Bankruptcy, for sure no one likes hearing that word especially when it concerns them, nevertheless for some of us it can be at times inevitable. Naturally when someone is filing for bankruptcy all kinds of worries come up as to how this will affect them long-term and credit cards after bankruptcy are just one of these worries.
However regardless to what some may think obtaining a credit card after bankruptcy isn’t impossible. There are companies willing to provide this although normally you can expect high interest rates and additional annual fees.
One the reasons companies will offer a credit card after bankruptcy is the fact that a person cannot file for bankruptcy for at least seven years after the initial action has been discharged.
Thanks to this credit card companies have a legal recourse to use to collect any debts the credit card holder may end up with. Credit card debts are normally unsecured, however when someone cannot file bankruptcy, wage attachment can be used by the company to get back their money.
Although these credit cards are available after bankruptcy they can be a risky option for some. Not only will you be dealing with higher interest rates but you will be charged on late payments and this can quickly add up.
Many companies offering a credit card after bankruptcy offer it as a help in rebuilding a credit rating and even with annual fees as well as processing fees, sometimes equaling the initial credit limit, people take them out hoping to get back on their financial feet.
Troubles Can Keep Adding Up
Unfortunately, if you have a credit card after bankruptcy, and the initial fees, for example, are $290, and their initial credit limit is $300, being even a day late with the payment will result in a late fee of, on average, $30.
This pushes your liability to $320, causing another $30 to be added as an over the limit fee. The person holding this credit card after bankruptcy now has a debt of $350 and they have not used the card at all.
In addition to the new debt, the interest rate on the card can quickly go to the maximum allowed by law because you failed to meet your obligation on the credit card after bankruptcy.
With the exception of actually paying up there really isn’t an easy way out at this stage, especially as many companies will make the demand that they are paid in full within 30 days.
Wage garnishment, court proceedings and daily phone calls are just some of the things you can expect from here on in and it could well be years before you manage to clear up all your debts.
As you can see although obtaining a credit card after bankruptcy is possible, the consequences if you are unable to keep up with payments can be very severe, so whether or not you should get a credit card after bankruptcy is going to depend on your situation and your ability to pay on time.
Did you find this Credit Cards After Bankruptcy article helpfull? Take a look at this additional How To File Bankruptcy pages.