Posts Tagged ‘Creditor’

Is Debt Settlement a Good Idea?

Sunday, February 27th, 2011


Debt settlement is a very good idea for individuals who are having difficulties with overwhelming credit cards debts that never do seem to go away. The idea of this program is a very positive alternative for individuals who do are having difficulty with their debts, but do not wish to experience a bankruptcy which has a drastic impact on one’s credit report.

If you are unable to pay your bills and declare a bankruptcy, the court which you declare your bankruptcy through will impose restrictions on your finances. The restrictions will be very invasive and limit what you are able to do financially. Consequently, settling financial obligations is a much better alternative. In this situation, an individual, lawyer, or a company representing the debtor will negotiate with the creditor in order to lower the amount owed to a more manageable amount.

Creditors are willing to do so because if they allow for the consumer to declare bankruptcy, they would stand to loose as much as the entire amount owed. It is typical for settlements to decrease debt amounts by as much as fifty percent. The creditor will take a slight loss, but they are more willing to loss half of the owed amount than all of it.

In addition, the creditor is able to claim the amount of forgiven debt for a nice tax break at the end of the year. Settlements allow for the debtor to be able to pay the remainder amount within three to five years. The company usually charges a fee that is based on a percentage of the amount of money that is forgiven by the creditors. With all of the positive effects, settlement is definitely a good idea for consumers and creditors alike.

By the way, by researching and comparing the best debt settlement services in the market, you will be able to determine the one that meet your specific financial situation. Nonetheless, it is advisable going with a trusted and reputable debt counselor before making any decision, this way you will save time through specialized advise coming from a seasoned debt advisor and money by getting better results in a shorter span of time.

By: Hector Milla

Junk Debt Collection Agencies

Friday, February 25th, 2011


Junk debt buyers are a growing industry. Their purpose for existence is to purchase bad credit card accounts from creditors to collect on them and make a profit. Junk debt buyers are also referred to as bad debt buyers or simply debt buyers. The accounts purchased by these agencies range from auto loans to retail accounts. It is estimated that about 70% of the accounts often sold to junk debt buyers are credit card accounts. Junk debt collection agencies can often get delinquent accounts for only cents on the dollar. These are typically acquired through a bidding process.

A junk debt buyer may be one of two types of agencies. They may contract with a contingency agency or they may have a secondary contingency agency aside from the junk collection account business. Contingency collection agencies are third party entities that work for another company. Junk collection agencies are first party agencies. They are a new style of debt collection agencies that work for themselves and own the profits they make through collecting debts. They assume the rights of the original creditor once they purchase the debt. Once the junk debt buyers have paid a creditor to own the debt they work to find ways to turn a profit off of collecting the debt. Some have been very successful in spinning profits on debt. Profitable returns have resulted in millions of dollar returns for many of the junk debt agencies.

Debt collection practices are often questionable and subjective. Regulations that govern debt collectors have always been very loose and can vary from state to state. The FDCP has put out some general rules and regulations for all debt collectors that outline the basic governing principles of the practice. The way that these regulations are put into practice can vary considerably depending on the debt collection agency. The practices and tactics used to collect debt often walk the fine lines of legality, which can hold true with any business working for a profit.

The guidelines of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act outline the perimeters and practices that are expected to be followed by any and all debt collection agency. There are many junk debt agencies that can be researched on the internet. Many of these better known junk collection agencies have been the subject of legal actions against them for questionable collection practices, illegal activities and a variety of code violations. It is not a secret that debt collectors are not viewed in a positive light by society in general because of the nature of their business.

By: Ted Clarke

Debt Settlement Letters – Examples and Tips

Saturday, February 19th, 2011


Debt settlement letters are used by consumers to show willingness to repay debts. The goal of this letter is to negotiate with creditors to convince them to clear some of the consumer’s debt from the total and eliminate any fees that have accumulated. The lowering of interest rates is also negotiated within this letter.

The first step for negotiation between debtors and creditors concerning total debts is this debt settlement letter. Consumers can send out these letters directly or a debt settlement agency can be used. When an agency is used, letters are sent out on behalf of the consumer to the creditors.

To receive the success needed from a debt settlement letter; the first thing to learn is how to write an effective letter in a convincing yet professional manner. Before sending out a letter, it is recommended to look at all the pros and cons of the debt negotiation. Anything that is written about the debt settlement must be stated very clearly.

The main goal of a settlement letter is to lower a total repayment amount. Below are some tips for reference when writing this type of letter:

1. Make sure research is done before completing the letter. Understanding all terms and conditions of all debt is very important. Balances, interest rates, taxes, etc but all be clear.

2. When negotiating, have a figure in mind that you want to pay off.

3. It is important to have the funds available to pay for the debt before requesting the settlement.

4. After posting the debt settlement letter, a time period of waiting will be spent for the reply from the creditor.

5. If a settlement amount is rejected, a slightly higher repayment amount can be then be offered.

6. Do not stop writing to creditors until an approval is granted.

7. Begin to pay the settlement offer right away.

8. Ask for an official receipt from the creditor after payment is made.

9. Keep all correspondence with creditors.

By: Hector Milla