For those interested; an update on my family's situation.

I just got off the phone with my bank's levy department. They couldn't give me much information, yesterday. The full amount levied along with the bank's associated fee for serving the levee was a bit more than I realized, once I looked at everything. The bank even transferred money from our line-of-credit overdraft protection account into the levee payment. Altogether, we lost $961.09. :-( That left us with about $7 in one account, and since a charge cleared for checks that had been ordered on the account, it overdrafted, too, today.:-(

My husband's boss gave him a check to cover a good majority of what was lost, but we'll have to pay him back with reasonable expedience.

I want everyone to know that we are not in a position where we are going to starve or be unable to pay our rent- we're just going to have to figure out a way to pay back my husband's boss, and we HAVE to file for bankruptcy, asap. We just want this all over with.

I am returning to school in January, after a hiatus of four years. I am about halfway to my earning my bachelor's degree. We're looking at taking out extra student loans to pay back the balance of the money loaned to us, and to hopefully cover the costs of filing for bankruptcy. I hate to do it that way, but it's really the only viable option; my husband's parents are quite well-off, but don't really believe in "bailing" anyone out, and while I know my parents would want to help, they're putting my little sister through college, have almost nothing saved for retirement, and really can't afford it, and as such, I would never let them give us money.

I offer my most heartfelt thanks to all of you for your kindness and well-wishes. I'm dreading the local paper coming out today, because I'm sure our names will be in the court report, and our families will see it, compounding our embarrassment and bad feelings. Advice was kindly offered regarding the possibility that we could go to court and try to reverse the judgment, but we just want this over with. We feel that the funds will be demanded from us one way or another, and we just don't want to prolong the misery.

Hugs and, again, thanks to all of you who responded to me yesterday. Your kindness will not be forgotten.:hug:

Best to you in this. I would imagine it won't be that easy. Your kids are very lucky to have such determined, caring parents.


:hug:


PS: PM from yesterday still good.

Sounds like you're dealing with it very well. I am so sorry you have to go through this. What a terrifying position to be in.

:hug:

You remain in my thoughts.

:hug: Stay strong, y'all will pull through! :hug:

If nosy friends or relatives feel a need to comment on whatever they might read in the paper, please be sure to give the credit to this administration and congress.

What you are going thru angers me, on so many levels.

:hug: to Lara and her family.

I'm so sorry that you've had to endure this :hug: Hope everything gets better and take care. Once again my thoughts and prayers are with you all

:hug:

You guys have just gotten screwed sideways, please accept my well-wishes. May you endure. :toast:

You'll make it, because you're so strong! I think I speak for all of DU when I say please let us know if we can help in any way. I hope this is over soon and you can forget about all the worry.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

:hug:

At least that replaced some of the levied funds, and I'm sure you'll be able to work something out on repayment.

Best of luck to you, especially over the holidays. This has been such a hideously bad year for so many of us (I had my own challenges when my husband nearly died earlier thsi year)--we should throw the mother of all DU parties to welcome 2006. It's going to be a relief to see the calendar flip over. :hug:

In '02, we got the prenatal diagnosis back on our son (who has Down's) a few weeks before thanksgiving. Then, my aunt died suddenly, my husband's much beloved Grandpa (who was much like a "dad" to him, because his own father is blind) was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and the week of Thanksgiving, my Husband was unexpectedly laid off from his job. We had no savings. We got to enjoy that holiday knowing our unborn child was going to come into the world physically and mentally handicapped, and we were broke as hell, having lost our only source of income. I tend to have a bitter taste in my mouth about this time of year, though I don't mean to. I hate the commercial "buy! buy! buy!" aspect of it, that attempts to make those of who can't afford to spend much, feel like guilty failures. I'm hating the corporate monster more and more every year.

:hug: again!!!

File bankruptcy. Today. ASAP. It is nowhere near as bad or embarrasing as you might think. Nothing can be worse than prolonging the inevitable in the situation like this because of pride. Believe me, I know.

:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

of the costs. Next month, hopefully. You're right, nothing could be worse in this situation, than prolonging it. We've been living more or less like this, our entire marriage (seven years.) All I want is to feel like we aren't trapped anymore. It's so very depressing, and hugely guilt-inducing, when you have little people to whom you owe so much better.:-( I get very, very angry that we try so hard, and sacrifice so many little things, for what always amounts to nothing.

You're broke, and yet you have to pay hundreds of dollars upfront to file bankruptcy.

However, some attorneys are willing to handle any creditors' calls or other emergencies short of filing for bankruptcy if you just give them a little downpayment.

:eyes:

This too shall pass.

Chin up! You'll emerge victorious.

Good karma coming your way. That's great about going back to school. I don't know what your major will be but in some areas like Special Ed there are places that will forgive your student loans, or health professions that will pay for your schooling. Your thread brings to mind a quote I've seen around here,"Whatever doesn't kill you will make you stronger."

:)

the thoughts and prayers of mine.

We just got through a long money related drama at our house, so I know it's hard to not feel bad about it but please don't beat yourself up. You're doing what you need to do to take care of the issue, and you'll get through it.

:hug:


Oh, and Sears: You're officially on my shit list. Welcome to it.

update

clearly its a lot to take in but once you so unexpectedly found out yesterday it seems you have handled it very well
and much better than some of us im sure


really is a kick in the pants but i trust it will work out as it needs to
very best wishes to all of you and im glad youre able to return to school

keep us posted (so to speak)
hugs

The new laws can force payment plans to creditors which would have been unsecured under the old laws, as I understand the changes. That can mean that you'd be in little better shape under bankruptcy than you are today, with the added burden of having a blight on your credit. That in turn can make it hard to get student loans, should you decide to pursue the idea of going on to complete your bachelors degree.

On the other hand, if you negotiate with your creditors directly, without seeking bankruptcy protection, you might be able to build back your credit rating more quickly, and maintain your qualification for student loans.

Good luck.

I never know who they mean, LOL.

I tried "negotiating" with a collection agency and they didn't want to hear it.

Maybe I'm too far gone for "negotiating".

The collection agencies don't have much of a financial stake in helping you with a plan that works for YOU; they buy delinquent accounts from companies, and then keep an enormous percentage of anything they're able to collect. The company to whom you actually owe money will likely be very agreeable to working directly with you, because what they keep 100% of what they receive from you (which would not be the case if you paid through a collection agency). In a lot of cases, they'll be willing to either settle for a smaller amount or set up a payment plan you can handle.

on edit: By dealing directly with the company, you also stand a good chance of being able to negotiate having the mark taken off--or at least amended--on your credit report. The collection agencies won't do that for you.

I get a bill from a collection agency, I figure the cc company is no longer involved. I can't pay $1000 up front, but I would *love* to do a payment plan. I tried to do one through a credit counseling service, and they refused.

I'm filing for bankruptcy (or going to try to, anyway)... I can't take this anymore.

It'll also tell you about ways to get questionable marks removed from your credit report.

I think I may make too much--not enough to pay thousands back at once, but for some reason I have money left over I maybe shouldn't have?
:shrug:

Whatever, I'll just see what they say.

The lawyer I talked to yesterday made it sound like I was insane for putting off bankruptcy for so long--he said "It's not like you walk around with a scarlet B on your head, and you'll be able to sleep at night."

I hope that for you too. :hug:

You are a good person caught in a bad situation. I'm afraid yours is the first of many such stories we will be hearing. Hang in there. I wish you all that is good.:hug: