How to get credit cards and checking account statements?

[sf2007]

I live in the state where none of my creditors have branches. I pay my credit cards online and manage my checking accounts online.

I may end up filing BK in a couple of months and will need to retain an attorney pretty soon. I know it's a good idea to show him/her ALL my credit card and checking account statements for the last 6-12 months, isn't it?

Usually creadit card statements available online for 3-6 months only. Should I contact each lender and ask them to send me 1 year statements by mail?

I'm starting missing my payments. I'm sure lenders will suspect that I need those statements to file BK. Will they cooperate?

Thanks.

[CATCHMEIFYOUCAN]

Print what you can from On-Line than call them up and tell them you need more starting from the 1st of the year. Hopefully won't charge you anything for them and before they shut you down, because you definitely won't be able to contact them and vice verse once you file! They don't typically ask you why you need them and if they do make something up, like I need them for an audit due to gambling? (I'm a gambler - so I always kept up with my statements.)

Best of Luck, Catchmeifyoucan

[lrprn]

I know it's a good idea to show him/her ALL my credit card and checking account statements for the last 6-12 months, isn't it?

Chances are your attorney will only want to know the approximate totals owed on each credit card and if you made any large or luxury purchases or cash transfers in the last year. The last month of each including the last few statements of your checking account usually will be fine.

Start keeping all the paper the credit cards and your bank send you - organize it by lender or just throw it all in a box as long as you have it when you need it. Switch to paper bills if you aren't currently getting those - most lenders have a place in your online account to request those.

[sf2007]

Thank you guys for your answers and suggestions. I appreciate them.

lrprn, you mentioned

if you made any large or luxury purchases or cash transfers in the last year.

I'm planning to file on May 2008, but on May 2007 I made several balance transfers to one of my BOA cards in total of 10K.
Two of those balance transfers were to pay off couple of credit cards, 3rd one was to my checking account with BOA(~2.5K). The only reason for 3rd transfer was that I needed to pay my credit union' personal loan (BOA representative on the phone suggested to transfered this money to my checking account and then do whatever I need), then at the same day I made a wire transfer from BOA to the credit union to pay off my personal loan with them.
All I did is took advantage of BOA 0% balance transfer offer. I did spend all 10K to pay off my other loans. Will it be taken in consideration by Trustee? Is it going to be treated the same way as 10K balance transfer to a checking account without spending them on other cards or as a cash advance?
Do you guys think that I should wait till June 2008 to make it more than a year since the balance transfer that I mentioned above?

Thanks.

[lrprn]

Will it be taken in consideration by Trustee? Is it going to be treated the same way as 10K balance transfer to a checking account without spending them on other cards or as a cash advance? Do you guys think that I should wait till June 2008 to make it more than a year since the balance transfer that I mentioned above?

The best person to answer this is a bk lawyer familiar with how the creditors of other clients have been dealing recently with large cash advances within the last year of filing. Some won't care, others may file an objection to discharging that debt. There's no way we can predict with certainty what's going to happen in your situation.

Set up 3-4 free or low-cost initial consultations with bk lawyers in your area. By the time you've spoken to all of them, you'll have a good idea what's going to fly and what could cause problems in your case.

Keep asking questions - we'll help you sort things out as best we can. Hang in there!