Debt relief service

We all run into debts some time or the other in our lives. This is perfectly normal – but of late personal debt has grown alarmingly large. Statistics show that in 2007, the average debt per household had reached $80,000 which was a 54% increase from 1990. Presently the load of debt is running at an average of $71,000 which comprises of mortgage and consumer debts only.

With this kind of disturbing statistics as a backdrop, it is no wonder that more and more people are looking for professional debt relief service through out the country. What do these debt relief companies do to reduce your debt burden? They primarily negotiate with your creditors and reduce your monthly repayments by 40 to 60% and it is estimated that you could be debt-free in 12 to 36 months.

While this may sound very attractive, there are many issues involved before you finalize with a debt relief company to be completely sure that you have chosen the ‘best’ of the lot which would fit your purposes satisfactorily. So, what are the factors which go behind your choosing the best service? Here are some pointers:

o You need to do your research and home work properly. There are enough scam companies successfully duping unwary customers and if you fall pray to their glib sales pitch, you might land up wasting several thousands of dollars and get additional financial burdens of late feels and other penalties. Radio commercials and flyers in the mail are not the right way to start believing the tall claims made by such scam specialists.

o You would, in all likelihood come across service providers who charge you ridiculously high fees. Be aware that according to the Consumer Federation of America, the legitimate fees which you need to pay is not more than $50 for the initial set up and not more than $25 as monthly fees to the debt relief company.

o Ask as many questions as you like to the representative of the debt relief company and get the answers in writing. Watch out his level of curiosity about your financial status and genuineness of his interest in solving your problem. What kind of time is he willing to spend on you?

o Check with Better Business Bureau or your local consumer protection office regarding the past business record of the company who you are short-listing. You would get to know all about their business integrity and ways of dealing with past customer complaints, if any.

o Remember the better the relationship which the debt relief service provider has with your creditors, the better they would negotiate with them to lower your monthly payments, waiving charges and freezing interest rates. Of course lowering your monthly payments mean that your tenure to pay-back also gets extended.

o You also want the chosen company to help protect and improve your rating. To ensure that they are on board with this plan, ask whether they can help minimize the impact of your debt on your credit rating by helping you get fresh arrangements with your creditors. They should not let the matter roll into a state where the intervention of County Court Judgments is expected or even bankruptcy.

In summary the choosing the best debt relief service is not difficult provided you do adequate research and study the pros and cons of every step in the process. Ultimately you want the company to lead you through a peaceful, straightforward and legalized path to get back your financial stability and peace of mind.

By: Jacqueline Harris

Debt relief is a topic on a lot of consumers’ minds these days, and with good reason. American credit card debt in 2001 was $692 billion, triple the amount from 1989. In that same time period, the average credit card increase for a middle-class family was 75%. The amounts were even higher for low-income families and senior citizens. At one time, such a high amount of credit card debt would seem frivolous as buyers spent money they didn’t have on luxury items such as electronics or jewelry. Today, however, in less stable economic times and a poor job market, more people are turning to credit cards as a way to extend their income. More and more debt is being rung up for everyday items such as groceries and medical bills. How can people get real help with debt relief?

Credit counseling services were originally established by credit card companies who wanted to get at least some of their money back before a client decided to declare bankruptcy. While that may seem shady to some people, for others it is a legitimate way to pay the debt they owe.

When seeking debt relief, however, be wary and be an informed consumer. Do your research before signing on with any one service. Here are some questions to ask:

* How much does it cost? Many less-than-reputable services charge hundreds of dollars to start up, money that doesn’t go to any of your creditors.

* Does the service notify credit bureaus about your enrollment in their program? Some do and some don’t. Creditors may still elect to put a bad mark on your credit report, but the agency you are looking at for debt relief shouldn’t.

* What services are offered? Do they offer a range of solutions from trouble-shooting before finances are a big problem to debt management. Beware of companies promising too quick a solution or promising to “fix” your credit report.

* What are the benefits of belonging to one particular group over another? For example, some services offer newsletters and budgeting tips, all to help you become more stable when your debt is paid off.

* Are they a member of the Better Business Bureau? If that is not advertised, check them out with BBB first.

With time, patience and diligence, you can become debt free.

By: Tim Gorman