Things You Should Know Before You File Bankruptcy
Are you in
debt
up to your eyeballs? Are you considering bankruptcy as a quick way out of
debt
? Do you think bankruptcy is nothing but a chance for a fresh start, a painless way to waive off your
debt
s? If the answer to these questions is ‘yes’, stop, for bankruptcy is nothing but a painful crash that will change your life causing you terminal damage.
Doesn’t the very word “bankruptcy” make you shiver and give you goose bumps? Bankruptcy is a nightmare come true – it changes your life in all its aspects – job, marriage, peace of mind.
How can anyone recommend bankruptcy? It’s like a marriage counselor recommending divorce to a couple seeking psychological help. Yes, there are cases when people see no other option, or they are left with the only bankruptcy option. However, if you haven’t tried out all existing other means to get out of
debt
, you shouldn’t go for bankruptcy until you try them all. If you ask someone who’s been through bankruptcy about how hard it was, your chances to hear a success story are minimal. If they tell you it’s a painless way to wipe off
debt
, come out clean and dry, start a new life and forget about the
debt
– don’t buy it.
Don’t just let anyone mellow with your mind. Believe it – bankruptcy is not the kind of thing a sane person will be willing to do to himself. If you investigate in the issue of the top list of events that have the most negative impact on people’s lives you will se bankruptcy in the top five. The other events with the most negative impact are loss of the loved one, divorce, illness, disability. No, you can’t compare the loss of the loved one to bankruptcy. However, it is in the top five list of the things that alter people’s lives for ever. Bankruptcy leaves deep emotional and financial wounds that stay in your psyche and credit report for good.
Now, see the simple numbers. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (total bankruptcy) remains on your credit report for ten years. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, which is more like an alternative repayment plan, remains on your credit report for seven years. However, you will have to deal with the consequences the rest of your entire life. In case you don’t know, loan applications and many job applications have that question about the bankruptcy – have you EVER filed bankruptcy in your life? If you think your bankruptcy is too old to be revealed when getting a loan, you would be committing criminal fraud.
What you should know is there almost always is a better
debt
solution that does not imply filing bankruptcy. Seek financial counseling,
debt
help,
debt
consolidation loans,
debt
management plans,
debt
negotiation help, stick to the tight budget, sell stuff, get extra jobs, rid yourself of the luxuries you can live without, but avoid bankruptcy at all means. And don’t believe the ones who will be telling you it is nothing but a quick fix to all your
debt
problems. The people who’ve been through bankruptcy, lawsuits, foreclosure and all that nightmare will tell you it is not worth it.
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