bubbacando

The NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD (NLRB) enforces the National Labor Relations Act, which does deal with union issues. Most states (and maybe some cities) have local "labor relation boards", "wage and hour departments" etc. that deal with issues like short paychecks, state labor code violations and the like, which have nothing to do with unions.

Just a thought...did you call them from your home phone? It's likely that they have caller ID (and if it's an 800 number, they can capture your number even if you have it blocked). The fact that you called from your own phone and provided the last four SSN gave them the match they needed. I'm guessing that if you called from somewhere else, you would have had to speak to live person.

I recently requested a replacement debit card from Bank of America and had the new one in hand within a week. Sometimes credit unions can't compete with the big banks on all fronts (like 24 hour customer service, etc.) but the benefits (like more personal service, better rates and perhaps even more flexible credit standards for those of us trying to re-build credit) can more than make up for it. My solution is to keep my checking at a big bank, but keep my savings (and a credit card) with a credit union. In any case, I would give the CU another chance before closing the account. Maybe a visit or phone call to the manager or other senior official might help speed things up.

I filed a Chapter 7 in 2/03, discharged 7/03 and just received a "pre-approval" for a Providian card with no annual fee. I searched other posts and it seems that Providian is known for cancelling cards when BK is filed even if nothing is owed on the card, but I'm wondering if anybody has had any luck being approved for a card after BK. My reports are clear of any negatives except the BK and several IIB accounts. No collections, etc., and all positive since the BK. I responded to a pre approval from Orchard last year and was approved with a $1,500 limit (recently increased to $1,700 ) Just wondering if I should bother trying for the Providian.

Is it possible that they are calculating your total taxes due for that year, without taking into account what you have already paid (via wage deduction, etc.) Several years ago I filed my state return (CA), and forgot to include a copy of my W-2 showing the taxes that had been withheld from my paycheck. The state proceseed my return and billed me for the full amount of taxes due for that year based on the income I reported on the return. I called and was informed that the system won't credit you for taxes withheld until the proper documenation (the W2) was submitted. After I mailed in the W2, they made the adjustment and all was fine.

Banks and creditors DO take these things seriously. Regardless of whether the card is reported "lost" or "stolen", if the missing card is used, they're going to check it out. A co-worker of mine discovered her wallet missing, and by the time she realized it and called her card companies, some had already been used. Within a day or two, the local police had become involved, and they were calling my co-worker to meet them at places where the cards had been used to review security camera footage (to make sure it wasn't someone she knew using the cards). I hope you can convince your sister to change her mind about this scheme.

My Sears card (now a Citibank product) 21.65% Nice for special offers, promotions and the like...but definitely a PIF card

A quirk about banking hold times in CA is that we have two check processing regions (Northern and Southern). A check drawn on a bank in one region and deposited to a bank in the other is the same as an out of state check. :?

Welcome to the board Wideband! My biggest concern would be whether or not the mortgage lenders on the house can obtain deficiency judgments. (In other words charge you for the difference between what you owe and what they get when they sell the house post-foreclosure). It's my understanding that some states allow these types of judgments and some don't. If deficiency judgments can be obtained by the lenders, filing bankruptcy might make sense. If judgments are not available to the lenders, and you plan to re-affirm the car loan (in order to keep the car), then the only thing you would be ditching in the BK would be the 3K in credit card debt. In that case, filing wouldn't seem to make much sense. I've been through a chapter 7 BK. I kept my house and car (continue to pay on both, of course). The main reason for my filing was substantial credit card debt. Although the process was somewhat nerve wracking, it was a relief to file and get it behind me. Of course now I have to deal with starting over credit-wise, which can be difficult. Check with the lawyer about the deficiency judgment issue (and perhaps someone with more knowledge of your states law will come along the board too). As to how the BK affects the foreclosure, the lenders would likely be temporarily restrained from going forward due to the automatic stay issued by the BK court, but if there are no plans to reaffirm the loans and keep the house, the stay would be lifted and they would go ahead and complete the foreclosure. Keep in mind I'm no expert. I would verify any info. with a BK attorney before making a decision one way or the other. Good luck with whatever you end up doing.

That's too bad. While they may disapprove of bankruptcy, it's you and your husbands finances - not theirs. Unless they are being directly affected by your filing (i.e. you are including them in the filing) it's really none of their concern. I can understand you're not wanting to tell them. I didn't tell my parents either, although it's possible they may have found out as our local paper was publishing BK cases, but it's never been brought up. If your in-laws do find out, don't let them get to you. Of course you love them and don't want an awkward situation, but you've made a decision to do what you feel is best and their getting upset is not going to un-do things. The BK process can be draining emotionally, and the last thing you need is someone second guessing or criticizing your decision. I can tell you that I have been bombarded by solicitations that make mention of bankruptcy, mostly offers for car loans and mortgage refinances. I'm assuming they get the addresses from the court dockets, but it wouldn't hurt to get the old addresses deleted from your CR's just in case.

This may have already been mentioned, but one thing you may want to do before you file is to get copies of your credit reports and look for any debts that you may have forgotten about (for example, old medical bills, etc.) Even though the creditors or CA's may not be attempting to collect, include them anyway. I found an old $40 phone bill on one of my reports. Sprint had apparently purged the info. from their records, but I included them just in case.

Exactly! Try to separate the business issues from the moral/ethical side. You didn't set out to screw anyone - this is not some sort of master plan to take advantage of your creditors. You've found yourself in a situation that requires action, and you have to look out for yourself and your family and do what's best for you. You will likely have at least 4 or 5 months (and even the 8 months that the attorney mentioned is possible) to get out of the house. One thing to keep in mind is that a foreclosure is going to take the same amount of time whether you are living in the house nor not. If you were to leave right away, it would still take the lender the same number of months to foreclose and take the house back, so you're staying there is not really taking advantage of anyone. You're staying on the premises during the foreclosure period may even HELP the lender. Many vacated houses have turned into vandalized disasters by the time the foreclosure process is completed, leaving the bank with thousands of dollars worth of damage to deal with.

I have to agree with others. You really should get an attorney to get you through this. I considered doing my own. I would have had no problem with the paperwork and actual filing, but facing an angry creditor/trustee/judge without counsel was not something I wanted to chance. For what it's worth, at my 341 meeting, the Trustee (while very cordial and polite to everybody), asked more questions, and tougher ones, to the one person there who did not have an attorney. Perhaps because he knows the attorneys have likely made sure the case is legit before taking it on? I don't know the reasoning, but I was sure glad to have my attorney sitting across the table. Even though he never had to intervene, it made me feel much more at ease.

I have to agree with others. You really should get an attorney to get you through this. I considered doing my own. I would have had no problem with the paperwork and actual filing, but facing an angry creditor/trustee/judge without counsel was not something I wanted to chance. For what it's worth, at my 341 meeting, the Trustee (while very cordial and polite to everybody), asked more questions, and tougher ones, to the one person there who did not have an attorney. Perhaps because he knows the attorneys have likely made sure the case is legit before taking it on? I don't know the reasoning, but I was sure glad to have my attorney sitting across the table. Even though he never had to intervene, it made me feel much more at ease.

The only thing I would add to rprogers excellent response is to ask how long the attorney has been practicing in your particular area. It may not matter in a routine, cut-and-dry case, but it can be helpful to have an attorney that knows the routine, attitude, etc. of the local trustees and judges. Good luck!