C-13: stop paying CC's or pay until filing?

[Slingerland]

As you folks have figured out, my C-13 is strategic, and I'm planning it carefully. I'm asking for opinions here...

Yes, I'm filing bankruptcy, but at the moment I'm not late on any payments (a medical payment due in october is what will put me over without being able to recover.) Most threads here suggest to stop paying credit cards... the bankruptcy will nuke one's credit anyway.

But what about after the 5 years is up? Will my scores recover faster if I "never" paid late before the BK, or does it really matter? I've seen suggestions and comments both ways but the context for the people involved is different than mine.

What are your opinions? Pay until filing, or pocket some cash?

Thanks!

[LadyInTheRed]

I was less than 30 days late when I filed and was surprised that my credit score didn't drop lower than it did. I have read that the lack of negative items before your filing will help your rating recover quicker, but I doubt it would be by much. The negative entries would be 5 years old. The older they get, the less impact they will have on your score.

If you can exempt cash, I say stop paying and pocket some cash. Having a cash cushion to start off your Chap 13 is much more important than your credit rating. I had a cash cushion, but wish I had held out longer and saved more to use another few thousand dollars of my wildcard exemption. It had nothing to do with my credit rating. I just wanted to get that 60 month clock ticking.