"How To Get Out Of Paying Hoa Dues" Discussion

Upsolve Community Member
Great question. Most debts incurred by a typical consumer are erased by Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Read this helpful Upsolve article to learn what type of debt is erased by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge: https://upsolve.org/learn/type-debt-erase-chapter-7-bankruptcy/ Please reach out with any other questions.

Upsolve Community Member
Here is an Upsolve article on HOA's and Bankruptcy https://upsolve.org/learn/paying-hoa-dues/ Good luck! :-)

Upsolve Community Member
Hope that helped! Please let us know if you have any other questions! 

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
One thing that a lot of people think about is their credit score- this can be really important for things like applying for housing. Here's our https://upsolve.org/learn/rebuild-credit-after-chapter-7-bankruptcy/

Upsolve Community Member
Upsolvers, what else has helped you after discharge? 

Upsolve Community Member
I saw that there's a tool that helps people build their credit by giving them a loan

Upsolve Community Member
^ yup! a credit builder loan! 

Upsolve Community Member
Check out https://www.seedfi.com/, I've heard they have some of the best rates amongst the credit loan tools.

Upsolve Community Member
Julie, I was discharged in July 2020 but after I had completed my Questionnaire, I worked on my "new" budget --- life AFTER Chapter 7. My preference is Mint, a free app but there are many budget tools out there. I opened a Chime Credit Builder account and it provides me with a Visa credit card but is SECURE meaning I'm drawing on my own funds and building credit. I'm just now completing my 2nd year of using this card and I have had no complaints at all! I also applied for an installment loan from Self, Inc. I call this "forced savings" because, when you make payments, you are actually paying YOURSELF. Yes, there is interest but at a decent interest rate while you make your monthly payments which are reported to the credit bureaus. So the credit and installment accounts help provide the "mix" of credit that the credit world likes to see. Lots more info, Julie! Let me know if you have specific questions about my rebuilding journey! Good luck! :-) 

Upsolve Community Member
You may find this helpful as well: https://upsolve.org/learn/rebuild-credit-after-chapter-7-bankruptcy/

Upsolve Community Member
Jeff Z, thanks for the heads up on Seedfi! I have two Builder installment loans already and don't want a third so I will payoff one and open the other to get slightly better rates. :-). 

Upsolve Community Member
If you're like me and never heard of a credit builder loan until you came to Upsolve, this article https://upsolve.org/learn/credit-builder-loans/ is a great introduction to the topic!

Upsolve Community Member
Jacqueline, I had never heard of them either but the concept is novel and, if followed wisely by us borrowers, it CAN BE a nice option when rebuilding credit. What it boils down to is weighing the "credit building" aspect with the interest rate they are charging so you need to shop credit builder loans too! Case in point: Jeff Z, an Upsolve Team Member suggested Seedfi (post above) and after going into my Creditwise account, I was paying TWICE the interest and I am supposed to be teaching this stuff, so never stop learning and seeking better terms no matter WHAT your economic status is! :-) 

Upsolve Community Member
One more thought. "Secured" credit cards and installment loans (working with your own money AKA "forced savings") I emphatically endorse, at least for me in the first 2-3 years after discharge? Why? While I learn better habits, what the best budgeting tools are, the best ways to build my "rainy day fund" etc, I am taking steps to improve my credit score. After this 2-3 year period of time, I may want to test the waters of practical unsecured lines of credit --- and if the interest rate has merit, only then would I take the plunge.

Upsolve Community Member
Rebecca, I'm rooting for you. Thanks for coming here.

Upsolve Community Member
Thank you so much Rohan, it really means a lot to hear that. 

Upsolve Community Member
I'm so sorry about the loss of your parents and my heart goes out to you. Losing loved ones is so painful, and the pain of not being able to control everything around us just adds to the ache and sense of loss. I'm glad you keep hope in your heart. I always felt hope was a grounding factor, like a stabilizer. You can stand on hope when the world around you is swirling and it can help you see.  I'm glad you have a job and a place to stay, and I hope you find joy in fond memories and new adventures.  New adventures are bound to happen when you feel lost. :) I wish you much joy on your new path! Hugs! 

Upsolve Community Member
Rebecca, I want to take your first SENTENCE and respond. Jacqueline and others have expressed condolences empathy for your recent loss. I join them. First, the OVERWHELMED word: It is so easy to get overwhelmed right now, especially after going through what you have but it is important that you take care of yourself and LOVE yourself. I mean it. Because it's the next word you use: ASHAMED, that I am asking you to drop. Life includes making mistakes at times. Sometimes we don't make the right decisions but what is left out so often is more often we do things RIGHT.  LIFE HAPPENS. There is NO SHAME in bankruptcy but if you feel you made some mistakes that led to your position RIGHT NOW, you can join ME and others in resolving to do something about it. You are going through a lot but this is YOUR OPPORTUNITY for a FRESH START -- a new day --- and you will need to do YOUR PART. This Community will help you conquer the bankruptcy "overwhelmed" part. Take this slowly and one step at a time! I don't know about you, but I can't focus or think clearly when I am deeply stressed! As for feeling ashamed, you will feel a lot better to be surrounded by folks who have similar stories and are rebuilding and learning how to control their finances through budgeting, setting up a "Life Happens Fund", and getting into a NEW HABIT of budgeting and knowing where every penny is! Even if you are paycheck to paycheck (like me), I sleep better at night because I can plan and live according to my budget. One more thing: budget doesn't mean just paying bills. That's boring. By retaking control, you will be able to restore joy and have some fun! Good luck! :-). 

Upsolve Community Member
Hi Cynthia, Check out this article to see if you can get a fee waiver: https://upsolve.org/learn/how-to-get-fee-waiver/

Upsolve Community Member
This too will give you some guidance: https://upsolve.org/learn/how-much-does-bankruptcy-cost/

Upsolve Community Member
Let us know if you have any other questions about this! 

Upsolve Community Member
My fee in AZ was $338 and I am paying in four installments. 

Upsolve Community Member
Julie, thanks for the "installments" idea! The $338 is the Federal fee and applies to all states. If you don't qualify for the waiver, ask the court about installments! :-)