When looking at things you should avoid, people typically try and avoid things that will hurt you like, poison ivy, the flu, a cold, hepatitis and AIDS. But why would Americans be so dead set against filing for bankruptcy and do everything they can to avoid the process, even to the point of causing further financial damage. When you think about it, the idea really makes no sense. People in financial trouble do the right thing and go see a bankruptcy attorney to discuss filing bankruptcy. The bankruptcy attorney tells them that filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy will eliminate all their credit card debts and send them on their way to a bright and happy future. The individual leaves the appointment and pride sets in. The questions start popping up in their head, “How will I be able to live without a credit card?”, “What will my friends say?”, “If I file for bankruptcy I will ruin my credit and I never will be able to buy anything on credit again”. These are all worries with no factual basis attached. After talking themselves out of filing Chapter 7 they will continue on robbing Peter to pay Paul, while barely making minimum payments on all their debts.

Usually this type of debtor will start searching the web for alternatives to filing bankruptcy. They will end up calling debt settlement companies and possibly even discussing a debt settlement with their creditors on their own. After unsuccessfully trying to settle their debts with creditors individuals usually go back to making minimum payments and hanging on until one small disaster strikes and their whole world goes upside down. If only they had listened to the bankruptcy attorney in the first place, all of this would have been a thing of the past and a small disaster would’ve been no big deal.
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