Many consumers file for bankruptcy because they talked to an attorney who recommended it. This article could have a disclaimer like, “For legal advice you should consult an attorney.” The problem is (1) attorneys have nothing else to recommend besides bankruptcy, and (2) few attorneys are knowledgeable in consumer debt issues. They are ignorant of the fact that collection attorneys have difficulty documenting credit card debt to the standard required by a court of law and its rules of civil procedure. In addition the attorney is guaranteed to get paid in a bankruptcy, while there is very little money to be made representing a “guilty” credit card debtor.

Bankruptcy can be a very serious, life-altering event. You may not qualify for Chapter 7 liquidation. Instead, you can be forced into Chapter 13 and a payment plan if you have sufficient income. Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years. In addition you will always have to answer the question, “Have you ever been through bankruptcy?’ affirmatively. According to the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide, debt collectors and collection attorneys have difficulty documenting credit card debt, particularly if they represent a junk debt buyer to whom the debt has been sold. According to the guide, a credit card debt lawsuit can be avoided. What is required is the proper written communication to the debt collector or collection attorney.

The summons for a credit card debt lawsuit arrives AFTER the collection attorney has decided that the consumer is a good “guilty” candidate, meaning the consumer has sent nothing demanding proper documentation of the debt. Or, in some states where it costs little or nothing to file a complaint at the court, the collection attorney does not respond to answers to summonses that point out there was improper or no documentation furnished.

Consumers should revise their thinking about bankruptcy when it comes to credit card debt. The selective informal bankruptcy with non-payment of credit card debt is the effective debt solution to consider.

Matt Highlander researched the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide. Learn about debt settlement and legal nonpayment strategies to Eliminate credit card debt. Matt Highlander is a contributing writer. Www.credit-card-debt-survival.com

Too many times over the past year, I have had to choose between paying credit card debt and paying for the necessities of life like rent, food, health care, etc. I lost my job six months ago, and the unemployment checks just don’t cover expenses.

So what do you do when you can barely afford to pay your credit card bills? I guess you stop paying them. So then what happens? Eventually the debt collectors start calling. So I need a plan to deal with them.

I have been searching online for answers on how to deal with debt collectors. It has been hard to avoid the debt settlement companies and debt elimination scams. They all try to seduce you with, “Let us take this problem off your hands.” But, from what I have read, when you do that, the problem gets a lot worse because you are not aware of what is going on with your creditors.

In my hours of searching online, I came across a blog by a fellow who was doing the same thing I am going to do,find a way to eliminate credit card debt by not paying it. He searched for answers and finally found an e-book titled the Credit Card Debt Survival Guide, whose author explains in detail how he successfully stopped paying his credit cards and eliminated his debt by frustrating debt collectors. Still somewhat skeptical, I liked the guy’s 90 day money-back guarantee and found the answers I need to proceed. Bankruptcy is the elephant in the room in this blog. It is a shame to have to file for bankruptcy protection from unsecured credit card debt. Apparently the 2005 bankruptcy law changes make it harder to get protection from credit card companies, if you are in bankruptcy. Plus, your credit is ruined for 10 years, as opposed to a maximum of 7.5. Fortunately I can stop payment and use available consumer laws, if I need to, to eliminate my credit card debt.

My plan is to eliminate credit card debt by not paying it. I stopped paying my credit card a few months ago. The interest rate and monthly minimum payments became too high. I could not pay the credit card banks and have enough left over for monthly necessities.

I used to make a lot more money than I do now. I spent a lot and carried a lot of debt. After I spent paying my credit cards, I began to consider the possibility of eliminating that debt by not paying it. I began researching consumer forums to learn how other people were handling credit card debt they couldn’t pay. Many complained of being victimized by debt collectors and collection attorneys. Others, who put up resistance, were able to frustrate and defeat these collectors.

But, what worked for them might not necessarily work for me. I learned that beating debt collectors is not accomplished with a cookie cutter approach. There are different credit card companies, different state laws and different individual financial circumstances. It started to become a full time job; finding credible experts whose opinions and comments I could trust about what to put in letters to creditors, keeping track of everything and wasting time with debt service consolidation, elimination, and settlement sales pitches. Finally, I found an e-book written by someone who had done what I was trying to do, eliminate credit card debt by not paying it. HisCredit Card Debt Survival Guide is long enough, over 200 pages, to cover most specific situations, and it is peanuts (under $50) compared to what those debt service companies try to charge. This guy spent a lot of time researching credit card collection, the credit card industry and what people did to successfully walk away from credit card debt. There are a lot of links and references in this book attributed to credible third parties. He even covers credit repair. After reading this I know I made the right decision about my credit cards. And, now I know how to proceed confidently.