nyc on the brink

[sognare]

What is the name of your state? nyc

Well after 9-11 i have not found employ and need to think about this. (yes, incredulous after working here for 20 years...am waiting for economy to pick up again)...i have a huge debt...its A MOUNTAIN! it would take me (in the old days, which never happened...years to pay off)..i had two operations, and 3 years no job.

i do have alot of friends who filed for bankruptcy 13 where they paid it off as well as consolidating debt..some with horrendous results! wrong people, wrong advice.

What i would like to know is (1) if i file for personal bankruptcy how long will it be before i can have a credit card as an emergency backup?
2) why do people do consolidation or chapter 13 when it ruins their credit for 10 years as well? or am i mis-informed?
3) if i don't file, and do the alternative consolidation..who can i trust to NOT BE WORKING FOR THE BANKS AND CREDIT CARDS?

4) how do i find a decent lawyer in nyc..for this, if i do it?

thank you...

 

[olgethorpe]

Hmmm..

As a gross generalization, you file BK 13 when you have an income and enough left over after food, housing, clothes, etc to pay something on your unsecured debts, but not all. You file BK 7 when you have no income, or nothing left after living expenses and secured debts.

As another gross generalizaion, avoid debt consolidators or eliminators...almost without exception they're all scams and will do nothing that you couldn't do yourself. The consolidators that aren't in bed with the CC company's are certainly scams.

As to finding an attorney, ask your friends, or call the local bar and ask for referrals. You can also go attend some 341 hearings and see how they perform. Interview several. Pick the one you think you can work with...

There's a real good chance you'll be able to get a credit card within weeks of your BK 7 being discharged. You can certainly get a secured card...

 

[carofl93]

Don't get involved with a debt consolidation company. It is far better to actually deal with the credit companies one on one. I speak from experience with a major debt consolidator...we fired them, thankfully and have managed to pay off all but one of our credit cards and are now credit card free.

 

[sognare]

thanks a million (no pun intended!)

OGETHORPE, CAROFL93, thank you thank you thank you...

i don't know why its so hard to find a board on the net dealing with this after war in iraq and 9-11...and i am a PRO at surfing -

i kept looking and thought..okay...still all in all...i should face the worst possiblity and investigate the impact...and then using (unemotional judgment because this is very hard to do)...make a level decision best for me.

thanks for the heads up ogethorpe on going to courtroom to find decent attorney..in nyc...its harder than you know...

later...again many many many thanks..for this peace of mind..will keep reading others...

PS...ANYONE READING THIS FROM NYC?

love, light, debra

 

[whoisonfirst]

here is another resource, too

Just wanted to let you know about another great advice forum, since you said you were having trouble finding them:

http://www.chat-cards.com/wwwboard/bankruptcy/messages.html