ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
How to Choose a Debt Settlement Company
As consumer debt continues to spiral out of control, debt relief is fast becoming a major concern for many American's. In 1999, American's made $1.1 Trillion worth of credit card purchases. In 2001, American credit card debt hovered around $690 billion. Unfortunately, in today's unstable economic conditions, many American's are being forced to turn to credit cards as a way to extend their income. Consumer debt is at an all-time high and American's need to know what they can do to get out of debt. Often, consumers are seeking the services of professional debt settlement companies to help regain control of their finances. However, prior to making such an important decision, it is important to fully understand who you are doing business with. The most important thing you can do when making the decision get help with your debt related problems is to be an informed consumer. It is absolutely critical to do your research. Do not rush into things; this can cause more harm that good. Prior to signing on with any Debt Settlement company, make sure you ask the following questions and consider their responses: * How much does the service cost? For example, many debt settlement companies request that you pay your first three to four months of payments to them and set aside nothing for debt settlement. You want to choose a company that allows you to beginning saving for settlement from the day the program starts. A company that does this will most likely have your best interest in mind. * Does the Debt Settlement Company you are considering report to any of the three major credit bureaus about your enrollment in their program? Traditionally, debt settlement companies do not report to credit bureaus; however, I have heard of a few that do. Creditors will normally elect to report derogatory information on your credit report, but the debt settlement company you do business with should not. * Does the company offer any type of service guarantee? If so, what is the guarantee? If a company can not get settlement on your debt, you should never have to pay a fee, or the fee should be fully refunded. Additionally, steer clear of any debt settlement company that promises a quick fix to your debt related problems or tells you that debt settlement will not have a negative effect on your credit. Upon enrolling in a debt settlement program, your credit score will probably get worse before it gets better. This is a minor price to pay for being given a substantial debt settlement and not having to file for bankruptcy! However, it is important to realize that if you want to maintain a "good credit rating", you have to pay you bills on time; anything else will cause your credit score will suffer. * Does the debt settlement company you are considering have IAPDA certified debt arbitrators? IAPDA certified debt arbitrators possess a solid understanding of the laws governing the Debt Settlement industry and fully understand your current financial situation. * Does the debt settlement company you are considering offer any type of bankruptcy assistance should debt settlement not work out for you? For example, some debt settlement companies will offer a refund of some of the program costs to help pay for a bankruptcy attorney of your choice. Of course, the funds would have to be paid to a licensed attorney and not directly back to you. Again, a company that does this will most likely have your best interest in mind. * Does the debt settlement company you are considering belong to the local Chamber of Commerce? If so, is the Chamber an accredited member of the Chamber of Commerce of the Unites States? This type of affiliation will help ensure that the company is conducting business in a proper manner. * Is the debt settlement company you are considering a member of the Better Business Bureau? If they do not advertise this, you can always inquire with the BBB first. The BBB is a great way to determine if the company has a list of prior complaints. Any company with more than a few complaints per year is a company that you do not want to do business with. Alan Barnes IAPDA Certified Debt Arbitrator
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
A History of Money and Banking Secrets That Banks Dont Want Published A History of Money and Trade Mr. Cheapies Frugal Budget Tips So you feel like a hamster spinning your wheel? The faster you run, the faster the wheel spins. Just when you get a raise, you notice the price of hamster wheels jumps! Credit Card Debt Elimination Credit card debt elimination can be done with a good plan and a little patience. The important thing is to find what works best for you and stick to your plan. The rewards are well worth it and you'll save yourself a lot of money in the process. Bankruptcy Your Best Bet? Filing bankruptcy is a common practice among the U.S. Over 2 million people file for bankruptcy every year. So many families today are swimming in debt, which is not surprising with the amount of credit that is being offered. If you pay your bills, you're given the opportunity to run up more bills. For young people, this is often too much responsibility to handle. Many people choose bankruptcy in order to gain a fresh start. Senate Passes New Bankruptcy Law The United States Senate passed a law on March 10, 2005 that changes the bankruptcy laws in America. It is expected that the House of Representatives will look to pass the same bill in April, which will send it to President Bush for his signature. Since it is well known that President Bush will sign the bill into law, a new bankrupcty law is just one step away from ratification. This law makes it much harder for Americans to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. So for those of you trying to decide whether to file bankruptcy in the next few weeks, realize you may not have the same options in a couple of months time. Bankruptcy - The New Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne's book The Scarlet Letter states in Chapter 2, "On the breast of her gown, in fine red cloth, surrounded with an elaborate embroidery and fantastic flourishes of gold thread, appeared the letter A." The letter A stood for the word adulterer and represented one of the worst insults in society. One would have thought that today we are a lot more civilized than 200 years ago, but unfortunately it is not true. Society has abolished the letter A alright, but it has latched onto a new one, the letter B, which stands for bankruptcy. People do not see it on their chest and think it does not affect them, but it does. Bankruptcy is as insulting and as damaging to one's financial, emotional, mental, and even physical well- being as any major failure or stigma. Two Ways To Debt Relief There are many debt relief programs out there both off line and online. Sometimes it can be difficult to chose one from the other. To make a reasonable choice, you need to know The First Step To Getting Out Of Debt: Make The Commitment! These days, getting into debt is easy. New Bankruptcy Law ? Targeting the Wrong People? Last April, President Bush enthusiastically signed into law the oddly-named Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act. This bill, representing the biggest overhaul of bankruptcy law in twenty-five years, was written in order to discourage "bankruptcy of convenience." Proponents of the bill, which included the credit card industry, say that the bill is necessary in order to stop an avalanche of bankruptcy filings by drug users and compulsive shoppers and gamblers. The law makes it harder to have debts wiped away, requires credit counseling for those considering bankruptcy, and holds attorneys responsible for paperwork errors by their clients in bankruptcy cases. The net result will probably be chaos, as fewer attorneys will handle bankruptcy cases, credit counselors will raise their fees, and more consumers with problem debt will be clueless as to what they should do next. Adding to the confusion are some new statistics that suggest that a large number of bankruptcies that are thought to be personal are actually business bankruptcies. As a result, the new law may be unfairly targeting consumers for punishment when they are not actually the biggest part of the problem. Worse, it could be harming small businesses. Credit Card Debt Freedom is Possible Credit card debt have you drowning financially? You're not alone. The average American household carries $9,205 in credit card debt, according to CardWeb, an online industry tracker. Not managed properly, this debt can come to eat up all of your disposable income leaving little or nothing for bare necessities. Some people in this situation respond by charging more but that will only get you further in trouble. Debt Help and Advice for the UK At some time or another during our lives most of us will overspend and get into debt. Sometimes we can get our finances back on an even keel by cutting down on a few luxuries. Debt Reduction, a Necessary Endeavour Massive debt is something many Americans face. Debt reduction is now becoming more and more of a necessity. Even a low amount of debt can cost you a lot in the end and it can take a very long time to pay off. An example: Let's say you have $4000 in credit card debt and your interest rate is 14%. If you only make the minimum payment each month, it will take you 21 years to pay it off and you will have paid over $5100 in interest. Doesn't that sound awful? This is why you may be interested in debt reduction. The Credit Card Debt Termination Scam "Legally terminate credit card debt! You can be debt-free in 4-6 months!" Advertisements like this are for a new type of program that has spread via the Internet over the past few years. It's called "Credit Card Debt Termination," and victims are paying $1,000s for this bogus service. One victim I spoke with lost more than $15,000! In this article, I'll review the principles behind this program and explain exactly why it's a scam to be avoided. Budgeting and Debt Management Debt management (specifically unsecured) is the first step to taking control of your money! Add a household budgeting plan and you've got a powerful tool for money management. Stop Debt Collectors Can you stop debt collectors ? . . .You better know you can British Families and Debt There is current concern from the Bank of England that British families are getting deeper into debt, however, it has been said that lenders are putting themselves at risk because people are now more willing to make themselves bankrupt. New Bankruptcy Law ? Five Essential Things to Know Last April, Congress passed the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, the most sweeping reform of our nation's bankruptcy laws in more than twenty-five years. Proponents of the bill argue that most consumers who file for bankruptcy do so simply because they do not wish to pay their bills. That is an arguable point, as studies show that most bankruptcy filers have suffered illness, injury or job loss. Regardless of the reasons, Congress has made the changes, and millions of Americans will be affected when the new law takes effect on October 15. What is Bankruptcy? Personal bankruptcy is a legal way to give people with overwhelming debt a fresh financial start. However, it is important to realize that certain forms of debt, such as student loans, are not forgiven through the bankruptcy process. Bankruptcy can have a devastating impact to your credit report and credit score. Bankruptcy will often remain on your credit report for as long as 10 years. During this time it can be next to impossible to obtain loans or any type of credit. If you are able to find a lender that is willing to do business with you, you will pay the highest possible interest rates allowed by law. Currency Trading Fee Concept Troubles with Global Economy; Do you see future problems with our global economic plans to make a one world system, where free trade and prosperity can rein the world over. Many world leaders have agreed a one-world system is best for all. It is in the interest of third world and in the interest of our Multi-National Conglomerates, their stockholders and the citizens of the country for us all to move up. This can be done with a few changes. Many are quite confident that if we look at some of the problems of the past and manage the World Bank this river can flow in greater volumes and at quicker speeds. Learn The 15 Debt Elimination Steps You Must Take Immediately! What Everybody Needs To Know...Learn The Truth About Debt Elimination in 2005!
|
|
|
|
|
