Quick Questions

[Frog42]

I browsed the forums and ran a couple searches, but didn't find anything quite matching my situation in the first few pages.

I just changed my job from full time to part time because the stress of dealing with lawyers 8 hours a day was getting to me. At my new pay rate, it's not going to be long before I can't afford to pay my minimums on my credit cards (I have no other debt).

In 3 months, my 6-month income will be under the median for my state, so I was hoping to file chapter 7 to get a fresh start.

I have three questions:

1) Do I need to keep paying my minimums on my cards? It'd be a huge burden to do so.

2) Does my changing to part time look suspicious? You'd think if anyone would understand the stress of dealing with lawyers, it'd be another person who deals with them daily for a living.

3) At what point in the BK process is it ok for me to take on another part time job to increase my income? After filing? After the 341? After confirmation?

Thanks a lot! This forum has tons of great information!

[TEW]

I browsed the forums and ran a couple searches, but didn't find anything quite matching my situation in the first few pages.

I just changed my job from full time to part time because the stress of dealing with lawyers 8 hours a day was getting to me. At my new pay rate, it's not going to be long before I can't afford to pay my minimums on my credit cards (I have no other debt).

In 3 months, my 6-month income will be under the median for my state, so I was hoping to file chapter 7 to get a fresh start.

I have three questions:

1) Do I need to keep paying my minimums on my cards? It'd be a huge burden to do so.
stop paying now if you are filing soon i stopped 4 months before I filed
2) Does my changing to part time look suspicious? You'd think if anyone would understand the stress of dealing with lawyers, it'd be another person who deals with them daily for a living.
I quiet a job I was working for a sociopath (thought Hitler was a good guy)the stress on that job would drive you nuts. NO ONE asked me why. Your health is a good resin.

3) At what point in the BK process is it ok for me to take on another part time job to increase my income? After filing? After the 341? After confirmation?
I would not take another job before the 341 10 days after to play it safe.
You can at filling but I can think of ways it could cause problems.

Thanks a lot! This forum has tons of great information!

hope this helps

[CindyLou]

FOR sure dont start a new job before your 341. You could be asked questions regarding your income. Personally I would wait until discharge, but many people on here have started after 341 without problems.

[JRScott]

I browsed the forums and ran a couple searches, but didn't find anything quite matching my situation in the first few pages.

I just changed my job from full time to part time because the stress of dealing with lawyers 8 hours a day was getting to me. At my new pay rate, it's not going to be long before I can't afford to pay my minimums on my credit cards (I have no other debt).

In 3 months, my 6-month income will be under the median for my state, so I was hoping to file chapter 7 to get a fresh start.

I have three questions:

1) Do I need to keep paying my minimums on my cards? It'd be a huge burden to do so.

2) Does my changing to part time look suspicious? You'd think if anyone would understand the stress of dealing with lawyers, it'd be another person who deals with them daily for a living.

3) At what point in the BK process is it ok for me to take on another part time job to increase my income? After filing? After the 341? After confirmation?

Thanks a lot! This forum has tons of great information!

1. Stop paying them now. I didn't pay mine for 2 years. Realize that by stopping paying them it will dink your credit report some, but if you can't afford to pay them don't do it.

2. In the current economic situation I'm not sure they'd even ask. They might simply assume a downturn in business.

3. At least wait til after the 341.

[DaisyMae]

You don't have to work.

At all. You can simply stop working. There's no law says you have to have a job. The simplest way to pass the means test is to quit, cut back, etc. I'm suprised not to hear more folks doing that- stop paying debt, save that money, cut back or quit your job, fly past the means test, wait for the dust to settle, then move onward~

[BROKENN]

My DH wasn't to get a job before 341 either. It killed him! So I had him do all the legwork to close his biz. Wrote his resume etc..... getting ready!

Don't pay the CCs. Pay for living!

[debtmonster]

1. Stop paying them now. I didn't pay mine for 2 years. Realize that by stopping paying them it will dink your credit report some, but if you can't afford to pay them don't do it.

Why do people care about credit reports or credit when they go BK? That's the purpose of going BK. After BK, you live on cash. NEVER, EVER use credit again. That's what got you in trouble in the first place. That's why they have eLayaway.com now. Live within your means after going BK. Let your credit score go down to 350. WHO CARES? PAY CASH until you die and never let this happen again. If you don't have the cash to pay for it, DON'T BUY IT. Simple as that.

[GreenInkOnPaper]

Why do people care about credit reports or credit when they go BK? That's the purpose of going BK. After BK, you live on cash. NEVER, EVER use credit again. That's what got you in trouble in the first place. That's why they have eLayaway.com now. Live within your means after going BK. Let your credit score go down to 350. WHO CARES? PAY CASH until you die and never let this happen again. If you don't have the cash to pay for it, DON'T BUY IT. Simple as that.

While I agree that credit scores are not the most important thing in life, you do need good credit to buy a home, open a bank account, rent a home and get certain jobs. The idea of never ever using credit again sounds good, but really it's just about impossible. And for a lot of folks, using credit wasn't what got us into trouble. Losing jobs or closing businesses, health issues, being sued, divorce,etc. - all reasons for financial woes.

[Doghouse]

Exactly, there's still many things you need credit/credit cards for in today's society. Everything from renting a car to buying airline tickets to making online purchases and more may still require credit card uses. I absolutely do not now feel comfortable using a debit card linked to my bank account online. It's now just a matter of changing course and using credit cards responsibly and paying off the entire balance.

[debtmonster]

It sounds nice, but when I last rented a car, I used my debit card and had no problem. As long as my debit card has a VISA logo on it, I'm good to go. And being that I won't be paying tons of creditors after a BK discharge, I should be able to keep a high balance in my checking account for once in my life.

[Tbornetun]

My husband and I have not had a major credit card in 15 years. We have never had a problem buying anything, airline tickets, rental car, or whatever. Living without credit is the best policy around here. We learned our CC lesson young. Never again.

[debtmonster]

My husband and I have not had a major credit card in 15 years. We have never had a problem buying anything, airline tickets, rental car, or whatever. Living without credit is the best policy around here. We learned our CC lesson young. Never again.

TRUE DAT!!!

A BIG HIGH-FIVE!

[epiphany]

At all. You can simply stop working. There's no law says you have to have a job. The simplest way to pass the means test is to quit, cut back, etc. I'm suprised not to hear more folks doing that- stop paying debt, save that money, cut back or quit your job, fly past the means test, wait for the dust to settle, then move onward~

It's so true that they don't care whether or not you are working. No one is going to ask how you lost your job, or if you quit your job or anything like that if everything else is on the up and up. All they care about are the black and white numbers...do you pass the means test, do you have any assets, etc....

I have, however, always found it odd that the BK system does not care about whether you quit your job or if you are looking for one and my best guess is that there was nothing ever written into the laws concerning this.

And to the OP--stop paying your bills now and wait until your 341 is done to get another job.

Good luck to you,
ep

[debtmonster]

Yes, that is messed up that nobody actually cares how you got into the mess. They are simply looking at the logical part and not the emotional part.

The BK courts should sue the people that caused the job loses. Now that would be a hoot!! Imagine if you worked at a company, got laid off, filed BK and then your old boss was sued for laying you off by the gov't as the person laying you off is now causing a burden on society.