Over the past few
years debt settlement has been in the news, not always in a good way.
Keep in mind, if I only knew about 3 - and 4 -
year debt settlement programs as the only available alternatives for debt settlement I would offer the exact same waterfall of advice.
Not exact matches
Fortune says he spent
years consulting for other
debt -
settlement businesses, and he eventually decided to launch his own.
Although
debt settlement has been practiced informally for
years, Cooper was among the first to pursue it exclusively in Canada.
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.
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.
And for the first time since the final quarter of 2011, China's
debt - to - GDP ratio didn't increase and stayed unchanged at 255.9 percent in the second quarter this
year, latest data by the Bank for International
Settlements showed.
As the latest Annual Report from the Bank of International
Settlements states: «In most advanced economies, the fiscal budget excluding interest payments would need 20 consecutive
years of surpluses exceeding 2 % of GDP just to bring the
debt - to - GDP ratio back to its pre-crisis level.»
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.
A handful of studies found that half to two - thirds of consumers enrolled in a
debt settlement plans cancelled within two
years.
Creditors will typically accept
debt settlement only after you stop making payments, which can significantly damage your credit score for several
years.
While a
debt settlement can show up on your credit report for seven
years, a bankruptcy will show up on your credit report for seven to 10
years:
However, during September some global institutions voiced concerns about the speed at which China has accumulated
debt — which has risen from 147 % of GDP in 2008 to 255 % in March of this
year according to the Bank for International
Settlements — could hamper the country's ability to maintain its current level of growth.
I am 23
years old i own a credit repair /
debt settlement company and thinking about opening up a repo company.
If you tried
debt settlement and
debt consolidation, and neither is able to eliminate your
debt in less than five
years, bankruptcy is a viable alternative.
Other possible
debt - relief choices include a
debt management program or
debt settlement, but both of those typically need 3 - 5
years to reach a resolution and neither one guarantees all your
debts will be settled when you finish.
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.»
A couple of
years ago I wrote an article asking, pleading really, for any
debt settlement company (DSC) to explain to me how they could ever possibly «do whatever is in the best interests of the consumer» when they are unable to give any legal advice in what are inherently legal matters.
The majority of credit counseling and
debt settlement websites I've reviewed over the past
years contain misinformation and just plain wrong information about bankruptcy.
Debt settlement remains on you credit reports for 7
years (the same as filing Chapter 13) 2.
«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.»
Creditors will typically accept
debt settlement only after you stop making payments, which can significantly damage your credit score for several
years.
You can't even begin to rebuild your credit score until the entire
debt settlement process is complete, and that could be
years.
The entire
debt settlement process usually takes between one and three
years.
The fees are minimal, and much lower than you'll pay a
settlement or consolidation company — and you'll pay off your
debts, typically in less than five
years, without all the damage to your credit and credit scores.
One downside to
debt settlement is that the forgiven amount will probably be reported as income to the IRS and you'll owe taxes at the end of the
year.
Thats right, a 720 credit score is possible within 2
years of
Debt Settlement!
The other major benefit is saving time and with a
debt settlement program you can realistically look to become
debt free within two
years or less.
You stuck with your
debt settlement like a trooper for two
years.
You must keep in mind that
debt settlement is not a new process it has been going on for many
years; once you get past the emotional level of being in default you will come to understand that it is just part of doing business for the creditor.
A couple of
years ago I wrote an article asking, pleading really, for any
debt settlement company (DSC) to explain to me how they could ever possibly «do whatever is in the best interests of the consumer»...
Studies show that between one - half and two - thirds of people enrolled in a
debt settlement program drop out within two
years.
For many
years debt relief plan providers, such as nonprofit credit counselors, and
debt settlement service providers, have been seen as two separate and distinct structures in the
debt relief services industry.
Despite the fact that this option is perfectly legal and been in practice for many
years before the recession,
debt settlement is strong medicine for your
debt problems.
A
year ago this month the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) barred
debt settlement companies that used telemarketing from accepting up - front fees.
Debt settlement can run 3 - 5
years.
Proceed with caution if a
debt settlement firm promises to close your case in a
year or less.
A good
debt settlement company will complete the
settlement within one to two
years and under four.
If I had known
debt settlement could have been this easy I would have done it
years ago.
One likely benefit of
debt settlement over bankruptcy is that
debt settlement falls off your credit report generally three
years sooner.
Debt settlement will only remain on your credit report for up to seven
years.
Experience is key in
debt settlement, so make sure the company you choose has been around for a number of
years and is reputable.
You might consider
debt settlement if you're experiencing financial difficulty, you can't pay off the
debt on your own in 2 - 4
years or you're on the brink of bankruptcy.
Debt settlement is probably the next best choice if you can settle all your
debts within two
years or less.
If the consumer chooses to participate in
debt management programs,
debt settlement or
debt consolidation, it is wise to allow a 3 - to 5 -
year window to complete the program and eliminate
debt.
Under a
settlement with the FTC, GC Services will pay a civil penalty of $ 700,000, stop violating the FTC Act and the Fair
Debt Collections Practices Act, and maintain records — for at least three
years — to show they're in compliance.
Debt settlement services can save you the most money and get you out of debt in the fastest possible time - frame (debt - free in under 3 - years) but will have the worst effect on your cre
Debt settlement services can save you the most money and get you out of
debt in the fastest possible time - frame (debt - free in under 3 - years) but will have the worst effect on your cre
debt in the fastest possible time - frame (
debt - free in under 3 - years) but will have the worst effect on your cre
debt - free in under 3 -
years) but will have the worst effect on your credit.
Options include consumer credit counseling,
debt validation,
debt settlement; — and a new
debt relief program just came out this
year that is for credit card
debt and can eliminate all of your interest.
So if you pursue the
debt settlement route you'll pay $ 6,000 in fees, risk being sued by your creditors, wind up in collections, hurt your credit rating and take two to four
years to attempt to settle your
debt.