Plan Base

[stephanie1112]

We are almost at the end of my Chapter 13. We paid back 100% to our creditors. Before the payment was received on Monday, we owed less than $400 to pay off all the money to the last few creditors. With the payment that posted on Monday, the attorney website shows that our account has a credit of $409.

What I don't understand is it says we have $927 left to meet our plan base. I'm confused...if all the creditors have been paid, do we still have to pay this amount? If so, where does this money go?

[lrprn]

What I don't understand is it says we have $927 left to meet our plan base. I'm confused...if all the creditors have been paid, do we still have to pay this amount? If so, where does this money go?

First of all, you have to remember that the amounts you see on the Ch 13 tracking websites (13DataCenter and 13Network) are only as up-to-date as your trustee's staff keeps them. That's why it's best for Ch 13ers to keep paying until they are officially notified by the court that their plan has been successfully completed and discharged.

As far as the positive amount in your account with no notice of discharge yet, this is also not unusual. The trustee has to perform an audit at the end of your case to ensure all monies have been distributed equally and all creditor's claims have been satisfied. Frankly, most of our Ch 13 filers have had to make several extra payments at the end of their plans because of the time it's been taking for the overwhelmed trustees to complete their audits and notify the court the filer can be discharged.

The nice part is any overages due to extra payments that are in the account when you are discharged comes back to you as a check. It makes for a tidy start-up savings account, a jump-start to fixing the neglected house, a downpayment for a new car.....anything that's been put off during Ch 13 and really needs to be done.

[stephanie1112]

Thanks for the response. I guess I'm just ready for it to all be over. It has been a long 5 years and I definitely could use any overage as a downpayment for a new car. I'm surprised both of our cars have made it thru this journey, but thankfully they have.

[sharina]

They are a bit too hard on us Chapter 13er's. seriously, after 5 years there is NO reason one should have to send in any extra payments. Could care less if the trustees are busy - it's a job, just like any other and I know that my trustee has office staff and they seem to be pretty quick with most things.