FCAC spokeswoman Julie Hauser said that between last October and the end of March the agency received just 35 inquiries about
debt settlement, a number she calls «very low.»
But regulators and consumer advocates in the U.S. largely reject the notion that for - profit
debt settlement is a good industry with a few bad actors.
But
debt settlement doesn't work for everyone.
Although
debt settlement has been practiced informally for years, Cooper was among the first to pursue it exclusively in Canada.
Scott Hannah, another outspoken critic of advanced - fee
debt settlement, believes some U.S. firms are counting on it.
Known as
debt settlement, it's a process by which consumers stop paying unsecured creditors, wait months or even years until creditors have given up hope of collecting, then offer to settle outstanding balances for mere fractions of the amounts owing.
Trustees and counsellors have criticized
debt settlement publicly, asserting that they're left to pick up the pieces when
debt settlement companies fail.
«Those firms that were operating in the U.S. did get squeezed out,» says Henrietta Ross, executive director of the Ontario Association of Credit Counselling Services and an outspoken critic of
debt settlement.
That year Maine, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania outlawed debt adjustment, an industry that included «debt poolers,» the precursors to modern
debt settlement firms.
The new regulations would bring Ontario into line with other Canadian provinces, like Alberta and Manitoba, and the United States, where
debt settlement ran wild for years before sparking a huge federal crackdown in 2010.
The proposed regulations, put out for public comment Jan. 4, would ban high upfront fees and restrict the kinds of contracts
debt settlement companies can offer, effectively outlawing the business model most popular with, among others, Cambridge Life Solutions, a company Matt McClearn and I wrote about in this magazine last fall.
For now, Ontario's proposed
debt settlement crackdown is just that, a proposal.
The Ontario government announced plans last month to bring in new laws that would curb
the debt settlement industry in that province.
Those proposals speak less to
debt settlement companies themselves, in most cases, than they do to so - called «lead generators» — companies that advertise
debt settlement, sign - up potential clients and then sell their information to back - end service providers.
The new rules would also, interestingly, restrict the kinds of advertising
debt settlement companies can use:
There's no guarantee the new Premier, Kathleen Wynne, considers
debt settlement a priority, even if she supports the new regulations in principle.
In fact, according to a report by the New York City Bar Association, complaints to the Attorney General in that state about
debt settlement actually went up in 2011, after the new regulations came into force.
Most
debt settlement ads you see online are from lead generators, not the companies providing the actual debt services.
Even if the proposal passes,
debt settlement will likely continue, in one way or another.
Cambridge Life Solutions is not the only company in
the debt settlement business, nor is it the only one using the model now banned in the U.S..
They offer
both a debt settlement program and a non-profit debt management program by just calling you can find out more 877-929-1455.
FTC and state investigations in the U.S. have found that less than 10 per cent of consumers typically complete
debt settlement programs there, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Allopenna says it doesn't make sense to compare the U.S. — where he says
the debt settlement market «spun out of control» — to Canada.
So begins an ad for Cambridge Life Solutions,
a debt settlement company that's been operating in Canada since late 2010.
But the practice of charging upfront fees for
debt settlement has a muddied history in the U.S.
It's called
debt settlement.
As consumer debt exploded there,
the debt settlement business grew with it and complaints about the sector soon followed.
We often hear about credit card
debt settlement, but can you successfully negotiate and get your student loan balance settled before the problem gets to that point?
Just as hedge funds jumped into the fray to complicate Argentina's
debt settlement, so speculators are trying to make a killing off Ukraine's financial corpse, seeing this gray area opened up.
Debt settlement companies will negotiate with creditors on your behalf to lower the amount you owe.
If, for example, you received an inheritance, won the lottery, or were granted a big raise at work, it'll be harder to prove the financial hardship necessary to seek out
a debt settlement to begin with.
Once a credit counselor analyzes your financial situation, they may suggest a variety of solutions including budgeting, debt management plans, debt consolidation,
debt settlement or even bankruptcy in certain cases.
Be aware that many
debt settlement companies are outright scams.
Checking the National Student Loan Data System as well as consulting your credit report are two essential resources to avoid falling behind on your loans, ensuring that default and student loan
debt settlement never enter the picture.
International
debt settlement rules were thrown into a turmoil last year when U.S. Judge Griesa gave a highly idiosyncratic interpretation of the pari passu clause with regard to Argentina's sovereign debts.
Technically you don't have to enlist the service of a debt relief, debt consolidation or
debt settlement company.
A student loan
debt settlement can have a negative impact on your credit report and FICO score, since it indicates that you've gone into both delinquency and default on a loan.
You may also owe taxes on any unpaid interest forgiven as part of
a debt settlement.
We generally advise individuals to avoid
debt settlement programs.
A handful of studies found that half to two - thirds of consumers enrolled in
a debt settlement plans cancelled within two years.
The success rate for
debt settlement is abysmal as well.
Some creditors refuse to work with
some debt settlement companies, so many of your debts remain outstanding.
Creditors will typically accept
debt settlement only after you stop making payments, which can significantly damage your credit score for several years.
Some debt settlement companies promise more than they deliver.
If you think you're speaking with a credit counselor but are instead speaking with
a debt settlement company, for example, you could wind up receiving advice that doesn't help you reach your goals.
Additionally, if you work with
a debt settlement company, its fee may eat away at some of the savings you'd get from settling your debt.
Debt settlement: Under this method, you'll arrange to pay less than you owe to your creditors, but it can hurt your financial future.
In many cases,
the debt settlement company won't be able to settle the debt for you anyway.
Canadian
Debt Settlement Leads The latest trend is for Canadians to seek help from
debt settlement companies they find online, and the wave of people needing debt help is huge!
For those companies looking to land
debt settlement leads, contact Purple Leads at www.purpleleads.com or at 888-680-8282.