Saturday, February 19th, 2011

If unexpected health issues have left you sick about your rising medical bills, a job loss has eliminated your regular income, or a divorce, accident, or similar tragedy has devastated you with a large amount of unsecured debt, you need help. There are several options available, among which are bankruptcy, debt consolidation, debt settlement, and doing nothing but making minimum payments or ignoring the issue, hoping it will go away. While there may be appropriate times for considering bankruptcy, for many this is an embarrassing and unethical solution to their debt problems. On the other hand, settlement can be an ethical approach to handling accounts because it offers a renegotiation of terms of the original contract between both parties. This is also where debt settlement legal advice is worth every penny.
As is often the case, there are those who would capitalize on your best efforts to clear yourself financially. One way to avoid being taken advantage of is to go with a law firm that specializes in settlement, or a debt solution company that has a lawyer on staff. In the rather rare event that a creditor might decide to try and sue you, a lawyer can assist with legal letters and advice. Certainly, debt settlement legal advice is worth every penny when you are facing a potential lawsuit. With the right choice of such a settlement company, you already have access to an experienced lawyer; you don’t have to go looking for your own and the expense that comes with that.
Should you feel the need to go to court in the process of settling your debts, the in-house legal counsel that comes with a law firm solution company, or company with a lawyer on staff, will be invaluable. You will be represented by someone who knows your case completely and has a vested interest in seeing that you win. You will, in a very real sense, have the team behind you as you deal with your frustrated creditor.
Trying to work one’s way out of the quicksand of unsecured debt can seem hopeless for the person who is trusting his own instincts or puts himself in the hands of unskilled, even unscrupulous debt reduction businesses. Having debt settlement legal advice is worth every penny when it allows successful negotiation between you and your creditor, all the while protecting your legal rights and dignity, so that you can feel secure about your financial choices.
By: Hector Milla
Tags: Bankruptcy Debt Consolidation, Best Efforts, Creditor, Debt Consolidation Debt, Debt Problems, Debt Settlement, Debt Solution, Ethical Approach, Health Issues, Legal Advice, Legal Letters, Medical Bills, Minimum Payments, Quicksand, Rare Event, Renegotiation, Settlement Company, Solution Company, Unsecured Debt, Vested Interest
Posted in Article | Comments Off
Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Debt settlement is a debt relief technique which exists since the 80’s. This method has been popularized by the recession and more people are opting for it nowadays. You can settle your debt in two ways: with the help of an expert, like a lawyer or a debt settlement company, or by yourself. In this article we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.
Doing debt settlement by yourself may seem like a good solution. You would probably spare a lot of money you don’t have right now or you need to hang on to. However, doing it by yourself is not a very smart idea. Why? Because the creditors might not take you serious, since you are not a legal representative.
Another reason would be the fact that you might get a lower reduction than an expert would and it’s pretty logical why. So opting for a financial settlement solution done without the help of an expert might make you pay more money, even if you don’t have a fee to pay. This is because the companies extract their fee from the amount they reduce, so you don’t feel that fee anyway. Since they will reduce more than you ever will, you will probably have to pay less when hiring a debt settlement company or a lawyer.
When you choose a financial settlement company to do the things for you, you won’t have to move a finger. The financial settlement company will even take care of that nasty paperwork that is required when you take a legal action. Think about the fact that you will get rid of your debt without doing nothing, without being stress, without waiting at different offices where you need to apply for different documents etc. Another good thing is the fact that the financial settlement company deals with the terrible collection calls; if you miss some payments or you are late with them the creditor will send the collection agencies after you. However, if you already decided for a settlement, the company that represents you will contact the collection agency and deal with them directly. Now, imagine getting rid by all these negative things and you will probably understand why it is better to hire a debt settlement company rather than do a settlement by yourself.
By: Lisa Archer-Jones
Tags: Creditor, Recession, Settlement Solution
Posted in Article | Comments Off
Saturday, January 22nd, 2011

A debt settlement program or debt arbitration is considered successful when both the debtor and the creditor reach an agreement. The agreement is that the debtor will pay a lesser amount than is owed and this will be considered payment in full. This will not work as long as you continue to make the minimum payments due, as many do regularly in their credit card debt. But if you stop making any payments at all when the late fees and interest start to add up you will be able to discuss a settlement on the original amount.
Do It Yourself or Hiring a Debt Settlement Company?
There are companies that can do this for the debtor. Many people prefer this because they are not sure enough of their ability to negotiate the right amount or they may feel ill at ease dealing with these problems. Some of the settlement companies will charge an upfront fee while others may charge a monthly fee. There are also those who charge after the settlement of the debt. They may get a percentage of the debt that is negotiated off the entire amount.
A debt settlement program differs from a debt consolidation program. The consolidation program will require that you take another loan to pay off the bills that are causing your financial problems. While this is beneficial for consolidating all your loans into one loan there are often stipulations to which you may not want to agree. Committing to an agreement to allow a foreclosure of your home to pay the loan if you default is one such stipulation.
This is because typically to get the loan you have to put up collateral which is often your home. Yes, you should get a lower interest rate but in the end if you cannot make the payments on this loan, you stand the chance of losing your home. Debt consolidation may be a good idea for some, especially with the state of the economy today. But jobs are not 100% secure and the possibility of losing your home is very real.
Is Bankruptcy An Option?
Bankruptcy is another alternative if you have gotten yourself in so deep there seems no way out of debt. However, the type of bankruptcy you declare is important. Chapter 7 will sell your assets such as your home to pay off your debts. So, you may end up losing your home using this method. Chapter 13 will allow you to keep your home and any other assets such as a vehicle if you make your payments to the bankruptcy court and the lender of your mortgage. If you default on these payments, the creditors can ask for a lift of the bankruptcy and file foreclosure or for repossession of a vehicle.
The disadvantage of a bankruptcy over a debt settlement program is the bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for 7 to 10 years. While in bankruptcy the debtor may not apply for credit cards or credit from any source without asking for permission from the bankruptcy court. This is not likely anyway because most creditors are leery about lending to someone who is in bankruptcy.
When it comes to debt consolidation, the impact on your credit may not be good. As a matter of fact, not all loan consolidation companies report your payments to the credit bureaus. So deciding between the options that are open to you can take some time and thought. With a debt settlement program normally the payments you make will show on your credit report even if they are settlement payments, it does show you made an effort, which is a positive thing when viewed by future possible lenders.
By: Jon Arnold
Tags: Creditor, Debtor, Interest Rate
Posted in Article | Comments Off