We did it!

Even though that is a hard decision to make :oops: and to go through at least you will feel relief from those depressing calls. :wink:

alias, I know how today feels, we did it a few years back, but it will be so much better in the long run, only one word of advise....Be very careful when you start to re-establish your credit, don't get back in over your heads, its very easy to do, even with the BK lots of "sharks" love to give credit to "fresh out of BK" folks. Trust me I know...That's what's gotten me into my current mess. But this time we are doing dmp and believe me I'm feeling the pain and I think there a reason for that, so this time I will learn my lesson, since I obviously did not the first time:)

Best of Luck to you! Reny

lmale, I totally agree..I filed BK 2 years ago and I'm heading down the path that lead me there the first time. But I'm getting control of it before it gets to far. Your right, a few months after I filed I was getting offers left and right for credit cards and car loans and whatever else...it's so tempting.
Now I'm back with 5 credit cards, but they are small balances that I can handle. I'm going to get them paid off and closed and just going to keep one major one.

Thanks everyone! Even though right now I never want to see another credit card in my life, I'm sure that it will be tempting when the offers start rolling in. I need to be sure that we are better disciplined and that we somehow get some money saved for emergencies.

One of our biggest problems was that my husband was self-employed and we would use credit to buy materials for his jobs, then by the time he finally got paid, we used the money for living expenses instead of paying off the materials. (And sometimes he didn't get paid at all.) Since he is still doing some side work, we will definitely have to watch that tendency very closely!

My husband also was a contractor/builder and wouldn't get paid until the job was completely done. Our biggest problem was when he built his brother his house and the bank wouldn't pay him a penny until the home was finished, so for 7 months we had no income of his coming in...that was rough and that is what put us in the nose dive...and besides that I was just diagnosed with MS which didn't help matters at all.

Even though we hated to do it we had no choice..it's been 5 years and everything is great...he has manged to refinance our home and purchase two rental properties and a newer truck...so it will get better it just takes a little while.

Thanks, Ladybug! It's nice to hear some encouraging words from "recovering" BKers! The one bright spot I keep thinking about right now is that I can't wait for all of the collectors to start calling again tomorrow morning so that I can give them our attorney's name and number!

Pretty soon you will not cringe every time your phone rings because they can't hassle you anymore.

Yes, I can't wait!

Some creditors will keep calling until you have an actual case number.

That would be a bummer! But my attorney's receptionist did tell me that once I tell the creditors that I have retained them, I shouldn't continue to receive calls, and if I do to let her know and she will contact them.

I've now talked to 6 out of our 19 creditors, so I'm almost a third of the way there. :)

Thats great!!

Congradulations, now you have peace

THATS GREAT LADY!

THATS GREAT LADY!your husband is no longer a contractor? you said he was one? I don't know of any contractors who have fled thier jobs in these trying times this is so SAAAAAAAAAAAAAD di your husband suffer inadequate feelings of not being able to care for you and your illness? This is so sad your case is very unique

Alias, I responded previously to your post and felt you should definetly consider the BK route. I am sorry that your situation warranted BK, but now that you've filed, I'll bet you feel a world of relief knowing that you can now focus on the basics such as food, clothing, shelter, etc.

It is important that you immediately create a budget to live on and set-up some sort of systematic savings plan. You will find doing this will lift your spirits even higher!

Best wishes sent with hugs! (Things will be okay!)

Oh...and now's your time to have fun with the collectors when they call!!! ;)

Thanks, Desperately, for the words of encouragement! I did feel some relief for about a day and was looking forward to being able to focus on the basics and know that we could at least pay those. Now, however, it looks likely that my husband will probably lose his job. We won't know for sure until next week, but it looks pretty likely. It just never seems to end! :(

Oh alias, I'm sooooo sorry to hear this...Please keep the faith, at least the bills are gone right? So that's one less thing you will have to worry about. I will say a prayer for you and your family, hopefully something will change..Reny

Thanks, Reny! I really appreciate everyone's support and encouragement!

Not too many people actually want to file bankruptcy, but sometimes that is their only option. I have had to do it twice, once after my separation from my ex husband and then after our move here to NC. It isn't a good feeling, but once everything is said and done, you will feel better. Hang in there!!!

Thanks for the support, 2ndbad!

You are welcome....I will be honest though, it will be tough for a while getting credit, but in one way that can be a blessing. Once all is said and done, just keep things current and don't let yourself fall back into what made you have to file in the first place. This will be like getting a clean slate, per say. But keep your chin up....all those people that know what you are doing, you don't know how many of them may have had to do what you are doing or wish they had the guts to go through with filing. People are quick to judge, but don't let it get to you. Just because you are doing this does not make you a bad person or necessarily an irresponsible person. Bad things happen to good people, so if the blab, just ignore them. Easier said than done, I know, but I think you can handle it!!!! Got confidence in ya. :wink:

Well said, 2nband!

Thanks again, everyone! We signed our papers today and our case should get filed today. This site has helped me so much. It really helps to know that there are others in similar situations, and that life really will go on!

OP....that is not your job. Now that you have retained an attorney, simply refer all calls to him and hang up. You do not need to contact the creditors individually.

Thanks, Soaplady! That's what I meant, actually. I haven't contacted any creditors. But since the creditors haven't received the paperwork yet, they are still calling me. When they call, I give them our attorney's information. I've now talked to 10 of them, and the remaining 9 are ones that don't call very often. So they may get the paperwork before their next scheduled call, and I may be done talking to them already! It's been so nice to have the phone not ringing constantly with collection calls the last few days!

Soaplady, but if the creditors call her, she can just refer them to her attorney and not take any of their crap!!!

Oops, we must've posted about the same time frame!! ;)