The New Bankruptcy Laws

After seven failed attempts and massive lobbying largely by banks and credit card companies, the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 was signed into law by President Bush on April 20th, 2005. The legislation represents the largest overhaul of the Bankruptcy Code since its enactment in 1978. The intent of Congress was to improve bankruptcy law and practice with a dominant theme of restoring personal responsibility and integrity in the bankruptcy system.

The BAPCPA is a comprehensive set of bankruptcy reforms that addresses several key factors, including escalating bankruptcy filings, significant creditor losses associated with bankruptcy, loopholes and incentives in the current system that allow for opportunistic personal filings and abuse and the lack of financial accountability. The Act also creates new responsibilities for those charged with administering consumer bankruptcy and those who counsel debtors to achieve bankruptcy relief.

One of the most important provisions in the BAPCPA is the amendment to Bankruptcy Code Section 707(b), which provides for "means testing." Prior to enactment of the BAPCPA, a case under chapter 7 could only be dismissed for "substantial abuse." "Means testing" is intended to prevent abuse by debtors, through the use of a much more objective standard. According to the CCH Bankruptcy Reform Act Briefing, the "means test" is designed to "force those debtors who have the ability to pay some of their debts into Chapter 13 as opposed to liquidating under Chapter 7 and wiping the slate clean." Under the test, a debtor would remain eligible for Chapter 7 if his or her monthly net income is less than $100 ($6,000 over five years). However, if a debtor's monthly net income exceeds $166.67 ($10,000 over five years) after deducting necessities such as food, clothing, etc; he or she will not be eligible for Chapter 7.

Critics of the legislation say the provisions are one-sided in favor of corporations' bottom lines and will likely punish those struggling most to get out of debt. These would include the elderly; individuals affected by job loss, divorce, or medical expenses; and moderate and low-income families. For these consumers struggling with debtpeople, the new law places more pressure on them to settle their debts instead of seeking a new start through bankruptcy. While the bill is intended to curtail bankruptcy abuse from debtors who can afford to pay their creditors, , many feel critics feel the law will forcee many people seeking relief into a lifetime of second-class citizenship based on the consequences of bad crediton poor credit decisions. Theis bill also takes away the power for bankruptcy judges to decide what defines "substantial abuse" is and replaces their discretion with the new "means test" listed above. Many who oppose the bill feel like this isas though the BAPCPA is a "one size fits all" type of provision and does not encompass a number of considerations not listed in the new reform act. Consumer advocates also claim that instead of making it much more difficult for many people to expunge unsecured debt in bankruptcy., The new law should be geared towards curbing the credit card companies in their quest, to put their cards in every wallet in America.

Supporters of this new law claim that credit will come down in price because the risk of default will now be lower. The people who oppose this view feel another way to lower risk would be to refuse to extend credit to the overextended. Regardless,oOne of the larger card issuers reported adding over 2 million new accounts in the last quarter of 2004 and an increase in profit of 9%. One thing that seems clear is the BAPCPA The current bill imposes no new responsibility or reform whatsoever on the credit card industry.

Another provision that the BAPCPA has added is credit counseling, something that the old bankruptcy laws did not mandate. Now, in order for a person to file Chapter 13 or 7, they must receive credit counseling from "an approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency". Also, the counseling must be completed within 180 days prior of the filing date. The new law gives little flexibility or exceptions to this requirement, which has caught many people trying to file off guard. The only people who do not have to meet this requirement are those who can't due to "incapacity, disability, or active military duty in a military combat zone".5

The credit counseling mandate has raised a lot of criticism among attorneys, judges, and debtors trying to file. Statistics from the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NCABA) show the lack of the counseling effectiveness. According to the NCABA, out of the 61,335 consumers seen in February 2006 by approved credit counseling agencies, 97 percent were still unable to restructure their debt. The counseling service is not free to a filing debtor. Most agencies charge $100 upfront for the counseling, which can be a difficult payment for a person who has exhausted all their financial resources. Besides the current poor success rate of the counseling requirement, judges too are frustrated the new mandate. Many feel that the language of the bill leaves no flexibility for them to dismiss the requirement due to special circumstances. In an recent interview with the Star Tribune, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Frank R. Monroe of Austin, Texas, stated that "the court's hands are tied" and called the requirement "inane." In one case, Dixon v. LaBarge, a debtor was trying to file to prevent a foreclosure sale of the property, but was unaware of the new changes. Approved counseling services in that state were booked for two weeks, so the debtor asked the judge to waive the requirement due to exigent circumstances. Because of the language of the bill, the judge had to choice but deny the request, and the debtor had to go into foreclosure. Ultimately, the public needs to be better informed of the new counseling requirement. The Advisory Committee on Bankruptcy Rules, which advises the courts on rules and policy, stated that "the system must do a better job of warning consumers facing bankruptcy that they must get credit counseling before filing a petition".

Lastly, the BAPCPA has added provisions aimed specifically at attorney accountability and advertising standards. Under a new provision, section 102, attorneys must make "reasonable inquiry to verify that the information contained" in petitions and schedules are "well grounded in fact." "The signature of an attorney on the petition shall constitute a certification that the attorney has no knowledge after an inquiry that the information in the schedules filed with such petitions is incorrect".