Life After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy and Credit - What Happens After Your Debts Are Discharged?

Bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for ten years. But you may be able to get credit fairly quickly - almost immediately after a bankruptcy - although you will pay dearly for it.

Due to anomalies in the credit scoring process, you're likely to have a better score than you had while you were struggling with debt. Also if you handle debt responsibly from then on, you will find your credit score will be close to prime within a few years.

Credit scoring gives more weight to more recent events. So if you use of credit is down and you're handling your debts responsibly, you score will go up. Remember you have to use credit to get a credit score.

Many lenders love to extend credit to recent bankrupts. They know you have more free cash because most of your debts were discharged. They also know you can't go bankrupt again for another seven years. So they will extend credit, usually with outrageously high interest rates.

If you managed to keep your car and/or house through the bankruptcy, your first step is to pay these bills on time.

If you have to start fresh expect to pay. A car loan may carry a 21% interest rate. Credit cards you're offered might have an interest rate around 24%. These rates will make it very difficult to stay on top your debt.

Many experts advise that if you need a new car to get it before you apply for bankruptcy and keep your payments up. You'll have a lower interest rate and will be on your way to re-establishing credit.

You might only qualify for a secured credit card at first. You will have to make a deposit of several hundred dollars with a bank, which will then grant you a line of credit in the same amount. If you handle this card correctly, the card will be converted into a regular unsecured card in a year or so. Make sure the lender is making periodic reports about your good behavior to the credit bureaus.

Don't use more than 20 - 25% of your available credit, even if it's only $500. Pay your bills on time. If you act responsibly, in a few years you will be able to loans and mortgages at rates only slightly higher than prime borrowers get.

If you need to rent an apartment, you might have more difficulty. Landlords who check your credit report might not rent to you at all. Your auto insurance premium will likely rise and you might have difficulty getting a new job. These are some of the downsides of going bankrupt.

Everything is not all brightness and light, but the few sacrifices you will face might be worth the removal of the emotional and financial pain you are suffering every day you struggle with a load of unpayable debt.

Chris Cooper is a retired attorney who has spent several periods of his life deep in debt. At http://www.credit-yourself.com he tries to pass on some of the knowledge he picked up in his journey to become debt free.

More Resources

Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

More Debt Relief Information:

Related Articles


You Can Make Financial Resolutions Anytime
The New Year often brings with it a desire to right the wrongs in yourlife. From this desire springs the tradition of New Year resolutions.
Craving For Financial Freedom
Have you ever felt trapped in a Rat Race and wished to retire quickly but rich?Have you ever felt that you are spending way too much time working with your boss at your office instead of with those you love? Your spouse, children, friends?Have you ever felt frustrated because you are so deep in debt that you think you won't be able to retire because as soon as you do, the money will stop coming and thus you won't be able to pay off your mortgages and credit card?Have you ever felt that you have no control over your life anymore in terms of time? Think about it: can you take a vacation just anytime whenever you want/ need it and as long as you want/ need it?Have you ever wished that you can work whenever you want and wherever you want?You are not the only one!Too many people are trapped in a Rat Race because they have to. There are too many bills to pay, and too many dreams to fulfill.
Life on a Debt Management Program
Signing up for a debt management program is easy; it's a matter of finding a company you feel comfortable with that is difficult. There should be no pressure added from the company you speak with, joining a DMP is your decision and you should feel like you are in a partnership with the company, meaning you both have control over your financial situation.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Bankruptcy
Outlined below are some of the benefits and drawbacks of bankruptcy. It should be noted that bankruptcy is not to be entered into without first having sought professional advice.
Debt Collectors; And what you can do to Get Them Out of your Life
FTC opinion letter on validation Section 809(a) of the FDCPA, 15 U.S.
Bankruptcy, Is It A Way Out
Negotiations with creditors have failed. Repossession is imminent and foreclosure proceedings have begun.
The Bankruptcy Code Acknowledges the Validity of the Homestead Exemption
Many times the subject of bankruptcy seems baffling in its complexity. Actually the basic principals of bankruptcy are fairly simple even though the federal statuses on bankruptcy are extensive.
The ONE Law You Should Be Breaking
There is a law all smart people break.Parkinson's law.
5 Methods Toward Reducing Your Debt
Decreasing your debt is paramount to having a good credit rating as well as giving you peace of mind. You want to get out of debt, but not all debt reduction options may be beneficial.
Bankruptcy: Who is to Blame?
If you are considering bankruptcy as a solution to your financial problems, you are not alone. Bankruptcy is on the rise in this country as consumer debt piles higher and higher.
What Does A Bankruptcy Trustee Do?
Once you file bankruptcy a court appointed bankruptcy trustee will oversee your case. The new law also requires that the bankruptcy petitioner to take a debtor education course and receive credit counseling from a U.
Christian Debt Consolidation - Feel Comfortable About Managing Your Debt
Many Christians feel uncomfortable with the notion of being in debt, and even more so when the debt has gotten out of control. Some say that it is not acceptable for Christians to owe any money, even for such necessities as a home.
Debt Management Systems
What is a debt management system, and when do you need it? Like any kind of management system, debt help systems can be good or bad. We will take a look at what you can do to manage your debt better.
Reducing Debt Before Its Too Late - How to Avoid the Pitfalls of Creeping Debt
Reducing debt usually isn't a high priority for people until they have already gotten into trouble with overspending. Using a few basic guidelines, and debt calculations, can help you see when your debt load is getting into the danger zone.
Credit And Debt Relief--A One Stop Solution
Amy Wright, 34, was extatic when her realtor showed her the three bedroom townhome overlooking the lushious golf course. It was exactly the home she was looking for.
Bankruptcy - The Easy Option?
Incredibly, since the changes in the bankruptcy law in April 2004, debtors are more likely to petition for their own bankruptcy rather than their creditors! You would think that most people who have been threatened with the prospect of being made Bankrupt would be riddled with fear of the possibility. It is more widely referred to as the "Big B" rather than the dreaded word itself.
Credit Card Debt: How to Get Rid of It
This method is simple, but requires some discipline.First, you have to stop any new spending on your cards.
A Debt Elimination Process Must Be Initiated From You.
The first and maybe most important step in a debt elimination process, is to acknowledge there's a problem and realize that something has to be done with your situation. Some do it before it is too late, though an asthonishing number of people seem to act as if this is not their situation at all.
What the Mail on Sunday Said
Anyone considering Bankruptcy may have experienced fear after reading an article written in The Mail on Sunday with the headline "Bankruptcy cheats face crackdown". But, how much of what was written was in context of the reality of Bankruptcy as it is today?The article implied that since The Enterprise Act 2002 the rise in the number of people going bankrupt was due to them using the Bankruptcy route as a "Get out of jail free card".
The First Step To Getting Out Of Debt: Make The Commitment!
These days, getting into debt is easy.Unfortunately, getting out of debt is not so simple for most people.