How Bankruptcy Helped Me Start Over After $60,000 of Debt

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The Debt Hotline

Team Solo

47 episodes

2 weeks ago

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by debt or confused by a court summons, you're not alone—and you're not powerless.

The Debt Hotline is your direct line to clarity, confidence, and control over your financial future. Hosted by legal expert George Simons and financial wellness advocate Hannah Locklear, this show breaks down the debt collection process, teaches you how to respond to lawsuits, and gives you real, actionable steps to take back control.

With insights from industry pros, real listener questions, and practical guidance, The Debt Hotline helps you navigate debt with knowledge and courage. Don’t panic—get informed. Call in, tune in, and let’s get you back on track.

All content for The Debt Hotline is the property of Team Solo and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

How Bankruptcy Helped Me Start Over After $60,000 of Debt

The Debt Hotline

32 minutes

2 months ago

How Bankruptcy Helped Me Start Over After $60,000 of Debt

If you're staring down overwhelming debt and wondering if bankruptcy might be the right option, this episode is a must-listen. Ben Jackson joins this week's episode of The Debt Hotline to share his personal bankruptcy experience and expert tips on navigating the entire bankruptcy process.

Ben is the Co-founder of Upsolve, a nonprofit that's helped thousands of people file bankruptcy without hiring an attorney. Plus, Ben explains how he personally resolved more than $60,000 of debt through bankruptcy and eventually became a homeowner.

Sued for debt? Visit https://www.solosuit.com/?utm=podcast to resolve it.

In this week's episode of The Debt Hotline, you'll learn:

When it makes sense to respond to a lawsuit vs when to consider bankruptcy
How long the bankruptcy process takes and what to expect
How bankruptcy affects your credit score and recovery timeline
Why Ben's credit score actually went up after filing
How to protect your assets, including your home and retirement accounts
The difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy

Ben and George also answer real listener questions about timing bankruptcy with debt lawsuits, using 401k funds to pay off debt, and what veterans need to know about bankruptcy options.

Here are some important tips if you're considering bankruptcy:

You can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy for free using Upsolve.org—no lawyer required
Filing bankruptcy stops most lawsuits and wage garnishments, but timing matters
Responding to a debt lawsuit first is critical, even if you plan to file bankruptcy later
Most people eliminate $40K–$100K in debt and only pay a $338 court fee (often waived)
Retirement accounts like 401k plans are typically protected in Chapter 7 bankruptcy
Your credit can recover within 1-2 years, sometimes improving immediately after filing

Whether you're facing lawsuits from multiple creditors or just overwhelmed by monthly interest payments that exceed your living expenses, this episode provides honest insights about bankruptcy as a legitimate path to financial freedom. Through Ben's experience, you'll see how bankruptcy works as a legal tool for getting a fresh start rather than a sign of giving up.

To submit a question to The Debt Hotline, you can:

Call 801-613-8181 and leave a voicemail
Fill out this form: https://forms.gle/28gd4XFsq6ybN4Qu8
Send an email to support@solosuit.com