I just filed bankruptcy and my creditors keep on calling -- What can I do?

After filing bankruptcy the “automatic stay” comes into effect.  Much like the name implies it happens automatically upon the filing of your case and stays actions against you.

This means that a creditor cannot call you to collect a on a debt as soon as your case is filed. However, it may actually take 2 – 3 weeks for all your creditors to receive notice of the bankruptcy and really stop calling.

During this 2 – 3 weeks period you may answer the phone and tell your creditors about your bankruptcy filing. The creditor will likely ask for your case number and attorney information. Providing this information will cause the creditor to have actual knowledge of your filing and thus they will have to stop calling.

If they still continue to call, call your lawyer, the creditor may be ignoring the stay or they may not have received notice of your case. In either event a strongly worded letter from your attorney is appropriate.

If after a warning letter from your attorney the creditor continues to call, you may be able to bring an action against your creditor for money damages.