John in Kansas, I'm wondering where you got your information. I realize that the bankruptcy of reform made it harder for consumers to be relieved of debt, but I can't see anything that says a credit card debt cannot be discharged in either a Chapter 7 (straight) or Chapter 13 (wage-earner plan reorganization) bankruptcy proceeding.

Most of the bankruptcy information available on the Internet is misinformation. This guide (click) from the Federal Trade Commission should be more helpful (and this one, too). Also see this page from the U.S. Trustee Program. This article from the New Yorker will also shed some light on the issue, with a more critical opinion of Bankruptcy Reform. This Wikipedia article on bankruptcy reform is also helpful.

This bankruptcy court page has a list of information resources, but note the caveat about the validity of the information.

Back in my days doing security clearances for the Feds, I had to review bankruptcy files all the time. I think there was need of reform, because there were a lot of people who were filing bankruptcy for frivolous reasons - I even came across a number of law enforcement officers who were filing bankruptcy for profit (what is it about cops that makes some of them such wheeler-dealers?). But as far as I can see from the information I researched, people who really need to file bankruptcy can still do do. If they have income, they can expect to have to pay at least some of their debt. I think that's fair. I've seen far too many bankruptcies where the debts were all for luxury goods I wouldn't dream of buying. Other bankruptcies were for medical expenses - I really felt sorry for those people.

-Joe-