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Bankruptcy

Business Debt Collection: How It’s Different From Consumer Debt (And Why That Matters)

by Steve Rhode

Business debt collection follows different rules than consumer debt. The FDCPA doesn’t protect most business debts — here’s what laws do apply and how to protect yourself.

What Happens If You Default on a Merchant Cash Advance (From Someone Who Has Seen This Before)

by Steve Rhode

What happens after MCA default changes everything: UCC liens, frozen accounts, personal guarantees — and why courts are now ruling in your favor

How Long Does Bankruptcy Stay on Your Record? What I Learned Filing in 1990

by Steve Rhode

Chapter 7 stays 10 years, Chapter 13 stays 7. But Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file. Here’s the real timeline from someone who’s been through it.

What Happens If You Ignore a Debt Lawsuit (It’s Worse Than You Think)

by Steve Rhode

Ignoring a debt lawsuit doesn’t make it go away — it hands the collector a court order to garnish your wages and freeze your bank account. Here’s what a default judgment actually does.

How to Eliminate Your Student Loans in Bankruptcy — April 2026

by Steve Rhode

87% of borrowers who try to discharge student loans in bankruptcy succeed. Here’s the research, the process, and how to find an attorney who will actually file.

Drowning in Private Student Loan Debt? Here’s What’s Actually True

by Steve Rhode

Private student loans don’t qualify for forgiveness programs. Here are the real options — including bankruptcy — from someone who’s guided thousands through this.

The $400,000 Mistake: Why Cashing Out Your 401(k) to Pay Off Debt Is Almost Always Wrong

by Steve Rhode

Cashing out a 401(k) to pay off debt costs far more than you think. A $40,000 withdrawal loses $304,000 in retirement wealth — here is the math nobody runs.

Tariffs Are Driving Americans to Bankruptcy — What the Numbers Mean for You

by Steve Rhode

Tariffs are now the second-leading cause of bankruptcy in America, cited by 41.7% of filers. Here’s what the numbers mean — and what your options are.

The Bankruptcy Means Test 180-Day Rule: Why Filing at the Wrong Time Gets You Denied

by Steve Rhode

The bankruptcy means test looks back 6 months — not at today’s income. File right after a job loss and you may fail even though you’re now broke. Here’s the timing strategy.

Credit Counseling vs. Bankruptcy: What I Learned Running One Side and Filing the Other.

by Steve Rhode

I founded a credit counseling org and I filed bankruptcy. Here is the side-by-side comparison the enrollment process does not show you.

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Get Out of Debt Guy Podcast - Steve Rhode

Get Out of Debt Guy Podcasts

  • Credit Card Debt, Hospital Bills & the “Just Get a Loan” Trap
  • Look Broke for a Year or Stay Broke for 10? The Credit Card Debt Trap
  • Budgets Suck: Debt Traps, Emergency Savings, and Keeping Up Appearances
  • Are You Helping Your Kids—or Hurting Your Retirement? – The Money Choices That Cost Millions
  • Should Adult Kids Pay Rent—or Are You Sacrificing Your Retirement?

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Think of this as me — just in AI form. I've walked in your shoes. I filed bankruptcy myself in 1990, and in over 30 years of experience I haven't seen a situation that can't be worked through or a person who deserves judgment. Everything here is built on that experience, that research, and genuine care for you. I can't be there in person. But I can be here.

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