News - Author: General
Author: General
New Prime Rate effective May 4, 2023
Effective May 4, 2023, the new Prime Rate is 8.25%, which means the presumptive rate per Administrative Order 17-02 is now 10.25%. For cases that are confirmed on or after May 4, 2023, and reference Administrative Order 17-02 for personal property secured claims, the rate to use is increased from 10% to
Trustee's Percentage Fee
While the Cleveland Office of the Chapter 13 Trustee continues to work diligently to keep the administrative fee as low as possible, we find it necessary to increase the administrative fee at this time. A new administrative fee of 6% has been approved by the United States Trustee effective July 1, 2022. This office will not seek dismissal of any case running beyond 60 months due to this increase in the
Warning: Scammer Alert
A Trustee’s office received a call from a debtor who said he had been communicating with the Trustee through text messaging and that the Trustee advised the Debtor that he was $1,500.00 behind on his case. The scammer proceeded to tell the Debtor he would need to send $1,500.00 in gift cards. The debtor then used cash to purchase 3 gift cards of $500.00 each, scratched off the gift card sticker and sent pictures of the front and back of the gift cards through text message to the scammers. The Trustee’s office found out about this when the debtor called to verify that the office had received the $1,500.00 payment. By that time, the scammers had all the information needed to spend the $1,500.00 for on-line purchases. The debtor continued to communicate with the scammers (after the Trustee’s office told him not to) and asked them to prove it was the Trustee by giving him names of people who worked in the office. The scammers dropped some names of attorneys that we think they may have gotten from an internet search for local bankruptcy attorneys. The phone number given to the debtor is no longer in service - not a surprise. Additionally, Trustee's believe the same kind of scam could be perpetrated by the scammers pretending to be a mortgage company or servicer and claiming that the mortgage is behind. Please remember: the Trustee will never text, call or email a Debtor asking for payments to b
USTP Informational Notice of Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The widespread economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected both individuals and families who have fallen behind on rent, as well as landlords who rely on rental income to meet their own expenses. As federal and state eviction moratoria expire, millions of American households could face displacement from their homes in the coming months. This could potentially spur an increase in bankruptcy filings. Through funding from the Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA) program, there are a wide variety of state, territorial, tribal, and local government programs that have been tailored to address the special needs of communities during these difficult times. The U.S. Trustee Program (USTP) has partnered with the Treasury Department to help raise awareness about ERA in the hopes of helping individuals to avoid bankruptcy altogether or, at a minimum, better position debtors to exit bankruptcy successfully. To assist in this effort and ensure that debtors are informed about relief that may be available to them, the USTP has prepared the Informational Notice (Notice) on ERA programs that is posted on our website. The Notice provides an overview of ERA, along with links to learn about available options by state (and, in some cases, county), get answers to frequently asked questions, or find a HUD 11approved housing counselor, among other things. It is available in both English and
341 Exams being held telephonically until further notice
All 341 exams will be conducted telephonically. Telephonic exams will continue until further notice. The Trustee’s office will initiate the call to the debtor’s attorney and the debtor’s attorney will then conference in the debtor(s). The attorney is responsible, as an officer of the court, for providing Debtor's valid and unexpired government issued identification card and proof of social security verification to the Trustee's Document Delivery Portal using the transation INDENTIFICATION at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled exam date. Attorneys will also need to provide the Trustee's office the with the best telephone number to use for the exam. Any creditor or other party in interest wishing to participate in the meeting of creditors must contact Sandi Jenkins at 216-621-4268 x 131, or sjenkins@ch13cleve.com, at least 7 days in advance of the meeting so that arrangements can be made for
Accessing Attorney Fee Voucher Information
Beginning June 1, 2019, the Trustee discontinued emailing the case listings voucher that once accompanied ACH attorney fee payments. This information is now being made available on the NDC website and can be accessed using your user credentials. Once logged in, click “View Report” under Attorney Trustee Payment Report located on the Overview page. This will then take you to the screen where the check number or EFT number can be entered to see your listing. If you have any issues with viewing this report, please contact the NDC directly as the Trustee cannot access your
Change in the distribution of the Chapter 13 Trustee's Annual Reports of Receipts and Disbursements
Beginning January 1, 2016, the Trustee's office changed the timing for the preparation and mailing of Annual Reports of Receipts and Disbursements. Annual reports will be mailed based on the anniversary month of the Chapter 13 bankruptcy case filing. For example, the bankruptcy case was filed in the month of May, the annual report will cover the 12-month period beginning May 1st and ending April 30th. If the case was filed in the month of October, the annual report will cover the 12-month period October 1st through September
For Attorneys Sending Documents to the Trustee
Debtor attorneys must use the Trustee's secure Document Delivery Portal for sending case documents and correspondence related to those documents to the Trustee. If you have not yet registered for the Document Delivery Portal, please contact the Trustee's office so that an invitation may be sent to you. You must use the invitation email for registering. You cannot register through the
Base and Unsecured Base
When reviewing Chapter 13 bankruptcy case information on the NDC (National Data Center) website, debtors, creditors and attorneys will see Base or Unsecured Base information. These fields are used by the Trustee to track the amount to be paid to creditors during the term of the bankruptcy
Online Payment Method
Debtors may make their plan payments electronically. This online payment method known as "ePay" is available through this website and replaces the need for personal checks, money orders or cashier's checks. Payments are directed by the debtor from his/her bank checking or savings account to the Chapter 13 Trustee in the amount and frequency determined by the debtor. If you are interested in taking advantage of this payment option, please click on the ePay button located on the homepage of this
