I paid an attorney to file a bankruptcy did the credit counseling online, its been a year and he still has not filed, and refuses to give me a refund. and now won’t even return my calls. what can I do? I am in the state of California By the way
is there some form of an attorney dispute i can do?
I have the retainer agreement, and it was supposed to be filed on an emergency basis due to the fact my landlord, was trying to evict me. that was almost one year ago. yes he is a real attorney. his name is michael wells in los angeles.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit counseling, emergency basis, landlord, michael wells, retainer agreement, state of california

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

Please help it is too late to call my attorney and I have to complete my online credit counseling class but I’m scared because it’s asking me how many vehicles I have. I have two cars but they are POS’s one is a 95 GMC Jimmy and the other is 99toyota corolla…we are I’m filing with my husband it’s a joint bankrupcty…we don’t owe anything on the cars…..

Technorati Tags: bankrupcty, corolla, credit counseling, gmc, gmc jimmy, two cars

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

im about 5,000-6,000 in debt…i can never make my monthly payments because i have 2 kids to take care of…every paycheck goes to paying the bills,food,gas,and my credit card payments…any advice about what should i do?….does credit counseling really work?…should i try to get a loan even though my credit is REALLY bad now…or should i file for bankruptcy????…help please!!!….hate being broke for the mistakes i made when i was younger…

Technorati Tags: bills food, credit card payments, credit counseling, paycheck, should i file for bankruptcy

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

I have about 7,000 credit card debt i am in a credit counseling program. Ive had my car for a year and I am so upside down the loan was for 15,000 6 years at 20 % interest. My current income is only about 900 a month so i am considering filing bankruptcy and having my dad cosign for a new car and a house which wont be for a few years when im done with school. My whole family is pressuring me to go bankrupt but im tempted to just tough it out so i can maintain good credit? What should i do?

Technorati Tags: 6 years, cosign, counseling program, credit card debt, credit counseling, dad, filing bankruptcy, new car

I have already completed the credit counseling class and I will be turning in the paperwork next week. What is the next thing that will happen? Also, what exactly is the meeting of creditors? When are you supposed to go to court and what happens when you do?

Technorati Tags: credit counseling, meeting of creditors, paperwork

I make ,000/year and have ,000 in debt (credit cards, loans). According to the ch. 7 means test, I have 5/mo. of disposable income to pay to my creditors (my current payments are ,450/mo.). I’m not behind on any payments, but I have been struggling for months now to stay afloat and often have to rob Peter to pay Paul, using the credit cards that I have been trying to pay down to pay other bills or groceries. I’m hesitant to file a ch. 13 right now because I’m 5 months pregnant and my financial situation will change drastically in 4 months. I clearly pass the means test when I add in a dependent, showing a -0 of disposable income/mo. Before I found out I was pregnant (which was unplanned), I was planning to take on a second job and freelance assignments (I’m an Editor) to help me get ahead. But that’s not going to happen now, obviously. Should I file a ch.13 now and convert to a 7 after my baby is born, or should I just wait until my baby is born and file a 7?
Additionally, I’m not married, but I will have some financial support from the baby’s father. And please, no one answer with judgmental advice–I’m a responsible person who fell on some hard times a few years ago when I was working solely as a freelancer, was disabled for a couple of months due to an injury, and had a death in the family. This is a LAST resort, but after stressing and being depressed about this for months now, I have to do what I can to make sure I can provide for my child. I would rather work 2 full-time jobs (I have done this in the past) than file for bankruptcy, but this isn’t realistic when I’m going to be the primary caregiver for my child. Thank you.
Thanks for your response. I have had credit counseling and a phone consultation with an attorney who figured that I currently qualified for a 13, but he did not take into consideration me having an additional dependent in 4 months and having to then pay ,000/month for childcare soon after my child’s birth. From what I have read on the U.S. Trustee’s site, a person can convert from a 13 to a 7 if circumstances change that makes it impossible for them to stick with the agreed upon payment plan. My issue is it doesn’t seem to make sense to begin a 13 now, maybe get into one or two payments, then have to back out of it so soon because my financial situation changes. And then I would have to pay even more money to convert the filing. I hope this makes sense. Thanks.

Technorati Tags: 4 months, 5 months, caregiver, ch 7, childcare, credit counseling, creditors, death in the family, debt credit, disposable income, financial situation, freelance assignments, freelancer, groceries, last resort, means test, phone consultation, responsible person, second job, time jobs

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’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

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

Income=1200/mo. 4 creditcardpayments + 1 unsecuredloan (used for massage theray school) payment= 940/mo. Rent=5. Not to mention other bills and food. The only way I am making it is thru occasional money and food help from friends/family, tho very few of them know that I am ,000 in unsecured debt. I used that money to help pay expenses- scraping by frugally, not spending unwisely, just making ends meet for past 3 years on very low income when i was going to school. Also 2 roomates skipped out and I used the credit for 4 months to pay 00/mo rent that I should have only paid 1/3 of, two years ago. Now I am having to use what is left of my credit to help pay the other credit bills. And having paid no more than a week late a few times while waiting for income, (hard to choose whether to pay late or to pay with other credit cards!),interest rates way high: 80 x 32.99%, 50×26, 00×26, 00×23, 00×9. Am in deferrment of 000 university loan. HELP very ashamed
Thanks for your help!!! Tried to get a loan with lower interest from my credit union and wellsfargo- refused. nobody in my family wants to cosign- i don’t blame them! 5 is cheap rent downtown Denver! moving back home would kill me, (plus 1000 miles away and no work there). I’m not really making enough to have credit counseling take a autodeduct, esp because my bills end up exceeding income. Bankruptcy seems like the "easy" way out (except for the shame and embarassment, and also the only way out at this point), tell me how it’s not. Only thing I’m worried about is that I won’t be able to get more loans to keep going to school. I don’t plan to buy house or expensive car. Also, I’m trying to run a web dev business, so far mostly building portfolio. How will it affect my options with the business? You guys rule.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, 4 months, bankruptcy, credit cards interest, credit counseling, downtown denver, embarassment, expensive car, friends family, interest rates, loans, massage, money, roomates, shame, thanks for your help, tho, university loan, unsecured debt, web dev

I have large debts and a very low income (due to various things that have went wrong in my life in the past year) and I have no money to file bankruptcy. I hear it costs 500 dollars which is what my rent costs and I have to choose rent over legal fees. I have nothing to sell to make money and work a job with a different schedule every week and also a very strict emloyer who goes on firing sprees all the time. It is not a bad job in the sense that I do make more than minimum wage so I can’t afford to lose it. I have limited transportation which limits where I can get to as many businesses in my city are in areas with no bus service and I can’t take off or be late for work under any circumstances. Is there any place to get free assistance and that useless credit counseling thing that is required? I know it is required although I do not believe in conselours of any type.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, bus service, circumstances, credit counseling, debts, free assistance, job, minimum wage, money

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