Paying Bills before I file Chapter 7?

[tyson24]

It is Friday after 5, and I am wondering because I cannot call my attorney right now, can I pay bills I would normally pay? Cable, electric, internet/cable, car payment? He may have told me this but with so much to absorb, I can't remember.

[tyson24]

Our case will be filed October 4th.

[IBroke]

It is Friday after 5, and I am wondering because I cannot call my attorney right now, can I pay bills I would normally pay? Cable, electric, internet/cable, car payment? He may have told me this but with so much to absorb, I can't remember.

Those bills you just mentioned can be paid without a problem.

[discouraged]

My lawyer said to not pay credit cards and any unsecured debt but DO continue to pay regular bills, especially any insurance payments. You'll need to prove that you need to file and you need those bills to show payment. BUT no cc's!

[drowning123]

Tyson, are you going to re-affirm and keep the car? If not, stop paying on that, too, but keep paying the insurance.

[tyson24]

I do not want to deposit money in my bank and wait for checks to clear with it being so close to filing. If the trustee really wanted proof of payment, could I not just get a receipt?

[drowning123]

Yes you can. Tyson, here's my story. I withdrew 1600 to pay my attorney right before I filed. That money was supposed to be an ACH for payday loans, but I withdrew it before the payday loans hit my account, so that I could pay my attorney. Did my 341 yesterday with no problem. As long as you spend the money on reasonable things, you're good to go. Don't worry about. You didn't buy any extravagant stuff, right? Your bank statement should show everything. Are you including September bank statements? If not, that's even more not to worry about.

[drowning123]

I filed on August 20, and my bank statements are not prepared by my bank until August 24. The trustee didn't ask me for an August bank statement. My attorney advised me after I filed that I need to live my life like normal. You should do the same.

[tyson24]

Thanks for the advice. I think you are right. I haven't bought anything extravagant in so long. We eat, pay what ever bills we an and take care of our kids.

[drowning123]

Yea, don't worry about it. As long as your bank statements are consistent with the same bills being paid every month for the past 6 months, you're fine. As long as you don't show any transfer of funds, you're fine. Go ahead, pay your bills. I did. The trustees aren't fools. They know that we have to still take care of our families. Don't worry about.

[drowning123]

They won't think you're showing favoritism to household expenses over your debts if that's what you're worried about. Go on about your everyday life.

[tyson24]

Thanks Drowning. I need to pay my cable bill so i can stay addicted to this board! It is one of my only solaces right now

[AngelinaCat]

Hi tyson: Yes, you need to pay your utilities. At least make partial payments if you can't make the full payment. Some utilities, notably electric companies, will charge a huge deposit if you fall behind, and are consistently late or behind. That happened to us. The electric company slapped us with a deposit of $790.00 to be paid IMMEDIATELY, or the lights would be shut off. This after being good, loyal customers--never late--for more than forty years. However, we had fallen behind, and couldn't get caught up. So like they thought we could pay this deposit, when we were having trouble getting together $400.00, on average every month??? Hellooooo ??

We scrambled around and paid it, but it was rough. At least we kept the light on.

Good luck!