render me unhireable. If I declare bankruptcy, how much worse can (will?) my job hunting situation be? I currently temp at a front desk for just 30 hrs a week, no benefits.

Issue #2: I need to be able to move out of my mother’s house. She is very kind to have opened her home to me when I am in such need, and I try very hard to stay out of her way, but she makes it very clear that it’s a huge burden on her to have me around (I know she is right, but it makes it no easier). She is also 100% against me declaring bankruptcy, not only for the impact it will have on my life but for the stigma it will bear on hers. I need to be able to have my own place again. But, my current credit is so poor AND declaring bankruptcy would remain for 10 years on my credit report, that no one would possibly rent to me. Which is less devastating to a potential landlord? Terrible credit and a ridiculous debt-to-income ratio, or a recent bankruptcy claim?

Issue #3: My car is currently worth about k less on what I still owe. I have tried to sell it back to the dealership, they charged me k and even when I left the car with them, they immediately called me back to pick it up because apparently something in the undercarriage was repaired wrong (oh and getting my k back was a real hoot, let me tell you.) It has already been repo-ed once and I had to pay money I didn’t have to get it back. I have tried selling in private forums, I have tried refinancing, I don’t know what else I can do. No one will buy a car worth almost ten grand less than they’re paying. I want very much to keep it, but I can’t afford it. And yes, simply letting it go would COST ME MONEY. Dave Ramsay says, "sell the car." What would Dave Ramsay suggest in this situation?

Issue #4: I have no savings. If I declare bankruptcy, I will be living off of my income alone (my savings deteriorated during my time when I was unemployed, after which my debt increased exponentially. HOWEVER. If I declare bankruptcy and can divide my piffle paycheck so that at least SOME of it can go towards savings, then at the end of ten years when the bankruptcy falls off my credit report I will have something, instead of nothing. Or just…more of the nothing I have right now.

Issue #5: I can’t pay these bills. (see the price outline in the first paragraph.) Won’t these companies just sue me anyway, if I don’t declare?

Look. I love and respect my mother (who is not a financier.) I do not want to make her sad because her daughter went bankrupt before the age of 30. But let’s be realistic here. How much worse could my situation POSSIBLY GET if I declare, file for Chapter 7 and get my debts forgiven so that I may begin to rebuild.

I would very much appreciate ANY input, on a REALISTIC, REASONABLE alternative to me filing for bankruptcy. I have listened to "Financial University" by Dave Ramsey about 1000x and I’ve read Suze Orman’s books and seen her show.

It would bring me so much comfort, and I would so appreciate it, if my peers on yahoo who have experience or knowledge with this kind of thing could reach out and give me their honest, informed opinions.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, bust, car payment, credit counseling, debt payment, declaring bankruptcy, emergency preparation, front desk, good job, groceries, issue 1, job hunting, landlord, medical insurance, mmi, new job, poor credit, possessions, stigma, student loan

I am about 30k+ in debt and all are delinquent (laid off). Is it better to deal directly with creditors or go through an agency? I have funds to pay most of it off, but I am concerned with my credit report and how new creditors may look at my credit. In the long run is it better to say settled on my credit report or credit counseling?

Technorati Tags: credit counseling, credit report, creditors

I have accumulated alot of debt and I am bearly able to make the minimum payments. I have seriously considered bankruptcy. Don’t know if credit counseling or debt consolidation would be other options available to me? I am very frustrated and embarressed.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit counseling, debt consolidation, minimum payments

Notice, my question was not, is bankruptcy the right thing to do or should I try credit counseling and such. Please, just answer the question and don’t try and over analyze it. Thank you.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit counseling

What’s the best debt settlement company to go with? Not credit counseling but debt settlement.

Technorati Tags: credit counseling, Debt Settlement, settlement company

I’m not talking about credit counseling, I’m talking about the firms that go to your creditors and offer to settle the debt for a small percentage of the total owed. If you have, tell me what you thought and who you used. Thanks.
WWW.JICINVESTMENTS.COM isn’t even close to what I’m asking about. I’m not looking for credit repair, I’m looking to settle the debts. First thing first.
Wow! I am so impressed with some of the answers. I’m going to have to do some more exploration. It will be tough picking a best. Thanks to you all!

Technorati Tags: credit counseling, credit repair, creditors, debts

I am in the process of finalizing my divorce. My soon-to-be ex-husband racked up a lot of debt in my name (or on joint accounts) during the time we were married. But because he is living and working overseas, the creditors cannot go after him for the debt. What can I do to take care of this? I make enough money for myself and my children to live on, but not enough to shell out thousands to pay this debt. Is bankruptcy the way to go? If not, some suggestions?? Thanks for the help!
Forgot to add that I’ve tried the so called "credit counseling" programs with little success. So I’m open to just about any other suggestions. Thanks!

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit counseling, creditors, divorce, joint accounts

Hello to everyone,
I was wondering your opinion on the debt settlement companys.. The company we are considering going with so that we dont have to file bankrupt has an EXCELLANT report from the better business bureau….. I have read through all the sites and everything and this seems like a good idea so that you can "settle" your debts and get out of debt quicker…. we are in credit counseling now but Its taking forever and we cant afford it anymore… But we can afford the payment that the debt settlement is asking for… Just wanted to see some of your opinions.. Thanks

Technorati Tags: better business bureau, credit counseling, Debt Settlement, debts

Brief background: Moved from one state to another for a job, which was lost. Income has dropped to about 50% of what it was. We’ve gone through our savings to try and pay things. Bring home pay now covers ONLY new house payment, utilities, groceries, life insurance, and government student loan. Have previously surrendered 2nd vehicle, (1st vehicle is paid in full). Old house in old state foreclosed on and being sold tomorrow. Credit cards remaining unpaid and sent for collections, etc.

My question is this: should bankruptcy proceedings begin or should we continue as is? What, if anything, can our creditors do to us (other than trash our credit – which has already happened). We live in Texas. I would appreciate any suggestions. However please refrain from replies such as "get a job", because we are both working full time jobs and have cut ALL unnecessary spending. We dread the thought of bankruptcy, but see no other alternative.
We’ve done the credit counseling, etc., and the funds are simply not there.

Can they garnish wages for debt in Texas?

Thanks for the replies so far – I appreciate it.
The one vehicle we have is paid in full and is a 1999 Ford Ranger – not new. Excellent comments everyone – thanks!

Technorati Tags: 1999 ford ranger, bankruptcy proceedings, collections, credit cards, credit counseling, creditors, dread, ford, ford ranger, full time, government student loan, groceries, insurance, job, life insurance, texas thanks, time jobs, trash, wages

I am going to go to a debt management program/credit counseling, it was the best alternative to avoid bankruptcy.
What are the best companies that charge a low fee and that can get the best lower monthly payment?

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit counseling, debt management program

I have several old debts at least three years old that have been put into collections…haven’t been able to pay on any in years. Looking to pay off but cannot make very high monthly payments so the CCS seems like it wouldn’t work since I have SO many creditors to work with and so little money. The credit counseling pays off the whole balance due which has been greatly increased unecessarily. Looking for some debt reduction and a monthly payment option. Is debt settlement right?

Technorati Tags: ccs, collections, credit counseling, creditors, debt reduction, Debt Settlement, debts, money, payment option

I’m looking for an alternative to bankruptcy and wanted to see what my options are? I’ve looked into credit counseling and I don’t feel that is the right option for me. I wanted to know what other options are Available for me?

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit counseling

I want to file for bankruptcy on my own without a lawyer. Besides filling out paperwork, do I need to appear in court? I see no other way than filing bankruptcy to get out of debt. Credit counseling is not helping and I want to start fresh. I have learned my lesson.

Technorati Tags: credit counseling, debt credit, filing bankruptcy, lawyer, paperwork