Discovering Debt Settlement In Boutte, Louisiana
When you’re in debt, it can seem like there are no good options to get out of the situation. You could file bankruptcy and never have to worry about it again, or you can pay off all your creditors and return to having a good credit score after all this is over. However, there’s one other option that most people don’t know about, which is debt settlement. This option might seem like giving up on life, but trust us when we say it’s not as scary as it sounds!
How Does Debt Settlement Help?
If you have debt and you’re struggling to pay it back, it’s time to look at some of your options. The great thing about debt settlement is that you are able to choose a program that can help you get out of debt by working out an agreement with your creditors. Using a debt relief service will allow for your monthly payments to be lowered so that you can begin paying off some of that debt. Your credit will also be repaired as long as those monthly payments stay on time! Paying off your debts with debt settlement can truly save you money and help put an end to all those harassing phone calls.
Advantages of Debt Settlement:
If you’re deep in debt and are considering bankruptcy, you should try to contact a qualified debt relief or debt settlement company in your area before you make that decision. These companies can negotiate with your creditors to set up a payment plan. Debt settlement programs also relieve you of the pressure of having to repay excessive balances all at once. Generally, this is done by negotiating a smaller monthly payment plan over an extended period of time until the balance is paid off. Other advantages include:
Lower debt amounts will help most people struggling with debt be able to afford to make their payments on time again. This is a big part of your credit score, as missing just one or two payments can drastically reduce a good credit score. It will also make life easier as you may have a little extra for self-care.
A single payment is another major perk people consider. If you’re juggling 10 different unsecured payments each month, making a single payment will be much easier to manage. This can have a big impact on your overall stress levels and could boost your physical and emotional health too.
It may be possible for you to keep your credit cards open depending on how much debt you owe. If a debt settlement plan does not specifically state you cannot keep them open or use them, chances are you will have the option to do so. However, if you owe a large amount to creditors or have fallen way behind on payments, you may be required to cancel them.
You will be able to overcome debt settlement opportunities much easier than bankruptcy. It will only take 7 years for the settlement to no longer show on your credit report when pulled up by employers, creditors, or future landlords. That means you will not have to worry about losing a job or a place to live over-explaining a rough patch in your life.
Finally, you get to avoid bankruptcy! You will not have to explain what happens for the rest of your life. Although they claim bankruptcy only impacts your credit history for 10 years, it remains visible on a credit report forever. That means even 20 years from now, you could still be repeating yourself any time a business pulls your credit report. If you file for bankruptcy and state you have not in an application, you could face fraud charges for providing false information.
Debt settlement does not cheat the creditors out of balances owed, but bankruptcy could leave creditors without being paid anything else. Many believe debt settlement is a way to rip off the creditors, but it is actually designed to benefit creditors too. It is common for people to think if they were to file bankruptcy, creditors are paid what they are owed, whereas, in a settlement, they don’t. The way debt settlement works are the creditors accept a guaranteed lower payoff and close the balance. This ensures they are paid. However, with bankruptcy, creditors are only paid if the consumer has assets of value to liquidate. Proceeds from this are split between creditors. No assets mean a complete loss to the creditors. That is why they are more likely to accept a settlement deal.
Disadvantages of Debt Settlement
There are many drawbacks to debt settlement as well, which is why it is not recommended to be a go-to option if you have other methods of repaying debt. You could end up owning a large amount in taxes as the IRS deems settled amounts as taxable income. Your credit score can be drastically lowered when settling, and the overall process can take a while which sometimes makes you owe more than you originally did.
Although, If you are unable to pay debts back on your own, debt settlement is still a last-ditch effort to try to avoid bankruptcy. When comparing the disadvantages of the two, debt settlement is often the less damaging.
There is no guarantee that debt settlement will be successful. Creditors will continue adding interest and late payments until the negotiation period is over, and the settlement has been made official. If they cannot make a deal, you will be responsible for the added interest and late fees.
Debt settlement is something you should be fully prepared for and know the risks. This includes the potential of being required to put up your property or home as collateral. If you do not make payments on the settlement loan, you could lose it. If you owe a large amount of debt, collateral is often required to ensure the services will be paid for. After all, if you are looking into debt settlement, you will not appear very trustworthy to creditors.
Hidden fees are another thing to watch out for. If you are not careful, you could find yourself paying more in debt settlement, even with the lower payment. The lower the rate, the longer the repayment term and the more you will pay over time in interest and possibly additional fees such as monthly maintenance charges.
What Will Debt Settlement Cost Me?
You can find settlement companies that charge low as 10% of your original debt, with a small application cost. They may offer multiple repayment periods, often with 1 to 2 years. Keep in mind the longer term you accept, the more you end up paying overall.
Based on a 10% fee, you may only have to pay $3,000 for $30,000 in debt. While this may seem like a lot, if they were able to reduce your debt in half, that $30,000 goes down to just $18,000 owed, including their fee.
How Do Debt Settlement Companies Stay In Business?
Consumers like to shop, and many shops beyond their current means while either planning or hoping to pay it off in time. However, many times something unexpected can occur and throw our financials off track, causing a downward spiral that takes help getting out of. That is where debt settlement companies come in. They help consumers get out of debt while helping creditors get paid back at least a portion of what they were owed. In return, they charge a nominal fee for being the 3rd party. Essentially, these companies are selling their skills and experience in reducing debts.
Of course, you could attempt to do it yourself. It is not recommended, though, as creditors are trained for the average DIY consumer. By using settlement services, you don’t have to worry about getting tricked by the tactics of creditors or collection agencies.
Getting A Debt Settlement In Boutte, Louisiana
When it comes time to narrow down your list of potential companies, there are a few things you should do to figure out which one to choose. First, you want to contact your Attorney General’s office and ask them about the company. This is often the best approach to find out if there are any complaints about the companies you’re interested in using.
Ensure that you have done your investigating and research on them. You need to know a few things, like how long they expect the negotiating process to take, what will they charge, and what type of services do they provide before, during, and after? Avoid signing with a business that tries to get a large upfront payment.
If possible, find a company that offers face-to-face meetings. This is often the best approach for the start of a new relationship with a business. You should also try to find one that offers internet or over-the-phone payments. Many businesses will offer all three options.
Do not believe companies will provide discounted or free services or even that they are legit just because they are a non-profit. The fact is, many that use this title tack on hidden fees or charge excessive rates.
Always go over the customer testimonials, and do your own online research to find reviews of others that have used the debt settlement company in Boutte, Louisiana.
