topic Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs.... in Bankruptcy

My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Sat, 12 May 2018 15:36:03 GMT

After what seemed like forever, I had my 341 meeting yesterday. (yay!) While waiting for my lawyer a gentleman started talking to me out of the blue and after a bit he said "oh, you may not need to be talking to me, I work for a trustee!" But it wasn't my trustee and he was really nice and even said the thing we ALL know....."the biggest mistake people do in bankruptcy is waiting too long to file when they know they need to". He made other comments about bankruptcy keeping the economy going and the effect on economy in countries that don't have bankruptcy. All in all he was nice, interesting to talk to and kept me occupied until my laywer got there.

My lawyer arrived, we didn't have that much to say as we were prepared. Went in, sat down. THIS IS WHERE THE WARNING COMES IN....

they called the first person on the docket, asked for her photo ID and SSN card. She said "I lost it" (about the SSN card). Her laywer repeated "she lost it". They had a copy but that was not acceptable. The trustee asked if they had a pay stub with it on there, and the lawyer started digging through a ton of papers. The trustee said "I"m sorry but it's here in black and white, you have to have it". He said if they didn't find a paystub she'd be rescheduled to the following month. I got called right after her so didn't know what was after, but I ended up on the same elevator with the woman complaining loudly with "this is ridiculous" while her laywer was just saying "maybe you can get one online". She replied "I'll just go by there".

Back to my OWN meeting. So I was called right after her. I had my photo ID and SSN card in my hand ready to go. (BTW he even said to have them out and ready when he started the process of the day) I sat down, handed them to him without saying anything and my lawyer introduced himself as my representation. I was asked to state my name and then raise my hand. (or the name may have been after my hand was raised). Did the oath, then got the basic questions. Such as "have you signed the bankruptcy papers.. is everything in them correct... do you know what it means to file bankruptcy, do you know what a dismissal and discharge is... do you know there are different types of bankruptcies... did you sell anything in the last 12 months... are you expecting an inheiritance..." Just that basic stuff. I did not say anything other than yes or no other than the following. He did pause for moment when he asked my employer's address and I rattled off a California address (I live in Kentucky) I then said "I work from home and the company's home office is in California". He asked me another question, then picked up my IDs. He looked at them and said "is this you? This has blonde hair and you have black hair" and he smiled. I said yes, I went back to my original color". He asked if there were any creditors there, none came up. He then said "Good luck to you, you're free to go".

My lawyer and I walked out, he told me that I did great. I was out of that courthouse about 45 minutes after I walked in (and I walked in way early). The actual questioning was maybe 5 minutes, if that. The lawyer and I talked a bit about my car (I had said I was going to reaffirm initially but I am probably not going to). He said we could talk about that this week, and gave me a huge envelope which was all the paperwork I had given him when I filed. I then walked out into the bright sunshine with a huge sigh of relief.

So now, I'm in the 60 day club, and then onwards to rebuild my credit.

For anyone who has not yet done their 341, I know how nerve-wracking it is. I think everyone I saw in there looked scared out of their minds. I wasn't that nervous because I had these boards to read and know what to expect. So breathe, and know that this hurdle isn't that big of one!

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

princessminor — Sat, 12 May 2018 15:55:09 GMT

Thanks for the info catbite77. Haven't done anything yet, but reading posts like yours puts one at ease.

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Sat, 12 May 2018 16:34:20 GMT

What is the small warning?

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Sat, 12 May 2018 16:50:16 GMT

The warning was my part of the story regarding the person before me not having their SSN card and getting bumped to the next month.

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Sat, 12 May 2018 20:05:55 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
The warning was my part of the story regarding the person before me not having their SSN card and getting bumped to the next month.

Okay, gotcha. Thanks.

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Sat, 12 May 2018 22:39:54 GMT

It was almost 7 years ago that I had my meeting and I had no idea what to expect. Normally I consider myself one of the smarter people in a room, but courtrooms always frazzle me. Ever see a contestant who can barely remember their own name once the camera turns to them? That was me. But my case was so simple and all necessary documents were in order, the judge and my attorney basically walked me through the appropriate responses and I was out the door in about 5 minutes. After that, my attorney handled everything and I eventually got through to my BK13 discharge. If I can do it, so can you.

As for SS cards.. I just happened to have to visit my local SS office a couple weeks ago to correct some errant info on my SS account. The service agent offered to have a new card printed for me, which was sent to my home address and arrived about a week later.

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 16:51:25 GMT

Thanks for the detailed info! I'm in KY as well and have my 341 in January. I'm filing Pro Se so I'll make updates on another post about the process.

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Nova5041 — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 06:57:23 GMT

Great job explaining what happens in the meeting. When I had mines, my lawyer did a great job of explaining to me what was going to happen in the 341 hearing, so I was prepared. It really is a cakewalk, you definitely spend more time just waiting to be called, then being in the hearing and my lawyer definitely told me to bring my SS card otherwise no go😂

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 01:09:34 GMT

Thank you for being very detailed about your 341 meeting. I just recently filed Chapter 7 and my next step is the 341. I havent received a date yet. Im sure this knot in my stomach will hang around until the day of. Reading your post and personal experience gives me an idea of what to expect. So Thank You!

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

DaveInAZ — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 17:04:59 GMT

Hmmm, I missed this when posted last May. I'm pretty sure I didn't have a Social Security card for my 341 meeting in late 2010, I lost it years ago and always use tax statements - a W2 or 1099 - when I need to show Soc. Sec. #. Because in March 2012 I started working for the local county government and they wouldn't accept tax statements, I had to go to the local Soc. Sec. office to apply for a replacement card. So I guess the Tucson AZ BK trustee accepted my tax statements for proof of Soc. Sec. #, but certainly best to have the actual card for your 341.

The only "funny" thing at my 341 was that the lady before me apparently bred pure bred dogs and the Trustee spent a fair amount of time questioning her about their value and her income from them. On the Trustee questionnaire form it asked if you had any "livestock", and as I live on a 10 acre rural property "livestock" to me means horses, cows, pigs, etc., so I listed "none". So when my turn comes up I immediately confess that I have 2 dogs and misunderstood the "livestock" question. The Trustee asks me about them and I tell her they're both mixed breed spayed females that I adopted from an animal shelter. The Trustee stopped me with a wave of her hand and tells the clerk: "put down that he has two mutts".

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 17:14:07 GMT

Sole Proprietor business is my only concern. I registered a cleaning business in 2016 but made only $150 om 2017. I ended up absorbing the supplies into my own house (typical broom, mop, surface cleaner, etc) and reported the losses on my 2016 and 2017 returns. I haven't been in business since Feb of 2017. I think that's the only reason I'm a little nervous. It's good to hear that someone else is overly honest though!

Re: My 341 meeting was yesterday, and a small warning to others that haven't had theirs....

DaveInAZ — Mon, 24 Dec 2018 19:02:02 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Sole Proprietor business is my only concern. I registered a cleaning business in 2016 but made only $150 om 2017. I ended up absorbing the supplies into my own house (typical broom, mop, surface cleaner, etc) and reported the losses on my 2016 and 2017 returns. I haven't been in business since Feb of 2017. I think that's the only reason I'm a little nervous. It's good to hear that someone else is overly honest though!

Won't be a problem, the Trustee only looks for reported income for the most recent tax returns, so if you reported losses on the business in 2017 the Trustee won't want anymore info on it.