Debt settlement vs debt consolidation is there a difference

Debt settlement and debt consolidation are not the same thing. While they both help reduce your debt, they each affect your credit score and pocketbook differently. Before signing up with any debt management company, make sure you understand the pros and cons of their approach. And of course, be a smart shopper before signing any contract. Debt Settlement – Instantly Eliminate Debt At A Cost A debt settlement company gets your creditors to wipe out part of your debt immediately. Fearful that you may go into bankruptcy and that they won’t see any money, creditors will reduce your debt. With smaller payments, you can more easily wipe out your principal. But with debt settlement, your credit will be in poor shape for a couple of years. Debt settlement is treated like a foreclosure or bankruptcy by lenders. So it will be difficult to get decent credit, at least for two years. You will also have a tax liability with the eliminated amount. Debt Consolidation – A Slow Approach To Debt Relief Debt consolidation companies handle your creditors and payments. You send them one payment, from which they pay your accounts. They also negotiate lower rates with your creditors, helping you to get out of debt sooner. With this approach, your creditors will temporarily freeze access to new credit. They will want to see in the next year that you are making regular payments and reducing your debt. Your credit score may also drop, depending if your lenders report that you are working with a debt consolidation company. But after a year, you will be able to apply for new credit, possibly with prime rates. Research Before You Sign Before you sign up any debt management company, make sure you research several companies before settling on one. Ask about their fees and processparison shopping will give you a good idea on how reasonable the fees are. Details about the process will tell if the company is experienced in this type of debt management. The sooner you reduce your debt, the faster you will improve your credit score and your finances. Debt management companies can help you get started.

What are debt negotiation programs

: Debt negotiation is not the same thing as credit counseling or a Debt Management Plan (DMP). It can be very risky and have a long term negative impact on your credit report and, in turn, your ability to get credit. That’s why many states have laws regulating debt negotiation companies and the services they offer. The Claims Debt negotiation firms may claim they’re non-profit. They also may claim that they can arrange for your unsecured debt — typically, credit card debt — to be paid off for anywhere from 10 to 50 percent of the balance owed. For example, if you owe $10,000 on a credit card, a debt negotiation firm may claim it can arrange for you to pay off the debt with a lesser amount, say $4,000. The firms often pitch their services as an alternative to bankruptcy. They may claim that using their services will have little or no negative impact on your ability to get credit in the future, or that any negative information can be removed from your credit report when you complete the debt negotiation program. The firms usually tell you to stop making payments to your creditors and instead, send your payments to the debt negotiation company. The firms may promise to hold your funds in a special account and pay the creditors on your behalf. The Truth Just because a debt negotiation company describes itself as a “non-profit” organization, there’s no guarantee that the services they offer are legitimate. There also is no guarantee that a creditor will accept partial payment of a legitimate debt. In fact, if you stop making payments on a credit card, late fees and interest usually are added to the debt each month. If you exceed your credit limit, additional fees and charges also can be added. All this can quickly cause a consumer’s original debt to double or triple. What’s more, most debt negotiation companies charge consumers substantial fees for their services, including a fee to establish the account with the debt negotiator, a monthly service fee, and a final fee of a percentage of the money you’ve supposedly saved. While creditors have no obligation to agree to negotiate the amount a consumer owes, they have a legal obligation to provide accurate information to the credit reporting agencies, including your failure to make monthly payments. That can result in a negative entry on your credit report. And in certain situations, creditors may have the right to sue you to recover the money you owe. In some instances, when creditors win a lawsuit, they have the right to garnish your wages or put a lien on your home. Finally, the Internal Revenue Service may consider any amount of forgiven debt to be taxable income. Tip-offs to Rip-offs Steer clear of debt negotiation companies that: - guarantee they can remove your unsecured debt - promise that unsecured debts can be paid off with pennies on the dollar - require substantial monthly service fees - demand payment of a percentage of savings - tell you to stop making payments to or communicating with your creditors - require you to make monthly payments to them, rather than with your creditor - claim that creditors never sue consumers for non-payment of unsecured debt - promise that using their system will have no negative impact on your credit report - claim that they can remove accurate negative information from your credit report. If you decide to work with a debt negotiation company, be sure to check it out with your state Attorney General, local consumer protection agency, and the Better Business Bureau. They can tell you if any consumer complaints are on file about the firm you’re considering doing business with. Also, ask your state Attorney General if the company is required to be licensed to work in your state and, if so, whether it is.