I am in the process of getting a divorce and mine and my spouses credit cards are way out of control, I figure I am going to have to file Bankruptcy but I am worried about the credit cards having such a high balance. Is there a certain dollar amount that they will take further action like filing a judgement or attaching wages, bank accounts, etc. The amounts total well over $20,000.

I received a call from an attorney indicating a judgement was going to be filed against me. However, as not been done yet nor attorney fees have been applied. Requested to pay now. That he has not told the credit card company that he called me? What are my options now? The debt is 1,700.00 I offered a settlement and he declined.

I had 4 credit cards, 3 from Providian, and 1 from Bank of America. The BofA card had a $1000 limit, and the Providian cards had $2500, $6000, and $7000 limits respectively. For a number of years I kept up, but then defaulted. Over the course of a few years the cards turned to judgements. My personal financial situation is basically no asset and I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and started getting social security when I was around 25. I have found that my Providian debts, after collection fees I am pretty sure are more than yours, went to judgement after a few years, and that the effect of this in my case was that when I was working as a substitute teacher, my wages were garnished, but only as long as I made more than $800 a month. They didn't go into my bank account and couldn't take my Social Security disability.

I have received many interesting letters that talk about "pay us cash NOW.. and cut your balance in HALF" (paraphrasing--these letters will have precise monetary amounts to the cents). They seem to keep coming. I have noted that folks on websites have advised this might be the way to go, but you have to be careful about who you are paying, check your 3 credit reports for debtors (Equifax, Hesparian,. ummm.. ) and maybe talk to a bankruptcy lawyer or maybe somebody posts here will give you something more concrete about getting proof of payment so this can come off your record.

I don't know anything about divorce, but I am wondering about your responsibility in paying an ex-spouse's debts. I have never been married. I am 43 now. I'll be 44 this month {:P I get lots of calls. I program the numbers into my cell phone and turn the ringer off. You should bring up the debts to your divorce lawyer and find out if you can pin them on your spouse if he deserves to have them so pinned.

I have lots of nice music ringers like Cheryl Crow for my ex-girlfriend and "Bring it on Home" by Led Zeppelin for my family. I just felt like clarifying that you can program a cell phone so that a number is stored and even if you have the cell phone on when a specific number you have pegged as a debt collector calls you it will make no sound.