Three Things You Might Not Know About Debt Settlement During recent years
debt settlement has increased in popularity over the once popular debt consolidation choice. With debt consolidation you pay every penny you owe to one account, but with debt settlement you can substantially decrease the amount you owe.
Choosing debt settlement can reduce the amount of debt you owe in total. However, there is a downside you should be aware of. Keep reading to find out about some things you should know before deciding if debt settlement is the best option for you.
Debts that are secured by collateral such as a car loan or a mortgage are not typically ideal for debt settlement negotiations. That's because if you fall behind on a secured debt, the creditor can most likely seize the security as repayment (i.e. car repossession or mortgage foreclosure).
And when a debt settlement is successfully negotiated, your credit report will reflect a statement along the lines of "settled less than total balance".
That statement can appear on your report for up to seven years from the date you pay the settlement, and may cause higher interest rates and loan denials. So if you are hoping to get a loan or mortgage during the debt settlement negotiation period, you may find that it is very difficult to get approved. However, most consumers use debt settlement as an alternative to bankruptcy, and the repercussions of damaged credit don't weigh heavily.
However, there are specific strategies and techniques that must be employed in order to facilitate debt negotiations properly. The consumer or company negotiating on behalf of the consumer must be knowledgeable in creditor protocol, consumer law, debt collection law and written agreements.
Many consumers choose debt settlement as their debt relief strategy because credit card bills are too high for them to realistically manage with their budget, don't want to make minimum credit card payments for the next 30 - 40 years, and want to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection.
Another reason why consumers choose debt settlement is because they may have been penalized with a 28 - 30% interest rate, the credit card company refuses to lower the rate, and the consumer simply refuses to pay that kind of interest. Most consumers that seek debt relief through debt settlement negotiations are often looking to settle multiple unsecured accounts that total $10,000 to $200,000 or more.
The core benefit of successfully negotiating a debt settlement is paying off the debt at a fraction of the balance, in a relatively short period of time. That's the obvious goal. However, there are negative consequences consumers should be aware of prior to engaging in a debt settlement service. As mentioned before, in order to create the appropriate environment for debt settlement negotiations, you have to fall way behind on creditor payments. Otherwise the creditors are not likely to negotiate a settlement. And this has negative consequences.
Most debt settlement services are affordable compared to what you pay in minimum monthly payments as dictated by the creditor. Many companies can charge up to 25% of the debt, in addition to monthly fees. Unfortunately, many debt settlement companies thrive on people's desperation and don't implement a service that's in the best interest of the consumer. So make sure before you hire a debt settlement company, make sure you read and understand the contract thoroughly.
Importantly, if you are going to choose a debt settlement service provider, make sure that it is law firm or attorney based service. Debt settlement attorneys offer a safer and more efficient debt settlement service compared to non-attorney based services such as TASC debt settlement companies.
Since there is a possibility of getting sued from a creditor for non-payment, you want an attorney service that can help you with these civil entanglements. In most cases, given that there is sufficient debt settlement funds set aside, a settlement can be reached and the lawsuit dropped. Essentially, a lawsuit is filed because the creditor wants money, so if you have the funds to make a settlement offer that will usually resolve the situation.
More so, hiring an attorney to deal with your debt triggers a Federal Law which says that third party debt collectors must contact your attorney and not you. This will help stop obnoxious debt collectors from calling you day and night.
To understand your legal consumer rights regarding debt collection, you should familiarize yourself with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The FDCPA is federal law that protects consumers from harassment and abusive collection methods.