Bankruptcy

A Matter of Fairness

fairness

Bankruptcy is, at its core, a matter of fairness. It’s one of the greatest tools for people looking to get out of debt and return to a semi-normal life (I say semi-normal because let’s be honest, what is normal anyways). If you’re unable to pay your bills and service your debts, you’ve got to make tough choices every month.  

Do I want to keep paying Monster Mega Bank for some shoes and a TV I bought 5 years ago when I couldn’t see the big picture, or do I want to put that money towards my retirement savings? 

If you don’t have enough money to make your mortgage payment, car payment, utility bills or groceries, you need to cut where you can, and old debts are a good place to start.  

What does Bankruptcy Do?

Bankruptcy is designed to ensure fairness.  Look, no one wants to take on debt they promised they’d pay and then not pay it.  

Bankruptcy is designed to ensure that everyone gets a fair shake.  Creditors get paid back what a person can afford and the debtors are able to go on and pay for life’s necessities.  

Safe Spending?

As a debtor who is considering bankruptcy, many clients ask, what CAN I spend money on? The answer is simple

  • Healthcare
  • Personal care products (think grooming and personal hygiene)
  • Reasonable clothing (don’t run down to the local Chanel boutique and buy a new suit)
  • Childcare costs
  • Educational expenses
  • Utilities (Power, Gas, Water and Sewer, Internet, TV).
  • Transportation expenses
  • Reasonable expenses for entertainment

Additionally, you may also continue to tithe, contribute to retirement accounts and pay for insurance products as long as they aren’t excessive, unreasonable and you were doing it before you filed bankruptcy. 

This is especially true in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.  In a Chapter 13, you’re required to pay all disposable income (i.e. what you have left over after all you necessities are paid) back to their creditors through the bankruptcy plan.  

The Chapter 13 trustee analyzes your salary, listed expenses and other items listed in your budget to make sure that everyone is being treated fairly.  

Because of this, it’s imperative that you have a highly experienced bankruptcy attorney on your side.  A good bankruptcy attorney can ensure that you don’t have to pay back one cent more than you’re legally obliged to.  

In a Chapter 7, your budget isn’t as heavily scrutinized since you’re not having to make payments to your creditors. However, it’s still a good idea to have an experienced attorney on your side.  If the Chapter 7 Trustee feels like you’re sitting on a large pile of disposable income, they can request that your Chapter 7 be forcibly converted into a Chapter 13. 

In Good Faith

You must file your bankruptcy case in good faith. Good faith essentially boils down to fairness.  If the bankruptcy code is going to be fair to you, it must also be fair to your creditors.  You can’t lie about expenses or hide sources of income.  This can result in your case being dismissed, converted or could even lead to charges of perjury.  This is yet another good reason to have an experienced bankruptcy attorney on your side.  

Before you file bankruptcy, you need to be cautious about spending great sums of money on things you don’t need.  It’s not unreasonable to go out to eat once in a while or go to the movies, but don’t treat yourself to a $5,000 shopping spree at Saks Fifth Avenue. Spending like this is considered a luxury and can draw the ire of the Chapter 7 trustee.

Trustees may argue that you did this with the intent to defraud creditors.  The same goes with transferring property or selling things for less than they’re worth.  If you engage in these types of behaviors, the trustee could sue the person you transferred the property to in order to recover the value of that for your creditors.  

If a debtor engages in these types of behaviors, the court can punish you by denying  your discharge, or worse.  

That said, bankruptcy is there to protect people who are honest and upfront about their troubles.  Paying for life’s necessities isn’t illegal and in reality, that’s what bankruptcy is there for.  

If you’re ready to take the first step in becoming debt free, call us.

The Creditor Scam

SCAM

Every Creditor is not the same, and some aren’t even creditors at all, they’re scams. We live in unprecedented times.  By virtue of that, we also have an unprecedented number of money hungry creditors looking to scrape up every cent they think they can get their hands on.  

Frequently, debtors will find themselves in a situation where they are continuously being hounded by any number of creditors.

The debts they supposedly owe have been sold and resold so many times that the creditor isn’t really sure that the person they’re pursuing even owes the debt.

Frequently, debtors are not even sure who they owe funds to anymore either.

The problem is that this can make unsuspecting debtors vulnerable to scams. If a debtor receives communication from an aggressive creditor demanding payment, the debtor may not even take the time to figure out if they actually owe the debt.  

The Scam

This type of debt collection is what we like to call a scam.  Unscrupulous creditors (potentially even criminal organizations) will call people they think owe the debt.  Since they paid pennies on the dollar, if they recover anything, it’s a profit.  They’ll offer to settle the debt at a substantial discount if you pay right now.  You’re tired of being harassed and so without any investigation, you pay them.  

Now you’re out whatever you paid and it may not have even been a debt you owed.  

In these difficult times when debt changes hands so frequently, it’s best to be skeptical of debt collectors, even legitimate ones.  

With debt collectors calling you, mailing you nasty letters and even sliding up in your DMs, you need to be wary of everyone. Yes, creditors can contact you on social media.  The government allows it. 

The best way to combat this is to get a copy of your credit report.  The overwhelming majority of legitimate creditors will list things on your report.  

Additionally, if you’re skeptical (remember, you should be) ask the creditor for their contact information and use that to verify that they’re legit.  Call them back at the number they give you and do a little searching on the internet to make sure they’re legit.

Finally, under the fair debt collections act, you have the right to request proof that the debt is actually yours and that you owe it.  If they can’t provide this proof, tell them to go pound sand.  

How to stop it

Legitimate creditors will reach out to you in a variety of ways, but always be skeptical unless you’re absolutely sure you owe the money.  Do your research BEFORE you send money or else you could fall victim to a scam.  

This is especially true if the creditor is overly aggressive, abusive or hostile. Always remember your rights under the fair debt collections act.  

In the end, the only surefire way to eliminate debt that’s suspect is through the bankruptcy process. The full weight of the United States government and the federal court system is behind you.  It’s why it was created.  

If you have any questions about the bankruptcy process, call us.  We’ve helped thousands of people eliminate more than 1 billion dollars worth of debt.

A Resolution

The new year always brings new challenges, fresh hopes and resolutions to make life better and more fulfilling. Life comes at you fast as these last two years of living under a global pandemic have taught us.  Things change fast and often for unexpected reasons.  One thing that we all know about life is that we need to face our challenges head on and take control of the situation.  

Make a Resolution

One of the most troubling situations we find ourselves in is debt.  We have repeatedly discussed the harmful effect debt can have on our physical and mental health. Debt also keeps us from getting ahead in life.  If you’re constantly scraping and clawing to make minimum payments on credit cards or you’re in over your head on auto, boat or RV payments, you’re never going to be able to save for retirement or leave a nest egg for your loved ones when the time comes.  

More Americans got into debt this holiday season than in previous years.  Nearly 1 in 3 Americans spent an average of more than $1,200 more than they could afford.  Most of that spending was covered by credit card usage.  

The Reality of Debt

What does that mean for the 33% that spent that much more than they could afford?  First of all, in the short term, it means struggling to make higher payments. In the long term, it means less money to save for the future.  

The average American household carries around $6,100 in revolving (credit card) debt.  Add to that an extra $1,200 and suddenly an average monthly minimum goes from around $250 a month to nearly $300.  Add to that the nearly 1 extra year of payments and nearly $2,000 more in finance charges and you have a real problem on your hands.  

If you invested that same $2,000 in finance charges and the $50 a month payment increase in an interest bearing account, over the same amount of time, you’d have over $12,000 in savings. If you took that same $7,300 and invested it and made a $300 a month contribution to your savings, you’d have 67,000 over the same time period.  

Now What?

So, Amanda, what’s your point? 

My point is this.  

Make a resolution to do something about your debt.  

Bankruptcy is the most absolute way to rid yourself of debt that’s ruining your life and keeping you from saving for the future.  

Bankruptcy stops the phone calls, harassing letters and lawsuits. 

It eliminates debts either through a Chapter 7 fresh start or a Chapter 13 consolidation plan. 

If you take control now, you’ll have more time to save for the future, lead a less stressful life and have more security. 

When you’re ready to keep that new year’s resolution, call us.  We’re here to help.

Can my creditors sue me even if I’m working with a debt settlement firm?

debt settlement

The short answer…yes, absolutely.  Even if you’ve started working with a debt settlement agency.  

In Georgia, like most of the rest of the country, debt settlement agencies usually aren’t lawyers and they certainly don’t offer the protections that the automatic stay does in bankruptcy.  

They promise you the world. “We’ll fix your problems.” “We’ll make the debt disappear.” The problem is, they don’t do it quickly enough to stop lawsuits from being filed and creditors from getting court dates.  

Once that happens, guess who won’t show up in court on your behalf.  

Most of these companies operate all over the country, so honestly, they couldn’t care less if you’re getting sued in Georgia.  Most likely they’ve already got several hundred or even thousands of dollars from you. 

What is Debt Settlement?

Basically, you stop paying all of your debts and instead send money to a debt settlement company every month.  The debt settlement agency will then contact your creditors and try to work out a deal with them and see if they’ll take a one time, lump sum payment to settle the debt.  

Unlike bankruptcy, if at any point the creditor wishes to opt out of the agreement and sue you, they can.  Nothing is stopping them with a debt settlement agency, whereas in bankruptcy, they will get smacked down by the full weight of the United States Federal Court system.  

I’m in debt settlement, why would they sue me?

Long story short, it’s because they can.  Some get tired of waiting.  Some have bought the debt from your original creditor for pennies on the dollar and they want to flip a profit ASAP.  

Generally speaking, if they file suit against you they’ll get your attention.  Either you’ll pay them first or they’ll obtain a court order and start garnishing you.  In Georgia, they can take 25% of your pre tax earnings from each pay period.  

Additionally, it takes a while to build up enough money with the debt settlement agency for them to actually be able to settle your debts.  

If you owe MegaBank, N.A. $10,000 and you’re only paying $500 a month to the debt settlement agency, it’ll take nearly a year for the agency to be able to offer to settle the debt for 50% of the value.  Keep in mind, that’s just one debt.  If you owe MonsterBank, and HorseCarraigeBank and BASSBank 5-10 thousands dollars each, think how long that’s going to take to settle.  

Inevitably, someone’s going to get tired of waiting and just file a lawsuit, at least that way they’ll get something out of you.  

How do I stop a Lawsuit?

There’s three options, only one of them is easy. 

  1. Prove to the court that you don’t actually owe the debt.  This probably won’t work because the burden of proof is on you.  Plus, it’s 2021, it’s extremely easy to find people and make sure that you’re actually suing the right person.  
  2. Pay off the debt.  But then again, if you’d had the money you’d have already paid them.  They know this and that’s why they sue.  If they get a garnishment, they can take the money you need to put food on the table and a roof over your head, but hey, they got paid. 
  3. The best way to stop a lawsuit is to file bankruptcy.  A Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy stops a lawsuit dead in its tracks.  It’s like a bullet hitting armor plating.  If you bring everything we need to your appointment, we can file emergency cases in as little as 6 hours. 

In the end, bankruptcy is usually the cheapest and definitely the most effective way to stop lawsuits and eliminate debts.  Unlike settlement companies, creditors absolutely have NO CHOICE but to follow the orders of the bankruptcy court.  

If you’re ready to make a fresh start, give us a call.

The HAVEN act and Bankruptcy

Do you ever wonder how bad rumors get started?  Bad headlines don’t help.

Congress is considering a new piece of legislation.  It’s called the HAVEN act.  The act will correct a problem that has existed since the 2005 overhaul of bankruptcy.  

If you are a veteran who receives disability income from the VA, that money is counted in your means test.  In other words, it counts against you in bankruptcy, whereas regular disability income does not. 

Frankly, that’s not fair. 

The HAVEN Act saves the day

That’s where the HAVEN act comes in.  

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a liquidation bankruptcy (it’s what most people who are in big debt want) and it gets rid of all of your debts that are dischargeable.  The problem is, you have to qualify for a Chapter 7 via the means test.  

This military disability increases your total income, which in turn can cause your income to be so high that you are forced to do a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. 

The HAVEN act eliminates military disability income from the means test just like regular SSI disability and gives you a big boost.  

There is, unfortunately a lot of rumors going around about the current state of bankruptcy and military benefits.  

Misconceptions about the current system

 A reporter for the military times has stated that veterans who file bankruptcy under our current system risk having the benefits taken away.  He states “Bankrupt vets can lose their disability benefits.”

This is patently false.  

The current system allows the military disability benefits to be counted in the means test, but it by no means eliminates your disability benefits.  

All this means is that IF your income is high enough, it could cause you to have to do a Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead of a Chapter 7.  

But, I repeat, you do not LOSE your benefits.  You still get a check from the VA every month just like you always did and will continue to do for the rest of your life.  

If you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustee can’t take your check from YOUR bank account. 

Additionally, the Chapter 13 trustee does not take them from you either.  They still go into YOUR bank account and you may have to use some of your disability money to make your Chapter 13 payment.  

While all of this may seem confusing, rest assured, as a bankruptcy lawyer, it’s my job to understand the nuances of the law and make sure you get the best outcome possible.  Trust me, I do and you will. 

If you’re a veteran who is concerned about your VA benefits and the bankruptcy process, call me.  I understand it a lot better than you may think (I actually work with veterans to get VA disability for them as well). 

We’re here to help, especially those who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much already.

The Secret Risks of Debt Settlement

If you’re maxing out credit cards every month and just making the bare minimum payment, you’re going about all this the wrong way.  You’re financing a lifestyle at a very high rate of interest and creating a lot of financial risks for yourself.  

I know you hear the ads all the time.  “USA FREEDOM CREDIT CARD DEBT RELIEF WILL SAVE YOU THOUSANDS!” Shouts some announcer on the radio, or maybe you’re scrolling social media and see smiling happy people with a prompt to contact someone to settle your debt for pennies on the dollar.  

It sounds too good to be true and it often is.   The FTC gives warnings about these types of schemes and I’m linking to it here.

The problem is, most of the companies don’t disclose how this actually works and that opens you up to tons of risks.  You’re not getting something for nothing.  

In fact, you could actually end up in more debt and with worse credit than you had when you started. 

So, how does it actually work?

In a debt settlement arrangement, a borrower (you) or someone representing the borrower contacts a credit card company and asks for a settlement.  Mind you, this only works if you can pay off the full balance at one time. 

The guy at Monster Mega Bank, N.A. hears this and thinks, “OMG, these people are going to file bankruptcy and we’re going to get nothing, let’s see if they’ll settle for half.”

Now, here’s the problem.  You don’t have thousands to pay them, even if they will settle for a significantly reduced amount. 

So, what do we do? Well, the debt settlement company opens up a shiny new line of credit in your name and uses that money to pay off the credit card company.  

Now, that may not sound too bad…but here’s the catch.  1. The debt settlement company is going to make tons of money off of you.  2. Monster Mega Bank, N.A. is going to report a “settlement” on your credit, and that’s going to hurt your score. 3. You’re still making payments to the debt settlement company and guess what? Now you don’t have revolving credit to help make ends meet. These are the biggest risks of the debt settlement process.  

Why Bankruptcy Eliminates the Risks

Debt settlement services rely on credit card companies writing off a portion of your debt.  Not only does that hurt your credit score, it can also have serious tax implications.  

The IRS treats forgiven debt like income but debts discharged in bankruptcy are completely tax free. 

If Monster Mega Bank, N.A. forgives $25,000 worth of debt, you’re going to get a 1099 that will treat that forgiven debt as income.  Then you’re going to owe taxes on  $25,000 in extra income. 

That’s a risk they didn’t tell you about.

Additionally, there’s no guarantee that Monster Mega Bank, N.A. is going to work with USA Freedom Debt Relief Company anyways. 

Then you’re right back at square one. 

That’s where bankruptcy comes in.  

In bankruptcy, Monster Mega Bank, N.A., has no choice but to work with you. It’s federal law. 

In bankruptcy you may be entitled to a full discharge of your unsecured debts or you may be able to pay back only a small portion of them with a very manageable interest rate.  

Another good thing is, bankruptcy increases your credit score starting the day you file.  

Is that too good to be true? Actually, no.  A government study confirmed it

Bankruptcy actually gets rid of the derogatory marks on your credit report and allows most people to obtain new credit within months of your discharge.  

If you’re concerned about the risks of debt settlement or you’ve already been the victim of a debt settlement gone wrong, give us a call.  Bankruptcy is a powerful tool that can help clean up a lot of the messes that debt settlement causes.