What Debt Settlement Companies Do Not Tell You

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:13:09 +0000

A debt settlement company negotiates on a consumer’s behalf to help them settle debt. Negotiations are made between the company and the creditor to begin the repayment of debt. If you are considering working with a debt settlement company, it is recommended that you do plenty of research before deciding on a particular company. It is easy to fall into one of many scams that are present today.

Debt settlement does look to be very appealing because of the lower interest rates and lower payments. However, it has been found that the lower payment does exist but not because it is lower, it is because the extension of the term. If the debt is carried out longer, you will have a lower monthly payment, but it is also true if you stay in debt for a longer period of time, you will end up paying more money. This is the reason why these companies stay in business and continue to succeed.

There are many things that debt settlement companies do not tell consumers:

1. It is not the same as debt negotiation.
2. Sometimes the program charges hundreds of dollars as an initial fee to set up the account, plus a monthly fee. The fees and the amount of the total debt to be paid varies with each company.
3. There are companies who take payments each month but do not pay creditors monthly. Instead, they put the money in a trust fund while negotiating and then make a lump sum payment when the debt can be paid in full.
4. Creditors may sue you and your wages could be garnished in the time it takes to complete the entire settlement.
5. It is not asked that all interest, over the limit fees and late fees be stopped from accruing.
6. Creditors are not legally obligated to listen because they are not law firms.
7. About 15% of the total debt is charged in fees upfront.
8. Debt settlement is not right for everyone who has debt.
9. Your credit will suffer with the settlement.
10. Any debt balance that is forgiven and is more than $600 is taxable income.

Before you decide on debt settlement, it is highly recommend that you research and find a company that is reliable and trust worthy. You want to feel comfortable with the company itself before you feel comfortable with them handing your debt. While this article could sound negative, be certain that there not one but several reputable companies in this field.

By: Hector Milla

Dangers of Debt Settlement Companies

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:00:36 +0000

What a borrower doesn’t know can hurt them. TV ad slots are filled with advertisements for debt settlement companies claiming to be able to help borrowers’ get out of a financial hole. They operate by negotiating on the borrowers’ behalf, reducing the debt with an agreement for regular payments. On the surface this sounds like a great idea and for some people it can be. What the borrower might not know is how these companies can hurt them.

Credit reports will show debt settlements and it will lower the borrowers’ FICO scores. This in turn affects insurance premiums and possible jobs as potential employers often use credit reports to make character judgments. Debt settlements also leave open the opportunity for lawsuits as long as the debt remains unpaid. Debt settlement companies take payments from the borrowers’ but the amount remains too small to be able to negotiate a settlement until several months later.

There can also be problem with taxes. Borrowers’ whose debts are worked out through debt settlement companies instead of through the bankruptcy system have to report the canceled portion of their debt as taxable income. This creates more hoops for a borrower to jump through to be able to get clear from their debt.

When deciding to take the step to use debt settlement companies it is important to take a good look at all the companies. Ask about these common problems that can arise and see if the companies have well thought through answers to them. A borrower can also turn to trade associations to help guide them, such as The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC). The TASC has information on their website concerning the debt settlement industry and is a good place to turn to for a borrower in a sticky situation.

By: Hector Milla

Debt settlement company » Taxable Income

What Debt Settlement Companies Do Not Tell You

Dangers of Debt Settlement Companies