Credit scores, cards and reports: What you might not know

Credit cards and our credit scores have become parts of our lives and daily business to the extent that losing them can paralyze people experiencing financial hardship. Financial troubles leading people towards a bankruptcy filing are not always the individual’s fault. A divorce, injury or job loss can happen and leave good people in peril with their credit scores and credit cards. There is a saying among bankruptcy attorneys – what happens after the bankruptcy is more important than what brings the client to seek bankruptcy in the first place. There are plenty of options to restore credit and the ability to make online payments. Do not give up and throw in the towel or go off the grid because creditors suggest that if you file bankruptcy you will never be able to swipe a tank of gas or cover an emergency expense.

Why is credit important and why do we need credit and debit cards to pay?

Fair or unfair as it may seem, the American system of issuing credit is what keeps the economy moving. Do you remember the problems our country experienced at the beginning of the recession? One of the biggest problems was failure and refusal of banks to issue credit for consumer goods, homes, cars, and to businesses with fixed expenses. The method of payment nowadays is plastic. We pay our bills online and over the phone using debit and credit cards. When was the last time you went to a local utility to pay with cash or check? The reality is that it is easier and sometimes only possible to pay using plastic. People considering bankruptcy should know there are easy alternatives to what we often think about when talking about credit and debit cards.

Filing for bankruptcy in most cases will not affect most people’s checking accounts and the debit cards used to pay for bills and daily expenses. If however, the account is overdrawn and no payment is made, the account can be sent to collections and opening a new account could be difficult. An alternative is the pre-paid debit cards now offered by many banks. They work just like a traditional checking account based debit card. A difference can be that the pre-paid cards, just like gift cards, prevent the user from overdrawing the account. Prepaid debit cards holders can access their accounts online, deposit, withdraw funds, and continue despite credit and bank account options.

Pre-paid credit cards, also known as secured credit cards, are similar to prepaid debit cards with the exception that the applicant prepays a certain amount (often under $500) and that money is held in a separate savings account. The card is “secured” by the deposit and the use may proceed to use the card just like a regular credit card and pay the monthly bills. If the bill is not paid, the deposit is forfeited. A major benefit of the pre-paid credit card is the positive effect on the credit score. If the person is in a bankruptcy and some of the immediate financial pressure is off, it is easier to use the pre-paid credit card for common monthly bills. As the credit card is used and paid in a responsible manner the credit score should improve.

Getting back on track can also include challenges to inaccuracies on credit reports.

In cases where damage to credit scores are a provable fault of another, the damage to the credit score can be translated to a specific dollar amount using a credit damage expert who prepares a report for court hearings where the credit damage is at issue. There are also credit repair companies who, for a reasonable fee, help people find and attack inaccurate marks on a credit report including something referred to as “zombie debt,” which often indicates collection amounts that are frequently bundled and sold among collection companies. Note that debt repayment companies offer different services and it is important to get the right answers before making important decisions that can affect the future.

How can Joseph Wrobel help?

Joseph Wrobel and the attorneys at Joseph Wrobel, Ltd. have relationships and can help clients with everything from stopping harassing collector calls to helping clients get new forms of debit and credit cards to keep moving and paying bills as well as attack bad credit report marks and scores.

If you want to learn more about bankruptcy and credit management, contact an attorney at Joseph Wrobel, Ltd. The firm’s website contains informative videos about financial issues as well as bankruptcy protection for families who want a fresh start. To keep in touch and read about consumer finance news and stories you can Like the firm’s Facebook page and Follow Joseph Wrobel. Ltd. on Twitter. If you need legal assistance, please call Joseph Wrobel, Ltd. by dialing (312) 781-0996 to talk to an attorney.