When you file for bankruptcy, you eliminate your debt, but as far as the credit agencies and lenders are concerned, you’re not starting over with a clean slate.
In fact, a bankruptcy can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, hindering your ability to obtain credit during that time.
Credit scores measure how well you pay back debt. While bankruptcy frees you from having to pay those debts, the fact remains you never paid those debts off and it will reflect in your credit score.
The good news is you can now take all the money you were putting toward debt repayment and interest and start building a better financial future by creating a cushion of savings or an emergency fund.
1. Get a secured credit card.
You’ll also want to start rebuilding your credit by signing up for a secured credit card.
With a secured card, you deposit a given amount of money into a bank account and that amount becomes your credit limit.
If you’re able to maintain a positive credit history with the secured card, by making consistent on-time payments, you may qualify for a higher limit or an unsecured credit card within one to two years.
“After filing, you’ll want to
make sure all accounts included.”
For major loans like a mortgage or an auto loan, you’ll want to take the time to get your credit score back up to at least 650 to ensure a decent rate.
With a bankruptcy on your credit report, you’ll still be considered “credit-impaired” to lenders, so be prepared to pay an extra two to three points over conventional interest rates.
Be sure to get a loan that lets you refinance in the future without a penalty. This will help you get a better rate after re-establishing your credit.
2. Keep a close eye on your credit reports.
After filing, you’ll want to make sure all the accounts included in your bankruptcy are noted as such.
As you reach the end of your penalty period, you’ll want to make certain the bankruptcy has been removed. While that should happen automatically, it’s worth double-checking. Then you can officially celebrate!
Photo source: bankruptcy-toledo.com
Advertiser Disclosure
BadCredit.org is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free for users, we receive advertising compensation from the financial products listed on this page. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear on the page (including, for example, the order in which they appear). BadCredit.org does not include listings for all financial products.
Our Editorial Review Policy
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.