The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to research
debt settlement firms as diligently as possible before choosing to enter a debt settlement program.
But if you choose to use
a debt settlement firm as a middleman, take note of a recent rule overhaul by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Skip using
a debt settlement firm as a middle man to avoid fees or potential scams.
For exactly the reasons you outline, creditors and agencies have taken an adversarial stance against the industry at large and come to view the involvement of
a debt settlement firm as being a hindrance rather than a benefit.
Not exact matches
If we stick with 50 % are then there is this bit, «While this adoption is significant, still, roughly half of the
firms responding to the surveys each of the past two years indicated that they still did not work with
debt settlement companies
as part of their collection strategy.»
«While this adoption is significant, still, roughly half of the
firms responding to the surveys each of the past two years indicated that they still did not work with
debt settlement companies
as part of their collection strategy.»
In October 2007, Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler announced that his office's Consumer Protection Division had reached a
settlement with Richard Brennan, the Law Offices of Richard Brennan, LLC, and a related company called American Telecommunications Solutions LLC (collectively referred to
as the Brennan Law
Firm) in connection with their
debt management and
debt settlement services.
The
debt settlement firm, amongst other things, will act
as a middleman between you and your creditors, help you accumulate the money for your
settlements and negotiate and pay the
settlements when the time comes.
For example, a
debt negotiation company who gets your creditors to accept a
settlement payment on your account is better known
as a
debt settlement firm.
In many ways they are,
as the differences between how
debt settlement law
firms and companies are quite stark.
Some
debt settlement firms have been making face - to - face presentations and charging a fee upfront but these
firms are exempt from the Telemarketing Sales Rule
as long
as they have a face - to - face meeting with the consumer before the consumer agrees to use the
firm and before any payment by the consumer to the
firm.
RIP - OFF ALERT:
Debt -
settlement firms are allegedly masquerading
as law
firms and collecting retainer fees with the promise of reducing credit...
RIP - OFF ALERT:
Debt - settlement firms are allegedly masquerading as law firms and collecting retainer fees with the promise of reducing credit card debt to pennies on the doll
Debt -
settlement firms are allegedly masquerading
as law
firms and collecting retainer fees with the promise of reducing credit card
debt to pennies on the doll
debt to pennies on the dollars.
Unfortunately, the rules also left what USOBA views
as gaping loophole, which allows makeshift law
firms and nonprofits to continue operating
debt settlement companies.
As a final step to remediate
debt problems and avoid bankruptcy, a nonprofit
debt settlement firm negotiates with creditors to reduce what you owe in exchange for a workable payment plan that you commit to.
Since Doan Law
Firm is recognized nationwide
as one of the Largest Bankruptcy Filing
Firms, filing thousands of Bankruptcy Cases each year, creditors really listen to us when we propose
Debt Settlement to resolve
debts with a token amount of money,
as opposed to Bankruptcy where they get nothing at all.
'' If a
firm accepts a customer's offer to settle a
debt, it must communicate formally and unequivocally that the offer accompanied by the relevant payment has been accepted
as settlement of the customer's liability.»
Cuomo's office issued subpoenas to 14
debt settlement companies and 1 law
firm as a part of this broader investigation.
In some cases, the
debt settlement firm may be able to get your credit card company to accept
as little
as 50 % of the
debt you owe them.
In the vast majority of cases the
debt settlements come within the estimates given by the credit card
debt relief
firms as well.
Payment to the
debt relief
firm can be on a flat fee basis calculated
as a percentage of the total
debt or a percentage based on the money saved through
debt settlements.
Firms who perform this type of work may identify themselves
as debt management,
debt reduction,
debt relief,
debt workout,
debt settlement or a host of other names inferring they help with
debt even sometimes including
debt consolidation.
While the federal government in many ways regulates
debt settlement in addition to state governments, it's important that you
as the consumer follow up with any
firm you work with to find out if they are able to legally provide services in your state.
One sign that a
debt settlement firm is reputable is that it is a member of an industry trade association such as The Association of Settlement Companies, of which Garneau and Schumann - Dodson are boar
settlement firm is reputable is that it is a member of an industry trade association such
as The Association of
Settlement Companies, of which Garneau and Schumann - Dodson are boar
Settlement Companies, of which Garneau and Schumann - Dodson are board members.
Any reputable
debt settlement firm endorses the special purpose account
as the most effective method of client savings.
I have a
debt relief law
firm that offers all kinds of
debt relief help such
as student loan
debt relief, credit card
debt settlement, credit repair,
debt lawsuit defense and more.
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.
This couple forwarded a copy of the contract they signed for a
debt settlement option with a
debt settlement company, which is NOT the same thing
as a
debt settlement law
firm.
As bankruptcy attorneys, the
firm has over 20 years of experience helping people out of
debt, either through a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or through
debt settlement negotiations.
Placing between 175 - 225 calls per day
as a
Debt Collector for numerous financial
firms, assisting borrowers in clearing their breach accounts through proper loan assessment, renegotiation, and
settlement of outstanding balances.