Hello,
I am looking for information and advice on my case. I have filed for CH 13 bankruptcy a few months ago due to compounding a lot of debt including casino debt. In the past I frequented casinos and played regularly. I took advantage of offers, promotions, and high win percentage games such as poker, blackjack, and video poker. Playing higher limits using casino markers for years which I always paid back on time up until the point of filing for bankruptcy. Casino markers have to be paid back in 45 days, and when I realized I couldn't pay them back for the first time in my life I considered filing for bankruptcy. At this point I was up to date on my markers and all debt payments. I had a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer, and in turn we filed for bankruptcy. Assuming all my listed debt was included I started payment and had my 341 meeting, and this is where my issues arose.
After the 341 meeting the Trustee demanded for me to go on the NJ self exclusion list or she would dismiss the case so I reluctantly did. I say reluctantly as I had already stopped gambling, but was being given large amounts of free offers (bets, electronics, etc) due to the high limit play I had done in the past. These offers worth over $1000/wk would have gone on for 3-4 months after I stopped playing with my money, but would stop immediately if one was on the state voluntary self-exclusion list. The other reason included in me saying reluctantly is In my mind they were making it not Voluntary any more as it states it must be on the paperwork I had to sign.
Shortly after getting on the list I find out one law firm filed multiple APs for casinos to make the debt non-dischargable due to being within 90 days of filing. This was a huge shock to me as my Lawyer never even mentioned this as a possibility when we filed, or I would have waited the extra 30 days. This was approximately 50% of my unsecured debt, and after speaking to my Lawyer many times he recommended trying to come to a deal with them. Months have passed with my confirmation hearing postponed and my Lawyer working with the opposing council to make a deal ending with him recommending I take their last offer of paying back the debt owed to them in full in a 3 year period after my chapter 13 payments are over and they would agree to not take action on the debt. On top of this with my confirmation hearing scheduled now for barely over a week from today I am told the Trustee now wants me to go on self-exclusion lists for other states I have gambled in. Most of these locations were free trips offered to high players such as a Vegas trip and Louisiana trip I took last year. Looking online today I find out some of these states don't even offer voluntary self exclusion, such as Nevada, and any ones that do all have to be done in person.
I find myself wondering if these things that have and are happening to me are normal in these scenarios? Is the Trustee allowed to force me to travel the country and get on these lists that are not even available for all of the places I have previously gambled? Is paying back the debt to the APs over 3 years after my bankruptcy all I can do if its the only option the offer?
Sorry for the long post, I am just at a point where I am overwhelmed with my situation. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I am looking for information and advice on my case. I have filed for CH 13 bankruptcy a few months ago due to compounding a lot of debt including casino debt. In the past I frequented casinos and played regularly. I took advantage of offers, promotions, and high win percentage games such as poker, blackjack, and video poker. Playing higher limits using casino markers for years which I always paid back on time up until the point of filing for bankruptcy. Casino markers have to be paid back in 45 days, and when I realized I couldn't pay them back for the first time in my life I considered filing for bankruptcy. At this point I was up to date on my markers and all debt payments. I had a consultation with a bankruptcy lawyer, and in turn we filed for bankruptcy. Assuming all my listed debt was included I started payment and had my 341 meeting, and this is where my issues arose.
After the 341 meeting the Trustee demanded for me to go on the NJ self exclusion list or she would dismiss the case so I reluctantly did. I say reluctantly as I had already stopped gambling, but was being given large amounts of free offers (bets, electronics, etc) due to the high limit play I had done in the past. These offers worth over $1000/wk would have gone on for 3-4 months after I stopped playing with my money, but would stop immediately if one was on the state voluntary self-exclusion list. The other reason included in me saying reluctantly is In my mind they were making it not Voluntary any more as it states it must be on the paperwork I had to sign.
Shortly after getting on the list I find out one law firm filed multiple APs for casinos to make the debt non-dischargable due to being within 90 days of filing. This was a huge shock to me as my Lawyer never even mentioned this as a possibility when we filed, or I would have waited the extra 30 days. This was approximately 50% of my unsecured debt, and after speaking to my Lawyer many times he recommended trying to come to a deal with them. Months have passed with my confirmation hearing postponed and my Lawyer working with the opposing council to make a deal ending with him recommending I take their last offer of paying back the debt owed to them in full in a 3 year period after my chapter 13 payments are over and they would agree to not take action on the debt. On top of this with my confirmation hearing scheduled now for barely over a week from today I am told the Trustee now wants me to go on self-exclusion lists for other states I have gambled in. Most of these locations were free trips offered to high players such as a Vegas trip and Louisiana trip I took last year. Looking online today I find out some of these states don't even offer voluntary self exclusion, such as Nevada, and any ones that do all have to be done in person.
I find myself wondering if these things that have and are happening to me are normal in these scenarios? Is the Trustee allowed to force me to travel the country and get on these lists that are not even available for all of the places I have previously gambled? Is paying back the debt to the APs over 3 years after my bankruptcy all I can do if its the only option the offer?
Sorry for the long post, I am just at a point where I am overwhelmed with my situation. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately, I have no words of wisdom for you. I have never read or heard of a situation quite like this. Plus, I am an Asset CH7 person. Perhaps in a little while some of the CH13 people will come on board. This is the drive time/dinner time period right now.
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