What is sufficient evidence of a PMSI in consumer goods (1) a reasonable description of the item, (2) the signature of the Debtor and (3) a statement that Debtor gives a security interest in the item purchased.  Occasionally, Bass & Associates comes up with a receipt  with all three although most of the Best Buy receipts do not have the last item but instead makes only a reference to the credit agreement.  Most likely, that reference is not sufficient even if it incorporates a provision claiming to give a security interest. 

POST BAPCPA:

In re Moustafi, 371 B.R. 434 (Bankr. D. Ariz. 2007) (holding debtor could ride through where debtor and creditor entered into reaffirmation agreement but court refused to approve it as in the pro se debtor’s best interest).  The court relied in particular on sections 521(a)(6) and 524(c)(6).  And note that if the creditor refuses to agree to the reaffirmation on the original contract terms, the stay does not lift under section 362(h)(1)(B)(see final “unless” clause).

In re Baker, 390 B.F. 524 (Bankr. D. Del 2008), holding that the Fourth Option of ride-through remains viable where the debtor states the intention to reaffirm, timely signs a reaffirmation agreement, but the agreement is unenforceable due only to refusal by counsel and court to approve it.  The court held that the debtor had satisfied his obligations under 521(a)(6) and 362(h), so 521(d) was not triggered and the ipso facto clause could not be used to create a default. 

In re Green, 348 B.R. 601 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Ga. 2006) JAMES D. WALKER, JR., Bankruptcy Judge THE LANGUAGE OF § 1325(a)(9) (hanging paragraph) MAKES § 506 INAPPLICABLE TO A "910" DEBT AND THUS SUCH CLAIM IS NOT ENTITLED TO INTEREST
§ 506(a), §1325(a)(5), 1325(a)(9) (hanging paragraph)

Debtor proposed to pay a PMSI debt on her motor vehicle in full through the plan without interest. Creditor objected, asserting that as a secured claim it was entitled to interest.

The court, adopting what it acknowledged was the minority view, held that as a "910" debt, section 506, which determines secured status, did not apply, and therefore debt was not entitled to interest through the plan.

In re Rowe, 342 B.R. 341 (Bankr. Kan., 2006) DALE L. SOMERS, Bankruptcy Judge  WHERE DEBTOR DOES NOT STATE ALLOWED INTENTIONS THE STAY IS TERMINATED AS TO THE COLLATERAL

DEBTOR MAY "RIDE-THROUGH" IF POSSESSION IS PROVIDED BY STATE LAW  521(a)(2)

The BAPCPA revisions to the Code sections relating to the "fourth option" provide unambiguous consequences if a chapter 7 debtor fails to enumerate in a statement of intention whether he or she plans to redeem, reaffirm or surrender: The automatic stay is terminated and the collateral at issue is no longer estate property.

In this case, the Debtors' Statement of Intention did not conform to the requirement of § 362(h), and the Debtor maintains possession of the Stratus even though he has not redeemed the collateral or reaffirmed the debt. The stay is therefore no longer in place.

Creditor argues that § 521(a)(6), a new subsection enacted as part of BAPCPA, also applies and it precludes the Debtor's continued possession of the Vehicle and authorizes the Court to issue an order directing the Debtor to surrender the collateral to the Creditor. Debtor contends this section does not apply in this case because the Bank is not the holder of an allowed claim, as required by § 521(a)(6).

The court disagreed stating the language that the debtor shall no longer retain possession is limited by the language stating "the creditor may take whatever action" as is "permitted by applicable nonbankruptcy law," which means the question whether the debtor is entitled to "ride-through" is governed by state law. "The creditor's right to foreclose on the collateral is controlled by the security agreement and state law."

In re Espey 347 B.R. 785 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Fla. 2006) JERRY A. FUNK, Bankruptcy Judge.  TO GET COMFORT ORDER CREDITOR MUST SATISFY CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS   § 362(h)(1)(A), 362(j), 521(a)(2)(A)

Where debtor fails to file a statement of intentions regarding secured personal property within 30 days of filing the petition pursuant to § 521(a)(2)(A), or fails to perform his/her intention within 30 days of the meeting of creditors, the automatic stay as to such property is terminated (and the property is no longer property of the estate) on the 30th day, pursuant to § 362(h)(1)(A) or (B) unless upon motion by the trustee the court determines that the property is of consequential value to the estate pursuant to § 362(h)(2).

In such event a creditor may move for an order confirming that the stay has been lifted as to such property.

In order to obtain such an order the creditor (or other interested party) must establish 1) the specific date when time ran on the debtor's statement of intentions; 2) that the debtor did not in fact amend his statement of intentions to more accurately reflect what he intended to do with the secured property; 3) that the trustee did not, in fact, file a motion to determine that the property is of consequential value or benefit to the estate. "The aforementioned information need not be certified."

In re Record, 347 B.R. 450 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Fla. 2006) JERRY A. FUNK, Bankruptcy Judge CREDITOR WAS ENTITLED TO COMFORT ORDER THAT STAY WAS TERMINATED AS TO MOTOR VEHICLE WHERE DEBTOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENTIONS PURPORTED TO ELECT INVALID OPTION OF "RIDE-THROUGH"  § 362(a), (h)(1)(A), 521(a)(2)(A, B)

Debtor filed a timely statement of intentions, but the statement provided for the debtor to retain possession of the property and continue paying, without either reaffirming, redeeming, or surrendering.

Literally read, under the BAPCPA amendments the Code now permits only three options in connection with personal property subject to PMSI. These are, reaffirm, redeem, or surrender. Retaining and paying ("ride-through") is not a valid option under the Code.

Automatic stay terminated 30 days after debtor failed to file proper notice of intentions. In absence of finding that the property had "consequential value or benefit" to the estate the secured creditor is entitled to an order confirming that the stay has terminated as to the collateral.

 
In re Payne, 347 B.R. 278 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Ohio 2006)  C. KATHRYN PRESTON, Bankruptcy Judge   ANTI-CRAMDOWN PROVISIONS OF "HANGING PARAGRAPH" PREVENT UNDERSECURED PMSI CREDITOR FALLING WITHIN "910" PERAMETER FROM CLAIMING AN UNSECURED CLAIM FOR BALANCE WHERE DEBTOR SURRENDERS THE VEHICLE IN FULL SATISFACTION OF CLAIM  § 506, 1325(a)(5)(B), 1325(a)(9) hanging paragraph

By enacting BAPCPA Congress was attempting to remedy a perceived abuse by those who buy vehicles on credit on the eve of bankruptcy and then utilize the cramdown provisions to pay secured creditors a lesser amount than their full claims. The salient language of the amendments prohibits the bifurcation of a claim into secured and unsecured components for treatment in a chapter 13 plan.

"What little legislative history exists fails to reflect any intention to limit the scope of the "hanging paragraph" to only certain provisions of § 1325(a)(5)."

The court held that the language applies to claims described in § 1325(a)(5)(C) (provision permitting the plan to provide for surrender of the collateral in full satisfaction of the claim). Thus the court held that the creditor could not bifurcate the claim by accepting the collateral in satisfaction of the secured portion and then submitting a claim for the unsecured balance.

In re Bufford, 343 B.R. 827 (Bkrtcy.N.D.Tex. 2006)  STATUS OF CREDITOR HOLDING A PMSI IN DEBTOR'S MOTOR VEHICLE AND SUBJECT TO ANTI-CRAMDOWN PROVISION REMAINS THAT OF SECURED CREDITOR UNDER § 506 ENTITLED TO INTEREST AT "TILL" RATE
§ 1325(a)(5), 101(37), 502, 506

Debtor's proposed chapter 13 plan assumed that since car loan was a PMSI acquired for personal use within 910 days of filing petition, the debt could not be deemed a "secured claim" under § 506 and hence was entitled to interest of only 6.5%, while creditor argued that anti-cramdown provision also prevented modifying their secured status and prevented modification of the contractual interest rate of 17.9%.

The court ruled that although the anti-cramdown language of § 1325(a) does not remove the claim from its secured status because secured status is determined by § 502, not § 506, and the anti-cramdown language protects the PMSI from cramdown, it does not prevent modification of the interest rate. Court ruled with the weight of authority that the interest rate is the "formula rate" provided by Supreme Court in Till v. SCS Credit Corp., 124 S.Ct. 1951 (2004); "The formula rate begins with the national prime rate and adjusts upward based on several factors, including the 'circumstances of the estate, the nature of the security, and the duration and feasibility of the plan.'"

The court cited cases holding that the Till rate applies to "910" claims, including: In re Pryor 341 B.R. 648 (Bkrtcy.C.D.Il. 2006); In re DeSardi, 340 B.R. 790 (Bkrtcy.D.D.Tex. 2006); In re Brown, 339 B.R. 822 (Bkrtcy.S.D.Ga. 2006); In re Fleming, 339 B.R. 716 (Bkrtcy.E.D.Mo. 2006); In re Wright, 338 B.R. 917 (Bkrtcy.M.D.Ala. 2006); In re Robinson, 338 B.R. 70 (Bkrtcy.W.D.Mo. 2006); In re Johnson, 337 B.R. 269 (Bkrtcy.M.D.N.C. 2006).

In re Quevedo, __ B.R. __ (Bkrtcy.S.D.Cal. 2006) HELD: THE ANTI-CRAMDOWN PROVISIONS OF CODE § 1325(9)(+) AS TO PERSONAL PROPERTY ONLY APPLIES TO PURCHASE-MONEY SECURITY INTERESTS

The "hanging paragraph" of text following section 1325(a)(9) prohibits cram-down in chapter 13 for a purchase-money security interest lien on a motor vehicle purchased within 910 days preceding the filing of the bankruptcy. The second part of that paragraph prohibits cram-down of a security interest on any other personal property if incurred within 1 year preceding the filing. The issue is, does the text bearing on cram-down for security interests on personal property apply to any security interest on such property, or only to purchase-money security interests (i.e., money used to purchase the particular item of personal property)?

The court held that the provision must relate back to the qualifying phrase in the previous text regarding cram-down on motor vehicles, and accordingly applies only to "purchase-money security interests" on motor vehicles or other personal property.

WARNING - PRE-BAPCPA
Retain secured item and keep payments current - Other circuits follow the Ninth’s approach, holding that debtors are not limited to these three options from § 521(2)(A), but may also retain the collateral so long as they keep the payments current under the original contract. See Parker, 139 F.3d at 673; Capital Communications Fed. Credit. Union v. Boodrow (In re Boodrow), 126 F.3d 43, 53 (2d Cir. 1997); Home Owners Funding Corp. of Amer. v. Belanger (In re Belanger), 962 F.2d 345, 347-48 (4th Cir. 1992); Lowery Fed. Credit Union v. West, 882 F.2d 1543, 1546-47 (10th Cir. 1989). The leading bankruptcy treatise has also endorsed the reasoning of Parker. 4 Collier on Bankruptcy, ¶ 521.10 (15th ed. rev. 2003). 14416 IN RE: LOPEZ

Post-petition Reaffirmation IN RE: LOPEZ, No. 02-15774 (9th Cir. September 26, 2003)     A creditor may not enforce a post-bankruptcy discharge agreement entered into with a debtor retaining the collateral pursuant to its rights under McClellan Fed. Credit Union v. Parker, 139 F.3d 668 (9th Cir. 1998) because the consideration was based in part on the Lopezes’ discharged debt. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0215774p.pdf

Can a debtor keep their personal property without reaffirming?  In re Parker, 139 F.3d 668, 672-73 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 525 U.S. 1041 (1998) (holding that debtor can retain collateral without reaffirmation as long as required payments are continued). But see In re Burr, 160 F.3d 843, 848-49 (1st Cir. 1998) (recognizing that creditor may seize collateral absent reaffirmation). IN THE MATTER OF CHAD TURNER, ET AL., 7th Circuit - 1998) which provides an overview of the cases on this issue, but ultimately the 7th Cir. has decided you can only reaffirm, redeem or surrender.

"As justification for their failure to obtain the creditors' consent, the debtors argue that a creditor has no choice but to allow the reaffirmation so long as the debtor is current on the debt and is willing to continue paying according to the original terms and conditions of the agreement. To hold that the creditor may refuse reaffirmation under these conditions, the debtors suggest, would be inconsistent with a series of cases declining to enforce the "default upon filing" or "ipso facto" clauses found in many installment contracts. See, e.g., Lowry Fed. Credit Union v. West, 882 F.2d 1543, 1546-47 (10th Cir. 1989); Riggs Nat'l Bank of Washington, D.C. v. Perry, 729 F.2d 982, 984-88 (4th Cir. 1984; In re Peacock, 87 B.R. 657, 659 (Bankr. D. Colo. 1988) (collecting cases).

Typically the issue in these cases is whether such a clause entitles the creditor to circumvent the automatic stay and move to seize the property securing the debt unless the debtor acts immediately to redeem the collateral or to reaffirm the debt. That, of course, is not the situation here; so far as the record reveals, all of the debtors elected reaffirmation without the threat of immediate seizure hanging over their heads. However, in assessing the debtor's options, these and other cases suggest that the debtor who is current on his installment payments may not be compelled to choose among the three options identified in section 521(2)(A), but may instead opt simply to keep making payments on the debt without reaffirming it. See In re Parker, 139 F.3d 668, 671-73 (9th Cir. 1998); In re Boodrow, 126 F.3d 43 (2d Cir. 1997) (2-1 op.), cert. denied, 118 S. Ct. 1055 (1998); In re Belanger, 962 F.2d 345 (4th Cir. 1992); see also In re Gerling, 175 B.R. 295, 297 n.1 (Bankr. W.D. Mo. 1994) (collecting cases). Contra, In re Johnson, 89 F.3d 249 (5th Cir. 1996); In re Taylor, 3 F.3d 1512 (11th Cir. 1993); Edwards, 901 F.2d at 1386-87; Bell, 700 F.2d at 1055-58; Boodrow, 126 F.3d at 57-61 (Shadur, J., dissenting); see also Gerling, 175 B.R. at 297 n.2 (collecting cases). We need not decide whether these cases, which are in evident tension with our opinion in Edwards, were correctly decided, for the debtors in the cases before us have never sought to keep making payments without reaffirming their debt.

RENWICK v. BENNETT, No. 01-55547/55762 (9th Cir. August 05, 2002)  Bankruptcy court correctly rejected parol evidence under California law where a settlement agreement provision was not reasonably susceptible to the meaning proferred. A promise to repay a discharged debt is unenforceable absent a valid reaffirmation agreement. http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/data2/circs/9th/0155547p.pdf

Tying approval of a debtor's reaffirmation of mortgage debt to the reaffirmation of other unsecured debt violates the automatic stay, according to a recent decision in the First Circuit, In re Jamo, 262 B.R. 159 (1^st Cir. BAP 2001).   "[a creditor's] Refusing to execute a reaffirmation agreement unless the dischargeable unsecured debt {is} paid is … an act which violates the statutory rights of the debtor." In re Green, 15 B.R. 75, 78 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1981).

IN RE: BASSETT, No. 01-35001, 01-31058 (9th Cir. April 09, 2002)  Reaffirmation agreement was enforceable, the "right to rescind" statement therein being "clear and conspicuous" under the circumstances so that subsequent attempted collection of debt was valid. 

REIN v. PROVIDIAN FIN. CORP. (06/11/01 - No. 99-16346)  (9th Cir Ct Apps) Where no court has approved the reaffirmation of the debt agreement, the reaffirmation has no preclusive effect on whether the debts are nondischargeable in bankruptcy.