It doesn’t take much to ruin your credit. Downloading all three credit reports may help you begin to understand the problem. An automobile repossession, a late mortgage payment, a bounced check, or even one missed credit card payment can cause damage. Unless you take action now, your credit can stay bad for a long time.

Bankruptcy protection, however, can erase the debt and provide a financial Fresh Start. By stopping the aging of your delinquent bills, you can prevent the past from ruining your future. After the debt is gone, your debt to income ratio improves and you are a much better candidate for future credit.