Bankruptcy is often the last resort for people who have accrued a significant amount of debt that they can’t pay off, such as credit card debt, etc. Because it’s such a difficult step to take, many people worry about the impact it will have on their credit, and unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation presented to people who are considering bankruptcy. In this article, we’ll take a look at the seven most common bankruptcy myths and explain how they don’t apply to most people.
#1- Your credit score will be low as long as bankruptcy remains on your report.
In truth, bankruptcy will dramatically lower your credit score, but it’s possible to build it back up by properly managing your credit. After a few years, you might be able to reach good credit status again. However, you’ll have to work hard to do so.
#2- Bankruptcy information always stays on your credit report for 10 years.
Only Chapter 7 bankruptcies remain on your credit report for 10 years. All other bankruptcy-related files remain on credit reports for seven years. This means that it’s possible to clear your bankruptcy history after just a few years.
#3- If you only had positive information on your report before bankruptcy, you will have a higher post-bankruptcy score.
Truthfully, having a positive payment history and lacking negative accounts on your report does very little to reduce the burden of bankruptcy. The mere presence of a bankruptcy and the length of time it is on the report will be one of the key factors in post-bankruptcy scores. If you have been late on your payments, the bankruptcy will be noted in the same way that any late payment would be.
#4- Bankruptcy impacts all consumers equally.
Your credit score, amount of debt discharged, and the negative to positive proportion on your report will factor into the impact bankruptcy has on your future finances. A low amount of debt declared may make it to where you’re not as severely impacted as those with higher levels of debt. Therefore, the impact of bankruptcy may not be as severe as you might think.
#5- You won’t be able to get a loan or line of credit after bankruptcy.
There are ways to repair your credit following bankruptcy. For example, getting a secured line of credit (one requiring a security deposit upfront) can help. In addition, credit builder loans, CDs, or passbooks use deposits or collateral to help individuals build credit again. It’s important to be able to find the right loan for you.
#6- Bankruptcy will permanently ruin your credit.
Bankruptcy will damage your credit, but it only stays on your report for 10 years at the most. After that, you’re allowed to start working to repair your credit. Maintaining smart spending habits and slowly building credit again can help improve your credit score following a bankruptcy.
#7- Bankruptcy-related debts will be removed from your credit report.
Bankruptcy helps individuals erase or pay off the debt they have declared. It does not remove debts from a person’s credit report. The accounts remain on the report record and will impact the credit score for seven to 10 years.
What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows people to discharge their debts under the bankruptcy law. In some cases, this may include a high-interest credit card balance, but it can also include other types of debt, such as medical bills or unpaid taxes.
While most people think of bankruptcy as a one-time event, in fact, it can be repeated over and over again. Each time someone files for bankruptcy, the court looks at the new situation and determines whether the same criteria apply again. This means that if you file for bankruptcy three times in four years, you will likely end up with a “three strikes” record that makes it harder to get credit after your bankruptcy is discharged.
If you want to file for bankruptcy without this automatic limitation on your credit history, then you need to pay off all of your debts before filing for bankruptcy again. Otherwise, each time you file for bankruptcy, they will add another strike against your record.
How Bankruptcy Affects Your Credit Report
Most people think that once they file for bankruptcy, their credit report will be marked with an “F” and never be updated. Unfortunately, this is not true. After you file for bankruptcy, the bank holding your mortgage or other debts will almost certainly try to collect from you, and you will be required to send them monthly payments. This means that your credit report will continue to show negative information for a period of time.
In addition, the bankruptcy court is required to notify the credit bureaus that you have filed for bankruptcy. This means that if you file for bankruptcy again within three years of your first filing, the second filing will have a negative impact on your credit report as well. The longer you wait between filings, the less likely it is that a future filing will have an impact on your credit report.
How to Prevent Bankruptcy?
First, it’s important to understand that bankruptcy is a last resort. If you have other options for solving your financial problems, it’s important to seek them out first. The most common options are to consolidate your debts, negotiate with creditors, or pay off debts with the help of a debt settlement company. Once you know what your options are, it’s time to consider the consequences of bankruptcy and how they will impact your credit.
Unfortunately, some people have a misconception that bankruptcy is a way to avoid paying their debts. This is not the case at all. Instead, bankruptcy is simply a means of allowing you to restructure your debts in order to reduce your overall financial burden. You’ll still be responsible for your debt obligations, but you’ll have more flexibility in terms of the amount of money you owe and the length of time it will take to pay off your debts.
It is better to prevent it by finding the affordable interest rates that you can achieve on your monthly payment. Besides that, you can practice smart credit management for the repayment plan until you can achieve financial freedom.
Why Would You Want to Consider Bankruptcy?
You may have accumulated a large amount of debt and simply can’t afford to pay it off. It may be time to consider bankruptcy if you’re behind on your payments, even if you can afford to make them. It could also be the right choice for you if your financial situation has changed in the last few years.
Let’s take a look at some common reasons people consider bankruptcy:
Lack of financial education.
In today’s world, people are expected to know everything about their finances. This is not necessarily true, though. People often think that they should be making smart financial decisions and managing their money effectively, but this is rarely the case. When it comes down to it, many people just don’t know how to make good financial decisions or what is actually a good investment for them.
If you are considering bankruptcy as a means of solving your debt problems, it could be because you don’t know where to start or what other options there are available for dealing with your debts in a more positive way. There are plenty of options available when it comes to reducing your debt burden and don’t settle for bankruptcy as the only solution.
Personal finance mistakes.
It’s important to know what is right for you and what is wrong so that you don’t repeat those same mistakes in the future. If you make financial mistakes that aren’t being corrected with other measures, bankruptcy may be the only option left open to you when it comes to reducing your debt burden.
Conclusion
If you’re considering bankruptcy, it’s important to understand the information presented to you by your credit card company and others. Knowing what a bankruptcy can do to your credit is crucial for making the right decision. Remember, bankruptcy is a last resort for those who have no other options. If you find yourself in this situation, get professional help from a reliable bankruptcy attorney to determine whether bankruptcy is right for you.
To learn more about the true impact of bankruptcy, it’s good to speak with a financial advisor or credit professional so that you’re fully aware of what may actually occur if you decide that filing bankruptcy is your best option for your financial crisis.
