MasConcepts Incorporated

My husband and I began our Chapter 13 case back in 2023, with a balance of $157,000 in debt. We have paid $112,000 (estimated) into the plan so far, by paying $3440/monthly. We have paid off one vehicle that was included in the plan, and it appears all the arrears have been caught up on the mortgage, and what is left looks like IRS back taxes. We are both stressed, as every time a major home issue comes up that needs repaired, such as the heat pump ($1400), the dishwasher died, the microwave died, the lawnmower has bit the dust, one of our children was just hospitalized for 6 days (hello $4500 bill, AFTER insurance), our daughter is getting married in September, and now I am having health issues that require extensive testing this coming week and prognosis isn’t great. While looking at our National Data Center info, we see that there are some unsecured debts still sitting on our file. Nothing has been paid to them. The difference between our beginning balance and what we have paid into the case does not equal what the NDC says we owe the IRS. According to our lawyers office, we still have 14 months left to pay into this case- where is that money going? The lawyer was paid THE VERY FIRST THING. Before anything else, by the trustee.

Do we stay the course, do we start hard-pressing someone for answers as to why we still have 14 months to make payments when there doesn’t appear to be that much debt remaining? Do we formally request the case be closed? We are both exhausted from stretching every dollar, trying to make this work, and continue to just live, but darn, groceries aren’t getting cheaper, my kids still have lives and activities they participate in, people still get sick, things are breaking around our house, and God forbid, this turns out to be cancer. My husband’s pay has not changed, my income is peanuts- I am a teacher’s aide and make hardly any income.

Thanks for listening.