Creditors Calling What to do?

[schel]

I am writing to ask what to do. We have not yet filed. I am working on the paperwork as I type. Just got off the phone with Amex Exp. They want me to send payment for our cards which we have not charged on since mid to end of April. We want to save for the lawyer and filing, but if we pay the CC's, we will not have the money to file. They want $30.00 / mo. on one card and $330.00 / mo. on another card to make payments. I told them I do not even have that much to send and I could send $15.00 for each card and that is ALL I can afford. They said they would call back in 24-48 hours to set up payment arrangements. Honestly in a perfect world, I would love to be able to afford to pay in full on all of them, but all I can afford is at least 15.00 each. We do not want to be looked at as fraud, but what do you do when you do not even have the food to put on the table and you had to go and charge it to eat through the end of April. Now that we got our State taxes back and can at least afford to live without credit, and want to make a change for the better, they are breathing down our necks for money on the cards. Why can't they be understanding with the economy the way it is?
So what do we do quit paying ALL of them no matter what? Or pay what we can afford? I am so frustrated! I feel like I am in this alone and do not want to start crying again. Please be nice in your answers. Only reason I say that is I have had some not so nice answers in the past.
Schel

[magyar123]

Get your filing done ASAP, preferably with an attorney, and when AMEX calls again just give them your attorney's name & phone number.

[Cali]

I agree you need to retain an attorney soon, that way you can refer the calls to them.

How long before you are able to file?

[schel]

Next week, Monday or Tuesday.
Schel

[keepmine]

Honestly, it's just time to toughen up . You take this way too personally. Your best interest and your creditors best interest have now diverged. You're not unique. Everyone who has ever filed has been in this situation. You seem to want some drama where none exist. You've asked this before-pay some or not. We all told you if you're filing anyway, you've wasted your money. What more can we do?
Just stop anawering the phone and problem solved. File your petition next week amd move on.

[scaredneko]

Above poster said it. Stop talking to them save for your attorney. Use the inbetween time to interview attorneys and get opinions. Talking to them just raises your emotional stress about the situation. You either can or cant pay, wasting energy to explain to someone who doesnt care about yoru situation and only is interested in a payment now is wasted energy.

As I learned from here its a business desicion and treat it as such it will definetly make things easier. If you can mute the ringer for there calls and just delete there messages afterwards works.

I was able to place nine numbers per name on my cell phone and either had it go to silent ring, or placed Dave Chappel ringtones on the creditors call at least I got a little laugh out of the helplessness. Then just deleted all the messages twice a day sometimes 30 40 at a time. Helped me to cope with it until I was able to pay the attorney 10 months later.

[schel]

Honestly, it's just time to toughen up . You take this way too personally. Your best interest and your creditors best interest have now diverged. You're not unique. Everyone who has ever filed has been in this situation. You seem to want some drama where none exist. You've asked this before-pay some or not. We all told you if you're filing anyway, you've wasted your money. What more can we do?
Just stop anawering the phone and problem solved. File your petition next week amd move on.

Wow! So I got the tough love anyways! My hubby read it and said it's what I needed to hear. So I'm not crying and I am going to move on.
Schel

[Phillymanhere]

You're taking these creditors way too personally. You're giving them power over you ... You need to get out of unhelpful paralyzing guilt.

Please do NOT talk to the creditors in any "guilty wishy-washy I wish I could pay" way. Tell them, "I can't pay. I'm filing for bankruptcy. CLICK!" ... And you can do this very politely by the way; you can be soft spoken if that's your style and personality.

I'm starting to get calls. I say, "I'm filing for bk. Good bye."
Remember: the more wishy-washy you are on the phone, the more the caller thinks "oh, I should call her again to pressure her." ... the more firm you are, the more the caller will note that calling you is a waste of time.

But I don't want to be hard on you. This is said in support. Just tell your guilt or embarrassment or shame to shut up! What you're doing is completely legal and ethical and holds out great promise for your health and well-being and the health and well being of your family.

[justplaintired]

I agree with previous posters. You need to pay the attorney not the cards. If you are filing, quit charging and quit paying. Don't let them scare you into paying when you don't have the money.

If you have an attorney give them his name and number. Be honest tell them you are filing. When did you pay last?

We quit paying in Jan, avoided calls for slightly over a month, then answered the calls gave our attorney's name and number and told them we are filing C7 BK, it wasn't so bad, they didn't scream at us, the politely took his number and didn't call back!

[schel]

I agree with previous posters. You need to pay the attorney not the cards. If you are filing, quit charging and quit paying. Don't let them scare you into paying when you don't have the money.

If you have an attorney give them his name and number. Be honest tell them you are filing. When did you pay last?

We quit paying in Jan, avoided calls for slightly over a month, then answered the calls gave our attorney's name and number and told them we are filing C7 BK, it wasn't so bad, they didn't scream at us, the politely took his number and didn't call back!

Thanks for all your support. I think after reading I might finally have a good nights sleep. Nothing much else I can do now but file and be done with it.
I last paid in March.
Schel

[newbeginning]

Listen, I am getting calls from collection agencies left and right, but I also made the INITIAL attempt to explain my situation to the ORIGINAL creditors. It bought me some time, I think, but being rude is not the answer, I think. Most of the people I spoke to were understanding of my situation (family health issue). Saying that, I do believe that one should not allow the creditors to make life anymore difficult and stressful than needed as others have said.

[Cali]

You can't have thin skin when you are dealing with calls.

[sisterfunkhaus]

I can't say this enough--don't answer the phone. Let them call to set up payment, you are under no obligation to answer. Turn off the ringer if you need too. Just don't answer. They can't give you a spanking for not answering the phone. And in my experience, they certainly didn't sue me. It took me almost 2 years to get a suit and I NEVER talked to anyone, not even once, ever.

[cetiya]

it took me two years also to come up with over a thousand dollars to pay for the lawyer. I unplugged my phone and any of my friends who wanted to talk to me had to email me to set up a time, then I'd pick up the phone. I didnt feel guilty, it wasnt my fault, what happened to me, my entire inheritance was stolen from my family, and long gone before we knew what happened.