Legal Question in Bankruptcy in California

Phone bills and electric bills

Hello, i filed for chapt 7 and had my meeting about 3 weeks ago with no problems, however i have HUGH phone bills (kids) about $900 and a HUGH DWP bill about $800 and having a tough time paying this down and its making me behide in my morgage!!! the companies are not coorapertive, can i ask my BK attorney to list these two(2) companies on my chapt 7? i was told that the companies can order me to put up a deposit for that amount that i was behide,if i include them which that will put me in the same deal i am currently in! HELP


Asked on 3/06/04, 11:55 am

3 Answers from Attorneys
Alvin Tenner Law Office of Alvin G. Tenner

Re: Phone bills and electric bills

Cohen and Markus gave the best advice.

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Answered on 3/08/04, 12:48 pm
Mark Markus Law Office of Mark J. Markus

Re: Phone bills and electric bills

If you owed these huge utility bills prior to filing your bankruptcy case, then you were required to list them on your bankruptcy papers. A failure to do so is fraud and you can lose your entire discharge as a result. You need to amend your schedules to add them and, if necessary, you may have to pay some deposit to the companies to retain service.

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Answered on 3/06/04, 12:09 pm
Robert F. Cohen Law Office of Robert F. Cohen

Re: Phone bills and electric bills

I agree with Mr. Markus. What you might do, though, is get a prepaid cell phone (limiting your calls to a certain manageable amount), and cancel your phone service as a short-term alternative. Still, if you wanted a land-line again, they'd probably require a deposit. Can't imagine how to get around the electric deposit, unless you got your own generator or solar panels. Make sure to list those bills. The BK court charges $26 to amend the petition. Good luck!

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Answered on 3/06/04, 12:40 pm


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