Consolidation loan & Chapter 7
USAA offered me a 30k consolidation loan to pay off higher interest credit cards. I took the loan and used every penny to pay off those cards in May 2026. I payed off (Apple, AMEX blue & gold, USAA cc, and 1 more).
A few weeks later a friend of my came to me and asked why I didn’t just file for chapter 7. I never considered it until after the fact. So I went and talked to 2 different bankruptcy lawyers.
The first one told me that I needed to wait atleast 90 days and then come back. That was pretty much it. Didn’t do a means test or anything. Very nonchalant and didn’t seem to care.
The second lawyer was very involved, asked questions, means test, looked at disposable income etc, and was super thorough. She said I pass the means test & the disposable income test.
I told her everything and she said that I don’t have anything to worry about? After reading lots of Reddit post about fraud and the timing I’m very concerned.
For context I took the loan May 25, 2026- first payment is July 2026 (this month). My attorney told me to not pay it??? I haven’t paid it but am considering paying it anyway because I didn’t want to default on it, especially on the first payment. I paid $500 and retained the second lawyer and now I’m having all kinds of doubt. Thoughts?