Jamie Hribal

Debt Settlement - Is it For You?

A clarification for individuals looking for advice in financial matters. My goal is to inform the masses with answers to questions I hear frequently. Hopefully the information provided herein will be useful to you or someone you know.

Okay, lets face it, today's economy is not the same as it was 20 years ago or even 5 years ago for that matter. The U.S. dollar is the weakest it has ever been, and statistically we are not looking that great either. Nationally, 36.5 million people were below the poverty level in 2006. This is even before the foreclosure rates spiked wildly. With all the buzz about reducing debt, more and more people are researching viable options to avoid making high interest payments.

Now, I will tell you that debt settlement is the fastest way to get out of debt and has the least impact on one's credit rating. This program is designed to minimize the amount paid and substantially decrease the time line of becoming debt free. The object is not to increase a persons credit score, although after all accounts are settled it is relatively easy to have a great score afterwards, usually within 6-10 months.

Who this program benefits?

Debt settlement is for individuals and families who are or will be falling behind in unsecured payments. It benefits people considering bankruptcy, people that can only make the minimum payments on their credit card debt and/or medical bills and people that can't qualify for a loan to avoid falling behind. People experiencing financial hardships such as divorce, hospitalization, loss of family, etc. would ideally be in legitimate scenarios to qualify.

Who should not consider this option?

Unfortunately, not everyone will qualify for this program. Individuals with secured loans; meaning there is collateral tied to the loan, tax liens, student loans, alimony payments, mortgages, and wage garnishment would need to seek another option. Furthermore, people that are simply looking for a scapegoat to get out of paying debt but can easily make payments (i.e. people not facing hardships) need not apply; nor should the debt company be willing to work with you, if they are reputable.

Things to consider when seeking help:

It can be challenging to find accredited companies in the debt settlement field due to the vast amount of them nationwide and the lack of regulation throughout. Always ask for "letters of settlement" from accounts that the company has settled for other clients. This ensures that they do have a track record with the creditors/ collections agencies. The costs and risks should be discussed prior to signing any agreements. Also, ensure that this company will give free consultations, not just put you on hold for several minutes and immediately begin enrolling you into their services. Be sure to ask plenty of questions.

Some good questions to ask:

- "What is your client retention rate?"
- "How do your fees/charges work?"
- "Are your fees upfront or monthly?"
- "Are you members of the B.B.B.?"
- "Are you certified with either U.S.O.B.A./ I.A.P.D.A./T.A.S.C.?"

The last thing I would like to mention is that if enrolling in any program make sure that YOU are going to stick to the program you have chosen. One of the main reasons people frown upon debt settlement companies is because of their own lack of discipline to stay enrolled. Therefore, payment agreements return to the initial terms from your creditors or can increase and some terminations fees will most likely apply.

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