BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) — BocaNewsNow.com received an email Monday night from a Boca Raton resident who, quite simply, needs help. It is authentic.
We are passing the email along to our readers. If you are interested in helping — or have a reaction to the plea — post a comment below, or email our news desk, and we will put you in touch with the family.
This letter is an attempt to find help for my son and me. We are in a desperate situation and I don't know what to do. I'm faced with multiple problems that are intertwined and I'm unable to resolve them.
My current situation is as follows:
My son, who is 15, stole most of our household electronics and $600 from my bank account. He used the money to buy drugs. Since this wasn't the first time he has done something like this, I had to have him arrested.
He has recently entered a drug rehabilitation facility, none of which is covered by my insurance. I'm making arrangements to pay out of pocket to the facility.
According to the DCF, my son should not have contact with his mother or brother, due to their abuse of drugs. Their solution is for me to file a change to my divorce to take sole custody of him. I researched this and the legal fees would run around $8,000. Again, a sum I would be unable to pay.
I've had a problem with the IRS, to the tune of $100,000 in taxes and penalties. The legal firm I hired to help resolve this has come to an agreement with the IRS. It requires me to pay $250.00 per month for a year, then $750.00 for 2 months, then $1,800 a month until the debt is paid off. Before the law firm will complete the arrangement, they are requiring me to pay $3,500.00 in fees. Without payment, they will not complete the agreement and let the IRS go after me.
My son's doctor and therapist feel he is in need of what's call a long term mental health facility to correct his issues. Again, there are no health insurance benefits to cover this type of treatment. Therefore, it would be up to me to cover the costs, which are upwards of $10,000 per month.
I worked 1 full time and 3 part-time positions to cover my expenses for the two of us. Last year one of those positions terminated with the illness of the owner and I've lost a good 20% of my income.
Two years ago, my son overdosed and almost passed away. At that time I had to get him away from our neighborhood and in the process lost my home.
Prior to my divorce, my ex-wife was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In the process of one month she maxed all of our credit cards, to the tune of $30,000. These I attempted to pay off over the last decade. Some I was able to, others I had to stop paying. Some of the interest rates were as high as 29% and unmanageable.
If I could file for bankruptcy I would, but I can't afford the legal fees and it would not relieve me of my IRS debt. If I could move to a less expensive apartment, I would and tried. With my current credit rating, the deposits and security payments prevent me from moving. I have no savings, or other bank accounts. I only have my checking account. I have no credit cards or other credit accounts.
I make about $70,000 per year, take home. With car, gas, food, housing, utilities, etc. I don't have much left over at the end of each month. I don't take vacations, own property or a boat, my health is not good and everything keeps going up, but my income.
I find myself living paycheck to paycheck and as described above, any additional outlay will sink me.
I've come to the end of my wits trying to figure a way out of this and continue to come up with a dead end. That's the reason I'm asking for help. Anything to abate this onslaught would be helpful. Please, if there is anything you can
do or think of, I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible.Both my son and I thank you for reading this.
Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale has an in house drug rehab program for young men called Calvary House. The change in people who go in is amazing. Their benevolence ministry is also a good place for the other issues. They don’t give money away easily, but they have unusual connections that may help. I’m sorry for your troubles.
‘ve had a problem with the IRS, to the tune of $100,000 in taxes and penalties. The legal firm I hired to help resolve this has come to an agreement with the IRS. It requires me to pay $250.00 per month for a year, then $750.00 for 2 months, then $1,800 a month until the debt is paid off. Before the law firm will complete the arrangement, they are requiring me to pay $3,500.00 in fees. Without payment, they will not complete the agreement and let the IRS go after me.
Fire the law firm. Cntact the IRS directly and tell them that you terminated your attorneys and are willing to sign off on the settlement deal. If they refuse or try to change the terms, contact the Florida Bar and report the law firm’s unethical conduct. Worse case scenario that law firm should complete the transaction as part of their ‘pro bono’ obligations … and or allow you to pay them as and when you can.