As the recession gets worse, more and more Americans are falling into debt, and more of us are declaring bankruptcy every day. Bankruptcy can be seen as a fresh start, relieving you of much of your debt and payments, but it will also tear up your credit score, staying there for ten years, and decreasing it by several hundred points. In most cases, bankruptcy should be viewed as a last resort because of how important it is to maintain a healthy credit score. If you are forced to file for bankruptcy, there are certain measures you should take to ensure that you can get on the road to financial recovery as quickly as possible.

The first step to rebuilding a healthy credit score, of course, is to know what it is. Be certain that it is free of mistakes or errors because inaccurate information will increase the amount of time that it will take to score high enough for conventional credit. Everybody with a credit score is entitled to a free credit report every twelve months from every one of the three national credit bureaus. This means you could check your score at all three bureaus at once to compare the scores, or check your credit score every four months to make sure that the information is accurate. Either way, make sure you are on the up and up.

After bankruptcy, it is a good idea to get a hold of a secured credit card. Typically, these cards are credit cards that are secured by a deposit account (usually a savings account) that the cardholder owns. These cards are designed for people with poor credit so that they can remain in low credit-limit situations for a long time at a high interest rate, so that they can build up a good history after bankruptcy. Also, having more than one kind of credit line will help improve your credit report.

One of the keys to having a good credit score is to have at least two credit cards from well known and respected banks, and other payments such as a house payment. The people who have excellent credit reports keep balances below fifteen percent of available credit every month. Around ten percent of your credit reports is based on the kinds of credit that you use.

Another ten percent is based on new credit accounts that include credit lines that you are able to establish after filing for bankruptcy. Bear in mind if you are looking to repair your credit after declaring bankruptcy that some credit “doctor” or credit repair businesses might make sensational claims that they can miraculously fix your credit file, many times for an exorbitant fee. It is pertinent to remember that only time, not some magic cure can cause your negative credit history to drop off of your credit score.

Mallory Megan works for Rapid Recovery Solution and writes articles on commercial collection agencies.

U.S. Bankruptcy Code imposes something called an automatic stay the moment that a petition for bankruptcy is filed. The automatic stay will usually halt the commencement, enforcement or appeal of actions and judgments against a debtor from the creditors they owe money to that are attempting to collect these debts incurred prior to the bankruptcy petition. In addition, the automatic stay protects property of the bankruptcy estate itself from collection actions and proceedings.

If a creditor violates the automatic stay their actions are voided out. Any violation of the stay might cause the violating party to have damages assessed to them. But, like every complicated law, there are exceptions. A creditor might be allowed to take their collateral if they obtain permission from the court first. They’ll get this by filing a motion for relief from the automatic stay.

The court will either grant the motion or provide security to the creditor, ensuring that the value of their collateral won’t decrease during the stay. Without the protection of the automatic stay creditors could hypothetically race to the courthouse in order to improve their positions against a debtor. If this happened, and let’s say that a debtor’s business was facing just a temporary crunch, it might not survive a “run” by creditors when their business could otherwise be salvaged. A run may also result in waste and it might be unfair to similar creditors that are owed money too.

There are three kinds of avoidance actions, and all of these are intended to limit the risk of the legal system prompting the downfall of a financially unstable debtor who hasn’t yet declared bankruptcy. The bankruptcy system will generally reward creditors who continue extending financing to debtors and will discourage creditors from ramping up their debt collection efforts.

Despite the fact that these rules are seemingly simplistic, a number of exceptions exist for each type of avoidance action.

Mallory Megan is employed by a debt collection agency. Also, she does stories on business and finance, the credit industry, and collection agencies.

Collection company American Profit Recovery recently began a fund raising effort so that they can assist those trying to deliver relief to the Haiti earthquake victims. American Profit Recovery has chosen the Saint Rock Haiti Foundation which is a charity that provides medical care for the people of Haiti.

There are three different ways in which the debt collection company will raise funds. One will be the dedication of five percent of the revenue from their largest trade show. The cash will come from all sales at the show in addition to any that come in until the end of February.

Employees are given the option to contribute by paying to have the chance to dress casually each Monday in February. Food that is bought at their three locations will also go directly to Saint Rock Haiti Foundation.

American Profit Recovery chose Saint Rock Haiti Foundation after one of their employees brought the organization to its attention. And by picking this charity, it will have the opportunity to apply to the Grand Lodge of Masons over in Massachusetts to match their donation, doubling fund raising efforts.

American Profit Recovery is a collection company with offices in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Michigan. It was founded in 2004. APR concentrates on the collection of third party debt in professional industries such as banking, trades, medical and dental, and lawn care.

APR has a large interest in good business practices and diplomacy with debtors. They work to keep the relationship between client and consumer intact; their goal is to keep the business relationship going.

Recent studies suggest that collection companies that train their collectors in empathy are the latest trend and the most successful. If someone is being contacted by numerous collection agencies, they are more likely to work with the collector that has shown compassion. More debt collection agencies could take a lesson from APR and start giving back to the community.

Mallory Megan works for a debt collection company and does pieces on consumer spending, business, finance, and debt collection.