Debtconsolidationcare.com - the USA consumer forum

Collecting on Bankrupted debt!

Date: Sat, 03/03/2007 - 08:11

Submitted by cajunbulldog
on Sat, 03/03/2007 - 08:11

Posts: 4850 Credits: [Donate]

Total Replies: 21


:shock:
Here is the relevant U.S. code that prohibit's this.Courtesy of Cornell Law School.



[quote]TITLE 11 > CHAPTER 5 > SUBCHAPTER II > § 524 Prev | Next

§ 524. Effect of discharge
How Current is This?

(a) A discharge in a case under this title—
(1) voids any judgment at any time obtained, to the extent that such judgment is a determination of the personal liability of the debtor with respect to any debt discharged under section 727, 944, 1141, 1228, or 1328 of this title, whether or not discharge of such debt is waived;
(2) operates as an injunction against the commencement or continuation of an action, the employment of process, or an act, to collect, recover or offset any such debt as a personal liability of the debtor, whether or not discharge of such debt is waived; and
(3) operates as an injunction against the commencement or continuation of an action, the employment of process, or an act, to collect or recover from, or offset against, property of the debtor of the kind specified in section 541 (a)(2) of this title that is acquired after the commencement of the case, on account of any allowable community claim, except a community claim that is excepted from discharge under section 523, 1228 (a)(1), or 1328 (a)(1) [1] of this title, or that would be so excepted, determined in accordance with the provisions of sections 523 (c) and 523 (d) of this title, in a case concerning the debtor’s spouse commenced on the date of the filing of the petition in the case concerning the debtor, whether or not discharge of the debt based on such community claim is waived.
(b) Subsection (a)(3) of this section does not apply if—
(1)
(A) the debtor’s spouse is a debtor in a case under this title, or a bankrupt or a debtor in a case under the Bankruptcy Act, commenced within six years of the date of the filing of the petition in the case concerning the debtor; and
(B) the court does not grant the debtor’s spouse a discharge in such case concerning the debtor’s spouse; or
(2)
(A) the court would not grant the debtor’s spouse a discharge in a case under chapter 7 of this title concerning such spouse commenced on the date of the filing of the petition in the case concerning the debtor; and
(B) a determination that the court would not so grant such discharge is made by the bankruptcy court within the time and in the manner provided for a determination under section 727 of this title of whether a debtor is granted a discharge.
(c) An agreement between a holder of a claim and the debtor, the consideration for which, in whole or in part, is based on a debt that is dischargeable in a case under this title is enforceable only to any extent enforceable under applicable nonbankruptcy law, whether or not discharge of such debt is waived, only if—
(1) such agreement was made before the granting of the discharge under section 727, 1141, 1228, or 1328 of this title;
(2)
(A) such agreement contains a clear and conspicuous statement which advises the debtor that the agreement may be rescinded at any time prior to discharge or within sixty days after such agreement is filed with the court, whichever occurs later, by giving notice of rescission to the holder of such claim; and
(B) such agreement contains a clear and conspicuous statement which advises the debtor that such agreement is not required under this title, under nonbankruptcy law, or under any agreement not in accordance with the provisions of this subsection;
(3) such agreement has been filed with the court and, if applicable, accompanied by a declaration or an affidavit of the attorney that represented the debtor during the course of negotiating an agreement under this subsection, which states that—
(A) such agreement represents a fully informed and voluntary agreement by the debtor;
(B) such agreement does not impose an undue hardship on the debtor or a dependent of the debtor; and
(C) the attorney fully advised the debtor of the legal effect and consequences of—
(i) an agreement of the kind specified in this subsection; and
(ii) any default under such an agreement;
(4) the debtor has not rescinded such agreement at any time prior to discharge or within sixty days after such agreement is filed with the court, whichever occurs later, by giving notice of rescission to the holder of such claim;
(5) the provisions of subsection (d) of this section have been complied with; and
(6)
(A) in a case concerning an individual who was not represented by an attorney during the course of negotiating an agreement under this subsection, the court approves such agreement as—
(i) not imposing an undue hardship on the debtor or a dependent of the debtor; and
(ii) in the best interest of the debtor.
(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the extent that such debt is a consumer debt secured by real property.
(d) In a case concerning an individual, when the court has determined whether to grant or not to grant a discharge under section 727, 1141, 1228, or 1328 of this title, the court may hold a hearing at which the debtor shall appear in person. At any such hearing, the court shall inform the debtor that a discharge has been granted or the reason why a discharge has not been granted. If a discharge has been granted and if the debtor desires to make an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c) of this section and was not represented by an attorney during the course of negotiating such agreement, then the court shall hold a hearing at which the debtor shall appear in person and at such hearing the court shall—
(1) inform the debtor—
(A) that such an agreement is not required under this title, under nonbankruptcy law, or under any agreement not made in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section; and
(B) of the legal effect and consequences of—
(i) an agreement of the kind specified in subsection (c) of this section; and
(ii) a default under such an agreement; and
(2) determine whether the agreement that the debtor desires to make complies with the requirements of subsection (c)(6) of this section, if the consideration for such agreement is based in whole or in part on a consumer debt that is not secured by real property of the debtor.
(e) Except as provided in subsection (a)(3) of this section, discharge of a debt of the debtor does not affect the liability of any other entity on, or the property of any other entity for, such debt.
(f) Nothing contained in subsection (c) or (d) of this section prevents a debtor from voluntarily repaying any debt.
(g)
(1)
(A) After notice and hearing, a court that enters an order confirming a plan of reorganization under chapter 11 may issue, in connection with such order, an injunction in accordance with this subsection to supplement the injunctive effect of a discharge under this section.
(B) An injunction may be issued under subparagraph (A) to enjoin entities from taking legal action for the purpose of directly or indirectly collecting, recovering, or receiving payment or recovery with respect to any claim or demand that, under a plan of reorganization, is to be paid in whole or in part by a trust described in paragraph (2)(B)(i), except such legal actions as are expressly allowed by the injunction, the confirmation order, or the plan of reorganization.
(2)
(A) Subject to subsection (h), if the requirements of subparagraph (B) are met at the time an injunction described in paragraph (1) is entered, then after entry of such injunction, any proceeding that involves the validity, application, construction, or modification of such injunction, or of this subsection with respect to such injunction, may be commenced only in the district court in which such injunction was entered, and such court shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any such proceeding without regard to the amount in controversy.
(B) The requirements of this subparagraph are that—
(i) the injunction is to be implemented in connection with a trust that, pursuant to the plan of reorganization—
(I) is to assume the liabilities of a debtor which at the time of entry of the order for relief has been named as a defendant in personal injury, wrongful death, or property-damage actions seeking recovery for damages allegedly caused by the presence of, or exposure to, asbestos or asbestos-containing products;
(II) is to be funded in whole or in part by the securities of 1 or more debtors involved in such plan and by the obligation of such debtor or debtors to make future payments, including dividends;
(III) is to own, or by the exercise of rights granted under such plan would be entitled to own if specified contingencies occur, a majority of the voting shares of—
(aa) each such debtor;
(bb) the parent corporation of each such debtor; or
(cc) a subsidiary of each such debtor that is also a debtor; and
(IV) is to use its assets or income to pay claims and demands; and
(ii) subject to subsection (h), the court determines that—
(I) the debtor is likely to be subject to substantial future demands for payment arising out of the same or similar conduct or events that gave rise to the claims that are addressed by the injunction;
(II) the actual amounts, numbers, and timing of such future demands cannot be determined;
(III) pursuit of such demands outside the procedures prescribed by such plan is likely to threaten the plan’s purpose to deal equitably with claims and future demands;
(IV) as part of the process of seeking confirmation of such plan—
(aa) the terms of the injunction proposed to be issued under paragraph (1)(A), including any provisions barring actions against third parties pursuant to paragraph (4)(A), are set out in such plan and in any disclosure statement supporting the plan; and
(bb) a separate class or classes of the claimants whose claims are to be addressed by a trust described in clause (i) is established and votes, by at least 75 percent of those voting, in favor of the plan; and
(V) subject to subsection (h), pursuant to court orders or otherwise, the trust will operate through mechanisms such as structured, periodic, or supplemental payments, pro rata distributions, matrices, or periodic review of estimates of the numbers and values of present claims and future demands, or other comparable mechanisms, that provide reasonable assurance that the trust will value, and be in a financial position to pay, present claims and future demands that involve similar claims in substantially the same manner.
(3)
(A) If the requirements of paragraph (2)(B) are met and the order confirming the plan of reorganization was issued or affirmed by the district court that has jurisdiction over the reorganization case, then after the time for appeal of the order that issues or affirms the plan—
(i) the injunction shall be valid and enforceable and may not be revoked or modified by any court except through appeal in accordance with paragraph (6);
(ii) no entity that pursuant to such plan or thereafter becomes a direct or indirect transferee of, or successor to any assets of, a debtor or trust that is the subject of the injunction shall be liable with respect to any claim or demand made against such entity by reason of its becoming such a transferee or successor; and
(iii) no entity that pursuant to such plan or thereafter makes a loan to such a debtor or trust or to such a successor or transferee shall, by reason of making the loan, be liable with respect to any claim or demand made against such entity, nor shall any pledge of assets made in connection with such a loan be upset or impaired for that reason;
(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not be construed to—
(i) imply that an entity described in subparagraph (A)(ii) or (iii) would, if this paragraph were not applicable, necessarily be liable to any entity by reason of any of the acts described in subparagraph (A);
(ii) relieve any such entity of the duty to comply with, or of liability under, any Federal or State law regarding the making of a fraudulent conveyance in a transaction described in subparagraph (A)(ii) or (iii); or
(iii) relieve a debtor of the debtor’s obligation to comply with the terms of the plan of reorganization, or affect the power of the court to exercise its authority under sections 1141 and 1142 to compel the debtor to do so.
(4)
(A)
(i) Subject to subparagraph (B), an injunction described in paragraph (1) shall be valid and enforceable against all entities that it addresses.
(ii) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 524 (e), such an injunction may bar any action directed against a third party who is identifiable from the terms of such injunction (by name or as part of an identifiable group) and is alleged to be directly or indirectly liable for the conduct of, claims against, or demands on the debtor to the extent such alleged liability of such third party arises by reason of—
(I) the third party’s ownership of a financial interest in the debtor, a past or present affiliate of the debtor, or a predecessor in interest of the debtor;
(II) the third party’s involvement in the management of the debtor or a predecessor in interest of the debtor, or service as an officer, director or employee of the debtor or a related party;
(III) the third party’s provision of insurance to the debtor or a related party; or
(IV) the third party’s involvement in a transaction changing the corporate structure, or in a loan or other financial transaction affecting the financial condition, of the debtor or a related party, including but not limited to—
(aa) involvement in providing financing (debt or equity), or advice to an entity involved in such a transaction; or
(bb) acquiring or selling a financial interest in an entity as part of such a transaction.
(iii) As used in this subparagraph, the term “related party” means—
(I) a past or present affiliate of the debtor;
(II) a predecessor in interest of the debtor; or
(III) any entity that owned a financial interest in—
(aa) the debtor;
(bb) a past or present affiliate of the debtor; or
(cc) a predecessor in interest of the debtor.
(B) Subject to subsection (h), if, under a plan of reorganization, a kind of demand described in such plan is to be paid in whole or in part by a trust described in paragraph (2)(B)(i) in connection with which an injunction described in paragraph (1) is to be implemented, then such injunction shall be valid and enforceable with respect to a demand of such kind made, after such plan is confirmed, against the debtor or debtors involved, or against a third party described in subparagraph (A)(ii), if—
(i) as part of the proceedings leading to issuance of such injunction, the court appoints a legal representative for the purpose of protecting the rights of persons that might subsequently assert demands of such kind, and
(ii) the court determines, before entering the order confirming such plan, that identifying such debtor or debtors, or such third party (by name or as part of an identifiable group), in such injunction with respect to such demands for purposes of this subparagraph is fair and equitable with respect to the persons that might subsequently assert such demands, in light of the benefits provided, or to be provided, to such trust on behalf of such debtor or debtors or such third party.
(5) In this subsection, the term “demand” means a demand for payment, present or future, that—
(A) was not a claim during the proceedings leading to the confirmation of a plan of reorganization;
(B) arises out of the same or similar conduct or events that gave rise to the claims addressed by the injunction issued under paragraph (1); and
(C) pursuant to the plan, is to be paid by a trust described in paragraph (2)(B)(i).
(6) Paragraph (3)(A)(i) does not bar an action taken by or at the direction of an appellate court on appeal of an injunction issued under paragraph (1) or of the order of confirmation that relates to the injunction.
(7) This subsection does not affect the operation of section 1144 or the power of the district court to refer a proceeding under section 157 of title 28 or any reference of a proceeding made prior to the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(h) Application to Existing Injunctions.— For purposes of subsection (g)—
(1) subject to paragraph (2), if an injunction of the kind described in subsection (g)(1)(B) was issued before the date of the enactment of this Act, as part of a plan of reorganization confirmed by an order entered before such date, then the injunction shall be considered to meet the requirements of subsection (g)(2)(B) for purposes of subsection (g)(2)(A), and to satisfy subsection (g)(4)(A)(ii), if—
(A) the court determined at the time the plan was confirmed that the plan was fair and equitable in accordance with the requirements of section 1129 (b);
(B) as part of the proceedings leading to issuance of such injunction and confirmation of such plan, the court had appointed a legal representative for the purpose of protecting the rights of persons that might subsequently assert demands described in subsection (g)(4)(B) with respect to such plan; and
(C) such legal representative did not object to confirmation of such plan or issuance of such injunction; and
(2) for purposes of paragraph (1), if a trust described in subsection (g)(2)(B)(i) is subject to a court order on the date of the enactment of this Act staying such trust from settling or paying further claims—
(A) the requirements of subsection (g)(2)(B)(ii)(V) shall not apply with respect to such trust until such stay is lifted or dissolved; and
(B) if such trust meets such requirements on the date such stay is lifted or dissolved, such trust shall be considered to have met such requirements continuously from the date of the enactment of this Act.[/quote]


While most debts are dischargeable, it is important to know that there are few that are non-dischargeable. Sometimes people assume that following debts can also be covered in bankruptcy.

These include tax claims, debts that are not included in the list and schedules the debtor must file with the court, debts to any govt unit for fines and penalties, any govt funded or guaranteed educational loans or benefit overpayments, debts for personal injury caused by the debtor's operation of a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and debts for certain condo or cooperative housing fees.


lrhall41

Submitted by Steg on Sat, 03/03/2007 - 11:04

( Posts: 390 | Credits: )


Basically what this says if you received a valid discharge thru bankruptcy and the debt was included in bankruptcy,it is forever cancelled. That debt cannot be sold,transferred,or collected.


That is true cajun. However, many junk debt buyers are still sending demand letters for old debts. A demand letter I reviewed last week was from RJM Acquisitions Funding. It was for a credit card debt in the amount of $6000. The letter also blatantly stated that the last payment recieved was in 1993 LOL (nevermind that the SOL in this state is four years). As an out, on the back they wrote "This communication is not an atttempt to collect, asses, or recover a claim in violation of bankruptcy code and is for informational purposes only". (Because it is such an old debt I suppose). Clearly though, the letter is dunning for the old debt at the same time, and offering "easy payment" plans.

I recently read a summary from a California court in which a junk debt buyer was attempting the same thing, trying to collect on a debt discharged in bankruptcy. In fact, I believe it was this same company, or maybe RMS.

There are many legit collectors out there who play by the rules, but most of those junk debt buyers will stop at nothing it seem. Even if it is outside the law


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 03/28/2007 - 18:20

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Student Loans and Bankruptcy



Section 523(a)(8) of the US Bankruptcy Code, at 11 U.S.C., excepts from discharge debts "for an educational benefit overpayment or loan made, insured or guaranteed by a governmental unit, or made under any program funded in whole or in part by a governmental unit or nonprofit institution, or for an obligation to repay funds received as an educational benefit, scholarship or stipend, unless excepting such debt from discharge under this paragraph will impose an undue hardship on the debtor and the debtor's dependents".

For the purpose of this paragraph, the definition of of a qualifying education loan includes loans made solely to pay the higher education expenses of an eligible student, where the student is either the debtor, the spouse of the debtor, or the dependent of the debtor. In addition, the loans must be for study at a school that is eligible to participate in Title IV programs and where the student is enrolled at least half time. Loans that don't meet this definition, such as credit card debt, are still dischargeable even if they were used to pay for higher education expenses.

Thus FFELP and FDSLP loans, and education loans funded or guaranteed by private NONPROFIT organizations, are automatically nondischargeable in a bankruptcy proceeding. The only cases in which they can be discharged through bankruptcy are:

if the borrower files an undue hardship petition
and then it is up to the judge to decide whether the loan can actually be discharged. (The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 repealed the provision that allowed for the discharge of education loans that had been in repayment for 7 years. This affects all bankruptcy proceedings initiated after October 7, 1998, regardless of whether they involve loans incurred before that date.)


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Wed, 03/28/2007 - 19:03

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


im glad we're all so smart we can go to law.cornell.edu and cut and paste laws into a meaningless post. you act like you just found some sort of a hidden treasure. since we seem to enjoy re-posting laws verbatim here, I think I will start posting every single law there is - could fill up about 5000 pages worth of posts. AND WE SHOULD MAKE THEM ALL STICKY'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


lrhall41

Submitted by on Wed, 03/28/2007 - 20:14

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LOL You're right Soaplady. In fact, California case summaries, California Supreme Court Summaries, and bankruptcy summaries are delivered to my email almost everyday.

And if more people knew the law and their rights, most junk debt buyer would be out of business. They exist by the public's ignorance of the law.


lrhall41

Submitted by on Thu, 03/29/2007 - 19:14

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Well to my admirers,I say tough if you don't like it,don't read it. For everyone's info. I stopped my education at high school.All my exerience in law is self taught. I post laws on this boards to help people with debt problems.Many have complained of collections on bankrupted debt.It is illegal,plain and simple. Bankruptcy law gives debtor stronger sanctions than the fdcpa ever will.


lrhall41

Submitted by cajunbulldog on Fri, 03/30/2007 - 05:01

( Posts: 4850 | Credits: )


The only reason I am good at finding the laws is that I am (or was)an attorney. I graduated law school in 1983 in Toronto. I gave it up when I immigrated to the US in 1989.
The laws in the two countries are very similar. When I moved here it was just a matter of searching for different sources.


lrhall41

Submitted by SOAPLADY on Fri, 03/30/2007 - 06:02

( Posts: 17315 | Credits: )


Well people do appreciate your help cajun and thanks. Not everyone is an attorney or law school student. Any help is appreciated and I know your trying to help people out. Also I have access to Lexis/Nexis which has all the state and federal and many foreign laws in their database. It is used by attorneys and law firms so if anyone needs anything from it I can help them out. No I am not an attorney but I use it everday at work.


lrhall41

Submitted by ramj70 on Fri, 03/30/2007 - 06:32

( Posts: 193 | Credits: )


"They exist by the public's ignorance of the law. "

You are exactly right "Law Student". That is how they survive and you know what, that's why it helps that there are people out there who can find sections of the law to help others out, i.e. as mister cajunbulldog did for us. Don't try and belittle his work when you say it yourself many are ignorant of the law. All he was doing was trying to help out those who wouldn't usually be able to go up and quickly find sections of the law that pertain to what they are looking for, as he can with his research skills.


lrhall41

Submitted by k_i_m2003 on Fri, 03/30/2007 - 06:54

( Posts: 170 | Credits: )