A Bankruptcy Story

I received this by Email along with permission to publish it anonymously:

My husband and I were forced into bankruptcy almost 6 years ago. We filed at chapter 13 and after trying to keep our home while paying the court set payment, we just couldnt survive. We ended up after struggling with the issue, re-filing a 7. We didnt do it because we wanted to, we have had to deal with the fact it is on our record for 7 years, we HAD to. We tried even after everything was finalized to work out a deal with our first mortgage to keep our home, but after 4 years, the second mortgage basically "tricked" the first into foreclosing. They took us to court for unpaid debt that we tried to reach an agreement with them also, (only to find out later they were instructed by their superiors not to reach an agreement with us, they wanted the house)and a judge gave it to them. We were told by what date we had to be out, THEN they dropped the foreclosure, not telling us. Forcing the first to foreclose. We have 3 children we have had to put through all of this. We had to move from a modest house in the country to an apartment. They had to change schools, leave friends, besides getting used to walking out the front door into a hallway and not their backyard. We even lost a pet because of this.No matter what we tried, there were people who had power and we didnt. We even tried to tell the judge what they were doing about not trying to reach an agreement, but it fell on deaf ears. We felt no one cared that we were trying, but they wouldnt let us. A lot of people, like us, were/are left with no other options. Credit card companies havent lost any money. They charge ungodly amounts of interest, and seem to me own most of the money in this country. After we had finished with our ordeal, we get hundreds of statement a year telling us we are pre-approved for a new card. If they feel their losses so badly how can they spend the money for the cards the send, that all I have to do is call and activate, the paper the letters are printed on, ink, and postage for the thousands they are mailing out everyday. If my husband and I cant pay cash for it, we dont buy it. We made a mistake. Every one, every where has done that. We have learned from our mistake, something that every one doesnt always do. I would give anything to be able to be back in our house, not having to hear my kids say "I miss my friends and old school" but I live with having to deal with it everyday. Some people have too much power and dont think about the families that are affected by their actions. Most of the time I believe they rush through things just to get them out of the way so they can go home or get to their plans as soon as they can, without thinking of who they may be hurting. The very people who put them in office. My husband IS a union worker, a steel worker. He worked his tail off to get his job. It didnt fall into his lap. He worked a lot of places to get his skill. Worried about job security, and still does. A lot of the jobs his company gets is sent out to other companies overseas, taking money out of his pocket. His overtime, and at times,his full work week. There have been times he was cut to 4 days with the threat of lay-off because of all the jobs being sent out. This is suppose to be the richest country in the world, with all our freedoms. Then why are so many living in poverty, wondering where their next meal is coming from, and living on the streets. The people said to be representing the taxpayers really need to start paying attention to whats going on in their own backyard. There are those who take advantage of anything they can, but for the most part, it is devestating to live through the shame and embarassment of a bankruptcy. I hope my kids never have to go through it. But keep the jobs where they are suppose to be, give american workers the overtime that they are entitled to. Stop taking whole companies overseas for the cheap labor and there would be more money and jobs so maybe people could pay their debts!