CM-ECF Newsletter
June, 2004

Court Implements Internet Credit Card Charging

On Monday, May 24, 2004, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Texas, implemented the CM/ECF Internet Credit Card Module. This module allows attorney filers to pay and track filing fees via the Internet to the U.S. Treasury. Using the Internet Credit Card module allows you to:

  • Pay filing fees with your credit card over the Internet at any time.
  • Review your Internet credit card transaction payment history to help reconcile monthly credit card statements.
  • Review any outstanding payments due to the court.
  • Avoid having to keep your credit card number on file at the Clerk's Office.

The Internet Credit Card Module is easy to use. You can learn how by viewing a short tutorial on the Court’s Internet WEB site or just click here.

Try It Out In The Training Application!

You can also see how the Internet Credit Card Module works by using your training login and password to access the Court’s CM/ECF Training data base and docketing a document with a filing fee, such as a motion for relief from stay.

DO NOT enter your own credit card number! Use the VISA card number 4111111111111 (four and fifteen ones); don’t worry about the expiration date. You can access the training data base via the Court’s Internet WEB site www.txwb.uscourts.gov and going into the User Training area. If you don’t remember your training login and password, email David Williams at david_h_williams@txwb.uscourts.gov or tina_warren@txwb.uscourts.gov and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!

 

New Release of CM/ECF (Version 2.4)

The court is now using Version 2.4 of CM/ECF. Non-court users won't see any difference; the changes will make CM/ECF even more reliable. One new feature which we are learning how to use is an Automatic Docketing Interface. When we get this going, selected high volume creditor filers will be able to submit batches of docket entries in XML format which will be automatically docketed. Cool!

PDF WEB Site

We were recently made aware of a WEB site that you may find useful. Take a look at www.pdfforlawyers.com for information about creating PDF files.

Useful Procedures

Here are three written procedures that you can use:

Train in Your Office?

In most cases, the San Antonio Division will provide CM/ECF training in your office. More that two students in a class will still need to meet at the U.S. Courts Training Facility. However, any less that three students can arrange for training in their office. This is especially helpful for attorneys who use bankruptcy preparation software packages, as the trainer can show how case upload files are created on the student's computer. You can also arrange for a special class to learn how to opening and docket in adversary proceedings. Call David Williams at 472-6720 extension 226 to schedule your in-office training class TODAY!

Earlier Closing Time

Effective July 1st, the Bankruptcy Clerk's Offices will close at 4 P.M. instead of 5:00P.M. Will this effect electronic filers? Not at all! The CM/ECF Application will still be available for electronic filing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Combined Amended Matrix and Amended Schedules D, E, or F Event

Attorney Filers! Did you know there is a CM/ECF event for an Amended Matrix filed with Amended Schedules D, E., or F ? It's in the Other category under Bankruptcy. It's much better for you to use this event because their is only on fee charged. If you docket two separate events - one for an amended matrix adding/deleting a creditor and one for amended schedules D, E and F - make sure to call the court and request the extra fee charge be removed.

Court Mailing List For Official Announcements

Attorneys, when you submitted your registration to become an Electronic Filer with our court, you gave us an e-mail address. We then set you up in our court mailing list to receive official court announcements. If you so indicated on your registration form, we also turned on your e-mail notification feature in CM/ECF using the same e-mail address.

We have had some feedback that some attorneys are not receiving official court announcements via e-mail. We're not sure why this is in every case, but we do know that some law firms use an e-mail address specifically for receiving Notices of Electronic Filing produced by CM/ECF. It might be that when we send an official court announcement to the same e-mail, they get lost in the shuffle.

Whatever the reason, if you are not receiving official court announcements via e-mail, please send us an e-mail address where you can be assured of seeing our announcements. You can e-mail Sherry_Correa@txwb.uscourts.gov and tell her to register (or re-register) you on our court mailing list. That way you'll be in our loop.

On-Line Credit Card Refunds

Annette Anderson suggests that the attorneys fax her their completed On-line Credit Card Refund Request forms rather than mailing them. This helps to ensure faster refunds. Her fax number is 210-472-6215.

Pet Peeves

Electronic filers are the Court's partners in creating high quality entries on the docket. Here are the top three errors made by electronic filers.

  • Not adding creditors to the case after filing Amended Matrix, Notice of Appearance and Notice of Transfer .
  • Not adding objection language to the text when it appears on the pleading.
  • Not linking at all or linking to the wrong pleading.

Please do it the correct way!