New member, freaking out .... a little

[fooked]

I'm right there with you Keith, for what it's worth.

[debtisbad]

I do not know where you are located but i would not pay 2400 for a root canal. If you are anywhere close to the Mexican border you can get one on the cheap. Of course do your dd, but many are trained in the usa. Lots of Americans going to Mexico now for health care. If you are interested check out the website www.chapala.com It is the largest north american retirement area outside of the usa. Those folks will know where to direct you.

debtisbad

[lovebirds]

Root canal or not, I would save and pay cash for it.

Don't ever get a line-of-credit in case things happen. That's how it always starts...who here has gotten their first credit card for "emergencies"?

People are always willing to work with you when you don't have credit as an easy option.

[NoMoreCards]

The root canal is needed because of the pain involved and to save the tooth. Unfortunately there isn't time to wait it out and save for it, without actually losing the tooth and the pain level going higher than I can reasonably tolerate. I wish this were a option, but it is not.

I am no where near the Mexican border, but I have heard about what you mentioned. I live in southern Michigan.

I signed papers today, and talked to my attorney who will file the papers today. I have a card with a 1K limit on it, which I will use for the RC. The card has a zero balance today and is not included in the BK. I will use that to help to rebuild my credit. The cap (which is also included in the 2400 original guestimate) can wait until insurance renews in January. At least this is the current plan and the lawyer says this isn't a problem.

For those that seem interested. The breakdown came in at estimates of 920.00 for the Root Canal, and 1300 for the crown/cap. So the total is 2220. The dentist called last night after working up the numbers. That is when he said we can wait till January for the crown. So this is now a workable solution, and I can save the tooth, while helping to rebuilding my credit.

YAY!!!

[lovebirds]

I got a treatment done for one of my teeth to avoid a root canal. The doc explained the process to me and told me there will be nothing left of my original tooth. I was told that it won't do any physical damage to wait but just pain. I'm not in any pain so I am waiting until my next checkup. Maybe check into injectable pain relievers or another temp fix until January.

I would meet with a few docs and find one to work out with a payment plan. Do you have insurance? If you pay cash they should be able to give you a discount since this lowers their administrative costs.

Doesn't the zero balance card companies close out your account when you file for bankruptcy?

Since you live in Michigan...have you considered researching the prices in Canada?

[NoMoreCards]

Doesn't the zero balance card companies close out your account when you file for bankruptcy?

That is what I thought too, but the attorney said that those with a zero balance will not receive a notice telling them I have filed (as they are not listed in the paperwork because nothing is owed to them) and they will only see it if they run a routine credit check to update their records.

[jadams]

Since you live in Michigan...have you considered researching the prices in Canada?

Well, I paid about $1100 CDN for a routine root canal without crown/cap and that was the going rate after calling quite a few places.

I doubt it would save any money to go to Canada, and wouldn't be terribly convenient since a root canal in this situation is likely a three visit process (first visit to clean decay and insert medicated temporary and let antibiotics work, second to clean out root and fill, third to crown).

If you're going to use that other card, do it quickly. They won't receive notice directly from the court, but they will know that you filed once it starts showing up on your credit reports. Creditors also get alerts from other places of new filings so they can cross-reference themselves. At that point there's a very good chance it will be closed or the limit slashed.

It does get better... I actually went to the dentist yesterday. The bill still stung, but with the new post-BK budgeting I had been able to save enough money to pay it.

[debtmonster]

if the other guy filed a chapter 7- the judge could not order that. Chapter 7 is full liquidation. He could if he filed a 13 i suppose. You're a lot more restricted when you file a 13- basically have a babysitter for 3-5 years. It sounds like that's what he was encountering...

Remember, I said not to file a Ch. 13. You have a choice in the matter. All you have to do is "throttle" your income down. The only legal way to do that is by spending money on a business or home business. I had over $20,000 in write-off's last year that I would not have normally had if I was working W2.