I Need Bankruptcy Advice

RE: I Need Bankruptcy Advice Post by jwrh626 (67) | (04/20/2008) Contact Hi Jeff, you can get a debit card at Walmart. It is loadable, for a fee, but it works just like one from the bank. This may be something you might want to look into. Report Spam or Abuse RE: I Need Bankruptcy Advice Post By Janet45101 (Guest Post) (04/19/2008) Jeff, There is a web site by Scott Bilker (just type in the name; his site should come up) that offers all sorts of financial advice. You can also ask him specific questions. I've found it wonderfully informative. Good luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: I Need Bankruptcy Advice Post by chretienne (51) | (04/18/2008) Profile | Contact Jeff, I'm sorry you're having a tough time. Bankruptcy does give you a fresh start as far as the debt. The bank you used to owe $300 to is barred from trying to collect that money, but Chex Systems is still allowed to keep a record of it -- just like your credit report will show all those charged-off debts for 7 years. It does seem silly to deny you a debit card that would deduct money from your checking account. But the reason for this is simple: You left one bank with a negative balance in your account, and so your current bank doesn't want to take any chances on that happening again. A couple of things you might try are opening an account with a credit union (they tend to be very oriented toward helping their members as opposed to just making a profit) or a bank that's based in your area (if you can find one!), where you can speak to someone with real authority to make decisions on an individual basis. All the best, good luck getting your finances in order! Report Spam or Abuse RE: I Need Bankruptcy Advice Post by Joan415 (14) | (04/18/2008) Contact Just a note on getting your credit report... I've used annualcreditreport.com for a couple of years now and its always free. Only if you want your credit score do you pay a fee. You're allowed one free report from each of the 3 credit agencies each year. https://www.annualcreditreport.com Best of luck in getting this all straightened out. Report Spam or Abuse RE: I Need Bankruptcy Advice Post by Cyinda (552) | (04/17/2008) Profile | Contact I'm surprised they turned you down for a simple debit card that takes money out of your OWN bank account. As far as I know there are basically 3 different types of cards: 1) A regular debit card that in the old days you could use to shop with & to pull money from cash machines, but these days it's for cash machine ONLY transactions (no stores).2) one of the relatively new cards (in the last 10 years or so) a Debit/Visa card, which can be run by the business as a credit card or a debit card (Because some places like Dominos & McDonalds don't take debit cards so they run the debit cards as credit cards instead. I was told it's a "Debit Card that's guaranteed by Visa". And lastly, the third option: A plain old Visa that isn't a debit card, it's used only as a credit card. * I have no credit. Not bad credit, but no credit. My friend has bad credit (student loans) but both of us have been given debit/visa cards by our bank. But, I must say, I have been banking at my bank since the early 80's. So maybe it makes a difference that I'm a long time customer? You should at least be able to get a "regular" cash machine only debit card. Your other option is a "Bank Sponsored Visa" where you put a balance of $500 or less in to the Visa account then keep using the card & filling it back up with your money. It's pretty much, like having a checking acct., but you get charged interest by the bank because it's a "Collateral" Visa card. I've heard you can also build up credit this way. Do some calling around to banks & see if they have a "Collateral Type of Credit card" where you pre-pay on the card's balance BEFORE using it. ---> The reason I said "Bank Sponsored Credit Card" is: Make sure you get this type of card from YOUR bank. because if you were to go to a 7-11 & buy a "prepaid VISA card" then you will be charged a whole lot of fees & if you don't use the Visa soon enough, then you'll eventually have NO money left on the card you've bought because off their fees & fine print rules & regulations, etc. Worse case scenario, in 4 years you can start building your credit all over again like I am. I didn't go bankrupt, but when my old bank changed from "First Interstate" to "Wells Fargo" they (the bank) lost some of my money & bounced 3 of my checks. This also happened to 4 of my friends at that same time (when the bank was merging). The bank misplaced their money.. One person I knew actually GOT EXTRA money put into his checking. I always worry whenever I hear about one bank acquiring another or merging because I was told that this kind of stuff happens all the time. Anyway, what I'm getting to is my old bank (I left them after this!) bounced 3 of my checks, & one was only for $10 & one was for around $12. VERY small checks! But the bad thing was, that there WAS money in the account & plenty, Plus I had a Mastercard that was suppose to cover my checks too! Anyway, after the bank bounced those checks & lost (then found) my money, I went in & talked to the bank manager on numerous occasions & called him many times on the phone, each time he said... Yes, Mam, no problem, we'll take care of those checks, we'll pay them right away & fix your credit with tele-check too. Well, they NEVER DID fix my credit, & they never paid those small business's either for the checks the bank bounced even though there was money in my account! So this supposedly "bad" credit & bad check-writing followed me around for many years (at least 7) & every time I tried to cash a check, they'd deny me (even though at that time I had PERFECT credit!). I even tried talking to them directly. It was quite a mess. Anyway, if I were you' I'd get a copy of each of my credit listings from each one the 3 major credit companies.. If you go on to www.freecreditreport.com It's NOT free (like they advertise) but you can get a copy of all 3 credit reporting agencies info for $25. I found it was worth my money to know there were bogus things on one of the 3 credit reporting companies. Then, you'll have to write them & dispute the $300. To this day, I save every receipt for every deposit I make in to my bank. One time First Interstate (turned wells Fargo) lost my husbands whole pay check & we couldn't pay the bills that month. 2 months later they found the money in my 12 year old daughters savings account. She'd been collecting interest on his payheck & we had to have it reissued! What a pain that was! As far as that $300 goes, I'd call my bankruptcy lawyer, or Xerox the bankruptcy papers then sent the Chex system a copy of them with that $300 highlighted in bright neon pink with a note attached disputing the money owed. Report Spam or Abuse