ÿWPC´ xÏ$6ûŒ²[ä­@²Šñ:0Ó³å#(‚8ò´†Uy«´ &9ûxJ«]fÛú딬FYO8J%‚ ƶÛûŠ=êÎDnHÇ;o¹ç4û'Ö¡Ÿ°WG@ÎhÈK-VÜfOˆE*Ÿí²òÒöðAY0fÕšÓ¿'è•Âv$I6$‚Å}êËv‹´[•ÙÍûi¥‹CÂëÒ$¤@"ÜA ÊbjQÀëê„i6 %¦¹çÑÙ=°«l²åÏ\ óؽk4¹mív¦çðïã*þYl/@ $Õ?@‰)E†¹³¹?u“„ ˆþ¹|Ù_Ea!©ÄQ°piƒKŸRôþÉÀD æ¸ãäx}̆I ÔaÌu™(SÖ™j(áýèà€·`D¸×ÖüMû#itâSÏ$f·×FëºþÇ^~¶pDDem½6”Íááæ‚i˜“%ÍìÊPZì*z¼ T±?Ûð=µmÕî]ø¤ToP)’à'Ë3=ºŸÛã—À"#Æ’·ù~ã’±ÞâÒ^€¯®±ål3`½åèñbà°Hð‘qJÔ4ÆYÌ|*vÇe1)º8£Òµî¦Èëù¢À­½×]4e1;áµuˆçq¢åQ$]_(#Á0 %ñ 0D÷ 0(;>c 0Æ¡ Ÿg ^ w42A mCCbZEbfdafÍzzz.GGGGuuuN}}}}}UFUFÅUN U>Y B—˜HP LaserJet 4,ü,,,,,ü0$X(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó($¡¡ 4Ý ƒ~:$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€#)˜#XÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThere€is€an€interesting€question€as€to€whether€section€524Ð ° Ðrequires€bankruptcy€court€approval€of€a€reaffirmation€agreement€ifÐ †Ö Ðthe€debtor's€counsel€has€approved€it.€€òòSeeóó€òòReinóó€v.€òòÔ_ÔProvidianÔ_Ô€Fin.Ð \¬ ÐCorp.óó,€270€F.3d€895,€901€n.9€(9th€Cir.€2001)€(discussing€thisÐ 2‚ Ðpoint);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòÔ_ÔBankBostonÔ_Ô,€N.A.óó€v.€òòNantonóó,€239€B.R.€419,€423„25Ð X Ð(Ô_ÔBankrÔ_Ô.€D.€Mass.€1999)€(asserting€that€the€bankruptcy€court€retainsÐ Þ. Ðthe€authority€to€approve€or€disapprove€reaffirmation€agreementsÐ ´  Ðinvolving€a€represented€debtor,€notwithstanding€approval€by€theÐ Š Ú Ðdebtor's€counsel).€€We€have€no€occasion€to€reach€that€questionÐ ` ° Ðhere.(d:2~:$¤¤Ý ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€#0 #XÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó •Ý ƒ~:$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€#)˜#XÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€case€law€in€this€circuit€indicates€that€these€threeÐ ° Ðoptions€are€exclusive.€€òòBank€of€Bostonóó€v.€òòBurróó€(òòIn€re€Burróó),€160Ð †Ö ÐF.3d€843,€847„48€(1st€Cir.€1998).€€That€view€is€contradicted€byÐ \¬ Ðother€authority.€òòóó€òòE.g.óó,€òòMcClellan€Fed.€Credit€Unionóó€v.€òòParkeróó€(òòInÐ 2‚ Ðre€Parkeróó),€139€F.3d€668,€673€(9th€Cir.€1998).€€We€need€not€exploreÐ X Ðthat€conflict€today. þÝ ƒ~:$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€#)˜#XÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔIn€point€of€fact,€a€debtor€is€the€only€party€empowered€toÐ ° Ðseek€the€bankruptcy€court's€approval€of€a€reaffirmation€agreement.€Ð †Ö ÐòòSeeóó€Fed.€R.€Bankr.€P.€4008;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòWhitehouseóó,€277€F.3d€at€571Ð \¬ Ðn.1;€4€òòCollier€on€Bankruptcyóó,€òòsupraóó,€ðð€524.04.Ôz,s €[,6Xê:i¢Ø+003|xÿU‹ÿÀÀÀ- ù-øÀTABLE A ÃÝ ƒ~:$ÝÓ  ÓÓ=€#)˜#XÐXdÐd=Óà  àÓÓòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  ÝÔ_ÔThe€reaffirmation€papers€were€presented€to€the€bankruptcyÐ ° Ðcourt€eighteen€days€after€the€court€entered€a€general€discharge.€Ð †Ö ÐBecause€this€sequencing€violated€11€U.S.C.€ðð€524(c)(1),€the€debtorsÐ \¬ Ðmoved€to€vacate€the€discharge€for€the€limited€purpose€of€allowingÐ 2‚ Ðconsideration€of€the€reaffirmation€agreements.€€There€being€noÐ X Ðobjection,€the€bankruptcy€court€granted€the€motion.€€òòSeeóó€11€U.S.C.Ð Þ. Ððð€727(a)(10). $Ñ ° ÑÑ  ÑÑ  Ñ ÿ.Courier New Regular<4šÛ 9Z+‹.Courier New Regular(ÈhH  Z6Times New Roman Regular&Courier Regular dÝ ƒ!ÝÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑTRY,3Ø'Xà3Ø' Letter 3Ø' Letterÿ3Ø'TÑÑ ? ÑÙ*ƒ !Ùò òÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÔ‡$°ê$°X$XÔÔ‡%°ûÁ°°$°ê$ÔUnited€States€Court€of€AppealsÐ ° ÐÔ#†%X<X°%°ûÁÅ#ÔÔ‡%„LT„X%X<ÔFor€the€First€CircuitÔ#†%X<X„%„LTY#ÔÔ#†$X)˜XX%X<ä#Ôó óÐ „Ô ÐÓ¹ÓÌÌßA€') °°` dE< ` AßÐ  à ÐÌNo.€01„9010Ð u Å ÐÌà@P P ìàIN€RE:€€STEPHEN€J.€JAMO€AND€LYNN€M.€JAMO,ˆÐ ! q Ðà@  &ìàDebtors.ˆÐ ÷ G  Ðà@xx!ìà___________________ˆÐ Í   ÐÌà@0 0 ìàSTEPHEN€J.€JAMO€AND€LYNN€M.€JAMO,ˆÐ yÉ  Ðà@ÄÄìàPlaintiffs,€Appellees,ˆÐ OŸ  ÐÌà@tt)ìàv.ˆÐ ûK  ÐÌà@ä ä ìàKATAHDIN€FEDERAL€CREDIT€UNION,ˆÐ §÷ Ðà@ ìàDefendant,€Appellant.ˆÐ }Í ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<(` AßÐ )y ÐÌà@  ìàAPPEAL€FROM€THE€BANKRUPTCY€APPELLATE€PANELˆÐ ^ ÐÓ  ÓOF€THE€FIRST€CIRCUITÐ ä4 Ðà@@ìì*ìàÌßA€') °°` dE<` AßÐ à ÐÌà@@„„'ìàBeforeÐ uÅ ÐÌà@@((ìà€Selya,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó,Ð !q ÐÌStahl,€òòSenior€Circuit€Judgeóó,Ð Í ÐÌand€Lipez,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó.Ð yÉ! ÐÌßA€') °°` dE<$!` AßÐ %!u# ÐÌÓ  ÓÓ  Óà  àòòDaniel€L.€Cummingsóó,€with€whom€òòNorman,€Hanson€&€DeTroy,€LLCóó€wasÐ  "Z% Ðon€brief,€for€appellant.Ð à"0& Ðà  àòòGeorge€J.€Marcusóó,€with€whom€òòLee€H.€Balsóó€and€òòMarcus,€Clegg€&Ð ¶#' ÐMistretta,€P.A.óó€were€on€brief,€for€Maine€Credit€Union€League€andÐ Œ$Ü( ÐCredit€Union€National€Association,€amici€curiae.Ð b%² ) Ðà  àòòRichard€D.€Violette,€Jr.óó€for€appellees.Ð 8&ˆ!* ÐÌÌÔ*‹ƒ'ddd Xdd Xdd X°(#°(#‹ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ,( dd ÔÔ+  ÔÐ º( $-º( $ ‹‹ÐÓóÓÐ SI)n$. €;â@37340„„‰€;â@‰‹‹SÐÌMarch€26,€2002Ð ô)D%0 ÐÐ RHCÊ*&1" €;â@37340 €;â@ ‹‹RÐÐ()n$2  (ÐÙ* !ÙÐ  Ð+ '2? ÐÑ  ÑÓÓÑ8€&Ï>&X XdÈdÈ8ÑÑ€ÑÓ*°,X°` ¨ ƒX°œX*ÓÑ€‹gÑà ` àò òSELYA,€òòCircuit€Judgeóó.ó ó€€This€bankruptcy€appeal€requires€usÐ ° Ðto€decide€an€issue€of€first€impression€at€the€circuit€level:€€In€aÐ xÈ ÐChapter€7€case,€may€a€lender€who€is€owed€both€secured€and€unsecuredÐ $t Ðdebts€insist€upon€reaffirmation€of€the€latter€as€a€condition€toÐ Ð  Ðreaffirmation€of€the€former?€€The€bankruptcy€court€ruled€that€suchÐ | Ì Ðan€"all€or€nothing"€negotiating€posture€amounted€to€a€per€seÐ ( x  Ðviolation€of€the€automatic€stay,€òòJamoóó€v.€òòKatahdin€Fed.€CreditÐ Ô$  ÐUnionóó,€253€B.R.€115€(Bankr.€D.€Me.€2000)€[òòJamo€Ióó],€and€theÐ €Ð  Ðbankruptcy€appellate€panel€(the€BAP)€agreed,€òòKatahdin€Fed.€CreditÐ ,|  ÐUnionóó€v.€òòJamoóó,€262€B.R.€159€(B.A.P.€1st€Cir.€2001)€[òòJamo€IIóó].€€WeÐ Ø( Ðreverse.Ð „Ô Ðò òI.€€BACKGROUNDó óÐ 0€ Ðà ` àThe€critical€facts€are€not€in€dispute.€€On€March€18,Ð øH Ð1999,€the€debtors,€Stephen€J.€Jamo€and€Lynn€M.€Jamo€(husband€andÐ ¤ô Ðwife),€initiated€proceedings€under€Chapter€7€of€the€BankruptcyÐ P  ÐCode,€11€U.S.C.€ðððð€701„766.€€On€the€filing€date,€they€owed€$61,010Ð üL Ðto€Katahdin€Federal€Credit€Union€(the€credit€union).€€ThisÐ ¨ø  Ðindebtedness€was€composed€of€$37,079€owed€on€a€promissory€noteÐ T!¤" Ðsecured€by€a€first€mortgage€on€their€residence€in€Millinocket,Ð #P$ ÐMaine;€$12,731€owed€on€unsecured€personal€loans;€and€$11,200€owedÐ ¬$ü& Ðon€credit€cards.Ð X&¨!( Ðà ` àIn€their€bankruptcy€petition,€the€debtors€indicated€thatÐ (T#* Ðthey€desired€to€reaffirm€the€mortgage€obligation.€€When€theirÐ °)%, Ðattorney€inquired€about€reaffirmation,€the€credit€union€responded,Ð \+¬&. Ðthrough€counsel,€that€it€would€not€enter€into€a€reaffirmationÐ ° Ðagreement€unless€the€debtors€also€agreed€to€reaffirm€their€otherÐ \¬ Ðindebtedness€with€the€credit€union.€€In€taking€this€position,€theÐ X Ðcredit€union€cited€a€"long„standing"€policy€that€stated€in€relevantÐ ´  Ðpart:Ð ` ° ÐÓÓà8 ` àIt€shall€be€the€policy€of€[the€credit€union]Ð  \  Ðto€allow€members€to€reaffirm€debts€owed€to€theÐ â 2  Ðcredit€union.€€If€members€have€more€than€oneÐ ¸  Ðdebt€with€[the€credit€union],€all€debts€mustÐ ŽÞ  Ðbe€reaffirmed€or€re„written€(post„petition).€Ð d´  ÐReaffirmation€will€not€be€granted€to€membersÐ :Š  Ðwho€wish€to€have€some€debts€excusedÐ `  Ð(discharged),€and€to€reaffirm€others.Ðæ6` x` x ÐÌÓÓà ` àInitially,€the€debtors'€counsel€tried€to€get€the€creditÐ ’â Ðunion€to€accept€a€reaffirmation€of€the€secured€indebtedness€alone.€Ð >Ž ÐWhen€that€effort€failed,€he€signaled€that€the€debtors€wouldÐ ê: Ðconsider€reaffirming€all€of€their€obligations€to€the€credit€union.€Ð –æ ÐThe€credit€union€then€proposed€a€comprehensive€reaffirmationÐ B’ Ðpackage€that€bundled€the€debtors'€outstanding€obligations€into€twoÐ î> Ðloans€(each€secured€by€a€home€mortgage)€and€dramatically€reducedÐ šê Ðthe€debtors'€total€monthly€payments.€€The€debtors€executed€theÐ F –! Ðpapers€presented€by€the€credit€union.Ð ò!B# Ðà ` àThe€deal€came€a€cropper€when€the€debtors'€counsel€balked.€Ð ž#î% ÐòòSeeóó€11€U.S.C.€ðð€524(c)(3)(A)„(B)€(stipulating€that,€as€a€conditionÐ J%š ' Ðprecedent€to€reaffirmation,€counsel€for€a€represented€debtor€mustÐ ö&F") Ðcertify€that€the€agreement€"represents€a€fully€informed€andÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðvoluntary€agreement€by€the€debtor€.€.€.€[and]€does€not€impose€anÐ N*ž%- Ðundue€hardship€on€the€debtor").€€In€refusing€to€approve€theÐ ú+J'/ Ðarrangement,€the€lawyer€singled€out€the€proposed€reaffirmation€ofÐ ° Ðthe€unsecured€debts€and€questioned€whether€his€clients€wereÐ \¬ Ð"succumbing€to€the€extortion€that€is€inherently€present€in€theÐ X ÐCredit€Union's€all€or€nothing€approach€to€reaffirmation."Ð ´  Ðà ` àThe€"linked"€reaffirmation€agreements€were€filed€with€theÐ ` ° Ðbankruptcy€court.òòóó€€Absent€counsel's€stamp€of€approval,€however,€theÐ  \  Ðcourt€had€no€choice€but€to€reject€them.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú1Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð ¸  Ðà ` àThe€debtors€promptly€notified€the€credit€union€that€theyÐ d´  Ðremained€willing€to€reaffirm€the€mortgage,€shorn€of€any€linkage€toÐ `  Ðthe€unsecured€debts.€€Further€negotiations€ensued.€€The€creditÐ ¼  Ðunion€and€the€debtors€reached€a€second€accord,€this€time€purposingÐ h¸ Ðto€reaffirm€the€secured€indebtedness€on€its€original€terms€and€toÐ d Ðreaffirm€the€unsecured€debts€without€interest.€€Despite€theseÐ À Ðchanges,€the€debtors'€lawyer€remained€adamant€in€his€refusal€toÐ l¼ Ðendorse€the€arrangement.Ð h Ðà ` àAlthough€the€revised€agreements€lacked€the€imprimatur€ofÐ Ä Ðthe€debtors'€counsel,€the€debtors€filed€them€with€the€bankruptcyÐ pÀ  Ðcourt.€€The€debtors€then€commenced€an€adversary€proceeding€chargingÐ !l" Ðthe€credit€union€with€a€violation€of€the€automatic€stay,€11€U.S.C.Ð È"$ Ððð€362(a)(6),€and€seeking€sanctions.€€After€some€skirmishing€(notÐ t$Ä& Ðrelevant€here),€the€bankruptcy€court€concluded€that€the€creditÐ ° Ðunion's€efforts€to€condition€reaffirmation€of€the€mortgage€debtÐ \¬ Ðupon€the€simultaneous€reaffirmation€of€other€(unsecured)€debtsÐ X Ðviolated€the€automatic€stay€in€two€ways.€€òòJamo€Ióó,€253€B.R.€at€127„Ð ´  Ð30.€€First,€the€credit€union's€insistence€upon€linkage€constitutedÐ ` ° Ðan€impermissibly€coercive€attempt€to€"strong„arm"€the€debtors€intoÐ  \  Ðreaffirming€their€separate,€unsecured€obligations.€€òòId.óó€at€127„29.€Ð ¸  ÐSecond,€the€credit€union€had€engaged€in€prohibited€conduct€byÐ d´  Ðthreatening€to€foreclose€on€the€debtors'€home.€€òòId.óó€at€129„30.Ð `  Ðà ` àConsistent€with€these€conclusions,€the€court€enjoined€theÐ ¼  Ðcredit€union€from€(1)€foreclosing€on€the€mortgage€for€anyÐ h¸ Ðbankruptcy„related€reason,€(2)€calling€the€mortgage€on€account€ofÐ d Ðan€asserted€payment€default€for€at€least€one€year,€(3)€collectingÐ À Ð(or€attempting€to€collect)€any€attorneys'€fees€or€costs€accruingÐ l¼ Ðprior€to€the€effective€date€of€the€injunction,€(4)€conditioning€anyÐ h Ðreaffirmation€of€the€mortgage€debt€upon€the€debtors'€reaffirmationÐ Ä Ðof€their€unsecured€obligations,€and€(5)€withholding€its€consent€toÐ pÀ  Ðreaffirmation€of€the€mortgage€debt€on€the€terms€specified€in€theÐ !l" Ðoriginal€loan€documents.€€òòId.óó€at€130.€€Effectively,€then,€theÐ È"$ Ðbankruptcy€court€overrode€the€parties'€agreement€to€reaffirm€theÐ t$Ä& Ðunsecured€debts€and€(as€a€sanction)€compelled€reaffirmation€of€theÐ  &p!( Ðmortgage€debt€on€its€original€terms.€€To€cap€matters,€the€courtÐ Ì'#* Ðâ âawarded€attorneys'€fees€and€costs€to€the€debtors.€€òòId.óó€at€130„31.Ð x)È$, Ðà ` àThe€credit€union€appealed,€but€the€BAP€affirmed€theÐ ° Ðâ âjudgment.€€òòJamo€IIóó,€262€B.R.€at€165„68.€€This€further€appealÐ \¬ Ðensued.Ð X Ðò òII.€€THE€MERITSó óÐ ´  Ðà ` àWe€traverse€an€analytical€path€that€delineates€theÐ | Ì Ðstructure€of,€and€the€relationship€between,€two€mainstays€of€theÐ ( x  ÐBankruptcy€Code:€€reaffirmation€and€the€automatic€stay.€€We€turnÐ Ô$  Ðthen€to€the€question€of€whether€the€credit€union€transgressed€theÐ €Ð  Ðautomatic€stay€either€by€conditioning€reaffirmation€of€the€mortgageÐ ,|  Ðindebtedness€upon€the€reaffirmation€of€separate,€unsecuredÐ Ø( Ðobligations,€or€by€engaging€in€strong„arm€tactics.Ð „Ô Ðà@\ \ ìàò òA.€€òòThe€Statutory€Interfaceóó.ó óˆÐ 0€ Ðà ` àTo€put€this€case€into€perspective,€it€is€necessary€toÐ øH Ðunderstand€how€the€practice€of€reaffirmation€and€the€operation€ofÐ ¤ô Ðthe€automatic€stay€implicate€bankruptcy€practice.€€We€turn€to€thatÐ P  Ðtask.Ð üL Ðà ` àò ò1.€€òòReaffirmationóó.ó ó€€Within€thirty€days€of€filing€aÐ ¨ø  Ðbankruptcy€petition,€a€Chapter€7€debtor€must€serve€a€statement€ofÐ p!À" Ðintention€with€respect€to€outstanding€consumer€debts€that€areÐ #l$ Ðsecured€by€property€of€the€bankrupt€estate.€òòóó€11€U.S.C.€ðð€521(2)(A).€Ð È$ & ÐThe€debtor€may,€of€course,€surrender€the€collateral€to€the€securedÐ t&Ä!( Ðcreditor.€€òòId.óó€€To€retain€it,€however,€he€must€(a)€demonstrate€theÐ  (p#* Ðapplicability€of€a€recognized€bankruptcy€exemption,€(b)€pay€off€theÐ Ì)%, Ðsecured€creditor€in€full€(thereby€redeeming€the€collateral),€or€(c)Ð x+È&. Ðreaffirm€the€secured€debt.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú2Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×€€òòId.óó€€The€focus€here€is€onÐ ° Ðreaffirmation.Ð \¬ Ðà ` àThe€reaffirmation€option€is€spelled€out€in€11€U.S.C.€ððÐ X Ð524(c).€€We€recently€explained€that€section€524(c)€requiresÐ ´  Ðreaffirmation€agreements€to€satisfy€five€general€criteria.€€Such€anÐ ` ° Ðagreement€mustÐ  \  ÐÓÓà8 ` à(i)€be€executed€before€the€[general]€dischargeÐ ¸  Ðhas€been€granted;ÐŽÞ ` x` x Ðà8 ` à(ii)€be€in€consideration€for€a€dischargeableÐ d´  Ðdebt,€whether€or€not€the€debtor€waivedÐ :Š  Ðdischarge€of€the€debt;Ð` ` x` x Ðà8 ` à(iii)€include€clear€and€conspicuous€statementsÐ æ6 Ðthat€the€debtor€may€rescind€the€reaffirmationÐ ¼  Ðagreement€at€any€time€prior€to€the€granting€ofÐ ’â Ðthe€general€discharge,€or€within€sixty€daysÐ h¸ Ðafter€the€execution€of€the€reaffirmationÐ >Ž Ðagreement,€whichever€occurs€later,€and€thatÐ d Ðreaffirmation€is€neither€required€by€theÐ ê: ÐBankruptcy€Code€nor€by€nonbankruptcy€law;ÐÀ` x` x Ðà8 ` à(iv)€be€filed€with€the€bankruptcy€court;€andЖæ` x` x Ðà8 ` à(v)€be€accompanied€by€an€affidavit€of€theÐ l¼ Ðdebtor's€attorney€attesting€that€the€debtorÐ B’ Ðwas€fully€advised€of€the€legal€consequences€ofÐ h Ðthe€reaffirmation€agreement,€that€the€debtorÐ î> Ðexecuted€the€reaffirmation€agreement€knowinglyÐ Ä Ðand€voluntarily,€and€that€the€reaffirmationÐ šê Ðagreement€would€not€cause€the€debtor€"undueÐ pÀ  Ð[òòe.g.óó,€financial]€hardship."ÐF –!` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòWhitehouseóó€v.€òòLaRocheóó,€277€F.3d€568,€574€(1st€Cir.€2002).Ð ò!B# Ðà ` àThere€is,€however,€an€overarching€requirement.€€SectionÐ ž#î% Ð524(c)€makes€manifest€that€reaffirmation€requires€a€meeting€of€theÐ J%š ' Ðminds.€€The€statutory€text€uses€the€word€"agreement"€no€less€thanÐ ° Ðnineteen€separate€times,€and€this€pervasive€emphasis€can€only€meanÐ \¬ Ðthat€Congress€envisioned€reaffirmations€as€consensual.€€InÐ X Ðconventional€legal€parlance€the€essence€of€an€agreement€is€theÐ ´  Ðexistence€of€mutual€consent,€òòe.g.óó,€òòBlack's€Law€Dict.óó€67€(7th€ed.Ð ` ° Ð1999);€òòRestatement€(Second)€of€Contractsóó€ðð€3€(1981),€and€theÐ  \  Ðpresumption€is€"that€Congress€knew€and€adopted€the€widely€acceptedÐ ¸  Ðlegal€definitions€of€meanings€associated€with€the€specific€wordsÐ d´  Ðenshrined€in€the€statute,"€òòUnited€Statesóó€v.€òòNasonóó,€269€F.3d€10,€16Ð `  Ð(1st€Cir.€2001).Ð ¼  Ðà ` àWe€conclude,€therefore,€that€section€524(c)€envisionsÐ h¸ Ðreaffirmation€agreements€as€the€product€of€fully€voluntaryÐ d Ðnegotiations€by€all€parties.€€òòWhitehouseóó,€277€F.3d€at€575;€òòBellóó€v.Ð À ÐòòGen.€Motors€Acceptance€Corp.óó€(òòIn€re€Bellóó),€700€F.2d€1053,€1056€(6thÐ l¼ ÐCir.€1983).òòóó€€Two€things€follow€from€this€conclusion.€€First,€bothÐ h Ðthe€creditor€and€the€debtor€must€consent€to€reaffirmation.€€òòSeeóó€òòInÐ Ä Ðre€Turneróó,€156€F.3d€713,€718€(7th€Cir.€1998);€òòHome€Owners€FundingÐ pÀ  ÐCorp.óó€v.€òòBelangeróó€(òòIn€re€Belangeróó),€962€F.2d€345,€348€(4th€Cir.Ð !l" Ð1992);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€4€òòCollier€on€Bankruptcyóó€ðð€524.04[1]€(15th€rev.€ed.Ð È"$ Ð2001)€("[T]o€be€an€enforceable€agreement,€the€reaffirmationÐ t$Ä& Ðagreement€must€.€.€.€be€one€to€which€both€the€debtor€and€creditorÐ  &p!( Ðagree.").€€Second,€just€as€a€debtor€is€not€obliged€to€seekÐ Ì'#* Ðreaffirmation,€so€too€a€creditor€retains€the€right€to€reject€anyÐ x)È$, Ðand€all€reaffirmation€proposals,€for€whatever€reason.€€òòIn€reÐ $+t&. ÐTurneróó,€156€F.3d€at€718„19;€òòBrownóó€v.€òòPa.€State€Employees€CreditÐ ° ÐUnionóó€(òòIn€re€Brownóó),€851€F.2d€81,€85€(3d€Cir.€1988);€òòIn€re€Bellóó,Ð \¬ Ð700€F.2d€at€1056.Ð X Ðà ` àWe€add€a€caveat.€€Although€reaffirmation€is€consensual€inÐ ´  Ðnature,€the€myriad€safeguards€erected€by€Congress€reflect€itsÐ ` ° Ðrecognition€that€a€debtor's€decision€to€enter€into€a€reaffirmationÐ  \  Ðagreement€is€likely€to€be€fraught€with€consequence.€€In€point€ofÐ ¸  Ðfact,€reaffirmation€represents€the€only€vehicle€through€which€anÐ d´  Ðotherwise€dischargeable€debt€can€survive€the€successful€completionÐ `  Ðof€Chapter€7€proceedings.€€Moreover,€once€a€debt€is€reaffirmed,€theÐ ¼  Ðcreditor€can€proceed€to€enforce€its€rights€as€if€bankruptcy€had€notÐ h¸ Ðintervened.€€Because€reaffirmation€constitutes€a€debtor„invokedÐ d Ðexception€to€the€tenet€that€underpins€the€bankruptcy€system€ð"ð€theÐ À Ð"fresh€start"€principle€ð"ð€a€reaffirming€debtor€must€be€affordedÐ l¼ Ðsome€protection€against€his€own€(potentially)€short„sightedÐ h Ðdecisions.Ð Ä Ðà ` àSection€524(c)€reflects€Congress's€intent€to€provide€thisÐ pÀ  Ðprotection,€thereby€safeguarding€debtors€against€unsound€or€undulyÐ !l" Ðpressured€judgments€about€whether€to€attempt€to€repay€dischargeableÐ È"$ Ðdebts.€òòóó€òòIn€re€Dukeóó,€79€F.3d€43,€44€(7th€Cir.€1996);€4€òòCollier€onÐ t$Ä& ÐBankruptcyóó,€òòsupraóó,€ðð€524.04.€€To€cloak€debtors€in€this€protectiveÐ  &p!( Ðgarb,€courts€generally€have€insisted€that€reaffirmation€agreementsÐ Ì'#* Ðstrictly€comply€with€the€conditions€enumerated€in€the€statute.€Ð x)È$, ÐòòE.g.óó,€òòWhitehouseóó,€277€F.3d€at€575;€òòDuBoisóó€v.€òòFord€Motor€Credit€Co.óó,Ð $+t&. Ð276€F.3d€1019,€1022€(8th€Cir.€2002);€òòBessetteóó€v.€òòAvco€Fin.€Svcs.óó,Ð ° Ð230€F.3d€439,€444€(1st€Cir.€2000),€òòcert.óó€òòdeniedóó,€532€U.S.€1048Ð \¬ Ð(2001).€€By€like€token,€courts€have€insisted€upon€a€showing€that€aÐ X Ðreaffirmation€agreement€is€not€the€product€of€abusive€creditorÐ ´  Ðpractices.€€òòIn€re€Dukeóó,€79€F.3d€at€44„45.Ð ` ° Ðò òà ` à2.€€òòThe€Automatic€Stayóó.ó ó€€The€automatic€stay€is€one€of€theÐ  \  Ðfundamental€protections€that€the€Bankruptcy€Code€affords€toÐ Ô$  Ðdebtors.€€As€its€name€suggests,€the€stay€springs€into€effect€uponÐ €Ð  Ðthe€filing€of€a€bankruptcy€petition.€€òòSunshine€Dev.,€Inc.óó€v.€òòFDICóó,Ð ,|  Ð33€F.3d€106,€113€(1st€Cir.€1994).€€The€stay€effectively€suspendsÐ Ø( Ðall€collection€efforts€(including€foreclosures),€thus€giving€theÐ „Ô Ðdebtor€breathing€room.€€òòSeeóó€òòSoaresóó€v.€òòBrockton€Credit€Unionóó€(òòIn€reÐ 0€ ÐSoaresóó),€107€F.3d€969,€975€(1st€Cir.€1997);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€11€U.S.C.€ððÐ Ü, Ð362(a)(6)€(prohibiting€"any€act€to€collect,€assess,€or€recover€aÐ ˆØ Ðclaim€against€the€debtor€that€arose€before€the€commencement€of€theÐ 4„ Ð[bankruptcy€proceeding]").€€The€automatic€stay€remains€in€effectÐ à0 Ðunless€and€until€a€federal€court€either€disposes€of€the€underlyingÐ ŒÜ  Ðcase,€11€U.S.C.€ðð€362(c)(2),€or€grants€relief€to€a€particularÐ 8!ˆ" Ðcreditor,€òòid.óó€ðð€362(d)„(f).Ð ä"4$ Ðà ` àò ò3.€€òòThe€Interplayóó.ó ó€€Congress's€encouragement€to€creditorsÐ $à& Ðand€debtors€alike€to€move€expeditiously€to€negotiate€reaffirmationÐ X&¨!( Ðagreements€is€in€some€tension€with€the€automatic€stay.€€AlthoughÐ (T#* ÐCongress€has€explicitly€excepted€a€handful€of€actions€from€theÐ °)%, Ðpurview€of€the€stay,€òòseeóó€òòid.óó€ðð€362(b)(1)„(18),€this€enumerationÐ \+¬&. Ðdoes€not€include€the€negotiation€of€reaffirmation€agreements.€Ð ° ÐTaken€to€an€extreme,€the€automatic€stay€could€be€construed€toÐ \¬ Ðprohibit€all€post„petition€contact€between€creditors€and€debtorsÐ X Ðpertaining€to€dischargeable€debts,€including€the€negotiation€ofÐ ´  Ðreaffirmation€agreements.€€But€the€Bankruptcy€Code€should€be€readÐ ` ° Ðas€a€whole,€with€a€view€toward€effectuating€Congress's€discernedÐ  \  Ðintent.€€òòMSR€Exploration,€Ltd.óó€v.€òòMeridian€Oil,€Inc.óó,€74€F.3d€910,Ð ¸  Ð914€(9th€Cir.€1996).ò òó ó€€Such€a€commonsense€approach€leads€us€toÐ d´  Ðreject€a€reading€of€the€automatic€stay€provision€that€wouldÐ `  Ðeffectively€preclude€all€post„petition€negotiations€anentÐ ¼  Ðreaffirmation.€€To€read€the€automatic€stay€provision€thatÐ h¸ Ðexpansively€would€emasculate€section€524(c)€and€thwart€Congress'sÐ d Ðevinced€intent€of€allowing€parties€to€reach€arm's„lengthÐ À Ðreaffirmation€agreements€without€undue€delay.€€As€the€SeventhÐ l¼ ÐCircuit€astutely€observed:Ð h ÐÓÓà8 ` àThe€option€of€reaffirming€would€be€empty€ifÐ Ä Ðcreditors€were€forbidden€to€engage€in€anyÐ šê Ðcommunication€whatsoever€with€debtors€who€haveÐ pÀ  Ðpre„petition€obligations.€€If€that€were€theÐ F –! Ðrule,€it€is€also€hard€to€see€what€purpose€theÐ !l" Ðdetailed€rules€governing€enforceability€ofÐ ò!B# Ðreaffirmation€agreements€contained€in€ðð€524(c)Ð È"$ Ðwould€serve.О#î%` x` x ÐÌÓÓòòIn€re€Dukeóó,€79€F.3d€at€45.Ð J%š ' Ðà ` àTo€be€sure,€there€is€a€fine€line€between€hard„nosedÐ ö&F") Ðnegotiations€and€predatory€tactics€ð"ð€and€if€the€automatic€stay€isÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðto€have€any€bite,€it€must€forfend€against€the€latter.€€Courts€haveÐ N*ž%- Ðlabored€long€to€plot€this€line.€€The€most€sensible€rule€ð"ð€and€oneÐ ú+J'/ Ðthat€we€endorse€ð"ð€is€that€a€creditor€may€discuss€and€negotiateÐ ° Ðterms€for€reaffirmation€with€a€debtor€without€violating€theÐ \¬ Ðautomatic€stay€as€long€as€the€creditor€refrains€from€coercion€orÐ X Ðharassment.€òòóó€òòCoxóó€v.€òòZale€Del.,€Inc.óó,€239€F.3d€910,€912€(7th€Cir.Ð ´  Ð2001);€òòPertusoóó€v.€òòFord€Motor€Credit€Co.óó,€233€F.3d€417,€423€(6thÐ ` ° ÐCir.€2000).€€We€believe€that€this€measured€approach€gives€effect€toÐ  \  Ðall€parts€of€the€statutory€scheme,€affording€all€parties€aÐ ¸  Ðreasonable€opportunity€to€consummate€binding€reaffirmationÐ d´  Ðagreements€while€at€the€same€time€shielding€debtors€from€unseemlyÐ `  Ðcreditor€practices.€€Accordingly,€we€hold€that,€while€the€automaticÐ ¼  Ðstay€is€in€effect,€a€creditor€may€engage€in€post„petitionÐ h¸ Ðnegotiations€pertaining€to€a€bankruptcy„related€reaffirmationÐ d Ðagreement€so€long€as€the€creditor€does€not€engage€in€coercive€orÐ À Ðharassing€tactics.Ð l¼ Ðà@˜ ˜ ìàò òB.€€òòThe€Attempt€at€Linkageóó.ó óˆÐ h Ðà ` àThis€brings€us€to€the€question€of€linkage:€€whether€aÐ à0 Ðcreditor's€attempt€to€condition€reaffirmation€of€a€secured€debtÐ ŒÜ  Ðupon€reaffirmation€of€separate,€unsecured€debts€crosses€the€lineÐ 8!ˆ" Ðand€should€be€deemed€coercive€as€a€matter€of€law.€€Both€theÐ ä"4$ Ðbankruptcy€court,€òòJamo€Ióó,€253€B.R.€at€127„29,òòóó€and€the€BAP,€òòJamo€IIóó,Ð $à& Ð262€B.R.€at€165„66,€answered€that€question€affirmatively.€€ForÐ <&Œ!( Ðpurposes€of€our€review,€"we€focus€on€the€bankruptcy€court'sÐ è'8#* Ðdecision,€scrutinize€that€court's€findings€of€fact€for€clear€error,Ð ”)ä$, Ðand€afford€de€novo€review€to€its€conclusions€of€law,"€withoutÐ @+&. Ðaccording€any€special€deference€to€the€BAP's€pronouncements.€Ð ° ÐòòBrandtóó€v.€òòRepco€Printers€&€Litho.,€Inc.óó€(òòIn€re€Healthco€Int'l,Ð \¬ ÐInc.óó),€132€F.3d€104,€107€(1st€Cir.€1997).Ð X Ðà ` àThere€are€two€different€ways€in€which€a€debtor€mightÐ ´  Ðprevail€on€the€linkage€issue.€€The€first€is€if€a€per€se€ruleÐ ` ° Ðapplies,€that€is,€if€any€and€all€efforts€by€creditors€to€constructÐ  \  Ðsuch€a€tie€are€deemed€inherently€coercive€(and,€therefore,Ð ¸  Ðviolative€of€the€automatic€stay).€€The€second€is€fact„specific;Ð d´  Ðeven€if€an€"all€or€nothing"€negotiating€posture€is€not€per€seÐ `  Ðcoercive,€a€creditor€still€might€violate€the€automatic€stay€byÐ ¼  Ðarticulating€or€acting€upon€that€policy€in€an€inappropriate€mannerÐ h¸ Ðduring€the€course€of€negotiations.€€We€examine€both€alternatives.Ð d Ðà ` àò ò1.€€òòThe€Per€Se€Ruleóó.ó ó€€Both€lower€courts€took€the€positionÐ À Ðthat€a€creditor's€refusal€to€reaffirm€a€secured€debt€unless€theÐ ˆØ Ðdebtor€simultaneously€agrees€to€reaffirm€additional,€unsecuredÐ 4„ Ðdebts€constitutes€a€per€se€violation€of€the€automatic€stay.€€òòJamoÐ à0 ÐIIóó,€262€B.R.€at€165„66;€òòJamo€Ióó,€253€B.R.€at€127„29.€€This€is€anÐ ŒÜ  Ðabstract€legal€proposition,€and,€as€such,€engenders€de€novo€review.€Ð 8!ˆ" Ðòò229€Main€St.€Ltd.€P'shipóó€v.€òòMass.€Dep't€of€Envtl.€Prot.óó€(òòIn€re€229Ð ä"4$ ÐMain€St.€Ltd.€P'Shipóó),€262€F.3d€1,€3€(1st€Cir.€2001);€òòIn€re€Soaresóó,Ð $à& Ð107€F.3d€at€973.Ð <&Œ!( Ðà ` àTo€some€extent,€we€write€on€a€pristine€page:€€no€federalÐ è'8#* Ðcourt€of€appeals€has€spoken€to€the€issue.€€There€is,€however,€aÐ ”)ä$, Ðsmattering€of€apposite€case€law.€€The€bankruptcy€courts€that€haveÐ @+&. Ðaddressed€the€question€mostly€reject€a€per€se€rule.€€òòSeeóó,€òòe.g.óó,€òòInÐ ° Ðre€Bradyóó,€171€B.R.€635,€639„40€(Bankr.€N.D.€Ind.€1994);€òòIn€reÐ \¬ ÐBriggsóó,€143€B.R.€438,€460€(Bankr.€E.D.€Mich.€1992);€òòSchmidtóó€v.€òòAm.Ð X ÐFletcher€Nat'l€Bank€&€Trust€Co.óó€(òòIn€re€Schmidtóó),€64€B.R.€226,€228„Ð ´  Ð29€(Bankr.€S.D.€Ind.€1986);€òòbutóó€òòseeóó€òòGreenóó€v.€òòNat'l€Cash€RegisterÐ ` ° ÐCo.€CI€Corp.€Sys.óó€(òòIn€re€Greenóó),€15€B.R.€75,€78€(Bankr.€S.D.€OhioÐ  \  Ð1981)€(holding€that€such€an€attempt€at€linkage€is€inherentlyÐ ¸  Ðcoercive€and,€therefore,€violates€the€automatic€stay).Ð d´  Ðà ` àWe€too€reject€a€per€se€rule.€€When€an€individual€debtorÐ `  Ðvoluntarily€files€for€bankruptcy,€he€usually€has€the€option€ofÐ ¼  Ðproceeding€under€either€Chapter€7€or€Chapter€13.€€Unlike€Chapter€7,Ð h¸ ÐChapter€13€contains€a€"cram€down"€provision,€11€U.S.C.€ððÐ d Ð1325(a)(5)(B),€which€permits€a€debtor€to€retain€the€collateralÐ À Ðunderlying€a€secured€obligation€without€the€creditor's€approval.€Ð l¼ ÐòòBank€of€Bostonóó€v.€òòBurróó€(òòIn€re€Burróó),€160€F.3d€843,€848€(1st€Cir.Ð h Ð1998).€€Even€if€a€debtor€belatedly€decides€that€"cramming€down"€isÐ Ä Ðin€his€best€interest,€a€decision€to€file€under€Chapter€7€ordinarilyÐ pÀ  Ðis€not€irrevocable.€€The€Bankruptcy€Code,€with€only€a€fewÐ !l" Ðexceptions,€òòseeóó€11€U.S.C.€ðð€706(a),€allows€a€debtor€who€initiallyÐ È"$ Ðhas€filed€for€Chapter€7€relief€to€jump€midstream€to€Chapter€13.Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àConversely,€a€debtor€who€persists€in€traveling€theÐ  &p!( ÐChapter€7€route€knows€that€reaffirmation€depends€entirely€on€hisÐ Ì'#* Ðability€to€come€to€terms€with€the€secured€creditor.€€He€also€knowsÐ x)È$, Ð(or,€at€least,€has€every€reason€to€expect)€that€the€creditor€mayÐ $+t&. Ðdrive€a€hard€bargain.€€Hence,€a€debtor€must€bear€some€degree€ofÐ ° Ðresponsibility€for€choosing€to€proceed€under€Chapter€7.Ð \¬ Ðà ` àPerhaps€more€important,€the€Bankruptcy€Code€does€notÐ X Ðoutlaw€linkage€as€an€element€of€reaffirmation€negotiations.€€TheÐ ´  Ðabsence€of€such€a€prohibition€makes€sense,€for€a€secured€creditor'sÐ ` ° Ðinsistence€on€linkage€does€not€force€a€debtor€to€reaffirm€unsecuredÐ  \  Ðobligations.€€As€we€have€explained,€reaffirmation€agreements€areÐ ¸  Ðconsensual,€and€a€debtor€always€has€the€option€of€walking€away€fromÐ d´  Ðan€unattractive€proposal.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú3Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ×Ð `  Ðà ` àOf€course,€a€debtor€whose€home€is€at€stake€is€in€anÐ ¼  Ðunenviable€position.€€But€a€Chapter€7€discharge€is€not€a€walk€inÐ h¸ Ðthe€park;€it€is€"a€benefit€that€comes€with€certain€costs."€€òòIn€reÐ d ÐBurróó,€160€F.3d€at€848.€€Consequently,€a€Chapter€7€debtor€is€notÐ À Ðinoculated€against€the€necessity€for€making€hard€choices.€€If€theÐ l¼ Ðdebtor€surrenders€his€home,€he€is€entitled€to€erase€all€his€debtsÐ h Ð(secured€and€unsecured)€and€start€afresh.€€If,€however,€hisÐ Ä Ðparamount€interest€is€in€keeping€his€home€and€he€cannot€redeem€theÐ pÀ  Ðcollateral,€he€must€come€to€terms€with€the€mortgagee.€€Bankruptcy,Ð !l" Ðas€life€itself,€is€a€series€of€tradeoffs.Ð È"$ Ðà ` àThe€debtors€argue€for€a€per€se€rule€on€policy€grounds,Ð t$Ä& Ðbut€we€doubt€the€prophylactic€effects€of€such€a€rule.€€Creditors,Ð  &p!( Ðas€a€class,€have€a€highly€developed€instinct€for€self„protection,Ð ° Ðand,€as€the€amici€point€out,€such€a€rule€could€open€Pandora's€jarÐ \¬ Ðand€produce€a€distinctly€unfavorable€climate€for€debtors.€Ð X ÐCreditors€might€become€more€reluctant€to€extend€both€secured€andÐ ´  Ðunsecured€loans€to€a€particular€debtor,€or€might€insist€upon€cross„Ð ` ° Ðcollateralization€clauses€in€all€loans,€or€might€categoricallyÐ  \  Ðdecide€that€foreclosure€is€a€more€judicious€option€thanÐ ¸  Ðreaffirmation€negotiations€restricted€to€a€single€secured€debt.€Ð d´  ÐThen,€too,€a€creditor€intent€on€negotiating€for€a€"linked"Ð `  Ðreaffirmation€arrangement€simply€could€petition€for€relief€from€theÐ ¼  Ðautomatic€stay€and€refuse€to€negotiate€until€such€relief€had€beenÐ h¸ Ðobtained.€€This€would€not€only€delay€the€Chapter€7€proceedings,€butÐ d Ðalso€increase€the€ultimate€cost€of€reaffirmation€to€the€debtor.€Ð À ÐFor€these€reasons,€we€find€the€debtors'€policy„based€argumentsÐ l¼ Ðlacking€in€force.Ð h Ðà ` àThat€ends€this€inquiry.€€Based€on€the€foregoing€analysis,Ð Ä Ðwe€reject€the€proposition€that€a€creditor's€decision€to€withholdÐ pÀ  Ðreaffirmation€of€a€secured€debt€unless€the€debtor€agrees€toÐ !l" Ðreaffirm€other,€unsecured€debts€amounts€to€a€per€se€violation€ofÐ È"$ Ðthe€automatic€stay.Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àò ò2.€€òòThe€Credit€Union's€Conductóó.ó ó€€Even€if€a€creditor'sÐ  &p!( Ðattempt€to€condition€reaffirmation€of€a€secured€debt€uponÐ è'8#* Ðreaffirmation€of€other,€unsecured€obligations€does€not€constituteÐ ”)ä$, Ða€per€se€violation€of€the€automatic€stay,€the€question€remainsÐ @+&. Ðwhether€the€creditor's€conduct€in€a€particular€instance€amounts€toÐ ° Ða€violation€of€the€automatic€stay.€€While€we€review€the€bankruptcyÐ \¬ Ðcourt's€findings€of€fact€for€clear€error,€òòBoroffóó€v.€òòTullyóó€(òòIn€reÐ X ÐTullyóó),€818€F.2d€106,€108€(1st€Cir.€1987),€we€afford€plenary€reviewÐ ´  Ðto€the€question€of€whether€the€evidence€is€legally€sufficient€toÐ ` ° Ðsupport€particular€findings.€ò òó ó€Here,€the€bankruptcy€court€calumnizedÐ  \  Ðthe€credit€union€for€improperly€bringing€"leverage"€to€bear€on€theÐ ¸  Ðdebtors'€reaffirmation€decision€and,€relatedly,€for€menacing€theÐ d´  Ðdebtors€with€threats€of€foreclosure.€€òòJamo€Ióó,€253€B.R.€at€129„30.€Ð `  ÐTo€the€extent€that€these€are€findings€that€the€credit€union€engagedÐ ¼  Ðin€impermissibly€coercive€conduct,€they€lack€adequate€recordÐ h¸ Ðsupport.€€We€explain€briefly.Ð d Ðà ` àThe€bankruptcy€court's€condemnation€of€the€credit€unionÐ À Ðfor€using€its€leverage€manifests€a€fundamental€misunderstanding€ofÐ l¼ Ða€creditor's€rights€vis„„vis€a€debtor.€€In€and€of€itself,€the€actÐ h Ðof€filing€a€bankruptcy€petition€negates€the€original€pre„bankruptcyÐ Ä Ðbargain€between€debtor€and€creditor.òòóó€€òòIn€re€Burróó,€160€F.3d€at€848Ð pÀ  Ð(explaining€that€Chapter€7€debtors€have€no€right€"to€maintain€withÐ !l" Ðtheir€secured€creditors€advantageous€arrangements€in€place€prior€toÐ È"$ Ðfiling").€€Thus,€subject€only€to€the€constraints€imposed€by€sectionÐ t$Ä& Ð524(c)€or€by€other€provisions€of€the€Bankruptcy€Code,€the€partiesÐ  &p!( Ðto€a€secured€obligation€are€free€to€strike€a€new€bargain.Ð Ì'#* Ðà ` àSo€viewed,€the€bankruptcy€court's€condemnation€of€theÐ x)È$, Ðcredit€union's€use€of€leverage€amounts€to€a€variation€of€its€per€seÐ $+t&. Ðrule€ð"ð€a€rule€that€we€already€have€rejected.€€òòSeeóó€òòsupraóó€PartÐ ° ÐII(B)(1).€€òòóóA€reaffirmation€negotiation€ð"ð€like€any€other€negotiationÐ \¬ Ðð"ð€contemplates€give€and€take€between€the€participants.€€The€factÐ X Ðthat€one€party€has€a€superior€bargaining€position€does€not€warrantÐ ´  Ða€court€in€placing€a€thumb€on€the€scales.€€òòSeeóó€òòIn€re€Burróó,€160€F.3dÐ ` ° Ðat€848€(recognizing€that€an€oversecured€creditor€may€attempt€to€useÐ  \  Ðits€"superior€bargaining€power"€to€obtain€creditor„favorable€termsÐ ¸  Ðin€negotiating€reaffirmation€agreements€without€violating€theÐ d´  Ðautomatic€stay);€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòIn€re€Briggsóó,€143€B.R.€at€454€(declaringÐ `  Ðthat€it€would€be€"absurd"€to€interpret€the€Bankruptcy€Code€asÐ ¼  Ðprohibiting€a€secured€creditor€from€using€its€leverage€inÐ h¸ Ðnegotiating€a€reaffirmation€agreement).Ð d Ðà ` àThat€leaves€the€so„called€threats€of€foreclosure.€€InÐ À Ðtheory,€threats€of€foreclosure€or€repossession€might€justify€aÐ l¼ Ðfinding€that€a€secured€creditor€has€violated€the€automatic€stay.€Ð h ÐòòSeeóó€òòIn€re€Dukeóó,€79€F.3d€at€44„45;€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòIn€re€Brownóó,€851€F.2d€atÐ Ä Ð86€(noting€that€the€automatic€stay€continues€to€preclude€creditorÐ pÀ  Ðcommunications€that€"threat[en]€immediate€action€by€creditors,€suchÐ !l" Ðas€a€foreclosure€or€a€lawsuit").€€The€facts€of€this€case,€however,Ð È"$ Ðdo€not€support€such€a€finding.Ð t$Ä& Ðà ` àThe€bankruptcy€court€focused€on€written,€rather€thanÐ  &p!( Ðoral,€communications.€€In€€corresponding€with€the€debtors€(or,€moreÐ Ì'#* Ðprecisely,€with€the€debtors'€counsel),€the€credit€union€sent€aÐ x)È$, Ðtotal€of€nine€separate€reaffirmation„related€letters.€€In€thoseÐ $+t&. Ðletters,€it€referred€three€times€to€foreclosure.€€The€question,Ð ° Ðthen,€is€whether€these€references,€read€favorably€to€the€bankruptcyÐ \¬ Ðcourt's€finding,€plausibly€can€be€deemed€coercive.€€We€think€not.Ð X Ðà ` àThe€first€mention€of€foreclosure€came€in€a€response€toÐ ´  Ðthe€debtors'€initial€request€for€reaffirmation€of€the€mortgageÐ ` ° Ðindebtedness.€€After€outlining€the€credit€union's€"all€or€nothing"Ð  \  Ðpolicy,€its€lawyer€asked€the€debtors'€counsel€to€ascertain€whetherÐ ¸  Ðthe€debtors€"will€be€discharging€all€their€obligations,"€and€if€so,Ð d´  Ðwhether€"they€would€be€amenable€to€a€deed€in€lieu€of€foreclosure."Ð `  Ðà ` àThe€second€foreclosure€reference€transpired€after€theÐ ¼  Ðbankruptcy€court€rejected€the€initial€reaffirmation€proposal.€€AtÐ h¸ Ðthat€point,€the€debtors'€attorney€declared€that€his€clients€wereÐ d Ðwilling€to€reaffirm€the€mortgage€indebtedness€(but€no€otherÐ À Ðobligations)€and€vowed€"to€fully€litigate€any€foreclosure€action"Ð l¼ Ðinstituted€by€the€credit€union.€€Responding€to€this€vow,€the€creditÐ h Ðunion's€counsel€wrote€that:Ð Ä ÐÓÓà8 ` à[I]t€was€the€Credit€Union's€desire€that€theÐ pÀ  ÐParties€could€have€arrived€at€a€mutuallyÐ F –! Ðagreeable€resolution.€€As€foreclosing€was€notÐ !l" Ðon€the€Credit€Union's€agenda,€it€would€beÐ ò!B# Ðpremature€to€extensively€respond€to€yourÐ È"$ Ðassertions€.€.€.€.€€Should€the€Credit€UnionÐ ž#î% Ðeventually€foreclose,€however,€the€terms€ofÐ t$Ä& Ðthe€Jamos'€note€and€mortgage€are€that€theÐ J%š ' ÐJamos€are€liable€for€the€Credit€Union's€costsÐ  &p!( Ðand€fees€of€enforcing€the€obligation,€andÐ ö&F") Ðtherefore,€should€the€Credit€Union€prevail,Ð Ì'#* Ðthe€amount€due€increases€rapidly€as€a€resultÐ ¢(ò#+ Ðof€all€this€litigation.€€Of€course,€the€JamosÐ x)È$, Ðare€not€personally€exposed€to€this€liability,Ð N*ž%- Ðbut€such€sums€are€secured€by€the€mortgage.Ð$+t&.` x` x ÐÐ ú+J'/ ÐÓÓà ` àThe€third€reference€came€in€a€letter€to€the€debtors€thatÐ ° Ðlimned€the€terms€of€the€second€reaffirmation€proposal.€€In€thatÐ \¬ Ðepistle,€the€credit€union's€lawyer€expressed€his€belief€that€theÐ X Ðcontemplated€overall€reduction€in€payments€would€"eliminat[e]€theÐ ´  Ðrisks€of€future€litigation,€including€foreclosure."Ð ` ° Ðà ` àThese€references€were€unarguably€benign.€€The€firstÐ  \  Ðletter€merely€inquired€whether€the€debtors,€if€they€decided€toÐ ¸  Ðdischarge€all€their€debts€(including€the€mortgage€indebtedness),Ð d´  Ðwould€be€willing€to€deliver€a€deed€to€the€credit€union€in€lieu€ofÐ `  Ðforeclosure.€€The€next€letter€was€nothing€more€than€a€temperateÐ ¼  Ðresponse€to€statements€made€by€the€debtors'€counsel.€€Far€fromÐ h¸ Ðhanging€the€Damoclean€sword€of€foreclosure€over€the€debtors'€heads,Ð d Ðthe€credit€union€accurately€delineated€the€debtors'€foreclosure„Ð À Ðrelated€liability€and€made€clear€that€foreclosure€"was€not€on€[its]Ð l¼ Ðagenda."€€The€final€reference€to€foreclosure€was€likewiseÐ h Ðinnocuous;€in€context,€it€cannot€reasonably€be€deemed€tantamount€toÐ Ä Ða€threat.Ð pÀ  Ðà ` àTo€say€more€on€this€point€would€be€supererogatory.€Ð !l" ÐBecause€the€credit€union's€passing€references€to€foreclosure€cannotÐ È"$ Ðreasonably€be€construed€as€threatening€"immediate€action"€againstÐ t$Ä& Ðthe€debtors,€òòIn€re€Brownóó,€851€F.2d€at€86,€those€references€were€notÐ  &p!( Ðimpermissibly€coercive.€€Accordingly,€the€credit€union€did€notÐ Ì'#* Ðviolate€the€automatic€stay.Ð x)È$, ÐÐ $+t&. Ðò òIII.€€THE€REMEDYó óÐ ° Ðà ` àThe€question€of€remedy€remains.€€Although€the€bankruptcyÐ xÈ Ðcourt€erred€in€finding€a€violation€of€the€automatic€stay,€itsÐ $t Ðdisapproval€of€the€linked€reaffirmation€agreements€is€supportableÐ Ð  Ðon€an€independent€ground.€€The€critical€datum€is€that€the€debtors'Ð | Ì Ðattorney,€believing€that€reaffirmation€on€the€agreed€terms€was€notÐ ( x  Ðin€the€debtors'€best€interest,€refused€to€approve€the€arrangement.€Ð Ô$  ÐAbsent€counsel's€approbation,€no€valid€reaffirmation€could€occur.׃×Ý ƒ#ÃÝòòÚ  Ú4Ú  ÚóóÝ  Ý×  ׀Р€Ð  Ð11€U.S.C.€ðð€524(c)(3);€òòWhitehouseóó,€277€F.3d€at€575€(explaining€thatÐ ,|  Ða€represented€debtor€must€strictly€comport€with€section€524(c)Ð Ø( Ðcriteria€to€effect€a€valid€reaffirmation).Ð „Ô Ðà ` àThe€bankruptcy€court's€granting€of€injunctive€relief,Ð 0€ Ðattorneys'€fees,€and€costs€against€the€credit€union€is€less€easilyÐ Ü, Ðdefended.€€We€review€a€bankruptcy€court's€imposition€of€sanctionsÐ ˆØ Ðfor€abuse€of€discretion.€€òòSchwartzóó€v.€òòKujawaóó€(òòIn€re€Kujawaóó),€270Ð 4„ ÐF.3d€578,€581€(8th€Cir.€2001).€€Here,€however,€both€the€injunctiveÐ à0 Ðrelief€and€the€assessment€of€fees€and€costs€rest€squarely€on€theÐ ŒÜ  Ðcourt's€erroneous€determination€that€the€credit€union€violated€theÐ 8!ˆ" Ðautomatic€stay.€€Thus,€these€aspects€of€the€court's€order€cannotÐ ° Ðendure.€€òòSeeóó€òòSunshine€Dev.óó,€33€F.3d€at€117€(dissolving€injunctionÐ \¬ Ðthat€erroneously€restrained€FDIC€from€exercising€its€lawfulÐ X Ðpowers);ò òó ó€òòseeóó€òòalsoóó€òòIn€re€Grand€Jury€Subpoenaóó,€138€F.3d€442,€444€(1stÐ ´  ÐCir.€1998)€(explaining€that€"a€court€that€predicates€aÐ ` ° Ðdiscretionary€ruling€on€an€erroneous€view€of€the€law€inevitablyÐ  \  Ðabuses€its€discretion").Ð ¸  Ðà ` àIn€an€attempt€to€keep€the€remedial€order€intact,€theÐ d´  Ðdebtors€rely€upon€11€U.S.C.€ðð€105(a).€€Their€reliance€is€mislaid.€Ð `  ÐSection€105(a)€ð"ð€a€statute€that€empowers€bankruptcy€courts€toÐ ¼  Ð"issue€any€order,€process,€or€judgment€that€is€necessary€orÐ h¸ Ðappropriate"€to€effectuate€the€provisions€of€the€Bankruptcy€Code€ð"ðÐ d Ðsupplies€a€source€of€authority€for€the€bankruptcy€court'sÐ À Ðimposition€of€sanctions€in€an€appropriate€case.€€òòSeeóó€òòBessetteóó,€230Ð l¼ ÐF.3d€at€445;€òòHardyóó€v.€òòUnited€States€ex€rel.€IRSóó€(òòIn€re€Hardyóó),€97Ð h ÐF.3d€1384,€1389„90€(11th€Cir.€1996).€€But€section€105(a)€does€notÐ Ä Ðprovide€bankruptcy€courts€with€a€roving€writ,€much€less€a€freeÐ pÀ  Ðhand.€€The€authority€bestowed€thereunder€may€be€invoked€only€if,Ð !l" Ðand€to€the€extent€that,€the€equitable€remedy€dispensed€by€the€courtÐ È"$ Ðis€necessary€to€preserve€an€identifiable€right€conferred€elsewhereÐ t$Ä& Ðin€the€Bankruptcy€Code.€€òòSeeóó€òòNorwest€Bank€Worthingtonóó€v.€òòAhlersóó,Ð  &p!( Ð485€U.S.€197,€206€(1988)€(explaining€that€a€bankruptcy€court'sÐ Ì'#* Ðâ âequitable€powers€"can€only€be€exercised€within€the€confines€of€theÐ x)È$, ÐÑ‹gÑâ âѰ°ÑÑÑÑ  Ñâ âÑ  ÑBankruptcy€Code");€òòNoonanóó€v.€òòSec'y€of€HHSóó€(òòIn€re€Ludlow€Hosp.Ð ° ÐSoc'y,€Inc.óó),€124€F.3d€22,€27€(1st€Cir.€1997)€(similar).Ð \¬ Ðâ âà ` àThe€relief€ordered€below€falls€short€of€this€benchmark.€Ð X ÐThe€bankruptcy€court's€order€was€designed€to€implement€theÐ ´  Ðreaffirmation€option€limned€in€section€524(c).€€As€said,€òòseeóó€òòsupraóóÐ ` ° ÐPart€II(B),€the€order€failed€in€this€endeavor:€€forced€to€operateÐ  \  Ðwithout€much€precedential€guidance,€the€court€misapprehended€theÐ ¸  Ðinterplay€between€section€524(c)€and€section€362(a),Ð d´  Ðmischaracterized€lawful€conduct€as€impermissibly€coercive,€andÐ `  Ðissued€a€flawed€order.€€Absent€any€antecedent€violation€either€ofÐ ¼  Ðthe€automatic€stay€or€of€some€other€independent€provision€of€theÐ h¸ ÐBankruptcy€Code,€the€bankruptcy€court€lacked€the€power,€sectionÐ d Ð105(a)€notwithstanding,€to€modify€the€proposed€reaffirmationÐ À Ðarrangement,€compel€the€credit€union€to€enter€into€a€judicially„Ð l¼ Ðcrafted€reaffirmation€agreement,€or€award€monetary€sanctions€in€theÐ h Ðform€of€attorneys'€fees€and€costs.Ð Ä Ðò òIV.€€CONCLUSIONó óÐ pÀ  Ðà ` àWe€need€go€no€further.€€We€neither€underestimate€theÐ 8!ˆ" Ðdifficulty€of€the€question€presented€nor€disparage€the€lowerÐ ä"4$ Ðcourts'€thoughtful€attempts€to€resolve€it.€€In€the€end,€however,€weÐ $à& Ðsee€the€matter€differently.€€Consequently,€we€reverse€the€decisionÐ <&Œ!( Ðof€the€BAP€and€remand€the€case€to€that€tribunal€with€directions€toÐ è'8#* Ðâ âvacate€the€bankruptcy€court's€judgment€and€to€remand€the€matter€toÐ ”)ä$, Ðthe€bankruptcy€court€for€further€proceedings€consistent€with€thisÐ ° Ðopinion.Ð \¬ Ðâ âÌò òòòReversedóó.ó ó