"Calling Family" Discussion

Upsolve Community Member
Hi. Did you do it all yourself or hired a lawyer. Thinking about filing chapter 7 and not sure if I should hire a lawyer or do it myself 

Upsolve Community Member
Congratulations Olakunle! The new year is off to a good start! Thanks for sharing your experience with Upsolve. 

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Taneshia, Yes I filed through Upsolve with $300 court fee. Good luck!

Upsolve Community Member
YESSSSSSS!!!!!  Congratulations Olakunie! Fresh Start in 2022!!! wooohooo! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
Congratulations! Happy 2022!! 

Upsolve Community Member
Conrgrats Olakune! Can you please share with us how long the process took? Also, by not hiring an attorney and going this way, during the whole process, does that stop the creditors from calling or filing judgements?

Upsolve Community Member
Congratulations on your discharge!! Woo hoo! After a hard-earned celebratory breather, you might want to do a quick read of Upsolve's tips in the article https://upsolve.org/learn/chapter-7-discharged/ to start reading up on how to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy. Congrats!! We're so happy for you!!

Upsolve Community Member
May 13, 2021 - completed my Chapter 7 Questionnaire with Upsolve June 26, 2021 - Uploaded all required documents ( Bank statements, ID copies) etc. July 14, 2021 - Filed with court in person, Filing fee $338July 2021 - completed my online Financial Management course Aug 27, 2021 - Teleconference meeting with creditors / Trustees Sept 24, 2021 - rescheduled meeting with Creditors / Trustees Oct 29, 2021 - rescheduled meeting with creditors / Trustees Oct 29, 2021 - Report of No Distribution filed by Trustee Nov 29. 2021 - Order discharging debtor signed Nov 29, 2021 - Final decree signed Dec 1, 2021 - Notice date

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Saed H, It's up to you if you wanna use a lawyer or not but in my experience during my research I figured out that using a lawyer will not make any difference except paying thousands of dollars that I can't afford. Remember you're trying to get rid of debts so you don't wanna end up paying someone money you can't afford. Your creditors will stop calling you as soon as your file with the court. Good luck! 

Upsolve Community Member
How many months of bank statements do you have to provide

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Sereathia D it depends on individual circumstances, in my case my trustees requested for 3 months which must cover the last transaction date on my bank statement...I already got a Charge-Off on my accounts since April 2020 so I visited one of the branches to request for Feb - March - April statements which arrived in the mail about 10 business working days later. 

Upsolve Community Member
Deep breath and don't hesitate to share your questions with this community as you go through the process. 

Upsolve Community Member
Thank you 

Upsolve Community Member
Barbara, I'm thinking of asking Upsolve to open a "Deep Breathing" Room because there are many fellow Upsolvers who have been financially stressed out for quite some time now. Ugh! But relief is on the way. Start envisioning your life a few months from now without that giant weight on your back. It's a good feeling, this FRESH START! Until then, as Andrea says, deep breaths -- 3 of them!                            Good luck! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
It's so normal to feel anxious, coming here and sharing this is a big first step. Keep us posted on how you're feeling and don't hesitate to post any questions/comments that come up along the way! 

Upsolve Community Member
I like the deep breathing room idea! 

Upsolve Community Member
https://upsolve.org/learn/the-automatic-stay/ will keep bill collectors from calling and will stop collection activity so that should help provide some stress relief! 

Upsolve Community Member
Thank you all for the encouragement. I’m going to work on completing my bankruptcy package this weekend so I can get it mailed out on Monday. I think a deep breathing room is a wonderful idea. I’m looking forward to relieving the stress & anxiety I feel with my debt issues. 

Upsolve Community Member
I’m stuck, someone help! Please

Upsolve Community Member
Is there anyone online that can answer my questions?

Upsolve Community Member
Congratulations! Cheers. Keep us posted!

Upsolve Community Member
Pat yourself on the back, Rachel!! It's time for a breather! Your journey is getting closer to that light at the end of the tunnel! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
Woo hoo! Take some time to read https://upsolve.org/learn/what-to-do-if-creditor-keeps-contacting-me/  in case a creditor didn't get word that you filed bankruptcy! Congratulations!!

Upsolve Community Member
Mathew - thank you for your question! The best thing about the automatic stay is that it's automatic. No separate action or court order is required (assuming this is your first time filing). https://upsolve.org/learn/the-automatic-stay/ in Upsolve's Learning Center has more! 

Upsolve Community Member
Thanks Andrea.  As a practical matter I guess that answers my question, though I'm still curious what the actual mechanism is.  I have CC companies that have started calling me--at least one called me yesterday and today, post-filing--and also an automatic loan deduction scheduled for the 25th.  How do these businesses actually come to learn about the filing, unless the Court proactively notifies them?  Is there some third-party system that informs them?  Do they just have a sixth sense that informs them? :-)

Upsolve Community Member
Ah, that's a great question! (and thanks for following up!) 

Upsolve Community Member
This article explains how creditors are notified of a bankruptcy filing: https://upsolve.org/learn/official-form-309a-no-proof-of-claim/

Upsolve Community Member
Generally speaking, once bankruptcy paperwork is filed, this form is sent out by the court to the creditors listed on the bankruptcy forms. 

Upsolve Community Member
You might also consider the information here: https://upsolve.org/learn/believe-creditor-listed-on-my-petition-has-violated-automatic-stay-what-can-i-do/

Upsolve Community Member
Thanks Claire.  That was basically my assumption from the start.  Though I was also hoping it might just be by magic :-)   And thanks for all the articles.  You guys provide an awesome service.

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Crystal, This article will help you: https://upsolve.org/learn/do-not-remember-creditors-owed-chapter-seven-bankruptcy/

Upsolve Community Member
You need to pull your credit report. It is free to pull a weekly report right now due to covid, you won't see your score but you will get the info you need. You can pull all three reports. That will let you know who all your creditors are. 

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Crystal, Generally, a good first step is to get your https://upsolve.org/learn/get-your-free-credit-report/ from Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. Upsolve has an article https://upsolve.org/learn/do-not-remember-creditors-owed-chapter-seven-bankruptcy/ that has some useful tips that will help you continue with the process. Let us know if you have any questions along the way and we'll do our best to help! 

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Crystal! Here is an article that should answer your question: https://upsolve.org/learn/do-not-remember-creditors-owed-chapter-seven-bankruptcy/. I hope this helps! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
Or the account numbers?

Upsolve Community Member
I'm going through emails using the filter tool because some loans were taken out online.  If the creditor put money directly in your bank account ask the bank if they can retrieve the source of those deposits. Also calling back some bill collectors in my recent calls list (but stay in charge of the conversation.  Get the info you may need and politely thank them and hang up)