In her book, Bounce Back From Bankruptcy, Paula Langguth Ryan gives the easiest way to find a place quickly.  “Your best bet when you’re ready to rent a new apartment or house is to find one that is for rent through a private landlord.  Your local classified ads will offer your best opportunity for finding people who want to rent out individual rental properties.  You can also ask friends who live in apartments for the name of the owner of their building.  That way, you have a good chance of approaching the owner directly.”

Ryan’s point is that if you are dealing with an individual as opposed to a corporation they will be more likely to work with you.  For instance, most corporation-owned apartment complexes have strict rules saying that they can’t rent to someone who has two bad accounts.  However, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem if you’ve worked to make sure credit report is updated.  Accounts that say “discharged under bankruptcy” aren’t bad, but accounts that show as late because they weren’t updated are bad.  You just need to make sure your credit report is fully up to date before approaching a leasing office or owner.

Also, show up prepared and be honest.  You don’t want to be caught off guard when the leasing agent runs your credit.  You want to know exactly what is on your report, and also bring a copy of your credit report if you have one.  It is important to be honest as well.  Many applications for leases ask about your bankruptcy history.  When someone runs your credit they will see the bankruptcy, so there isn’t a point in trying to hide it.

Anyway, don’t be afraid that you won’t be able to get a place after your bankruptcy.  You should just follow some of the steps that have been mentioned and you will be fine.  Don’t let any fears about bankruptcy keep you from getting a second chance with your financial life.  If you speak with a bankruptcy attorney they can show you how many of the fears people have are myths, and they will show you how easily you can bounce back from bankruptcy.  Call a bankruptcy attorney if you would like to find out more.

One consumer, Karen Rhode, didn’t find out that she had unpaid medical bills until she went to purchase a house and her credit report showed two unpaid accounts.  The two accounts totaled less than $100.00.  She lamented that if she had know about the accounts, she would have paid them.  As a result her credit rating was several points lower, and her interest rate higher.

Many people assume that their insurance company will take care of all the details.  One of the easiest ways to get buried in medical debt is to assume that your insurance will cover everything and they will let you know when they don’t.  The DMA article painfully highlights the issues associated with miscommunication in medical billing.  One example involves your primary care physician.  Many people again assume that if your doctor is in your network of providers that all the coverage associated with his services will also be covered.  Unfortunately, insurance coverage isn’t that simple.  If you are with a plan that is based on using a provider that is in the “network,” everyone that provides a service to you must also be in the network for you to avoid being stuck with the unpaid balance.

The best defense is a good offense—staying on top of medical billing is the best way to avoid collection efforts by a medical provider.  Sometimes, things just aren’t that simple though.  The medical bill is more than you planned and you can’t financially manage your way past it.  Your credit report is hit and now you’re paying a little bit more for everything because of a damage rating.  This is the point that you should start looking for other options.  One of your best defensive options is to talk to a bankruptcy attorney.  Just like the medical bill, bankruptcy will show up on your credit report, however, it will be a step that will eventually resolve your debts and get you back on track to rebuild your credit rating, instead of painfully dragging out your financial rehab for months.  When most people think of resolving debt through bankruptcy, they tend to focus on credit card debt because that is what is talked about the most.  The good news is that individual bankruptcy is a good remedy for any type of consumer debt, and medical debt is considered a consumer debt.  Because it is a consumer debt, you also get the same protections as any other debt, including automatic stay.  This means that an aggressive bill collector will have to immediately stop trying to collect on your account while the bankruptcy is pending.  The bottom line is that you would seek a specialist for a difficult medical procedure.  Your financial health deserves the same priority.  Contact a qualified bankruptcy attorney in your area to learn more about bankruptcy protection today.

The combination of this new reporting trend and the lack of credit reform for small businesses heightens the need for you to pay extra attention to your business credit and how it could affect your personal credit.  Some people could potentially benefit by the combined reporting practice.  However, some will be negatively affected by changes in their debt to income ratios.  If you were already on the verge of a credit crisis, the combination could just be enough to take your financial health over the edge.  Whenever you seek advice regarding your business debt, be careful to consider the effect it will have on your personal credit status.  A qualified bankruptcy attorney in your area can also help you navigate between the different debt management options available to you and your business.  The rules are changing.  Be prepared. Good advice from a qualified attorney can help your credit crisis from becoming a credit nightmare.