Posts Tagged ‘Legitimate Debt’

Debt Settlement Programs – How to Tell If a Debt Settlement Company is Legitimate

Monday, April 26th, 2010



Debt settlements have become a popular form of debt relief. A large number of users have lagged on the payment of their Credit card bills. This has resulted into these users collecting huge mountains of debt. The situation was further aggravated by recession. A large number of the debtors are looking for debt relief.

With the onset of recession debt relief has become big time business. Lots and lots of people are trying to make a quick buck from the opportunity. Providing debt relief services has become the main source of profit for many companies that were otherwise languishing. Now how do you fit in this entire scenario?

Like most other people you too are on the lookout for debt relief. You have the option of going for debt counseling and consolidation or a debt settlement. The amount of debt you have accumulated is simply too large for any consolidation program. A debt of $12,000 is not so simple to wipe of. Your search to end your financial problems brought you to consider debt settlements.

The business of debt settlements is relatively unregulated in the US. A very large number of companies have jumped into the fray. The scams too have capitalized on the chance. Now how do you differentiate a genuine company from a scam? First thing you need to check out is if the company is a part of a debt settlement network. The Association of Settlement Companies is offering an accreditation program for debt settlement companies. They maintain very strict standards before empanelling settlement companies. Also check out the guarantee provided by the company. Good companies will offer you a guarantee foe the settlement. They will also reduce the entire proceedings to a written contract. You must insist on reading the agreement before signing up. Any company that is transparent about the settlement can be taken to be genuine.

By: Diane Sheridan

Credit Card Debt Help – Points to Look For in a Legitimate Debt Settlement Company

Monday, March 15th, 2010



Recognizing legal credit card debt help companies is not a very easy task. It is quite confusing and you need to scan a firm thoroughly to check its parameters. Most legal credit card debt help companies have been hired by relief networks. As a customer, you may make a mistake in recognition but these networks are very sure about the status of each firm. If you don’t want to take any risk, you can hire one of the companies listed with them at nominal rates. In this way, your decision will be cost effective as well.

You need to pay attention to the correct factors if you want to make the right decision in relation to credit card debt help. How do you know that the information provided by a relief company is correct? Most customers face problems because they believe that everything which the firms mention is true.

Encouraging direct contacts

Here is a key factor which most scammers have in common. They are never listed with any relief network because they have the fear of getting caught. Hence they prefer the customers to contact them directly. In this way, you cannot get any details about the firm. We know that time is running out and it is not feasible to wait. To prevent the conditions from worsening, we accept the proposal and then face severe damages.

Extremely Low costs

Credit card debt help companies are not there to provide services for free. They have to cover their expenses and earn their required profit as well. It is obvious that they are putting in so much hard work to do business. Illegitimate companies do not have a lot of idea about the original cost structure. They try to convince you by offering very low deals. This is a way to attract people and get money from them. If you show interest towards such a company, they will demand a small payment from you in advance. This is a definite indication that the company is illegal.

Credit card debt help shares a negative relationship with your bank credit score. Paying sixty or seventy percent of the original bill causes a decline in the credit score. As a loan taker, you should decide whether you are financial strong enough to pay the original sum or not. Most people are not even considering the option to make dull payments. They are hiring settlement companies and capitalizing on recession.

By: Owais Siddiqui Jr

Personal Bankruptcy – Evade Filling Bankruptcy and Find Legitimate Debt Settlement Programs

Saturday, March 13th, 2010



Do you know that your settlement company holds your payments for three to six months and then negotiates with the credit card company? This duration can be increased as well. The longer a settlement company holds your money, the more damage is done to your credit records. In other words, you move closer to personal bankruptcy. You need to keep a check on the settlement company so that personal bankruptcy can be avoided. Let’s see what problems can be faced when the settlement company holds your money.

1. The continuous disturbance from the collection companies

After you have paid your first installment, you are relaxed that you have taken your first step towards the reduction of your liabilities. However, bigger shock strikes you when collection companies call you time and again to remind you that your repayment process has not started. The only way to prevent this is to ensure that your payment is sent to the credit card company from the first month. You can countercheck with the credit card company instead of relying on what the settlement professionals are telling you.

Instead of communicating with the settlement company only, interface with the bank management so that you can prevent personal bankruptcy. This way you will also get a better picture of what your representatives are doing for you.

2. If the settlement company delays your payments, you can get your dues cleared but not in the required manner. You will take take more time and this is what the banks want. Late payments rate clients as defaulters. The important question is that why do professional settlement consultants commit such an activity. Well, there is a very logical explanation for this. Settlement companies want to extract their entire fee before they begin processing your case.

For instance, you have signed a deal with the settlement company for a price of one thousand dollars. You have agreed to pay the amount after the bank grants reduction. Now, you start paying your installments every month. For instance, your monthly installment amounts to two hundred dollars. Hence your consultant will not pay anything to the settlement company for five months. Until then, the collection agents will make life hell for you. In worst cases, you will be pushed to the limit of personal bankruptcy. However, as a customer, it is up to you to avoid the personal bankruptcy condition.

The best option for you is to find a legit settlement firm who is associated with a relief network. This way there is no way that they will attempt to hoodwink you and get away with it. Your reputation and money will remain safe.

By: Owais Siddiqui Jr