Summary: Do you think debt settlement is the best way to get rid of your debts? Think again. There are a lot of risks involved with this option, which you can’t ignore.
More often than not, Debt settlement does sound too good to be true. In fact, it may even prolong the financial pain of some. Remember – until the settlement negotiations are played out, you can in no way stop those late fees, collection notices or even the threats of being sued by the creditor.
It might be tempting to accept the offer of a debt settlement agency that might come to you through debt settlement live transfer leads. But before you do that it is important to find out if it actually works for you. You need to understand the process and see if the benefits of settlement outweigh the risks that are involved, prior to making a decision.
How debt settlement works
Debt settlement is an option you can settle for only if you have too many delayed or skipped payments and may be even collections accounts. You will have to make sure your creditor or collector understands the fact that you are not able to pay back the full amount that was originally agreed upon. Unless he believes so he may not agree to settle the loan for less than what you owe.
An ideal situation for debt settlement is when your income is not enough to honor your debt obligations, you are feeling hopelessly behind, and all your credit scores have been shredded. It works mainly for credit card debts and unsecured debts. It may not work for federal student loans, mortgage loans and car loans.
The main party in picture here is the debt settlement agency that might have come to you via debt settlement live transfer leads. This company will negotiate with your creditors on behalf of you and accept them to reduce what you owe.
First thing that a debt settlement company might ask you to do, is stop making your payments to your creditors. Instead, they will make you open up a savings accounts and deposit amounts on a monthly basis to that account. Once the account accumulates a lump-sum amount that the debt settlement company feels is adequate enough to negotiate, it begins the process of negotiation.
Risks of Debt Settlement
Most debt settlement companies that come to you via debt settlement live transfer leads might claim that they can get your debt settled for 50% of what you owe and help you get debt-free within a period of 3 years. Nevertheless, the process may not be as easy as it sounds. It is always better to explore other options before you decide on this. Ideally debt settlement should be your last resort, given the kind of risks that are involved.
Here is a list of risks that you need to be aware of if you are considering debt settlement:
Damage to your credit score:
If you have been making your payments regularly, you will have to stop doing so, once you decide on debt settlement. With your debt payments directed towards your settlement account, you are bound to be delinquent on your accounts. Even after the debt is settled, these delinquent accounts as well as the portion of the debt that is charged off by the lender are going to stay on your credit report, for a period of seven years. This can cut your chances of taking further loans or compromise your position to negotiate for better rates.
Accrued penalties and interests:
While you are being delinquent on your accounts, there are chances that you will be hit with penalty fees and late charges. Furthermore, interest keeps accruing on your balance.
No guarantee of success:
The creditors are under no obligation to accept less than what they should actually get. Although debt settlement companies might try their best to convince them to resolve your debts for less, there is no guarantee that their efforts will pay. This goes even for the largest debt settlement companies namely the National Debt Relief and the Freedom Debt Relief. Meanwhile the fees may accrue, debt totals may rise, and the collection attempts may continue aggressively.
Payment of debt settlement fees:
No debt settlement company that comes to you via debt settlement leads might charge you upfront fees. This is because they are prohibited from doing this, by the law. Yet all such companies charge a fee, which is usually a percentage of the debt that they settle, depending on what your balance was when you enrolled into the program. In some cases the debt settlement agency might charge a percentage of the debt that is eliminated through the settlement. This could be a better option.
For instance, let’s say the debt that you owe is $10,000. If the debt settlement company manages to negotiate the settlement for $6,000, the percentage that it can charge you would be 25%.
So, if the debt settlement company charges a percentage of the settled debt, you may have to pay $2,500 (25% of $10,000) in fees, apart from the $6,000 that you pay to the creditor. So the total would come up to $8,500 against the $10,000 that you actually owe.
If the debt settlement company charges a percentage of the eliminated debt, the fees that you would have to pay would be $1,000 (25% of $4,000). So in total you would be paying $7,000 ($6,000 to the creditor and $1,000 to the debt settlement company), as against the debt balance of $10,000.
Payment of additional fees:
Apart from the fees that you will have to pay to the debt settlement company that settles your debt, you may also have to pay certain additional fees that include setup fees and monthly fees to maintain the account that you have set up under the debt settlement program.
Taxes on Forgiven Debt:
Forgiven debt is regarded as a taxable income by the Internal Revenue service. So, before you make your decision, you may want to consult your tax professional to discuss the tax obligations you may be taking on through debt settlement.
When you are desperately trying to get rid of your debts, the promise of debt relief offered by a debt settlement company that might come to you via debt settlement live transfer leads might make it easy for you to let your guard down. However, it is always better to understand your risks and find out what you are getting into, before signing the deal.
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