Credit cards remain a major cause of debt issues in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. In some cases, filing for personal bankruptcy is the only way to break free from this debt. Here are a few mistakes that credit card users often make that cause them to get into the hole financially and thus require bankruptcy protection.
First, in many cases, new business owners use credit cards to get their businesses started. In some of these situations, it pays off. However, for many consumers, the potential penalties of missing payments and the high interest rates make this form of financing unwise.
Likewise, many consumers may be tempted to charge down payments on properties. However, unless they have the funds to pay this off relatively quickly, this can have a negative impact on their credit scores. In fact, many people do not even have credit limits that are large enough to accommodate property down payments, and credit cards cannot even be used to cover a down payment for a residential property.
Of course, sometimes, people have no choice but to turn to credit cards due to medical emergencies or other unforeseen financial problems. If they end up accruing more debts than assets and they cannot stay on top of these liabilities, it may behoove them to pursue personal bankruptcy. Filing for bankruptcy may help them to wipe the slate clean and get the financial fresh starts that they need to thrive in the future. An attorney in Pennsylvania can help consumers to confidently and successfully navigate the bankruptcy filing process.