How far back does the trustee look at CC statements?

[DivorceRuinedMe]

Just wondering? I will not have used my CC for a full 6 months before I file. I'm just scared he/she will go line by line on the ones before that and be like - "Hmmm.....I see you spent $250 at clothing store X or $50 to get your hair done." - and then give me a hard time. I know I'm probably worrying for nothing but I'm a worrier by nature and I'm just curious to know in other's experience if this has ever happened?

[HHM]

Generally, the trustee doesn't look at ANY credit card statements. But it is helpful to have 6 months worth ready to go if the need arises.

The trustee is concerned about your ASSETS, not your credit.

[DivorceRuinedMe]

Generally, the trustee doesn't look at ANY credit card statements. But it is helpful to have 6 months worth ready to go if the need arises.

The trustee is concerned about your ASSETS, not your credit.

What I was thinking would happen would be he would look at the cc statement and see a charge for say $100 at Target and be like - what did you buy at Target for $100? Where is it on your asset sheet? Does that ever happen or am I just being silly?

[SinkingFast]

Lost got pegged by the UST. Here's their story:

http://www.bankruptcyforum.com/showthread.php?t=10610

Lost actually sent in way more info than they needed.

Here's Lost's 341 Report:

http://www.bankruptcyforum.com/showthread.php?t=10834

Hopefully that will put your mind at ease.

[sofarindebt]

wouldn't be an issue.....

I spend at LEAST $100 at target every time I go. I would think the only thing that would be of concern (and only with the creditor, not the trustee) would be gambling, HUGE cash advances, or luxury purchases. If spending $100 at target on a credit card was ever a problem, nobody would EVER be able to file bankruptcy!!

[jal1129]

Under normal circumstances the trustee is not even going to look at your cc statements. Our lawyer asked us to bring the most current statement from each cc to our appointment to fill out the paperwork, which I did, but she never even looked at them as I had already made up a list of all creditors, address', balance due, acct # etc. So I brought the statements back home and that was the end of that.

[DivorceRuinedMe]

Well reading about Lost's experience makes me feel a little better. Majority of my debt is legal due to the divorce but there was some not so wise spending in there too (I have a thing for dressing my little ones in Gymboree )

My only concern now is that I have no older cc statements. None at all. I don't save them. I mean, I used to, then I had to leave my house in a flurry when I left the ex. I left all my paperwork with him. When I moved in with my family, I just started shredding them thinking, why am I keeping these. Now that I've decided to file, I guess I will start saving them but now I'm worried that they will want really old ones. I'm sure the cc companies won't be rushing to help me out - LOL. Should I worry??

[lrprn]

Should I worry??

If you are filing in good faith, no. Just keep all the cc bills that arrive now so you'll have the company names, mailing addresses, and amounts for your bk forms.

If you just can't push this from your mind and you *really* want copies of your older cc bills too, many credit card websites provide online viewing of your cc bills back six months or so. Visit the websites for your cc's and see which ones have links to online access to your bills. Use the "bill month" drop down list and choose each month you want and print it. After you file, this access will very likely disappear when the card is cancelled by the cc company.

[wayne-o]

If you have not filed yet, you may be able to get past statements online. I filed chapter 13 and had approx 20,000 in cc unsecured debt. My trustee only wanted to make sure I was already making payments....but mine is a 13. Might be a little different

[SinkingFast]

If you aren't late on your payments yet, you could possibly still get copies of old statements. Either online or by calling Customer Service.

If you have to call, tell the Rep you got Divorced and inadvertently left your old statements behind when you moved. Your Ex subsequently trashed your set. You'd like to get copies for your personal records.

If you can access them online, print those suckers out. Once you go about 60 days late, the CC's will restrict your access to online services. You'll get a pop-up box or a warning page instructing you to contact Customer Service and a phone number to call.

[Stilltheone]

I know this thread is a little older, but I wanted to ask the question....

I don't have ANY of my credit card statements. Once we filed, I shredded them all. (it felt pretty darn good, actually)

What are the chances that the trustee will want to see statements? FYI, we filed with about 60K in unsecured debt...

[lrprn]

I know this thread is a little older, but I wanted to ask the question....

I don't have ANY of my credit card statements. Once we filed, I shredded them all. (it felt pretty darn good, actually)

What are the chances that the trustee will want to see statements? FYI, we filed with about 60K in unsecured debt...

The chances are very small. In a no-asset, no business debt Ch 7 case, you're at the "a meteor will hit my house today" possibility level

[pa308]

All my last 6 months worth of cc statements show is late charges and interest. Is that what they are looking for or further back showing the charges??

[PaKettle]

It's extremely unlikely that ANYone is going to look at your credit card statements, let alone ask "why did you buy this or that?"

They are only concerned if you bought BIG expensive luxury items within the past 6 months... or took out big cash advances... Even then, there is often little or no "investigating". Now, if you took out $5k 3 months before filing that COULD be a problem. But not always... But under $500 expenditures at stores, no problem unless it was right before you filed.

[lrprn]

All my last 6 months worth of cc statements show is late charges and interest. Is that what they are looking for or further back showing the charges??

Pa, the only reason that lawyers sometimes will ask you for six months of cc charges is to make absolutely certain nothing has been overlooked that could be problematic for your case. Some filers don't tell their lawyer everything because they didn't understand it was important to do so. Your lawyer can't protect you from what he/she doesn't know about.