i have 60k in credit card debt. i am unemployed, and have to move back in with my parents. i have 9 different credit cards, all with significant balances. at this point in my life i realize i am screwed credit wise, filing bankruptcy was an option for me, but i would rather settle my debt and only have my credit screwed for a few years instead of 10 – 15 years as would be the case if i filed bankruptcy. i haven’t been paying on my credit cards for the past 4 months or so because i couldn’t afford paying them, and i knew that i was going to settle, so instead of signing up for a debt settlement company and letting them wait for my delinquencies, i’ve decided to let them fall behind on my own. i couldn’t afford the monthly payment for the settlement at the time because i’ve lived on my own, but now, i’m moving in with my parents and will not have to pay rent, and can focus all my unemployment funds to getting out of debt. i do not want to negotiate with 9 different credit card companies on settling. i’d rather pay the 15% or so for a debt settlement company to do all that type of work, where i then can have all 9 credit cards settled with the same company, and only have ONE monthly payment where it could be paid off in 3 or 4 years. can anyone tell me a good, reliable, cheap debt settlement company, in which i can consolidate all 9 of my credit cards into one monthly payment in which i can afford? i know i’ll have to pay a little more for using a settlement company, but to me it would be worth it instead of dealing with 9 different entities, making 9 seperate payments. i just want to use a settlement company that i can trust, which will be able to bring my total debt down from 60k to around 30k (most advertise can lower your debt to 50%), where i can make one monthly payment. i realize there are fee’s and i also would have to pay back some money on my income tax, i’m looking for a company that would be the least expensive, and also one that is reliable and will not screw me over. please, if anyone can lead me in the right direction with a decent settlement company it would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much in advance for your help, thanks again.

Technorati Tags: 4 months, credit card companies, credit card debt, credit cards, Debt Settlement, delinquencies, entities, filing bankruptcy, getting out of debt, income tax, money, parents, settlement company, unemployment funds

Today I called about my gift card for Bennigan’s and I received the following message.

"S&A Restaurant Corp. and certain affiliates have filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code. The companies that filed bankruptcy cases are popularly known as Steak & Ale, Bennigan’s and Tavern restaurants. However, not all stores using these trade names have filed bankruptcy. For example, stores operated by franchisees are not named as debtors in these filings.

"It is our understanding the Michelle Chow will be appointed as Chapter 7 trustee for the entities that have filed. These are filed as liquidation cases. Future decisions regarding the affairs of the debtor companies will be determined and administered by the trustee.

"If you wish to file a claim, the form Proof of Claim can be found online at: http://www.uscourts.gov/rules/BK_Forms_1207/B_010_1207f.pdf.

"The filing does not include Ponderosa and Bonanza which operate under Metromedia Steakhouses Company, L.P."

My question is…

How do I file a claim? (There are many terms and questions on the form that I am not familiar with and I would love to see an example of a completed form.)

Technorati Tags: amp, bankruptcy cases, bankruptcy code, bennigan s, bk, bonanza, chapter 7, chow, companies that filed bankruptcy, debtors, entities, franchisees, gift card, liquidation cases, metromedia, ponderosa, proof of claim, steakhouses, trade names, trustee