Credit Card Debt Finding the Cure

Credit card debt is taking over the country, and most people are charging more due to the recession. This is not uncommon, however, the time is going to come when it is time to repay all of those debts and when that happens, hopefully those of you who have charged more because of lack of money will have what you need to pay off the debt. However, if you are one of the millions of Americans who find yourself in a difficult situation when it comes time for payback, then it is time to collect debt consolidation information from whatever sources that you can find.

When considering what debt consolidation information to use, the first thing that you should do is consider the source. Where did you get the information that you are using, is it an official source? You can get a lot of information about debt consolidation on government websites, which are very reliable sources in the respect that their information will be unbiased and will not direct you to a specific company to use for your debt consolidation.

You will learn in detail from your debt consolidation information about the two different kinds of debt consolidation, credit card consolidation loans and credit counseling services. These are two very different programs, where taking a loan means just that, however, if you have a lot of debt or bad credit you may have to use your home as collateral or get a co-signer to get the loan, which may not be idea. Credit counseling services mean that you allow a company to negotiate with your creditors for lower payments and to eliminate your interest. The downside here is that you have to close all credit accounts or the credit counseling service will not work with you, also, this does show up as a negative on your credit report, although not as negative as not paying your debts.

There are a couple of other options that may not show up in your debt consolidation information like credit card debt settlement, which is paying a company to negotiate lump sum payments with your creditors at a value less than what you owe. Another is to just do it yourself, without the help of any companies. The upside here is that your credit is not affected if you continue to make payments on your accounts. The ultimate goal for any of these plans is to pay off your debt as quickly as possible.

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Debt Collection Process

No one is free from becoming indebted, but people with impulsive behaviors and compulsive buyers are the most prone to fall into great amounts of debt. After this happens, specialized agencies start the collection process.
The most common collectors are attorneys who, on a regular basis, collect debts. According to the 1986 amendment of the Fair Debt collection Practices Act, said lawyers are considered debt collectors.
Now we know who the collector is. So who is the debtor? A person who:

– owes a personal loan

– uses a credit card (let us presume that is a excessive use)

– is actually paying a home loan (home mortgage)
By law, how does the debt collection procedure work?
The collection responsibility rests on the hands of the designated attorney. How he collects money from the debtor is also his responsibility. No forceful means will be allowed. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act demands a fair treatment to any debtor. Lawyers cannot use any threatening method to collect the money involved.
Can a lawyer or collection agency harass me?
By law, no lawyer or collection agency can harass a debtor. According to the law, any debt collector is restricted from exercising any threat of violence or causing any damage to a debtor. Collection agencies are forbidden to publish any debtor’s name in public nor can they harass debtors by phone. People should know that the law is on their side.
Debt collectors are not supposed to:

– collect an amount greater than the original debt

– previously deposit a post-dated check

– introduce themselves as government workers

– take away your house or property or threaten to do so.

– make false statements on government policies

– force you to accept calls
Whenever a debt collector brakes the law by practicing any of the aforementioned activities, punishment can be severe. You could also sue these lawyers, and you have one year to start the process. After winning the lawsuit, you recover the money because of all the damage suffered. You also receive the court costs and attorney fees. The law may protect you from harassment from lawyers, but it will not prevent you from paying your debts.

Knowing the Real Facts About Debt Settlement

Many people tend to opt for debt settlement when they have excessive outstanding balances and they are unable to pay back. If you have intention to do so, I would like to remind you that there are 5 areas you need to consider before making your final decision.

Your Credit Score

Do you know that debt settlement will lower your credit score? It is within the range of 45 to 125 points. Besides the reduction on your credit rating, the information related to settlement will remain on your credit report for 7 years. If you already have bad credit, you should think twice before deciding for settlement. It is indeed difficult to get your credit back to the favorable rating within a short period.

The Cost Involved

Settling debt on your own doesn’t involve any cost. However, if you approach a professional service provider for assistance, you need to pay an excessive amount of service fee to get your debt negotiation process completed,

The Tax Matter

You will be enjoying debt reduction when your creditors agree to settle your debts at a lower amount. However, don’t be happy as the forgiven debt is taxable. You don’t save much from debt settlement.

The Legal Matter

When your creditors accept your proposed settlement offer, you need to make sure that they provide you with proper documentation, i.e. a written agreement with all the new terms stated on it. If you don’t have any proper documentation, you may face the risk where the debt collection agencies may still try to collect the balance of debt from you.

The Settlement Procedure

The whole debt negotiation process takes about 2 years and it involves offers and counter offers. A creditor will only consider to settle the debt when the debtors’ account is 90 days past due. Do you have time and patience to go for it?

Having a better understanding about the settlement concept will definitely assist you to make better decision. Don’t just settle your debt blindly without knowing the effects. For more information about debt settlement solutions and debt settlement companies, visit DebtSettlementEssentials.com.

Can Bankruptcy Chapter 13 Score Over A Debt Consolidation Program

Basically, a debt consolidation program allows a debtor to combine the total outstanding balances through a single payment method. Instead of making numerous and multiple payments on the credit card debts, one is able to make a single and low interest payment. This system may also help the debtor to organize the debts and to increase the credit score more conveniently. While there are numerous consumers who consider the debt consolidation method as a one stop solution to their debt problems; there are others who feel that, a debt consolidation program does not get to the essence of debts. However, there can be several occasions when a debtor might not qualify for a debt consolidation program; those who do not can think of the bankruptcy option particularly Chapter 13. Even by filing Chapter 13, one is able to consolidate huge debts, but the procedure may differ from the one that is used in a debt consolidation program. Let us study the differences and the benefits of both the processes:

Basically, Chapter 13 is a type of debt consolidation; since it is backed by a Federal Bankruptcy Code, a debtor can expect to get better advantages in this procedure.
As soon as Chapter 13 is filed, an automatic stay comes into effect. It is almost like a court based instruction which will prevent most of the debt collection efforts against the debtor. On the other hand, a debt consolidation method is not as powerful. Chapter 13 will stop such actions as a wage garnishment or a foreclosure which is forced on the debtor by the creditors.
While Chapter 13 allows each one of the debts to be combined into a monthly payment e.g. taxes, child support, car payments and mortgage. However, a debt consolidation program will allow the debtor to consolidate specific debts.
In a debt consolidation program, the creditors can only consider lowering the interest and reducing the balances; but in Chapter 13, if certain qualifications are met, a debtor can eliminate up to 90% of the debts. As a result of the reduction in the principal amount, the debts can be eliminated more quickly in chapter 13.
As far as Chapter 13 is concerned, a debtor will be obligated by court to represent the case in the best interest of the debtor; unlike debt consolidation, which is a privately run method, Chapter 13 is backed by legal requirements.
Chapter 13 is also convenient as it tackles the significant debts at first; but a debt consolidation company can penalize the debtors for delaying the unsecured debts.

Therefore Chapter 13 can be considered to be a better option than a debt consolidation program; however, there is a marked difference between the two, and the debtors should understand both the options before getting on with their debt issues.

Choosing a Debt Settlement Company That is Suitable For You

Getting into debt without a doubt is an easy task to do but what many find hard to do is to get out of it. People are left to fend for themselves and are usually stumbling blindly about trying to find a solution to their problems. Some turn to debt settlement companies to get assistance but deciding on acquiring the services of such companies can be quite a daunting task especially if you do not know where to start looking. The following are some guidelines which may help you in this matter:

Obviously the first thing which you must look into is the cost of the overall services so that you can estimate whether the whole thing is worth it or not. Look into the monthly fees which you will be required to pay to the company, if you feel that you can barely afford making such payments then it’s better that you look at other options or you will be facing more financial difficulties than you previously did. Usually if the total fees are more than 15% of your total debt then it is a clear sign that you should stay away from it.

The next thing which you will need to evaluate is whether the company is accredited by The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC). This organization basically sets the industry standard which will mean that the company that you are interested in signing up for are practising business under proper conduct and are successful in following the industry standards set by the organization.

You should also try to look into the success rate of the company that handles the debt settlements, while they are not just the sole indicator that a particular company should be evaluated upon nonetheless these statistics should provide you with an ease of mind of what you are getting yourself into. For more information about debt settlement companies and debt settlement online, visit DebtSettlementCompaniesTips.com.