A Chapter 13 dismissal can trigger collection calls and debt collectors contacting you again. Since dismissal appears on your public record, it’s important to carefully consider your options, including any potential refunds. Taking the time to understand these factors will help you make the debt decision for managing your debt.

There are many valid reasons why you can’t complete your Chapter 13 bankruptcy case, especially if you recently became unemployed.  Common issues include payments that are too high, unemployment, illness, or financial hardship. Sadly, there are consequences for not completing a Chapter 13 plan. This article discusses those consequences, your next options, and whether you can get a  Chapter 13 dismissal refund.

1) How Does a Chapter 13 Dismissal Refund Work?

After a Chapter 13 dismissal, any leftover money with the trustee is returned to you. If you haven’t received your refund yet, check your options below. The trustee must first file a detailed report with the court and deduct any administrative fees before returning your funds. This process can take several weeks or even months.

Be aware that your bankruptcy attorney might claim some of this money for unpaid fees. Additionally, the refund could be affected by wage garnishments or IRS levies since the bankruptcy stay no longer protects you.

2) You Need to Understand Your Chapter 13 Dismissal Options

As debt collectors may be able to see in the public records when a Chapter 13 is dismissed, you should consider understanding your options after Chapter 13 dismissal.

You have several alternatives for debt relief after a Chapter 13 dismissal. You can re-file under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. However, depending on the reason for the dismissal, the automatic stay may not go into effect without filing an additional motion with the court. There could also be a penalty period before the automatic stay becomes effective. During this time, creditors could continue to pursue actions to collect debts. Also, the dismissal of a Chapter 13 case with prejudice may result in a mandatory waiting period to re-file bankruptcy.

Regardless, we built the following debt relief options calculator to help you compare your different options once your Chapter 13 has been dismissed. The most common may be debt settlement or converting to a Chapter 7 before a dismissal. The Debt Relief Options calculator uses bankruptcy forms to estimate whether you would qualify for a Chapter 7.  We provided some additional information below the calculator for you to review.

Converting to Chapter 7 Before a Chapter 13 Dismissal

You might have the option to convert to Chapter 7 before the dismissal of your Chapter 13 case. Converting to Chapter 7 can erase debts quickly. However, some risks exist with converting to Chapter 7.

Assets with equity could be at risk of being sold by the Chapter 7 trustee unless a bankruptcy exemption protects the equity. In some cases, it might be worth losing an asset to get rid of debts quickly in Chapter 7. However, you should carefully analyze your risk of losing property before converting to Chapter 7. You can get more information about the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process in our Chapter 7 overview.

3) What are Common Reasons for a Chapter 13 Dismissal?

A Chapter 13 plan is typically a 60-month commitment. Some individuals may qualify for a 36-month bankruptcy plan. In either case, three to five years is a long time to be in bankruptcy. Many things can happen during that time. Some common reasons for Chapter 13 case dismissals include:

• Voluntary dismissal — A Chapter 13 case is a voluntary repayment plan. A debtor (the person who files for bankruptcy relief) can quit Chapter 13 at any time.
• Missed Chapter 13 payments — If you miss your Chapter 13 payments, the courts will dismiss your case. However, most bankruptcy attorneys calculate Chapter 13 plans with a little bit of room that allows for a suspension of payments for three months in case of a hardship. The Chapter 13 trustee and the bankruptcy judge examine the reason for the request very carefully before granting a 3-month deferral of Chapter 13 payments.
• Failing to attend hearings — If you do not attend your 341 First Meeting of Creditors hearing or any other Chapter 13 hearing, the court may dismiss the case.
• Failure to complete bankruptcy courses — You must complete two bankruptcy courses as part of your bankruptcy case — the Credit Counseling Course and the Debtor Education Course.
• Failing to file required tax returns — Debtors must file all required income tax returns or other tax returns as scheduled.
• Failure to file all bankruptcy forms — You must complete and file your bankruptcy forms. Failing to file any required form could result in a dismissal of the Chapter 13 case.
• Failure to submit required documents to the Chapter 13 trustee — The Chapter 13 trustee may require certain documents. Failing to submit the documents could result in a dismissal.
• Meeting deadlines — There are numerous deadlines in a Chapter 13 case. Failing to meet any deadline set by the court or by the Bankruptcy Code could result in a Chapter 13 dismissal.

Negotiating With Creditors After a Chapter 13 Dismissal

4) What is the Consequence of a Chapter 13 Dismissal?

When a Chapter 13 case is dismissed, your debts are not discharged or forgiven. In other words, you owe all the debts you did when you entered bankruptcy.

Your creditors must give you credit for any payments they received from the Chapter 13 trustee. However, your creditors can begin collection efforts as soon as your bankruptcy case is dismissed. Collection efforts can include: calling you, sending you letters, filing debt collection lawsuits, wage garnishments, repossessions, and foreclosures.

Get Help Deciding Between Debt Relief Options

When a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is dismissed, your creditors may start to contact you to collect the debt that was previously due. Take the debt relief options calculator below to understand your options, estimate costs, and compare the pros and cons to make the most informed decision.