this post was submitted on 01 Nov 2023
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Unfortunately bankruptcy has been disempowered strongly. There are quite a few types of non-dischargeable debt like court rulings and student loans in the US. Credit Cards are definitely dischargeable but bankruptcy has also been made as painful as possible for working people.
Credit scores, created in the 80s, are required for any type of borrowing. Bankruptcy effectively denies the filer any type of credit or loans that aren't extremely predatory and costly. You effectively have to live 7 years without credit cards, new student loans, auto loans, mortgage, etc. Which, for many people under water might not be different than they live now, sans the credit cards. But in the absence of easy revolving credit, you may still need to borrow money to avoid eviction or your power being cut. In that case, your main option is going to be payday lenders. A service so corrupt and predatory it'd probably be classified as a criminal enterprise in the past.
I know someone who has delcared bankruptcy at least twice... each time she was showered with ads for credit cards and auto loans. Apparently the thought process is "this person can't declare bankruptcy again for x years, so we're safe."
...wtf? If a person has declared bankruptsy, sure they can't discharge again but their credit score is so trash they could just ignore creditors. As long as it isn't worth it to take someone to court, they have less incentive to pay.
My MIL declared bankruptcy and after that she was awash in credit card ads. What you say makes sense but it doesn’t square with what I saw.
Well, that's unexpected but I guess CC companies are willing to risk it. Especially if they know that CCs are the only viable option they have and they can offer penalty APRs with little pushback.
I've had extended family members declare bankruptcy several times and they're still approved for a credit card. Whereas I have never missed a credit payment in my life have a hard time getting a line of credit. I don't get it, the system is broken.
Same thing with my mother; she started getting pummeled with cc mailers within 6 months of her filing.
Wow, that is very harsh that not even bacrupcy can cleanse your student loans. For court rulings it makes a little bit of sense, but this...