|
Post by Rennie Ellen on Jul 26, 2008 23:42:34 GMT -5
Paperpiler,
Having just finished with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy myself, I can certainly relate to some of what you're saying.
I got into my credit card debt after my husband had an internet affair and he and his GF decided to leave their spouses for each other in January 1997. I'd been a stay-at-home wife and mom for over 15 years. When he left, he took the income with him and I had to apply for welfare. With no support or family around (I found my birth sister later but that's another story , I took out two more credit cards for the very same reason you did -- to pay bills and buy groceries and keep a roof over my head for my daughter and me. I also had a Sears card that I only used for repairing my washer and dryer -- which I noticed broke down more often along with the credit card from my bank -- 4 in all.
After being a wife/mom for 15 years and not having a job outside the home since college ('80-'82), my job history had a pretty huge gap. And since my degree was an Associate in Theology, my caseworker told me my degree was useless (thanks a lot! ) and that I needed to go back to college and get a degree in something "useful". (Her words. I've been active in lay ministry since graduation so my theology degree hasn't gone totally to waste. ) So I was in a welfare to work program from Nov. 97 to July 1998 to prepare myself for college. My divorce became final and I finished the program with very good reviews. I started to receive child support and military former spouse pay and was starting to pay off some of those credit card bills. I enrolled in the local community college and for 3 weeks I was doing academically well....but physically I was so sick I had to officially drop out. The rest, as they say, is history. Four months later I was diagnosed with cancer. The treatments were successful but left me disabled. I have to admit I was stunned when the oncologist asked if I had thought of applying for disability. It meant my dream of being self-sufficient and independent, especially financially, was over.
By the time I'd realized I couldn't work anymore, I had run up a huge debt on all 4 of my credit cards just keeping the rent and utilities paid and food on the table. I tried paying the minimum balance every month for a while but as you know, it just got me deeper in the hole. In 2004 I got into the Consumer Credit Counseling (CCC) program. That helped a lot. By being frugal, I had even managed to pay almost half my debt down (around $7,000!). But in 2007 my income was reduced when I stopped receiving child support (daughter started getting it directly). Then the January ice storm in my city did me in. My CCC caseworker tried to get me a lower rate based on my reduced income but none of the companies would work with me. (I WANTED to pay off the debt. Dang, I was halfway there!) The caseworker then suggested I file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Of course, when I missed the first CCC payment, I was out of the program and my creditors added all sorts of late fees, penalties and the next thing I knew, I was over $14,000 in credit card debt! Compared to other clients, my attorney said, it's not a very big debt, but with my fixed income, it might as well have been $140,000.
Creditors were calling me every day and they weren't very nice at all! The thing was, I had no money at all to file for bankruptcy. It cost $1327 to file. But right before last Thanksgiving two anonymous angels donated the money needed to file! I'm still stunned that someone would give all that money to help ME! So I filed in February of this year. My discharge came through July 2nd. Finances are still tight. I don't have much left over after bills and gas for the car, but at least I'm now debt-free and that takes a lot of stress off me. I also go to the local food bank and although I'm grateful for whatever I can get, it only is enough for 2-3 days. I only get $31 a month in food stamps. Even with careful budgeting, it doesn't buy much.
And no more creditors! One creditor, after I told him I was disabled, told me I should go pick up cans along the side of the road! Others would just yell to intimidate me. It didn't work, it just made me madder than heck and I yelled back! But my nerves would go to pieces every time the phone rang. I still check my caller ID first thing even though I don't have to any more. As much as I didn't want to do a Chapter 7, this was the major reason I did it -- to protect what little health I had left. Another reason was by this time last year, the creditors were threatening to sue me and after researching it, I found they could freeze my bank account and take my money, even though I get SSI and former spouse military pay, which is exempt from garnishment! That would have left me with no income. Filing was a way to protect myself.
I'm sorry for those who have heard my story before....I just felt like I needed to share it again with Paperpiler. Don't beat yourself up for using those credit cards for the basic needs. You have to do what you have to do to survive. I don't regret that. Everyone else had some good ideas so I won't add to it. I know the creditors don't help with this, but don't let them or anyone rush you into any decision before you know what ALL your options are. Mine were pretty easy. Check out the CCC, check out chapter 7 bankruptcy (even if you don't go that route, the legal people can give advice and info that can help you), check out all your options. For example, bankruptcy doesn't cover student loans.
As for the "quiet"....that means it's going to another collection agency. They'd call furiously for a while, then it would be quiet for a couple of months, then BAM! more calls. By the time I filed for bankruptcy, each of my credit cards had passed down to TWO different collection agencies.
|
|