Anybody have a Kohl's charge?

[yoyoma51]

When we filed, my wife had a Kohl's card with a $3k limit and $0 balance. Obviously we did not include it on the BK paperwork.

The case has now been discharged, and the Kohl's account has remained open.

There are no credit cards open in my name on them as co-owner.

My wife called Kohl's to add me as a joint-owner on our account. They sent us a letter we had to sign and send back. The letter wanted my SS along with name, etc. There was a check box in the letter where I checked 'co-owner, reporting to credit agencies' (vs. user with owner carrying all the responsibility).

We sent it back today.

Does anyone think they will run my CRA and close our account because of the BK?

I was really hoping to use it to help rebuild our credit (instead of using some high-fee MC/VISA).


PLEASE NOTE: I am not a lawyer. Bankruptcy may or may not be a best scenario for you. It depends on your situation. You may assume my advice is totally useless (my wife does, and she’s probably right). Talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney (or three) in your jurisdiction for legal advice.

[Flamingo]

Kohl's is associated with Chase and if you had Chase or any place associated with them in your BK filing, you will not get approved (Chase, like BOA, is hard on BK filers) and I have no idea if they will close your wife's account with that information; they shouldn't since she was not in your filing and the account was originally opened on her credit only. Whether or not it was a good idea to try it I can't say. They will run your credit report since they asked for your SS#. Hopefully it will work out for you.

[yoyoma51]

We both filed, and we BK Chase. Knowing now that they are affiliated, I'm surprised it is not already closed.

Interesting.

[yoyoma51]

Since it is still open and she can charge on it, maybe I should try intercepting the mail so they don't pull either or our CR's?

(Update - was able to get it back before mailman got to it!)

PLEASE NOTE: I am not a lawyer. Bankruptcy may or may not be a best scenario for you. It depends on your situation. You may assume my advice is totally useless (my wife does, and she’s probably right). Talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney (or three) in your jurisdiction for legal advice.

[Flamingo]

I'm sorry - I misread your original posting. What you should have done is left the situation alone and not have tried to put your name on that card. Once they run it through (they will probably also run your wife's credit through) the card may get closed out. Some cards may survive a Chapter 13 and not get closed; some don't. Since you have drawn attenton to yourselves now by trying to add your name onto the card, you may find they will close it. Only time will tell.

[Jeepy89]

I have a Kohls card that survived Bk - it was zero balance when I filed - and then have now raised my limit another $1k since DC. We filed on Chase but it was a business CC so I am not sure if that mattered.

[yoyoma51]

Update

So after leaving it sit on the computer desk for a month, I finally decided to mail back the form from Kohls/Chase (we BK'd Chase) to add me to my wife's account as a co-owner, reporting to CRAs.

Since I first posted this thread, we were approved for a VISA in both our names at our credit union. I thought even if Kohls/Chase pulls our CRAs and closes the account, at least we have something else to rebuild our credit with.

Well, I just logged on to our Kohls account and there I am, a co-owner on the account. It worked!

Now, we've got a VISA and Kohls to use to rebuild our credit, and we were just discharged!

So, if you have a Kohls/Chase card with $0 balance when you file, cross your fingers and don't assume it will be closed!

[krielly]

I had a Kohl's card when we filed. I thought it was paid off, but it had a $11 balance

I wish I had just paid the darn thing off. Can't believe it closed because of $11.

I love that store

[Stilltheone]

I used to work for Kohl's credit center and I don't remember it being owned by Chase. When was it bought by Chase?

[my4devils]

I worked for Kohl's til October of 06 and I remember the controvery over it right before I left. Alot of employees were paying and closing their accounts. The interest rates went way up. Not sure of exact date but somewhere around then.

[Summerbreeze]

I haven't filed yet but I only owe about $100 on my Kohls acct and I would like to keep it, I don't use it that much but it would be good to rebuild credit. I have a penny's with $0 balance, haven't used it in a long time, wonder will they close it?

[lrprn]

I haven't filed yet but I only owe about $100 on my Kohls acct and I would like to keep it, I don't use it that much but it would be good to rebuild credit.

Since you owe money on it, your Kohls card must be listed when you file. Sometimes smaller retail cards aren't cancelled when you file, but it's unusual. I wouldn't count on it, especially since you owe Kohls money and they will be notified directly that you filed.

I have a penny's with $0 balance, haven't used it in a long time, wonder will they close it?

When a credit card has a zero balance, you don't have to list it when you file. But again, credit card companies do share information with each other. Your Penneys card might survive, but again, I wouldn't count on it.

Best to plan for a life after filing without a credit card right away. The ones you can get right out of bankruptcy have high annual fees and high APRs. Wait six months after discharge making on-time payments for everything and the cc terms improve a great deal.

[Summerbreeze]

Thanks Lrprn,

What if I pay off my Kohls before I file? I'm not filing until August.

[Flamingo]

Thanks Lrprn,

What if I pay off my Kohls before I file? I'm not filing until August.

It doesn't matter whether you pay it off or not. Once you file BK, any credit cards that you did not include in your filing that have zero balances usually do not survive the BK. You may be lucky and it suvives but there is no guarantee. Kohl's is under Chase and Chase is notorious for blacklisting folks who have filed BK.

[erinmi]

We have a Kohls charge we included in BK and so far it is still reporting as open. Granted I cut up the card, so I have no idea if it is still available but how odd! We also BK'd Chase on both a car and a credit card.

I did have one major credit card that survived BK with a zero balance. I used it this week to see if it still worked. I charged $10 and sure enough it worked just fine.

So while most cards do close up, occasionally some make it through....