Information You Debt Settlement Company Should Be Sharing With You

Posted by Sean Horan
2
Dec 17, 2009
620 Views
A reputable debt settlement company can be your best ally in becoming free of burdensome debt. You will be able to you find a solution to credit card bills, signature loans, medical bills, repossessed auto loans, and other forms of unsecured debt, make regular payments, and deal with your obligations head-on, proactively, and ethically. One of the most important steps in the process is to choose a company that will help you work toward your goals without leading your astray or farther into the problem.

A few dishonest debt negotiation companies have given the industry as a whole a bad name, and this is unfortunate for consumers who need help with debt that is becoming overwhelming. These companies will claim that they can eliminate all of your bill problems “guaranteed!” They will tell you that there are no upfront fees, when you later find out they have been taking your payments and assessing fees instead of paying creditors. They will tell you that they are paying your creditors when in fact they are not. These are all false claims. Your program should make sure that you are aware of all the steps in the process, the effects, and give you a realistic idea of what your outcome will be.

There are drawbacks to debt settlement, and a reputable company will discuss them with you and make sure you are aware before you sign any agreements. You may find that this type of resolution is not for you, or you may find that it will allow you to achieve your dream of being free from bills more quickly and efficiently. The choice is yours, and a reliable, honest company will not hide information or facts from you in order to trick you into signing a contract and paying hefty fees. They will make all information clear and transparent. Here are some things they should tell you (and if they do not, go elsewhere):

• Creditors can still contact you. Many firms will tell you that creditor calls will stop. That is up to the creditors. Often, they will cease to contact you and begin communicating with the settlement firm, but they are not required to. An honest firm will tell you this and can suggest ways to handle such calls in the future, which can include directing all calls to the firm.

• There will be a negative effect on your credit score. There is no denying that, and if they try, that is certainly a red flag. In a settlement program, your balances become become delinquent. This makes creditors much more willing (and eager) to negotiate with your firm. While this is good for you debt reduction process, it does cause your credit score to decline. As you begin paying off creditors, however, it will rise. This may be a factor in your decision, so make sure you discuss it and get straight answers.

• Creditors do not have to participate in a negotiation. In the vast majority of cases, they will because they understand that recouping 75%, 60%, or 50% of the original debt is much better than getting nothing. Very few people know that negotiations to lower credit card and unsecured loan debt take place every day, and most often, the consumer is the one who benefits. But a firm cannot guarantee this, so be watchful for any that do.

• They should tell you what their fees are. A reliable settlement firm will be able to tell you clearly what their fee will be, and they will also tell you when they will take that fee. Most often, this is taken from your account, which you pay into monthly. However, that does not mean that a full payment is not made to your creditor. A monthly payment should include both the trust account deposit and the fee. Make sure this is very clear and you are sure where each dollar is going. Those disreputable firms mentioned earlier will take large fees from your trust account, leaving you with far less for your debt.

• When you decide on a settlement program, be aware that fees, interest, and other charges can accrue on your balances. As this happens, your balance will get higher. However, a skilled negotiator will be able to reduce your debt to much less than the original amount. Be wary of any company claiming that all fees will be stopped.

An informed consumer makes better financial decisions. Debt settlement may be the right way for you to become free. The key is working with a reputable debt settlement program that has your needs as the top priority.

Learn about debt settlement, debt consolidation, debt relief, and more at Impact Debt Settlement.
Comments
avatar
Please sign in to add comment.