One of the benefits of filing bankruptcy is the protection it offers from the actions of your creditors. The second we file your petition with the bankruptcy court, creditors can’t take any collection action. They can’t call you, sue you, or garnish you.
What this means is that, if you haven’t already, you can stop paying your unsecured creditors (such as credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans) when your case is filed.
If you have any secured creditors (for car loans and mortgages), and you want to keep your car or home, you should continue to pay them after your case has been filed. Since they are prohibited from taking any collection action, most will stop taking automatic withdrawals from your bank account. You will need to monitor your bank account to see if they have taken a payment. If they haven’t, you should contact them as soon as possible to make a payment. Otherwise, you could face penalties, such as extra fees.
If you want to surrender your car or home, you can also stop paying those creditors.
You should keep paying your regular bills, like utility bills, cell phone bills, and student loans.
How To Improve Your Credit Score After You File Bankruptcy
How Long Does The Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Process Take?