@washpadude wrote:
You can't keep any cards in ch7. Every account is included r regardless of their balance or payment history.
Actually, that's not quite accurate. Every debt must be included, but a credit account with $0 balance is not a debt. From Nolo.com:
You have to disclose all of your debts on your bankruptcy papers. This includes all credit cards with a balance. However, if you don’t have a balance on a credit card, it is technically not a debt. This means that you don’t have to list credit cards with a zero balance.
I had 2 accounts w/$0 balance in my 2010 BK7 and I did not include them in my list of debts. Lowes hadn't been used in some time. But I included other Synchrony accouts with balances and when they received notice on those they immediately closed Lowes. However, it is a postive tradeline on my CR, "paid as agreed, closed by credit grantor". I also had Bill Me Later (now PayPal Credit) w/$0 balance. I had no other accounts with commenty, so they didn't learn of my BK filing and kept the account open, I still have it today. But I knew not to charge anything on it until after discharge.
But the more pertinent parts of Drowning's questions:
" My credit is good today, but any day I will have a 30 day late on there. While it is still good, should I get a new credit card?"
- Absolutely not. Applying for credit when you intend to file BK can be considered and attempt to defraud.
"Can I use one of my cards with a $0 balance after I file ch7?"
- Abgsolutely not. You cannot incur any new debt until your old debt is discharged. You do things like app for new credit card right before filing & then charging on it during BK and you run the risk of PO'ing your Trustee enough that they might file to dismiss your BK on grounds of fraud. If your BK were to be dismissed you would be on the hook for your current debt, and cannot re-file for some time. Be very careful & very honest in filing & during your BK. And Nolo.com is a great resource for this and your other questions.
