Why People Go Into Bankruptcy - What are the main reasons?

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by: Keith Cooper
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Date: Mon, 20 Dec 2010 Time: 6:25 AM
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Bankruptcy In the UK is much more common than you might think and statistics show that the number of people filing for bankruptcy is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years. In 2006 there were 73% more bankruptcies declared than in 2005. Estimates suggest that in 2011 there could be between 500,000 and 1,000,000 people declared bankrupt in the UK which is up-to 2% of the whole UK population. In fact bankruptcy is surprisingly becoming more attractive to a lot of British people in the UK who have found themselves in serious financial problems, as it is viewed as the only solution for people trying to escape the burden of debt, that is not true of course there is debt relief orders,IVA, DMP to name but three.

There are numerous reasons why people end up having to file for bankruptcy and these range from losing their job, taking on too much credit, divorce and/or separation and unexpected expenses. Other reasons include bad luck, a lack of careful planning and often from making poor investment choices.

In the current economic climate in the UK, people are very concerned about job security, particularly considering the number of big companies making large layoffs and the recently announced public sector cuts. More and more people are being made redundant and struggling to find another job and this is leading to the increase in the number of bankruptcies.

The increase in the number of divorces also has an effect on the rise of bankruptcies, as the cost of getting a divorce although only costing circa £2k for the actual divorce it is the resultant financial strain that can be devastating, as firstly there are the legal costs, then the division of assets, child support, other maintenance payments and finally the cost of running two separate households.

Until recently credit had never been easier to access, with banks offering 110% mortgages, credit card companies offering cards with six months interest free and a whole host of other companies offering loans. This resulted in many people borrowing more than they could afford to or finding that due to changing circumstances they were unable to meet their payments.

Unexpected expenses that can arise as the result of natural disasters can leave people homeless and penniless, especially given that few people are adequately insured for such events.

Many people find themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own and one of the most common reasons for bankruptcy is illness. Health problems can cause a variety of serious issues including the inability to work and potentially large medical bills. The economic depression that the country still finds itself in has also meant that people who have previously been employed and financially secure, now find themselves on the verge of bankruptcy.

The importance of careful financial planning can never be underestimated and a lack of preparation can mean that people are unprepared to deal with unpredictable events. Living within your means and saving can make a huge difference when problems arise.

Bad investments are another common cause of bankruptcy, as people take big risks to try and make money that end up backfiring in spectacular fashion. The number of bankruptcies is likely to continue to rise and only by being extremely careful with your choices can you hope to avoid the situation.

About the Author

Keith Cooper writes about all things debt related, whether you need Debt Management Solution advice or Bankruptcy Advice then Keith will have come across these areas in his decade of experience in all things debt. Keith Works for one of the Largest Debt Companies in the UK Baines and Ernst