FIXING YOUR CREDIT AFTER A BANKRUPTCY DISCHARGE

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy attorney.

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: westchesterbankruptcyattorney.org

In my prior article on the topic of post discharge activities, I discuss 11 different areas for your attention.  Below, I focus in on just one of these: credit repair.

You have received an Order of Discharge from the Courts. That does not mean that your credit is being properly reported to/by the credit bureaus however.  Fixing any errors is up to you.  Here are the steps:

1. 60-90 days after you receive the discharge, you should call the number provided on the www.annualcreditreport.com site and order your credit reports.  (Consumers are entitled to a free credit report every year or when a negative decision is made by a creditor relying on a credit report.) You will see an option to download the report or to view it on the internet.  You should request your report be mailed to you by each of the three credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, and Transunion.   If you are married and filed a joint bankruptcy, both of the spouses must request their own reports.  There are many websites that will claim to be “free” but will typically start assessing a monthly fee after a trial period…don’t fall for it: www.annualcredi treport.com is the only such site authorized by federal law to provide truly free reports.
2. You will also want to get additional reports from Telecheck, Early Warning Services, and Chexsystem if you have ever had a problem with a checking account or overdrafts.  These are the agencies that banks and credit unions rely on when the bank or credit union is making a decision about whether you can open an account with them.
3. So, you are now up to six different reports and if married multiply this by 2.  However the review you will need to do is actually rather straightforward.  Look for a line under each of the creditors that indicates whether a balance is due.  That balance should read ZERO (unless it is a debt that is not dischargeable by law, like court ordered support, taxes, criminal fines or penalties).  There may or may not be a line saying “Chapter 7 Bankruptcy” or “Chapter 13 Bankruptcy”.  These statements refer to the reason why it is no longer a debt.
4. If any of your creditors is still listing a balance, then the next step is to dispute the report of that creditor.  The Federal Trade Commission offers a sample dispute letter to consumers.  [The sample is here. ] You may alternatively use the form supplied with the credit report (usually found near the end of the report.)  Also send a copy of the letter to the creditor who is reporting inaccurate information.   And please, make and retain in your files two extra copies (one for your file and one for your attorney). Note that if more than one entity is reporting the debt improperly, they each must be notified separately.
5. When a consumer disputes a credit report, the agency by law must investigate.  The creditor can either verify the accuracy, update or remove the information.   The credit reporting agency has deadlines for their response to the consumer. Generally the wrongly reported debt will now be off your report.
6. However, if a creditor verifies the report (that is, wrongfully indicates the money is still due and owing), you should seek legal advice promptly. This is likely a violation of the discharge order of the bankruptcy court. There may also be a Fair Credit Reporting Act violation.  Your lawyer may suggest a lawsuit against the original creditor, the debt collector (if applicable) and/or the credit reporting agency. . Only a lawyer experienced in these kinds of cases can properly evaluate the situation and provide advice about your options.
7. Just to make sure your credit is being reported correctly you may want to order your reports again in a year or whenever you are again eligible for a free report from www.annualcredi treport.com. Repeat the process above as needed.

Summary:

1. Order your credit reports 60-80 days after your Order of Discharge
2. Order additional reports for problem with checking account or overdrafts
3. Carefully review  your credit reports
4. Dispute any balances that are no longer owed with both the original creditor and the credit reporting agency.
5. Review  responses promptly
6. If the response says you still owe the debt, seek legal advice from an experienced attorney.
7. Repeat in a year

Law Offices of Christopher C. Carr, MBA,  P.C., is a quality bankruptcy and debt relief practice, located in  Valley Township, west of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where Attorney Christopher Carr, a Chester County bankruptcy attorney, who has over 30 years if diversified ;egal experience, concentrates on serving the residents of and businesses located within Western Chester County and Eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including the communities in and around Atglen, Bird in Hand, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, Downingtown, Eagle, Exton, Fallowfield Gap, Honeybrook, Lancaster, Lincoln University, Modena, New Holland, Parkesburg, Paradise, Ronks, Sadsbury, Thorndale, Valley Township, Wagontown & West Chester,  Pennsylvania. If you reside or do business in the area and need assistance with a legal issue, please call Mr. Carr at (610)380-7969 or write him at cccarresq@aol.com today!  

I also provide HAMP, HAMP2 and other Mortgage Modification Services.

©Christopher C. Carr, Attorney at Law 2009, 2013, All Rights Reserved

N is for Negative Impact of Bankruptcy on Credit and How to Overcome it.

 in Bankruptcy is for the Negative Impact of Bankruptcy on Credit and How to Overcome it.

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq. Chester County bankruptcy attorney.

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: westchesterbankruptcyattorney.org

Most people are aware that filing bankruptcy can hurt their credit and it is well known that this can take its toll for up to ten years. But then why is it that the credit card apps start arriving again just a few weeks after a discharge in bankruptcy? Is it really true that a bankrupt is doomed to being deemed uncreditworthy for ten years? We will explore these questions below but first a bit of background.

The information contained within your credit report is generally governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. This federal law specifies how long a bankruptcy can appear on your credit report. This in turn varies based on type of bankruptcy as well as disposition of the case. Chapter 7 and 11 bankruptcies will appear on the report for up to 10 years from the filing date. Non-discharged or dismissed Chapter 13 and 12 bankruptcies also appear on a credit report for up to 10 years. Discharged Chapter 12 and 13 bankruptcies can remain on the report for up to seven years.

Does this mean that your credit will be impaired for 7 or 10 years? Does it mean you will not be able to purchase critical items on credit?    Certainly not, at least for the debtor who learns from past errors.

Note that the period starts running from the date of filing not discharge so, for example, if you filed a a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition 4 years ago and completed a 3 year plan 6 months ago, you only have three years to go. And during this time, you will, with persistence, be able to get credit for the things you really need (see below.)

You can begin to rebuild your credit rating immediately upon the date of your discharge order.  In a Chapter 7 this will be granted 3-4 months after your petition is filed, typically.   If you are in a Chapter 13 your plan payments will be reported even while still in bankruptcy.

Don’t even think about hiring a “Credit repair” agency. The money you might pay them can actually be used directly to repair your credit in the one way the experts agree really works.  The crucial thing you can do to rebuild your credit quickly and at no added cost is to pay all your bills on time. No exceptions.  It is not uncommon to see former clients who have rebuilt their ratings within 2 to 3 years after a bankruptcy. Their secret?  They paid their mortgage and car loans ON TIME and didn’t miss a payment. Some ideas: Send the checks EARLY in case the mail is delayed. Set up an emergency fund, perhaps in a short term CD, say with your tax refund to give yourself the “float” needed to make the payments in case you are short one month and then replenish it in flush months. Have the mental discipline to reserve it just for this purpose! If worse comes to worse, borrow against your IRA, 401K at work, life insurance policy  or pension.

As an example, a recent Chapter 7 client finished his case; obtained his discharge order and exactly 30 months later (2 years and 6 months), purchased a new home and obtained a competitive mortgage rate for a 30 year fixed mortgage.

You will be able to get a new credit card after your bankruptcy case has been completed.   It is true that you are likely to be rejected once or twice, but you should be able to obtain approval for a small credit card as long as you are persistent. Your best bet may be to talk to that friendly bank manager you have known for years. And you may need to ask more than once.

There are also ways to surrender that car you are driving now and its high rate loan and purchase a new car even while in bankruptcy, believe it or not.  You will pay a somewhat higher interest rate but rates are at historically low levels now anyway.

You will also be able to obtain student loans, for yourself or for a child, the Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. Section 525) specifically prevents the government from discriminating against individuals on the grounds that they have filed for bankruptcy relief.  I have yet to hear of anyone being denied a student loan on bankruptcy grounds.

There are in addition certain “tricks of the trade” that a competent and compassionate bankruptcy attorney can impart to you once you have retained him or her which will speed up the process of restoring your credit even further.   Be sure to ask!

In conclusion, your payment history will be crucial after (and in a Chapter 13 even during) a bankruptcy discharge, because prospective lenders really will  be looking  to see that you have paid attention to the mandatory debtor counseling sessions and have well and truly learned the lesson of how to use credit responsibly. It often will be easier to rebuild credit after a bankruptcy discharge because you will no longer have debts that hopelessly exceed your credit limits.  In this way and in general (certainly, not in every individual case) over the long haul, the consumer bankruptcy laws prove their worth. This writ large then is why the “fresh start” offered to debtors by our system of bankruptcy is a necessity to a healthy capitalistic system.

Law Offices of Christopher C. Carr, MBA,  P.C., is a quality Chester County Bankruptcy Practice, located in  Valley Township, west of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where Attorney Carr, who has over 30 years if diversified experience as an attorney, concentrates his practice on serving the residents of and businesses located within Western Chester County and Eastern Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including the communities in and around Atglen, Bird in Hand, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, Downingtown, Eagle, Exton, Fallowfield Gap, Honeybrook, Lancaster, Lincoln University, Modena, New Holland, Parkesburg, Paradise, Ronks, Sadsbury, Thorndale, Valley Township, Wagontown & West Chester,  Pennsylvania. If you reside or do business in the area and need assistance with a legal issue, please call Mr. Carr at (610)380-7969 or write him at cccarresq@aol.com today!

I also provide Mortgage Modification Services.

©Christopher C. Carr, Attorney at Law, 2011, 2012, All Rights Reserved.

Other Bankruptcy Lawyers writing on the letter N include:

California Northern Bankruptcy Court  Marin County Bankrupttcy Lawyer, Cate Eranthe http://marin-bankruptcy-law.com/803/bankruptcy-a-to-z-n-is-for-california-northern-bankruptcy-court/ NACBA Wisconsin Bankruptcy Lawyer, Bret Nason http://nasonlawfirm.com/archives/813 Naked New York Bankruptcy Lawyer, Jay S. Fleischman http://www.consumerhelpcentral.com/bankruptcy-alphabet-naked/ Negative Notice Jacksonville Bankruptcy Attorney J. Dinkins G. Grange http://jacksonville-bankruptcy-grange.blogspot.com/2012/02/n-is-for-negative-notice-local-rule.html Never Cleveland Bankruptcy Attorney William Balena http://ohiobankruptcysource.com/?p=2418 No Asset Metro Richmond Consumer and Bankruptcy Attorney, Mitchell Goldstein http://www.morethanbankruptcy.com/bankruptcy-a-z-n-is-for-no-asset-case.html No Asset Report Honolulu Bankruptcy Lawyer, Stuart T. Ing http://www.bankruptcyhi.com/2012/01/n-is-for-no-asset-report/ Non-exempt Property Miami Bankruptcy Attorney, Dorota Trzeciecka http://dorotatrzeciecka.com/2012/02/05/bankruptcy-a-z-n-is-for-non-exempt-property/ Nondischargeable Metro Richmond Consumer and Bankruptcy Attorney, Mitchell Goldstein http://www.morethanbankruptcy.com/bankruptcy-a-z-n-is-for-nondischargeable.html Nondischargeable Northern California Bankruptcy Lawyer, Cathy Moran http://www.bankruptcysoapbox.com/bankruptcy-alphabet-n-for-nondischargeable/ Nondischargeable Debt Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska Bankruptcy Attorney, Ryan D. Caldwell http://bankruptcyblog.caldwell-lawfirm.com/2011/11/16/bankruptcy-alphabet-n-is-for-nondischargeable-debt.aspx Notice Colorado Springs Bankruptcy Attorney Bob Doig http://springsbankruptcylaw.com/?p=1227 Notice San Francisco Bankruptcy Attorney, Jeff Curl http://www.jclawgroup.com/blog/bankruptcy-alphabet-n-is-for-notice/ Notice Taylor, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney, Chris McAvoy http://downriverbankruptcy.com/n-for-notice-creditors/#axzz1mtGwtQjh Notice of Rights to Claim Exemptions Charlotte Bankruptcy Attorneys, Collum & Perry http://www.collumperry.com/firm-news/notice-of-rights-to-claim-exemptions Numbers and New Bankruptcy Laws Los Angeles Bankruptcy Attorney, Mark J. Markus http://www.bklaw.com/bankruptcy-blog/2012/03/numbers-and-new-bankruptcy-laws/ Non-Attorney Bankruptcy Livonia Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney, Peter Behrmann http://www.livoniamichiganbankruptcy.com/n-is-for-non-attorney-bankruptcy-livonia-michigan/

Filing Bankruptcy: Pros and Cons

 

By Christopher C. Carr, Esq., Chester County Bankruptcy Lawyer

Tel: 610-380-7969 Email: cccarresq@aol.com Web: carrlaw.org

 

Christopher C. Carr , Esq., MBA explains the types of bankruptcy and weighs the pros and cons of filing bankruptcy.

Lawyer Christopher Carr | Lawyer Chapter 13

In these troubled economic times many people are having difficulties paying their bills and may be wondering whether a bankruptcy will help them. To examine the various strategies available to avoid bankruptcy, we must first understand what bankruptcy is and what it can and cannot do. The United States Bankruptcy Code offers several types of debt relief. The United States Bankruptcy Code offers two primary paths for consumers:

• A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: In a so called “straight” bankruptcy, the Trustee in bankruptcy seeks to liquidate the debtor’s non exempt property and distribute the proceeds to the creditors in order of priority, in exchange for discharge of all of the debtor’s eligible debt. (Exemptions for various property classifications are set out in federal and state law.) However, certain debts such as guaranteed student loans and domestic support obligations are non-dischargeable in bankruptcy. Most 7’s are “no asset” bankruptcies.

Certain higher income debtors who do not meet the new Means Test must instead file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.

• A Chapter 13 “debtor in possession” Bankruptcy: Here, unlike in Chapter 7 proceedings, the debtor retains possession of the assets (hence its nickname). In order to be confirmed by the court, the debtor must prove sufficient income to support a 3-5 year plan wherein payments on secured debt such as mortgages and auto loans (including arrears) and non-dischargeable items continue and unsecured creditors typically get paid a small portion of their debts. For debtors facing mortgage foreclosure, Chapter 13 may be the only choice to halt the process while seeking other remedies within or outside of bankruptcy such as a Home Affordable mortgage modification is obtained. However, recent statistics indicate that only about 35% of all 13 plans are ever completed.

There are overall limits as to how much unsecured and/or secured debt a debtor may have and still utilize Chapter 7 or 13. If either is exceeded then the debtor will have but one alternative if they wish to file for bankruptcy:

• Chapter 11, a third type of Bankruptcy, is primarily used to help in debt businesses restructure. An example is the bankruptcy from which GM has successfully emerged with the help of a massive US bailout. It is much more complex, time consuming and expensive than Chapter 7 or 13, but is the sole resort for individual debtors with debt which exceeds the limits mentioned above.

Other Advantages to Bankruptcy: The overall goal of every bankruptcy case is to give the debtor a “fresh start.” The “automatic stay” in bankruptcy will apply once your case is filed. This generally halts all collection activities, foreclosures, repossessions, Sherriff’s sales, etc. while in effect.

Disadvantages to Bankruptcy:

• Many people wish to avoid bankruptcy because of the social stigma perceived to be associated with “going bankrupt” even though it is perfectly legal and in fact is guaranteed by the US Constitution.
• Bankruptcy remains on the debtor’s credit for up to 7 (Chapter 17) or 10 years (Chapter 13) from filing and may interfere with efforts to obtain credit, purchase or refinance a home or even obtain employment. However, it should be noted that most who seek this relief already have impaired credit and, more importantly, in reality new credit is generally extended to debtors who keep their payments current for a year or two following discharge. So, in effect bankruptcy can work to “repair” credit where nothing else can.

A real life example would be where the debtor has amassed so much debt that they cannot qualify for a mortgage.  Their debt to income ratio is just too high. At tins point there is little reason to hold off from filing as the likelihood of obtaining credit resources at competitive rates are almost nil. However, once the debt is cleared by a discharge in bankruptcy this ratio can return to normal or better and given sufficient time and a good post petition payment profile, the debtor will once again be an attractive loan candidate.

Homeowners, who have racked up large arrears in their mortgage payments which have to be repaid in full over the 3-5 year plan period in a chapter 13 , may find the payments too high to afford causing the bankruptcy ultimately to be discharged or converted, perhaps thus only delaying the ultimate loss of their home in contrast to a Home Affordable (HAMP) mortgage modification where as the name implies ideally a long term affordable solution is reached.

• Not all types of debt are dischargable in bankruptcy, a good example being guaranteed student loans.
• While perhaps not strictly speaking a disadvantage,  there is a substantial waiting period once a bankruptcy has been discharged…the debtor has to wait to file if they wish to again obtain a discharge from new debt, the timeframes varying with the type of bankruptcy initially undegone. For this reason, bankruptcy should be considered strategically.  When its gone, its gone, at least for a good long time!

The key point is that each debtor’s situation is unique and deserves special consideration. Further, because the process is hardly ever as smooth as it is supposed to be because of the complexities and pitfalls involved, it is advisable to consult a competent and compassionate attorney who has experience in bankruptcies and/or in negotiating modifications to guide you through the process and help you properly complete the paperwork.

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©Christopher C. Carr, Attorney at Law 2009, 2016, All Rights Reserved

Christopher C. Carr, Esq. is a  Chester County Bankruptcy Attorney owner of Law Offices of Christopher C. Carr, MBA,  P.C., a quality Bankruptcy & Debt Relief Practice, located in  Valley Township, west of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where Attorney Carr, who has over 30 years of diversified experience as an attorney, concentrates his practice on serving the residents of and businesses located within Western Chester, Southern Berks and Eastern Lancaster Counties in South Eastern Pennsylvania, including the communities in and around Atglen, Bird in Hand, Caln, Christiana, Coatesville, Downingtown, Eagle, Exton, Fallowfield Gap, Honeybrook, Lancaster, Lincoln University, Modena, New Holland, Parkesburg, Paradise, Ronks, Reading, Sadsbury, Sinking Spring, Thorndale, Valley Township, Wagontown, West Chester, West Lawn, & Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Carr also has experience in many other areas of the law. If you reside or do business in the area and need assistance with a legal issue, please call Mr. Carr at (610)380-7969 or write him at cccarresq@aol.com today!

I also provide Mortgage Mod  and Debt Settlement Services.

IMPORTANT NOTE: I am not your bankruptcy lawyer, and nothing within this site creates that relationship.  Bankruptcy law requires that for me to be your lawyer, you and I must have a written contract.  So, unless we both agree in writing, you are not my client. Therefore, nothing written herein is to be relied upon as legal advice such as I might give to a client.

I am a debt relief agency. I help people file for bankruptcy relief under the bankruptcy code.