Monday, April 9, 2007

Bitten By Bankruptcy?

Research at The Debt Line has shown that up to 1 million people are on the verge of declaring themselves bankrupt as they struggle to cope with thousands of pounds worth of debt.

Bankruptcy is an option that often has to be considered when an individual cannot pay their debts as they fall due. A first time bankrupt with debts will generally receive their discharge one year after the date of the bankruptcy order.

Bankruptcy is the most drastic method available for dealing with debts you cannot pay. It can however set you free from overwhelming debts so you can make a fresh start, and makes sure your assets are shared out fairly amongst your creditors. However there are many implications of bankruptcy. During your bankruptcy you will be subject to several restrictions, which can be avoided through an alternative to bankruptcy such as an IVA. Anyone can go bankrupt, and there are different insolvency procedures for dealing with companies and for individuals who become bankrupt.

Applying for an IVA is a regularly looked at as an avoidance from bankruptcy. The IVA enables you to cut your debts to an affordable level and clear them over a fixed period. The compromise should offer a larger repayment towards your debt than could otherwise be expected were you to be made bankrupt. You can even take out a fresh mortgage while in an IVA. What's more, it is a totally private arrangement - nobody needs to know about it apart from you, your advisors and your creditors. An IVA ensures that your home is protected and your job is not at risk and with The Debt Line an IVA can write off up to 75% of your debts.

There are so many advantages of an IVA. For example, there is not the stigma or the publicity that normally accompanies bankruptcy and the debtor can continue to trade in a business to generate money. It can give the peace of mind to have a fresh financial start.

The implications of bankruptcy are simple. Some of these disadvantages are: loosing control of your assets, not being able to act as a company director (if you wish to do so), being publicly examined in court and your credit being affected for many years after the annulment. It seems that as far as The Debt Line are concerned, the bankruptcy route could be very much avoided.

One in 8 of those with five-figure debts say they are 'quite likely' or 'very likely' to declare themselves bankrupt. Also, with an interest rate rise looking more and more definite, these figures are expected to grow. With the help of The Debt Line a growing number of people will be finding alternative ways to get themselves out of debt.

About the Author

Are you looking for debt consolidation or debt management? For more information on debt management and bankruptcy, you may visit http://www.thedebtline.co.uk/

Bankruptcy and Your Business

Bankruptcy for your business can be a traumatic event. However, it can become necessary, and at a certain point there is a need to move on in your economic life, just like it can become necessary in your personal life. Bankruptcy can happen to a business in a variety of ways. When someone is running a home business, they may have a series of orders that fall through while production or buying of inventory continues. They find themselves stuck with more inventory than they no what to do with and may simply sell off the inventory for whatever price they can and stop the business by inertia.

If someone has gotten loans to start up their home business, then they can be forced to go through a formal Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This can be even more difficult if you have been operating as a self-proprietorship, and your personal assets are the backup for your business operations. Often, it is worthwhile, even for a fairly small business operation, to form an LLC, a Limited Liability Company, to be able to separate your business assets from your personal assets. This can cost about $500, but it is well worth the protection you receive in this way. Of course, you may still need personal bankruptcy protection if you had put up personal assets in order to take out loans.

Bankruptcy does not have to be a straight liquidation process. In fact, as we look at big business, many large firms go through a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, a reorganization of their assets and debts and emerge to continue in business. Or they are bought out by other companies. For example, there was the large bankruptcy of the retailer K-Mart that was subsequently bought out by Sears and since then seems to be doing fairly well. This type of reorganization can apply to small businesses that have been doing well, but may have overextended themselves and temporarily cannot pay their debt on time. By writing off debt, or portions of it, and converting short-term debt to long-term debt, a business that has bitten off more than it can chew, can be brought back from the brink and be reorganized to continue in business. Two-thirds of the creditors committee in the bankruptcy has to agree to the reorganization plan. Larger and some smaller firms can get financing while in bankruptcy, in order to be able to successfully reorganize.

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Bankruptcy Alternatives Explained

There are many steps you can take in efforts to improve your credit, eliminate your debt, and avoid bankruptcy. Which should be the ultimate goal of all people, while bankruptcy is an excellent method of helping you clear up your debt, it should only be used as a last resort. Bankruptcy remains on your credit for up to ten years and it could result in the inability to retain any other type of credit until it has been removed or several years has passed.

On thing that a debtor can do, this is especially true if they have no income or assets, is to do nothing. Yes that is right nothing, if you have no assets or income that can be garnished bankruptcy would not benefit you in any way, your financial situation would not change as a result. It is likely that without anything of high value, credits would not attempt to take any court action against you because there would be nothing they could collect.

Another step you could take is to undergo credit counseling, you would learn how to manage your money to reduce the debt. You could create a budget that contains your monthly income and expenses, thus reducing expenses. By doing this, any extra money you have could go towards reducing the debt you owe to creditors.

You could also begin negotiation with your creditors, most of them realize that bankruptcy is a viable option for those who have more debt than they can handle. For this reason, most will be willing to “take what they can get” rather than get nothing if the debtor files bankruptcy. This option requires that the debtor has income or assets that can be used in efforts to raise money to apply towards the debt you owe. Additionally, this can allow you to rebuild your credit instead of applying a negative bankruptcy on it.

Debt consolidation is another bankruptcy alternative that many could consider, by consolidating your debts into one low monthly payment you could easily reduce the amount of your debt, get the creditors off your back and avoid bankruptcy.

Finally, another option of avoiding bankruptcy is to make a formal proposal directly to your creditors. This proposal or also knows as a deal, will allow you to create a payment plan. It is all dependent upon what area of the world you live in and the laws surrounding the area of debt compromise.

About the AuthorThere are many steps you can take in efforts to improve your credit, eliminate your debt, and avoid bankruptcy. Which should be the ultimate goal of all people, while bankruptcy is an excellent method of helping you clear up your debt, it should only be used as a last resort. Bankruptcy remains on your credit for up to ten years and it could result in the inability to retain any other type of credit until it has been removed or several years has passed.

On thing that a debtor can do, this is especially true if they have no income or assets, is to do nothing. Yes that is right nothing, if you have no assets or income that can be garnished bankruptcy would not benefit you in any way, your financial situation would not change as a result. It is likely that without anything of high value, credits would not attempt to take any court action against you because there would be nothing they could collect.

Another step you could take is to undergo credit counseling, you would learn how to manage your money to reduce the debt. You could create a budget that contains your monthly income and expenses, thus reducing expenses. By doing this, any extra money you have could go towards reducing the debt you owe to creditors.

You could also begin negotiation with your creditors, most of them realize that bankruptcy is a viable option for those who have more debt than they can handle. For this reason, most will be willing to “take what they can get” rather than get nothing if the debtor files bankruptcy. This option requires that the debtor has income or assets that can be used in efforts to raise money to apply towards the debt you owe. Additionally, this can allow you to rebuild your credit instead of applying a negative bankruptcy on it.

Debt consolidation is another bankruptcy alternative that many could consider, by consolidating your debts into one low monthly payment you could easily reduce the amount of your debt, get the creditors off your back and avoid bankruptcy.

Finally, another option of avoiding bankruptcy is to make a formal proposal directly to your creditors. This proposal or also knows as a deal, will allow you to create a payment plan. It is all dependent upon what area of the world you live in and the laws surrounding the area of debt compromise.

About the Author

Jeff Lakie is a contributing author at our website where
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Your Credit Report After Bankruptcy-What To Look For

Do you KNOW what is on your credit report? Even if you have just filed bankruptcy it is EXTREMELY important that you KNOW how it is reported on your credit report. It is NOT the credit reporting agencies responsibility to make sure that your credit report is accurate. It is YOURS, and only you can make sure that it is.

After receiving your bankruptcy discharge papers the first thing you will want to do is get a copy of your credit report and make sure that the information reported on it is correct. Did you know that over 90% of the time it is incorrect?

You wll want to make sure that your report is showing the date the bankruptcy was filed and when it was discharged. Make sure that ALL creditors that you included in the bankruptcy are showing that they were and that your balance is $0 and nothing else. Profit & Loss or Charge Offs will lower your credit score. Make sure they report as "included in bankruptcy" with a $0.00 balance.

If a creditor shows any balance other than $0.00 and it was included in the bankruptcy it will lower your credit score. It will by your responsibility to contact the creditor and have them update your credit report to show the correct information. Be prepared, you may need to contact them several times before they get it right. But don't stop until it is.

Did you also know your credit score will go up after a bankruptcy? Why? Because all past due, profit & loss and charge offs will now show a balance of $0 instead of a balance past due.

Did you know that if your credit score is over 500 you can purchase a home and get 100% financing? That's right!! However, you need to realize that you will be paying a premium price in the closing costs and interest rate. If you do some credit repair and wait until the bankruptcy is two years old you can qualify for a Fannie Mae low interest rate loan.

Remember, you are responsible for your own credit report. No one else is going to care about it as much as you. Start working on it now, it's never to late.

About the Author

Learn how to go from bankruptcy to living a life of financial freedom. At www.life-after-bankruptcy.comyou will discover step by step how to change your life and finally live debt free and financially free.

How to Avoid Bankruptcy and the New Bankruptcy Laws

Now, how to avoid bankruptcy? Find out how millions of others are becoming DEBT FREE while avoiding BK. Here you'll find a brief summary of the worthwhile options on avoiding bankruptcy, saving your credit, and accomplishing financial freedom.

You already know that life after bankruptcy would be the same or worse than before filing for bankruptcy, so we've compiled everything you need to know on how to avoid bankruptcy altogether.

How to Avoid Bankruptcy - Your Top Choices:

1) Find a Debt Management Solution Enrolling in a solid debt management solution that is very successful can truly help you avoid bankruptcy. Although, there are only a few types. Bank sponsored programs like Debt Consolidation or Consumer Credit Counseling are no better than filing bankruptcy. Debt Negotiation or Debt Settlement should only be used to settle medical, utility, or other non banking type bills. Debt Termination or Debt Cancellation has recently become the #1 proven way to wipe out your unsecured bank loans or credit card debt.

2) Get a Debt Consolidation Loan Most American's choose this option to avoid BK first if they are still current on existing loans, or are just about to get behind. Most of the time the option is exhausted before anyone even considers alternatives to bankruptcy.

3) Limit Borrowing and Reduce Debt This is a great option to avoid bankruptcy. Of course it's easier said then done, and that's most likely why you're here.

4) Ask Friends & Family for Debt Help Borrowing at zero interest from friends or family if possible is one way to get debt help. Selling off your assets, or bartering something you have or can trade for debt relief to avoid bankruptcy is another option.

5) Get FREE Government Money While this seems to be a highly searched term on the web and sounds very patriotic, it is highly unlikely that Uncle Sam will be giving out Free Government Money that doesn't need to be repaid, and if he were, we probably wouldn't receive it in time to save ourselves in the moment.

6) You Can Get Out of Credit Card Debt The number one way how to avoid bankruptcy is to eliminate credit card debt and most other unsecured debt. We know it may sound easier said then done. It is now, in fact, easier to do than you could ever imagine.

How to Avoid Bankruptcy - Banks Do Not Lend Their Own Money

The truth is, banks and finance companies do not lend you any of their own, their depositor's, or investor's money.

Once you learn the truth, we know you will be astonished. And no matter what, you will learn how to avoid bankruptcy for the rest of your life, we're sure that's worth knowing.

About the Author

Mark A. Cella, Founder/CEO of the Federal Debt Relief System. No matter what situation you are in, no matter what you may think or believe, if you really want to know how to avoid bankruptcy you must read "Discovered - An Amazing Way to Wipe Out Debt" in full as it explains exactly where banks get the money they supposedly loan you.