Passwords?

[rcoveles]

This one is sort of freaking me out..here's part one...

A good friend of mine is currently in the BK process, just a bit ahead of where I am. She told me that they actually demanded her Ebay and Paypal passwords!

Is that even legal? I don't have anything to hide really..all of my receipts from my business go right from Paypal to my bank account, save a few things I might pay directly from Paypal (minor purchases). I just think there must be some sort of privacy involved with your customers' information being involved.

(also freaks me out because we live in the same area, so I may be dealing with the same folks).

Which brings me to part two - another one that has probably been asked a bunch, but I've really been wondering..

Right before I knew I had reached the end of the road last week, I put a bunch of stuff on Ebay. Nothing major - it may work out to be $300 or so when they all end. I have a bunch of other stuff I had gathered up to sell. It looks like this may well be my legal defense fund.

Is it cool to continue listing items for sale over the next few weeks, as long as I maybe keep a spreadsheet of everything, and earmark those funds to pay my lawyer? I'm guessing no transaction would exceed $200, and the total probably won't go over $1000-1500. I was really wondering if this would be averaged in with my other receipts to jack up my monthly income average in the six months before I file? This is still all so confusing to me.

[klandsb]

I'm confused. Who asked for her passwords ?? Does she do alot of business of ebay ???

[StartingOver08]

It is perfectly ok to sell your stuff to obtain funds to pay the attorney! It is a good idea to keep a speadsheet of the items. Yes it is considered income, but the amounts you are indicating are small and should have little to no impact on your 6 mth look back period.

[frogger]

I seriously doubt that they are going to want your trustee. If you are doing a substantial amount of business, they "might" want your user id for ebay and copies of your paypal information (like the bank statements). As to giving them passwords, it's not going to be needed if you are questioned and supply all of the documentation.

[rcoveles]

I'm confused. Who asked for her passwords ?? Does she do alot of business of ebay ???

Not sure about the volume of sales, but I think it was the trustee who asked for the PWs. I was really floored when I heard that.

[forgotten]

Not sure about the volume of sales, but I think it was the trustee who asked for the PWs. I was really floored when I heard that.

My answer would be, "no thank you". A judge is not going to compel you give out your online financial passwords.

They could ask for sales documention if you make your income from ebay/paypal... If they think you are providing false information to the court the UST could obtain a warrant and subpoena ebay/paypal for records.

But there is nothing in the bankruptcy code requiring you to honor such a request from the trustee.

[rcoveles]

My answer would be, "no thank you". A judge is not going to compel you give out your online financial passwords.

They could ask for sales documention if you make your income from ebay/paypal... If they think you are providing false information to the court the UST could obtain a warrant and subpoena ebay/paypal for records.

But there is nothing in the bankruptcy code requiring you to honor such a request from the trustee.

I thought as much, but I guess she already provided them. I won't be doing the same..just on principle.

[debtinohio]

I thought as much, but I guess she already provided them. I won't be doing the same..just on principle.

Tell her to just change them.