Yes. Bankruptcy rarely stops anyone from getting into debt again. You can get credit cards by depositing money to the bank issuing the card. You can buy a house if you have the income and the down-payment. You can buy a car on credit, and most credit furniture and appliance stores will be happy to see you. You will have a harder time getting "E-Z" credit cards sent to you in the mail, however.

Your "credit" is usually better, after bankruptcy, because you have less debt.

If you have repossessions, or have been reported slow-pay, to a credit bureau, you already have bad credit. If bill collectors are calling you, they probably have reported your slowness in paying to a credit bureau. That stays on your credit record for 7 years. Bankruptcy stays on your credit report 3 years longer, or a total of 10 years. A Chapter 13 case is only reported for 7 years. Both kinds must be disclosed on credit applications over $50,000.00 regardless of time past.

Lenders view bad reports, and lawsuits, and collection activity, when they are deciding to lend you money, or not. If you file a bankruptcy, they will see only that you filed a bankruptcy, and have no past due debt.

Therefore, you do not owe anyone any money. This is better than owing a lot of bills you cannot pay. Of course, it also shows that you did not pay your bills in the past. But your credit record probably already shows that.

After you file a Chapter 7, and have your bills discharged, you cannot file another Chapter 7 until 6 years pass from the date you filed before. So, lenders may be willing to take a chance on you, especially since you have no other bills, and probably now can afford to make a payment on a new loan. You won't get the easy credit you got the first time around, if you ever did get easy credit. You probably won't get Visa cards in the mail with pre-approved applications. But you probably don't really have good credit now, if you have too many bills, and have to borrow from one to pay the other.

"Robbing Peter to pay Paul" is not good credit.

I do not want to encourage anyone to file a bankruptcy by telling them how easy it is to obtain credit again. But, you will probably be so much better off if you get rid of your bills, and start fresh, and start a savings account, that you can rebuild your credit. There is no law against getting credit after a bankruptcy. Some lenders will actually solicit your business, because they know that you can't file another Chapter 7 for another 6 years. Although you can file a Chapter 13 right after filing a Chapter 7, if you get into trouble again, that is very rare. Most people only file one bankruptcy in their lives, and go on to rebuild their credit and their savings.

Problem: Ben has too many bills to pay, and is being harassed by creditors. He feels he needs a fresh start, but is afraid that no one will ever lend him money again.

The Peter Francis Geraci Chapter 7 or 13 Solution: Filing a bankruptcy only prevents you from filing another Chapter 7 within 6 years. It does not stop you from getting credit. If Ben gets rid of his bills he may be able to start fresh, put some money in the bank, and when he applies for credit he will have a down-payment, and will not have to borrow enough. He can re-establish himself. He will not get the easy credit he got through the mail before, but he can get credit. He can even save for a house.