1.   Personal bankruptcies and consumer credit defaults are also at record levels.

2.   Valere Tjolle, chairman of the company, has filed for personal bankruptcy.

3.   Personal bankruptcies may also slow down because of the recent interest rate cuts but are expected to continue at a high level for some time, he said.

4.   Also in October, a presidential committee recommended bankruptcy law changes to Congress that generally would make it easier to file personal bankruptcy.

5.   An unexpected problem, such as divorce or a major medical expense, can quickly lead to calls from debt collectors and even result in personal bankruptcy.

6.   Analysts said the increase was impressive, given a rise in uncollectible accounts, delinquencies and personal bankruptcies.

7.   And for thousands of Americans each year, that means filing for personal bankruptcy protection.

8.   Analysts said the increase was impressive given a rise in uncollectible accounts, delinquencies and personal bankruptcies.

9.   And even though unemployment is at relatively low levels, more than one million households filed for personal bankruptcy last year, the most ever in a single year.

10.   And the ranks are growing as personal bankruptcy filings surge to near records and continuing corporate layoffs turn more people with previously pristine credit records into unwilling deadbeats.