With the economy failing, consumers are finding their unsecured debt rising, coupled with limited resources to pay. What options do you have as a consumer to save your credit and avoid bankruptcy?
The good news is that you have options, but with all of the companies out there trying to make a quick buck, it is in your best interest to educate yourself to avoid being scammed. Countless articles on the Internet warn consumers of unscrupulous credit counseling and debt settlement companies. They are completely different services and can benefit you in different ways. Researching these options and educating yourself before you choose the right option for you can save you a lot of time & money.
Many articles on the Internet misconstrue what debt settlement and credit counseling services offer and focus on how these debt relief options may make your situation worse. Some articles claim that both solutions can be costly and dangerous. The truth is that if you choose a company that has high fees and does not have the expertise or established relationships with creditors, you could be asking for trouble. Any service company you use should have your best interest in mind. Choosing a company for your debt relief needs, without doing the necessary and proper research, could possibly make your current financial situation worse, rather than helping it.
This article will go in depth about how debt settlement can be used as a tool in helping you to become financially free of your overwhelming unsecured debt, along with explaining the facts of debt settlement for your better understanding. There are certain aspects of debt settlement that are very important. Keep these aspects in mind when considering a company to help you in settling your debts.
First, you need to know what debt settlement is and how can it help you. Debt settlement, also known as debt negotiation, is the process in which a skilled and experienced person negotiates with your creditors, to settle your unsecured debt for less than what you owe. Only unsecured debt qualifies for debt settlement. Unsecured debt is defined as: credit card bills, medical bills, past due utility bills, personal loans, store cards, etc. Most experts agree that federally backed student loans, mortgages, car loans, taxes, child support and things of that nature, do not qualify for a debt negotiation program. So, before you even think about debt settlement, you need to know where your debt is and what type of debt it is. Knowing whether or not your debt was a loan, line of credit or credit card may be important, as not all debt can be settled in the same manner. In addition, many poorly managed debt settlement companies will outsource their negotiation services and promise relief that they are not capable of fulfilling.
You also need to know what a good debt settlement company should have to offer you. A solid debt settlement company should have 3 basic, but very important components; an in-house negotiation team managed by legal counsel, great customer service, and proven results. Ask to see settlement letters that they have obtained through their services; personal info removed of course. It is very important that all of these components should be offered in-house and not outsourced to other companies in other locations. Any debt settlement company worth their salt will also post examples of their settlement letters to their website or some sort of publication so you can effectively see the amount of savings that may be possible if you decide to take advantage of a reputable debt settlement program.
One stipulation of debt settlement is that you must be behind on your payments to your creditors, which can take a temporary toll on your credit rating. This does not mean you should purposely go delinquent on your unsecured debt and then choose a debt settlement firm to eliminate it, however, if your credit has already been impacted by delinquent unpaid debts, this may a good time to consider debt settlement as a debt relief option. A reputable debt settlement company will analyze your debt and review your household budget to make sure that this is the right option for you.
Debt settlement companies charge a fee for their services, but in return can save you up to 65% of what you owe to your creditors. The fee is usually not outrageous and if you do your research beforehand, you won’t be overcharged. Most fees are based on the amount of unsecured debt you enroll in a program. By and large, these fees are negligible when the thousands of dollars you can save is considered. Most debt settlement companies charge between 15%-25%, but if you do your research, you can find reputable programs in the range of 12-14%, reducing the possibility that you may be overcharged.
Resources available to you, through your debt settlement company, can also help you avoid being sued by your creditor while you are saving the money for your debt to be negotiated. This does not mean that your creditors can’t or won’t sue you. Overall, creditors consider debt settlement less costly and more effective than bankruptcy.
When you find yourself falling behind on bills and feel the pressure mounting, you might be confused about what to do. You have choices which may include options other than debt settlement. Some of these options might include different forms of bankruptcy or consumer credit counseling, all of which are dissimilar.
Bankruptcy is the choice most consumers want to avoid entirely. The different bankruptcy options could have various adverse effects on your credit rating and may create public legal records that can remain for 7 to 20 years. Most people investigating debt relief, choose debt settlement because they want to preemptively seek help, before making a decision that can stay with them for such a long period of time.
Consumer credit counseling (CCC) is another debt relief option that is available to consumers in trouble. Most people mistake debt settlement and consumer credit counseling for the same type of service, which it is not. Consumer credit counseling can be costly, and in order to use these types of services, you must be willing to announce publically that you cannot manage your finances and need someone else to pay your bills. Because it is designed for people in need of a structured way of managing their money, the CCC company must report to the various credit bureaus that the consumer is not in control of their own finances and that the CCC company is paying the bills. This is often looked at by lenders as if you have filed a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. It is considered 3rd party assistance. The consumer creates a plan with the counseling company and pays as much as they are able, for the entire length of the loan. The counseling company has control of the account, in which you deposit money that you set aside to pay your debts, which means that if you have an emergency, you may not be able to get your hands on your money for days. With consumer credit counseling you still pay ALL of your unsecured debt, the monthly fees and interest, but possibly at a reduced rate. This can double the number of years that it would take to pay off your unsecured debt, compared to debt settlement or bankruptcy, therefore costing the consumer much more in time, fees and interest.
Debt settlement and consumer credit counseling services are on different ends of the spectrum when it comes to debt relief. In a debt settlement program, you are expected to repay a reduced portion of what is owed to your creditors. Because of the relationships that some settlement companies have and their ability to negotiate to a lesser amount, to hear of a consumer saving thousands of dollars is not uncommon. Accounts entered into a debt settlement program are typically settled within 1-3 years.
With the many options that you have available and the resources you have to help you decide what is best for your situation, you might find that debt settlement is the fastest way to satisfy your creditors and restore you piece of mind. Calling a debt settlement counselor is the best way to decide if debt settlement is the right option for you. A few minutes of your time could help you save thousands of dollars and help give you a jump start to a financially secure future.
This article was written by Jason Call.