nervous about stopping paying..

[justplaintired]

Stopping the cc game was a relief in some ways and scary in others. We stopped paying in Jan, avoided call up until March, then answered and told creditors the truth, we had a lawyer and we were filing C7. Forwarded all calls to their office. We had paid the attorney in full. Calls stopped.

We are not filed yet, waiting on our stimulus check. If we can hold off until we have used the check for things we need done around the house...., then we will file hopefully within the month or beginning of July. If creditors start again, we will just bite the bullet and file sooner. Our paperwork is ready, we have to go in and review it, sign it and file it.

[Cali]

I hadn't miss a payment in my whole adult life, I stopped paying the majority of my CC's in January and the last few were in March. It was very hard for me to not pay them, but this board taught me it didn't make sense to throw away money.

My credit was perfect up until the time I decided to stop paying.

I have paid the attorney all fees, including filing fee but won't be actually filing until June.

[Cali]

I think a lot of people, including a lot of us facing bankruptcy, get way too concerned about our credit rating. Didn't credit get us in this trouble in the first place, or our misuse of credit?

Just my two cents.

I've never misused credit and it didn't get me into trouble. I was earning a very high 5 figure income and it went bye bye.

[justplaintired]

I've never misused credit and it didn't get me into trouble. I was earning a very high 5 figure income and it went bye bye.

We did misuse credit, I admit that now. We were not spending wisely and that's what got us here, along with hours cut at work and this economy taking more and more of what little income with have.

Like you we had never been late on anything, well, ok late by 2 days on one card, but that was over a period of 7 yrs. Anyway, good credit got us here, if that's possible.

[danaf]

It is tough to stop paying. And the calls will start. BUT - if you know you are going to file, no point in throwing good money away. AND, creating your budget and living within your means before you actually file is a good feeling (not a requirement to do this but still good).

[Cali]

It is tough to stop paying. And the calls will start. BUT - if you know you are going to file, no point in throwing good money away. AND, creating your budget and living within your means before you actually file is a good feeling (not a requirement to do this but still good).

I got very few calls and the ones I did receive I referred to my attorney.

[scubaman]

I swear it was shock to me when my attorney told me to stop paying all depts. except catch up on late rent car payment and any items that I had charge in the last six months that were over 600 dollars (which I did and have been paying on) but I had 10 CC and never late and even my mom's card because this was hers to use for food/cell phone/etc. (i'm a good son) and I had to take that card back. When I told her the story of my BK decision she was relieved and said that she would start paing her own food/cell phone bill. That was a relief. I felt so guilty and finally called my attorney and freaked out on her and she reasured me that I could relax and she would take it from here. So I have made her my BK higher power and just have given her all the necessary paperwork request and surrendered.
Hang in there I am I haven't filed yet - have no idea when at this point but will keep you all posted.

[Cali]

Your mum is lucky to have a son like you.

I swear it was shock to me when my attorney told me to stop paying all depts. except catch up on late rent car payment and any items that I had charge in the last six months that were over 600 dollars (which I did and have been paying on) but I had 10 CC and never late and even my mom's card because this was hers to use for food/cell phone/etc. (i'm a good son) and I had to take that card back. When I told her the story of my BK decision she was relieved and said that she would start paing her own food/cell phone bill. That was a relief. I felt so guilty and finally called my attorney and freaked out on her and she reasured me that I could relax and she would take it from here. So I have made her my BK higher power and just have given her all the necessary paperwork request and surrendered.
Hang in there I am I haven't filed yet - have no idea when at this point but will keep you all posted.

[Stilltheone]

Gracie--

I just wanted to say that I completely understand your feelings. For us, my husband lost a good chuck of his salary, so we had no other choice but to STOP paying.

BUT, it was weird....to never write out another check for a credit card payment....to get statements with the words "past due" with a RIDICULOUS minimum amount due....

After the initial shock of not paying my bills wore off, I have to say that it feels AWESOME to not have a stack of bills to pay every month. It is a free-ing feeling to have my mortgage and car payment...and that's it!

Good luck!

[justplaintired]

Gracie--



BUT, it was weird....to never write out another check for a credit card payment....to get statements with the words "past due" with a RIDICULOUS minimum amount due....



Good luck!

Once we missed a payment and got the bill the next month, I about fell over at the min payment due!

[Stilltheone]

Once we missed a payment and got the bill the next month, I about fell over at the min payment due!

Isn't that funny!?!?

We had a CC with a balance of $500 on it. After we missed our first payment, our next month's payment was $175!! That's close to half of the balance!

I must admit, it was kinda funny to see "minimum payment due:$175" and outloud I said "yeah, rub a lamp!"

[justplaintired]

Isn't that funny!?!?

We had a CC with a balance of $500 on it. After we missed our first payment, our next month's payment was $175!! That's close to half of the balance!

I must admit, it was kinda funny to see "minimum payment due:$175" and outloud I said "yeah, rub a lamp!"

We had with a much higher balance and the payment grew to almost $800 a month! LMAO

I thought if I had $800 for a payment, I sure wouldn't have missed the payment the month before for $200!!

[ichb]

This is the most horrible part of the pre-bk period. I hate not paying my bills and worrying about any actions the creditors may take before we get filed.

My husband and I are also very sensitive individuals and we don't like talking on the phone to people we like let alone people we've never met who are paid to act like we are scum. My stomach turns every time that phone rings. Even though my attorney said I can send calls to his office I prefer to not answer.

I just hope that none of my creditors do a nearby on me. So embarrassing. For those of you who don't know, that is when one of them contacts a neighbor for "an urgent personal business matter" and asks if they could run on over and ask you to call them.

[justplaintired]

This is the most horrible part of the pre-bk period. I hate not paying my bills and worrying about any actions the creditors may take before we get filed.

My husband and I are also very sensitive individuals and we don't like talking on the phone to people we like let alone people we've never met who are paid to act like we are scum. My stomach turns every time that phone rings. Even though my attorney said I can send calls to his office I prefer to not answer.

I just hope that none of my creditors do a nearby on me. So embarrassing. For those of you who don't know, that is when one of them contacts a neighbor for "an urgent personal business matter" and asks if they could run on over and ask you to call them.

I know exactly what you mean. After having outstanding credit and never receiving collection calls, I was a nervous wreck when the calls started. One reason we started answering the calls, was reading on this forum about calling neighbors and family, I couldn't bare the thought of that! So little by little, we answered each and every call. Gave them our attorney's name and number. Slowly the calls stopped, no calls to neighbors(worst neighbor in the world next door to us and would rather be shot then have them get a collection call for us SERIOUSLY).

Honestly it wasn't so bad once we answered the calls. I started getting very good at explaining the situation. Even explained which cc drove us to BK. That part felt really good! All understood and were actually human. Was told twice by to different collections calls, that the nightmare story of the card that made us decide to BK was the reason they don't even have a cc. That felt even better!

[krielly]

It's been 2 1/2 years since we filed, and were told to stop paying, but boy do I remember it well.
I had paid on time and had really good credit. It was like I was mourning a death (the death of my good credit).
I felt SOOOOOOOOO guilty that first round of payments we didn't send (when the lawyer told us not to send any more payment to unsecureds).
Guilty that is UNTIL........................the first Citicard statement came after my missed payment. OUCH!!!!!! My nice low fixed rate on about 22K jumped to a whopping 30+ Percent. My minimum payment about tripled. Mind you, I had been a loyal (albeit dumb) customer for almost 10 years. Here I was, with a perfect payment history, missed just one and WHAM! Well, that was the end of my guilt. Ticked me off so bad just thinking about it, I immediately felt better
This too shall pass...............things DO get better. You will probably get over this feeling faster than you think, and soon will be looking back and realizing it's one of the best things you could have done for yourself. We are only 1/2 way through our 5 year chapter 13 plan, and I don't regret it for a minute. Life goes on!!!!!!!!

Good luck!
K