A recent survey from the CreditExpert people at Experian only amplifies what I’ve been saying for a long time, “ Yo dumb ass, bankruptcy has not lost its stigma.”

In fact, as the headline says “Worst Fear-Bankruptcy”.

“Bankruptcy was cited as the top social faux pas by age groups as disparate as young and supposedly irresponsible 18-24 year-olds and 35-44 year-olds at the peak of their careers. This may be because both groups feel that they should be seen to be doing well and are likely to overspend, even though they are under particular financial pressure – younger people are paying off university loans and saving towards a toehold on the housing ladder, while the older group are dealing with the expenses of a home and young family.

The stigma is not much less for 25-34 year-olds and 45-64 year-olds, both of whom placed bankruptcy second in the embarrassment stakes after drink driving. Pensioners, meanwhile, were more worried about building up debts – perhaps because they come from a generation trained to regard borrowing with suspicion.”

Let’s just hope that people don’t feel like they might be in for a penny and go in for a pound. Imagine, the trifecta of shame, drink driving to your bosses house and tell him/her you just went bankrupt while lighting up a splif with your ex-partner. You’d probably explode if you did that.

So while I’ve got your attention, consider looking at your UK credit report and see what it really says about your current financial condition so you can avoid bankruptcy shame.