Some More Help, Please!
Q: I posted on this site several months ago, and I appreciate the help I received immensely. Briefly, I am receiving Social Security Disability and have credit card debt near $40,000, plus monthly medical expenses near $500. I have not used my credit cards since May, but have wiped out any savings I had and am still unable to pay my bills. I am also not able to work at this time. My questions are: If I am able to work, even part time, can the credit card companies go after my bills if I am unable to continue paying them? I am currently living with family. IF I file for Chapter 7, can I get a lease ( I live in NYC) with a cosigner? I have been told that obtaining a lease once I am bankrupt will be nearly impossible ON MY OWN,but will a cosigner eliminate this concern? At this point,the worry over my finances and if I ever be able to live on my own is adversely effecting my health. Two final question- if I do file within the next couple of weeks- when will protection from my creditors take effect? I have enough to cover September, but will be facing another round of incredibly high payments. Debtors Annonymous suggests I try to negotiate with my creditors- even paying $1 a month if that's all I can afford. Is this realistic, and more importantly, if I did do this, and conitnued to try to pay SOMETHING, will this still adversely effect my credit rating- especially in terms of getting a lease? Thank you to anyone who can help me?
A: They can call, write, and sue, and if they get a judgment, they can continue to pursue collections, including garnishment and attachment. (Whether they could actually get something depends on NY law [which I don't know] and your income.) I have yet to have a client