question about case status

[marknashe]

hello,

I've recently made my last payment in my chapter 13 plan. I've been checking 13datacenter.com every day since and my case status finally says "completed"

My question is, does that mean I have officially discharged? If not, does anyone know how soon does the discharge come now?

Thanks,

Mark

[newbie2]

First, congratulations!!! Getting to the end of a Chapter 13 plan is so difficult, and you did it!

Next: You should be receiving soon an order stating that your plan payments can cease. Then the trustee sends letters to all your creditors letting them know this, and asking them to check their accounting to make sure they received what they should AND that all their checks have cleared.

Pick up the phone and call your attorney to alert them to the fact that you have made all payments so they can keep an eye out for the order to stop payments.

The actual discharge and closing take a while as there are final audits and such that the trustees office does now. In my district it takes about 4-6 months for everything to be truly finished, discharged and closed. It may vary in your district.

[bpokey]

So what about the 'purgatory' time? I'm not quite there yet, but within three payments of the same situation. Can I go buy a car as soon as 13datacenter marks my payments complete? Assuming I can find a lender to work with me, am I now allowed to incur debt without the trustee having a coniption (sp?)? What about applying for a credit card? Can I do that after I've fulfilled my obligation to the court or do I need to wait an additional six months? I'm not ready to run out there and start running up massive debts again, but having a credit card is almost a necessity now-a-days. I've been lucky in that my work lets us use our AmEx as long as we pay it off every month - but I'm sure that could change...


Thanks!