Our credit reports and credit scores are important for many reasons. It isn’t just about getting credit cards, our ability to rent an apartment, buy a house, or get a car loan is affected by our credit report and score. In some cases, credit reports are considered for security clearance and may even be reviewed by potential employers.
Your credit report and score are important. We understand. In fact, nearly all of our clients ask about how filing for bankruptcy will affect their credit report and credit score.
Know That You Can Still Get Credit After Filing for Bankruptcy
To be certain filing for bankruptcy is a serious financial decision. If will affect your credit report for years. But we want you to know that after bankruptcy debtors are able to get loans and lines of credit. While the loan terms and interest rates may not be favorable right after bankruptcy, consider the long-term benefits of erasing your debts and having financial freedom. Read our article Living With The Stress of Debt vs. Bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy Will Report On Your Credit Report For Up To 10-Years
How long bankruptcy reports depends on which chapter your file. If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it will remain on your credit report for 10-years after your filing date (not the date you receive your bankruptcy discharge order).
If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it will remain on your credit report for 7-years after your filing date (not the date of your final plan payment, or the date you receive your bankruptcy discharge order).
Monitoring Your Credit Report After Bankruptcy
Once the 7 or 10-year reporting period tolls, the bankruptcy will automatically be removed from your credit report. Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) the credit reporting bureaus have a duty to report accurately and keep your information up-to-date.
Even though a bankruptcy filing is supposed to automatically fall off your credit report, it is important that you monitor your credit report. While the credit bureaus have a duty to report accurate information, they often make mistakes.
Getting A Free Credit Report
Everyone is entitled to a free credit report annually! In fact, you’re entitled to one from each of the three credit reporting bureaus. A request can be made online at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
You can request and review all three at once, or you can space them out throughout the year to monitor what’s reporting more often. Making sure information on your credit report is reporting accurately is key to rebuilding your credit after bankruptcy. If you find mistakes or misreporting, you can dispute inaccurate information.
At the Law Offices of Barbara B. Braziel we file hundreds of Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy cases every year. But our clients are never just a number. You will not be left in the hands of a paralegal. You will have access to your attorney throughout your bankruptcy case.
We are here to give you the fresh start you deserve. Call us today at (912) 351-9000 or contact us via the web to schedule a free consultation.
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
