Definitions for "Substantial abuse"
The court can dismiss a Chapter 7 bankruptcy of an individual whose debts are primarily consumer oriented, when it believes the filing is a substantial abuse of the provisions of the bankruptcy code. You may ask the court to convert to Chapter 13 as an alternative to dismissal.
Concerns debtors who have too much income (given their expenses) to qualify for a Chapter 7 discharge.
The court may dismiss a bankruptcy case on the motion of a U.S. Trustee if the debts are primarily consumer debts and if the Trustee believes that the Chapter 7 petition represents substantial abuse under the Bankruptcy Code. (See Section 707(b) of the Bankruptcy Code.)