Key takeaways

  • If a creditor still contacts you following debt discharge it is best to file a legal motion, as this is a violation of the discharge order.
  • Look out for predatory tricks, such as vague letters, false claims regarding claim involvement and misreported charges warning your credit will drop.
  • You are protected by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which prohibits collectors from misrepresenting the state of your debt.

After filing for bankruptcy and getting your debts discharged, you are probably heaving a sigh of relief. You are looking forward to a fresh start, having put your debt behind you.

What if you then hear from a debt collector who is trying to collect on this discharged debt? Although attempting to collect on such debt is not legal, that doesn’t deter some debt collectors.

Defenses against debt collectors pursuing discharged debt

A successful debt discharge is the best way to keep debt collectors away. If you hear from them about a discharged debt you can refer them to your attorney.

One defense you have against persistent collectors is to report the debt collector to the bankruptcy court, which can sanction the collector for violating its order to not collect on the discharged debt. The debt collector can be held in contempt of the court and assessed fines. It could even end up having to pay you damages and also pay your attorney’s fees.

You’re also defended by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which protects against misrepresentation of the status of debt and prohibits debt collectors from misrepresenting the status of a debt. The Fair Credit Reporting Act is another piece of legislation that exists and ensures honest credit reporting, including the accuracy of credit reporting efforts.

Debt collectors may still attempt to collect

Some debt collectors may remain undaunted and still attempt to pursue you. According to the law offices of Bond & Botes there are still some moves to look out for.

  • Sending vague letters that don’t actually say you are responsible for the debt, but inviting you to settle the account by paying a fraction of the amount you owe.
  • Making claims that they are not bound by the discharge order since they were not included in the original schedule of creditors in your bankruptcy case.
  • Misreporting discharged debts to credit bureaus in the hope that you will pay up, believing that your credit will be harmed otherwise.

Although debt that is discharged can be on your credit report, it should note that it was discharged and should not carry a balance. Debt collectors expect that if you are looking for a loan, they can trick you into paying off the debt in a hurry in an attempt to preserve your creditworthiness.

More about the debt discharge process

When you go through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy you will be relieved of your personal responsibility for paying off certain debts through a process of debt discharge.

According to the U.S. judiciary system, “The discharge is a permanent order prohibiting the creditors of the debtor from taking any form of collection action on discharged debts, including legal action and communications with the debtor, such as telephone calls, letters, and personal contacts.”

If you own a property that has a lien on it, such as a house or a car, your creditors can still seize that property if you owe them money on a loan backed by the property.

Not all debts are dischargeable in bankruptcy

You can’t get rid of all your debts through a bankruptcy discharge. The law lays down that some kinds of debt are not dischargeable as a matter of public policy. This could be because of the nature of the debt, such as government-backed student loans and child support or alimony, or because it was incurred as a result of your “improper behavior” like drunken driving.

The bankruptcy court will send you and your attorney a copy of the debt discharge notice and also send a copy to your creditors. This notice will inform creditors that the debts owed them have been discharged in bankruptcy and that they should not attempt to collect on them.

Creditors are also warned that they will be held in contempt of the court if they attempt to collect on the discharged debts. Even if a court clerk overlooks sending the notice to any specific creditor, it still is bound by the debt discharge.