One of the most common reasons that a plan will run longer than originally estimated is that claims filed by creditors and allowed are different than what you originally scheduled. You should, therefore, review all claims filed in your case and pay particular attention to the periodic reports that the Trustee sends to you. You must file a formal objection to claims with the Bankruptcy Court (and serve or mail copies to the Trustee and to the Creditor or the Creditor’s Attorney) if you have any disagreement about a claim.

Another common reason that a plan will run longer than originally estimated is the filing of post-petition claims by mortgage companies and taxing authorities. It is critical that you pay all post-petition mortgage payments on time and in full and that you pay all taxes that become due after you have filed your Chapter 13 case.

There may be other reasons that your plan will run longer than originally scheduled. You should contact your attorney for your options if your plan is running longer than scheduled.

Plan payments must be in the form of a TFS Electronic Fund Transfer, cashier’s check, bank check, money order, or employer’s check. Personal checks, personal online billpay payments, and cash are not permitted for Chapter 13 payments. Clearly write your name and case number on the payment. Your first plan payment is due thirty (30) days from the date your petition was filed and each month thereafter. If timely payments are not made, the Trustee may ask the Bankruptcy Court to dismiss your case. The Trustee’s Office will deduct plan payments from your paycheck when that is available. You have a much better chance of successfully completing your Chapter 13 plan when your plan payments are deducted from your paycheck.

If your plan payment is deducted from your paycheck, it is still your responsibility to ensure that the payments are made. If you get a paycheck and your plan payment has not been deducted, you should immediately make your plan payment by TFS Electronic Fund Transfer Payment, money order, cashier’s check or bank check to the Trustee’s Office.

All payments to the Trustee’s Office should be mailed to:

Office of Chapter 13 Trustee
P O Box 730
Memphis, TN 38101-0730

To setup TFS Electronic Fund Transfer or MoneyGram payments, visit www.TFSBillPay.com or call 888-PAY-CH13 (888-729-2413).

Plan payments may not be made in person at the Trustee's office. TFS MoneyGram card payments may be made in person at any MoneyGram location. For more information regarding MoneyGram cards, click here.

**Our office does NOT accept payments via Paypal or Venmo.** If you are contacted to submit a payment through one of these applications, please contact the Trustee's Office or your attorney immediately.

Again, make sure to save all receipts for all payments you send or your paycheck stubs if the payments are deducted. If there is any discrepancy, you will have a record of your payments and there will be a method of tracing the payments. If there are any hearings related to discrepancies in payments with either the trustee or a creditor, be sure to bring the receipts that you have to court on the date of your hearing. Provide copies of the receipts to your attorney as soon as you know there is a discrepancy or you receive notice of a motion or hearing regarding your payments.