Debt Settlement Resources

When it comes to finances, sometimes it’s easy to get in too deep, find yourself deep in debt, and not know how to get out of the situation. If it gets to be too much, it may be a good idea to get professional help. Debt management companies can be the answer to get you back on your feet, whether you’re just beginning to get into trouble and don’t think you need help, or even if you’re overwhelmed and on the verge on bankruptcy.

Debt management companies will work with you to make a financial plan that you can live with and that will satisfy your debtors. Most kinds of unsecured debt qualify for mediation through a debt management company, including money owed to the IRS, medical bills, credit card bills, student loans, and utility bills. Debt management companies can also help with “credit repair,” making sure everything on your credit report is accurate.

A good debt management company will usually provide several services. They will examine your income and expenses and work with you to determine a livable budget while allocating a set amount to put in a special account each month that will go toward paying your debt. Counseling clients on income management is also a part of the services they offer. A “debt management plan,” or DMP, in writing should be provided to clients.

Creditors are used to working with debt management companies, and will cooperate with them to create a repayment plan. It is in the creditor’s best interest to have your debt paid, and they will often waive fees, lower interest rates, and reduce monthly payments to ensure the debt is paid. Money you deposit into the specified account is then used to pay the creditors on a regular basis- monthly, semi-monthly, or weekly.

Collection agencies and creditors will stop calling for payment and stop sending bills when you work with a debt management company. They know that by working with the debt management company, they are more likely to be paid, and are more than happy to make arrangements.

When you choose a debt management company, check with the Better Business Bureau in the company’s city and make sure they are accredited. Carefully read the service agreement and study their fee structure. Remember that Non-Profit just means the company doesn’t pay taxes. Ask friends for referrals; word of mouth is a good indicator of reliability, and a reliable company can turn a nightmare into relief.

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If your debt has grown beyond your control, an Individual Voluntary Arrangement, or IVA, could be the solution that saves you from bankruptcy. While there are advantages with an IVA, there are many disadvantages as well, so it’s best to investigate all of your options carefully before deciding on a plan.

To qualify for an IVA, you must be at least 15,000 in debt and you must have a regular income. If your income doesn’t leave anything left over after your essential monthly bills, bankruptcy may be the better option. An IVA is a legally binding agreement arranged through an insolvency practitioner between you and your creditors, and can last for up to five years.

With an IVA, your insolvency practitioner meets with your creditors and presents them with a plan of repayment. The creditors will usually agree to plan to reduce your debt to pence per pound, sometimes up to 75% less than the original debt. At least 3/4 of your creditors must agree to accept the plan for it to become legal. If they don’t, the practitioner must amend the terms until an agreement is reached. Once it is approved, you pay a monthly sum that is split between the creditors. Part of the insolvency practitioner’s fees will come from that monthly sum.

An IVA can have many advantages. You do not risk losing assets like your home during an IVA, your debt can be considerably lowered, interest charges cease, and it is usually less expensive than a bankruptcy. Payments you make toward your debt are determined by your income and can change with it. However, just like bankruptcy, an IVA will stay on your credit file for six years. Unlike bankruptcy, a debtor in an IVA can legally obtain credit if a lender will give it.

Although less costly than bankruptcy, compared to other debt solutions, an IVA can be expensive. Insolvency practitioner fees are high. If you choose this method, be prepared to have your finances closely scrutinized for the duration, and be prepared to explain any income anomalies to the insolvency practitioner. Also, be prepared to hand over an extra money that comes your way during the agreement, like pay bonuses or inheritances. If you should fail to meet the IVA terms, you may be left with bankruptcy as your only alternative.

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With the excess lending practices of the last few decades, before the recession caught up to us, many people have found themselves in deep waters financially. After all, it’s easy to spend money offered to you today that you hope to have in the future to pay back. But what if that money offered gets you so far into debt that you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? Whom can you turn to for help with your debt?

Debt repayment is not a “one size fits all” kind of plan. You have options, but only you can determine which the best for your circumstances is. There are debt management companies, debt consolidation companies and loans, or you can try to do it yourself. Examine your credit report so you know exactly where you stand. Can you handle repayment on your own? Do you need professional help and how much will pay for it? Determine what affect each kind of repayment will have on your credit.

You will have to contact your creditors to make self-payment arrangements if you decide to go it alone. Most credit card companies and creditors are more than happy to work with you to make payment arrangements. They may even offer a settlement arrangement that could cut your bill in half. While this will negatively affect your credit score, it does have advantages. It can free up money to pay other debts and could save you from bankruptcy. If you do this for several of your debts, you could save thousands of dollars.

A debt management company can be a great tool to get debt under control. A debt management company will examine your finances and create a DMP, or debt management plan for you, contact your creditors for you to work out a repayment plan, and help you determine an amount you can pay each month for your debts. This amount will go either into a special account or directly to the debt management company to pay on your behalf. Fees charged by debt management companies vary and some are less than reputable, so be sure to research the company and examine any agreements they offer.

When you work with a debt settlement company, they will make the debt settlement arrangement with your creditors for you, and if they are good, they will get you better terms than you would if you tried on your own. They will however, charge fees for their services, usually based on the amount you owe. Try to find a reputable debt settlement company that doesn’t charge until your dept is paid. Make sure they are listed with the Better Business Bureau and are accredited.

Whatever method you decide to use, take steps to keep yourself from falling into the same spending habits in the future. While a debt management company can give you financial counseling, you can easily examine your own finances and discover many ways to keep you out of debt in the future.

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American consumers are now pursuing debt solutions in droves because of both the unsecured debt they have accumulated and the predominantly difficult financial climate caused by the recession. Unemployment, underemployment, widespread foreclosures and tight credit guidelines have taken a firm grip as the cost of living has continued to increase. The economic climate that prevailed prior to the recession, in contrast, was characterized by loose credit policies and liberal consumer spending behavior. These same consumers are now experiencing financial hardship which causes many of them to make only the minimum monthly payments on their high-interest debt, causing many to ponder their bleak decades-long repayment prospects. Given this situation, it is plain that consumers are in need of potent solutions.

Thrift and discipline is a debt solution that can be sufficient for those with relatively minor debt problems. By combining the reduction of unnecessary expenses with the application of the realized savings toward the debt, these minor debt problems can potentially be overcome. Those with more serious debt problems will probably require thrift and discipline in combination with more potent debt solutions.

Refinancing a home or taking out a home equity line of credit (HELOC) and using the proceeds to pay off the high interest debt can be a potent solution. The problem lies in the difficulty of accomplishing either of these solutions given today’s battered housing market. Equity levels have shrunk or disappeared entirely, making these loans very hard to come by.

Another debt relief solution that has been getting a lot of attention is credit counseling and the access it offers to a debt management plan (DMP), which has many attractive features for consumers plagued by high interest unsecured debt. A DMP will also protect the consumer’s credit score. A solution with the potential to provide even more extensive relief than credit counseling is debt settlement, also known as debt negotiation. Experience has shown, though, that debt settlement can be frustrating as it causes many to leave the program prematurely. Some of these companies have proven to be unethical as well.

Bankruptcy is a solution of last resort for many due to the dire credit consequences which can last for 7 to 10 years. Still, the relief offered by a Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the only real solution for those completely overwhelmed by their debt and able to pass the 2-part “means test” instituted in the 2005 reforms. Otherwise, a Chapter 13 court-determined repayment plan may be a bitter pill to swallow given the stiff penalty also paid in ruined credit.

As you can see, there are solutions available for those who have found themselves in serious trouble with their unsecured debt. If it is at all possible, it is recommended that thrift and discipline be the sole solution utilized to solve the problem. Credit counseling should be considered by those who are intent on finding a solution that will not negatively impact the credit score.

Author excerpt: Jackson Roberts is an experienced debt analyst and has been helping consumers eliminate credit card debt for over 12 years. He hopes to educate indebted consumers about the many credit card debt solutions available.

In today’s recession, collection companies are not exempt. Starting last year, they first started to suffer from declining liquidation performance, staffing cuts, and increased placements.

Then in January 2009, the U.S. savings rate increased and continued to increase. By the month of May 2009 the rate was the highest level of consumer savings in sixteen years.

Usually, an increase in the U.S. savings rate would mean that consumers will be more fiscally responsible and try to pay off debts that they may owe in case of an unexpected adverse event. Unfortunately the first half of 2009 has shown us that this is not what is going to happen and the collections industry should not expect it to.

One factor that makes the situation worse is that the sustainability of savings growth is quite doubtful because a part of the increase was the result of the Obama stimulus package, which sent one time only disbursements to consumers. Also, in today’s economy any type of consumer savings may be considered a means to keep heads afloat as opposed to future planning. And although savings boost personal income, they slow down consumer spending.

For the first time, collections agencies need to change their focus intensely. Its not that consumers won’t pay, it’s that they can’t pay. So, the future success of collection companies is depending on U.S. economic recovery.

That being said, some smart conclusions may be drawn about the future growth in the debt collections industry. More job opportunities would be an exceptional plus for the industry. If debtors are employed, they are more likely to resolve their issues. Renewed consumer confidence and spending would be a huge boost.

There is an forthcoming tide of pro-consumer adaptions that the collection industry can’t do much about. How it can truly affect change would be the quality of responses that collectors are giving, and that they are carefully considered and level-headed. Finally, increased access to credit is neccessary for the collections industry to thrive.

I work for a credit amca collection agency. Visit our website for information on collecting on your small claim. Check here for free reprint licence: Collection Agencies In The Recession.