The New Debt Settlement Problem

January 20th, 2009

Everyone knows about the ever looming recession and how its affecting the economy and its even harder for people trying to settle debt because the entire system is in chaos. Now is not the best time to settle all your debt, unless you find a very established and trusted place to settle your debts.

There are actually alot out there, just letting you know that you should be checking the fine print even more.

Its best to be even more vigilant now… more than ever.

Debt Settlement Tips Part 1 — Picking the best company

September 16th, 2008

As everyone knows, debt settlement is something that’s not to be taken lightly and should be handled properly and anyone who goes through bankruptcy or a really big debt knows that it is extremely important that you make the right choices or the consequences can be life-changing.

For people who undergo debt settlement there are only two things that happen: Go bankrupt and get into more debt or Make the Wise Choice and be debt-free.  There is no middle ground. The middle ground here is the process of getting out of debt and the first step is to choose the best company for your situation.

Now, there are tons of companies for debt settlement online. Most people prefer to use online companies due to its privacy, so here are a couple of things to consider:

1. BBB Rating and Independent Reviews

There are some sites that have a BBB (Better Business Bureau) rating in their websites, which is a very high seal/standard online. Plus some sites are under the “watch list” of the BBB. Some sites fall in between, these are usually safe but the ones that have BBB are the gold standard in debt settlement.

2. Company Info and Registration

Most of the companies online are properly registered but there are some companies that have a negative review from the BBB and hide under a new company name. Be wary of these sites and look for company affiliations, usually most of these companies will reveal their parent/sister companies that have a bad rating with the BBB.

3. Customer Support

ASK ALLLL the Questions you want. Everything. Remember this is one of the most important decisions you have in your life. Do not take chances. Properly trained Customer Service Reps should know this. They should be able to help you even if you’re emotional, distraught or just plain confused with the situation. Do double checks. Make sure you get them to verify the information they’re giving you in proper legal documents since they may mislead you. Remember this.

4. Fitting Your Needs

Make sure you’re making the right choice. check the numbers, check your situation. make sure you can get the payment terms done. Plus if you can get out of debt faster. choose that option. Take note of any technicalities that might be a problem, especially when it comes to work, home, health and family problems(ie divorce, sickness, house repairs).

I know we shouldn’t be negative, but in this situation you have to put all the possibilities down and double check with the company policies.

Just follow the tip series I’ll be posting  and you’ll get out of debt soon enough.

Debt Settlement: Crunching Numbers and Setting Goals

September 15th, 2008

Another thing to keep in mind when you go for a debt settlement agreement is to crunch the numbers and set goals. I’m sure you’ve heard of all the horror stories where people get into more debt instead of getting out of debt through debt settlement. This happpens to individuals who don’t crunch the numbers and set payment goals to meet the debt settlement payments.

So the first and foremost task for anyone who wishes to get out of debt, is to talk to a prospective company and get their terms and conditions clearly written down on paper and crunch the numbers with them. Remember, a reputable company will help you out. Some companies even have complete charts and calculations for you to use.

Now that you know this, start checking the numbers of the companies you plan to use for your debt settlement, most companies have a bunch of offers and some will be applicable to your situation while others won’t fit. Make sure to double check the numbers and set realistic payment goals to get out of debt.

Keep in mind, when you set your payment goals, try to put a buffer of around 20%-30% due to unforeseen expenses like health problems, inflation, having children, home repair, etc.  this is very important since most companies will charge a high % of interest once you miss a payment.

Another thing you can do to meet the goals is to do accounting and cutdown on any unneccessary expense, if you have to get a haircut once in 6 months, eat home everyday, and shop less. Do it. These are things that got you into debt in the first place. Also, if you have any items to sell or that take up too much electricity or have no use for you. Sell it. Make the extra cash.

Lastly, if you think that the payment goal you’re aiming for is unrealizable. The solution is to make more money. You can work longer hours, look at sidebusinesses (or even start one) and just find creative ways to make more money and meet your payment goals.

Just some of the tips I can give to help you out of debt faster and easier.

We’re halfway there…

September 15th, 2008

We’ve been talking to companies and gathering user reviews for prospective companies that we will refer our readers to.. give us a few more weeks and we’ll compile everything really in our reviews section. Plus more articles and important info on debt settlement will come over the next few days…

3 Essential Criteria To Find A Legit Debt Settlement Company

September 10th, 2008

Here is a quick start-up guide to put you along the right track to get your debt settled. I have listed 3 essential criteria to make sure you are choosing the right debt settlement company.

1. Accreditation

There are many debt consolidation companies online and at least half of them don’t have proper accreditation, ask for their records in The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC) which has all of its members reviewed and assessed by third-party groups to ensure unbiased opinion and to relinquish doubt on their companies.

2. Pricing and Contract

Remember, since you are bankrupt (or are almost there since you’re reading this) its important to note pricing. remember that most of these companies have setup fees and monthly dues. Make sure you calculate properly and check their contract. You might be out of your debt, but still paying the company due to the initial contract that you signed. Be careful.

3. Customer Service and Guarantee.

A solid company always has a guarantee and of course stellar customer service.It’s important how they treat you before you become their customer. Imagine, if they treat you like crap before you’ve even hired their service, imagine if you became their customer. They should answer all of your questions properly and understand your situation. Most reputable companies understand their customer and provide their needs properly.

These categories maybe oversimplistic, but it’s straight to the point and these 3 are the main criteria in choosing a company to help you out of a bad situation. Remember,  these categories if followed properly will give you the best possible company to help you with your debt settlement.

The Lowdown on Debt Settlement

September 10th, 2008

You’ve visited this site to get more information on debt settlement and I’ve figured I would start out with a straight-up info on debt settlement.

1. Do your homework on the debt settlement company you’re planning to use.

Due to the profitability of debt settlement, many businesses have jumped in and created companies to cater to debt settlement It’s important that you do your homework on the debt settlement company of your choice and you can do this by using google, checking out our reviews and just doing a complete background check.

This will save you alot of time and effort and will allow you to conduct business only with reputable companies.

2. Be 100% sure with the terms and agreements with the company.

It’s essential to know all the details and “fine print” items to make sure that you know exactly what you’re getting into and you can easily avoid any unforeseen problems. Be wary of companies that won’t entertain your answers or can’t seem to give straight answers.

3. Debt Settlement is Situational.

When I say debt settlement is situational, there are different ways to settle debt, in terms of duration, fees, amount and sometimes even type. Since some people get into debt due to health problems, some credit card or even student loans. So its important to understand your situation before choosing a company or an debt settlement option.

4. Take Your Time and Assess Properly.

Always remember, when these guys call you up they’re gonna use telemarketing skills and ‘force’ you into making a decision. Don’t let your emotions get to you, especially if you’re in a really really bad financial situation (debt varies, so this counts). Be sure to be ready for this and be rational when you decide. It helps if you make a list of a few companies you want to use before taking the plunge.

Taking these things into consideration, along with rational thinking and sound decision making you should be able to properly assess your situation and choose the best option to settle your debt properly.

What’s this blog all about?

September 10th, 2008

There are a lot of ways to settle debt. Most of which can be done online for convenience and of course to maintain privacy. The objective of this blog is to review different methods to clear your debt and give you the lowdown on how to make sure that you are picking the perfect solution for your debt situation.

We will review all the sites that we come upon that does debt and give out ratings as well as customer service experience, since it is essential for debt settlement.

Most of us go through rough times, and we need a reliable way to get out of a bad situation and not make it worse.