Credit Card Debt in Seattle

The high interest on unpaid credit cards can send you down the proverbial rabbit hole of debt. Eventually, credit card debt can exceed your ability ever pay it off, leading to constant harassment from debt collectors who are unwilling to work with you in any way.

First of all, you need to realize that falling behind on your credit card debt does not make you a bad person or a failure in life. Our credit card relief attorneys in Seattle have handled hundreds of bankruptcy cases where credit card debt has spiraled out of control, even though the debtor did everything they could to catch up.

Bankruptcy laws were developed by the federal government to help hard working people get back on their feet financially. Petitioning the court for bankruptcy immediately stops the harassing phone calls, and credit card debt is almost always discharged.

• In most Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, credit card debt is entirely discharged
• With Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the creditor receives a percentage based on what you can afford, which is often little to nothing
• Collections on credit card debt stop when bankruptcy is filed and discharged, even if your wages are being garnished
• If you want to wipe out credit card debt for good, contact our law office in Washington and speak to a qualified bankruptcy lawyer

Many Seattle residents fall behind on credit card debt because they lose their job or are burdened by an unexpected illness. Whatever the reason, credit card companies are all too willing to offer exorbitant credit lines with high interest rates, fully aware that it could cause the debtor problems if something unforeseen affects their income.

Once you fall behind on credit card debt, these same companies show little mercy and may even quickly sell the debt to a collection agency, who will do just about anything to force you to pay. They may call you at home, at work, or even suggest you dip into your retirement savings to pay down the bill. If you give in to these high-pressure tactics, it could damage your finances even further without even eliminating the debt.

The second your bankruptcy attorney in Washington files your bankruptcy with the US District Court, creditors are no longer allowed to contact you. Of all your debt, credit cards are the last in line to be paid when filing for bankruptcy. If you file for Chapter 7, you will likely pay nothing, and if you file for Chapter 13, you will only pay what you can afford, which is also often nothing.

If you're considering filing for bankruptcy, our lawyers urge you to stop making charges on the card. You may also choose to stop making payments now, so that you can free up cash flow for other purposes. However, you don't want to wait too long to file for bankruptcy after making this choice because you don't want the creditor to seek garnishment of your wages via a lawsuit.

If you're worried about your credit score, don't be. Once the bankruptcy process is complete and your debt is discharged, your credit will immediately start to improve. In most cases, it's better to file for bankruptcy rather than settle any delinquent credit card debt, because it can actually take longer for your credit to improve.

For more information, contact a Seattle credit card debt relief attorney from our law office today for a free evaluation of your financial situation.