CC collections

[sillywalks]

I have not missed any CC payments yet, but if I file I will (of course). I have read different advice on the boards, but it seems to me that my best bet is to talk to my CC companies, tell them that I am unable to pay my bill at this time (maybe give a time frame that would go beyond my file date?), rather than just plain avoiding them? Does that fit with anyone's experiences?

If I do call them to tell them I cannot pay, can I request that they not call me and/or send a certified letter to stop calls (or can I only do this after they call?).

Thanks.

[tcreegan]

Hi sillywalks,

I used the "I can't do anything until (date) Can you put a note on the acct and get ahold of me on (date)" Picked a date past my filing date. It worked fairly well. One collection agency kept calling every couple days, but after getting the same line each time, quit calling after a couple weeks. (I actually did this twice, b/c I pushed my filing date back.)

Tom in Colo

ps: I don't know why, but I didn't say "I can't pay" but "I can't do anything" must have heard something about this somewhere...

btw: if you know you are going to file, I hope you aren't paying on the credit cards!

[sillywalks]

Hi sillywalks,

I used the "I can't do anything until (date) Can you put a note on the acct and get ahold of me on (date)" Picked a date past my filing date. It worked fairly well. One collection agency kept calling every couple days, but after getting the same line each time, quit calling after a couple weeks. (I actually did this twice, b/c I pushed my filing date back.)

Tom in Colo

ps: I don't know why, but I didn't say "I can't pay" but "I can't do anything" must have heard something about this somewhere...

btw: if you know you are going to file, I hope you aren't paying on the credit cards!

Thanks, Tom! I was thinking along the same lines. I would prefer the CC's not call my work or friends/family. I spoke with BOA today, to ask if they could reduce the min. payment on one of my cards (at least temporarily) -- I figured it does not hurt to ask. Unfortunately, he said the only thing I qualify for is to work with a credit counselor/consolidation type-deal. I told him I would not be able to make a payment on that card this month. It will give me a bit of savings, and he said they don't report until basically two payments are missed.

I have not really decided anything yet. Some days I think I'll file, then I think I won't...things are definitely tight, and having the denial stripped from my eyes has certainly given me a lot to consider regarding my finances. Today I am planning on not paying on the two cards with the highest minimum payments (at least for this month), which will save me nearly $400. The others all have much lower payments and I will pay them. Hopefully I will make a decision sometime this month as to whether I pay the big cards next month or not.

"I can't do anything" is certainly true enough! I forgot what it feels like to TRULY be out of money at the end of the month. Before, I guess, I would put things on my card and save my cash (so I did not have to worry about it) -- I had a card I paid off each month. It worked well for a long time, but then I could not pay the card off each month and things began to spiral...

K