What appeals to most
consumers about debt settlement is that they can eliminate their debt faster and actually pay back less than what is owed.
Unless and until the CCAs wake up to the fact that they need to collectively start educating
consumers about the debt settlement option, the entire industry is doomed to irrelevance as the existing DMP solution becomes replaced by internal bank programs (and consumers taking matters in their own hands via all the information readily available online nowadays).
Not exact matches
As
consumer debt exploded there, the
debt settlement business grew with it and complaints
about the sector soon followed.
But neither a credit counselor or a
debt settlement company can legally advise the
consumer about bankruptcy without running into UPL.
Fraudulent credit card
debt settlement programs have become such a problem in New York that the city's Department of
Consumer Affairs (DCA) is warning
consumers about using them.
Consumers who choose to go the
debt settlement route should have a clear understanding
about the timing of
debt settlement.
I speak with
consumers daily
about the option of credit card
debt settlement.
The Better Business Bureau is a great place to start because many
consumers go here when they need to complain
about a
debt settlement scam.
However, Attorney General Cuomo's Office has found that many of these
debt settlement plans are often flawed and, based upon complaints, often mislead
consumers about the nature of their services.
Jennifer Osborne is listed as a past director of operations at Phoenix Media Agency and is now the marketing director of a
debt settlement company
consumers have been warned
about, Cambridge Life Solutions.
Now you were talking
about offering this
settlement and how that all works, I'd like to get into a bit of that but we're going to take a quick break first, and we're going to come back and talk more
about consumer proposals with Ted Michalos here on
Debt Free in 30.
For Texas
consumers struggling with
debt, learning more
about Texas
debt settlement or
debt consolidation can reduce stress, eliminate the collection calls and help them get a fresh start toward financial freedom.
Debt settlement Florida program is for
consumers that are experiencing a financial hardship (i.e., medical condition, divorce, reduced income, unexpected expenses came up, etc...) A financial hardship can be just
about any incident that occurred which resulted in stress on your finances.
We will find out if you qualify for
debt settlement,
consumer credit counseling or
debt validation services in
about ten minutes, that's all it takes!
New regulations governing
debt settlement and other
debt help services are now in effect as the result of
consumers complaining
about being ripped off by scams that require up - front payment and offer little or no
debt help.
During your consultation you will learn
about each program including
debt settlement,
debt validation, credit repair,
consumer credit counseling and
debt consolidation — you will become a financial wizard by the time we're done teaching you!
Thanks for your online message
about credit counselling,
debt settlement and
consumer protection.
Before you get a credit card loan, learn
about all of your
debt relief options; including,
debt settlement,
debt consolidation,
debt validation and
consumer credit counseling.
This term will apply to whatever applicable law each state has regulating a wide range of services from simply charging a fee to talk to
consumers over the phone
about their
debts right through credit counseling,
debt management plans and
debt settlement plans.
C.
Debt Settlement Companies May Mislead
Consumers About The
Settlement Process And Its Adverse Effect On Their Credit Rating.
Recently Dave Leuthold, the executive director of TASC, and I have been communicating
about the news that TASC has come out, be it a bit begrudgingly, in support of the new Federal Trade Commission telemarketing sales rules (TSR) that regulate the
debt relief and
debt settlement industry and protect
consumers.
The primary
consumer protection problem areas that have given rise to the States» actions include: (1) unsubstantiated claims of
consumer savings; (2) deceptive representations
about the length of time necessary to complete a
debt relief program; (3) misleading or failing to adequately inform
consumers that they will be subject to continued collection efforts, including lawsuits, and that their account balances will increase due to extended nonpayment under the program; (4) deceptive disparagement of
consumer credit counseling; (5) deceptive disparagement of bankruptcy as an alternative for debtors; (6) lack of screening and analysis to determine suitability of
debt relief programs for individual debtors; (7) the collection of substantial up - front fees so the
debt relief company gains even if it fails to perform; (8) lack of transparency and information for
consumers as to payment of fees, status of accounts, and communications with creditors; (9) significant delays in active negotiation or engagement with creditors, coupled with prohibitions on direct
consumer communications with creditors; and (10), in the case of
debt settlement companies, basing savings claims (and
settlement fees) not on the original account balance, but on the inflated amount due (including late fees and default rates of interest) at the time of
settlement.
Two - hundred thirty - nine
consumers filed comments
about their experiences with
debt settlement companies, 193 of which expressed positive views.
«I'm looking forward to talking
about how
debt settlement continues to be a reliable option for
consumers in
debt as well as for creditors,» Leuthold said.
Based on my experience in covering stories
about debt settlement abusive practices it seems like the advance fee ban initiated by the FTC goes a long way to protect
consumers but is not so hard and fast that there are not some small allowances given to
debt relief providers.
It is not uncommon to see
debt settlement sites make claims that
debt settlement is faster, cheaper and preferential to bankruptcy without giving
consumers the facts
about bankruptcy in order to make an informed decision.
SRSOA is here to help
consumers make an informed decision
about choosing a
debt settlement company.
As they say, «SRSOA is here to help
consumers make an informed decision
about choosing a
debt settlement company.»
Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Acting Secretary of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) Michael T. McRaith warned
consumers facing significant credit card
debt about the risks of
debt settlement offers as she announced two lawsuits filed against
debt settlement firms.
Call 866-376-9846 to learn more
about consumer credit counseling,
debt settlement,
debt consolidation and
debt validation.
Consumer credit counseling services or companies, along with the best
debt settlement companies, will assist
consumers with learning
about all their options.
The Maryland
Consumer Right Coalition reached out to me to let me know
about upcoming hearings in Maryland that involve
debt settlement.
If the
consumer cared
about money they would not have racked up the bills, fallen behind, paid a credit counselor hundred if not thousands of dollars, would not have thrown a ton of cash at
debt settlement companies, and a host of other things.