Different Alternatives to Bankruptcy
The term bankruptcy, most often than not connotes that a person has become poor when they are bankrupt. However, it is not usually even close to the case. People have this pre-conceived notion that being irresponsible and lazy makes one bankrupt. But in its real sense, bankruptcy is one of the most responsible actions that a person could choose to take when it is really necessary. It is indeed true that it is not an easy decision for most people to make but it is actually the best action for certain situations.
Bankruptcy is a legal term that allows individuals or businesses who owe more money than they are able to pay… to either work out a plan to repay the money over time or completely eliminate most of the bills.
But bankruptcy could be devastating both economically and emotionally. Though most bankruptcies are granted, it isn’t meant to be an easy way out of anyone’s debt. Extensive damages to credits and long term issues from bankruptcy will cause many problems in the years to come and it is definitely far better to explore different alternatives to bankruptcy before making a decision to file for personal bankruptcy. Alternatives to bankruptcy will help one person to save himself from further devastation.
The following are common alternatives to bankruptcy:
v Debt Consolidation.
v Debt Deferment
v Interest Debt Reduction
There are two types of debt consolidation loans as one of the alternatives to bankruptcy, one that is secured by equity in one’s home and one that is not. With a debt consolidation loan that is not secured by one’s home a company simply loans money to a person to pay off his debt.
Debt deferment is another alternative to bankruptcy. It means to make arrangements to pay certain bills at a later time. Rather than losing a good customer as well as the debt owed, some merchants are willing to let people debt sit and collect interest while one pay his other bills.  Few secured loan holders will go along with this because they generally have nothing to gain.  However, other merchants may be more willing to do so.
Another alternative to bankruptcy is the interest debt reduction. When people get into a credit mess, it’s often due to broad interest that has accrued on the original balances.  This interest is however, often carried separately by creditors and there may be room to negotiate part or all of this credit away. Creditors may not be willing to negotiate the principal balance but are generally more agreeable to working with one on the accrued.