Debt Settlement

As the U.S. economy hinges more on consumer debt, personal bankruptcy cases are on the rise – almost two million filed in the last year alone. With most consumers experiencing heavy debt loads with bills piling up monthly, it’s understandable why a lot of borrowers are seeking protection from their debt.

Recent legislation regarding personal bankruptcy has made filing increasingly dangerous. In contrast, a variety of alternatives have cropped up in the past few years – one of which is debt settlement negotiation – making it a success with several types of borrowers. Bypassing the protection of bankruptcy and the credit card funded consumer credit counseling programs, the debt settlement industry has swiftly found its niche in a marker that is growing every day.

However, being a newer alternative to bankruptcy proceedings, the debt relief industry remains mysterious to the majority of potential clients. Fortunately, we’ve answered some of the frequently asked questions regarding debt settlement.

• Can all my debts be settled through these firms?

Unhappily, debt settlement doesn’t work well for secured debts – loans that are attached to homes or personal vehicles that can be foreclosed or repossessed – and the credit analysts aiding you in settling your debt focus mainly on credit card companies worried that you will be forced to declare bankruptcy.

• Does debt settlement work for student loans?

Student loans don’t seem like they qualify as a secured loan, as it is, it’s not like someone can repossess your degree. However, the government passes legislation years ago stating that student loans could not be eliminated through bankruptcy – even if it was a private loan. Taking this into consideration, lenders enjoy considerable leverage in the process of negotiation and debt settlement professionals cannot help in this area.

• Can all credit accounts be included in the debt settlement process?

When a borrower does not include all credit lines and credit cards in the debt settlement process, the negotiator in charge of the account may face more difficulty in negotiating successfully. Lenders are most likely to concede balance reduction if they know their competitors are having to do the same thing. Alternatively, if the lender things the borrower are the ability to work with any lender, all lenders will think they can demand to be first in line. All unsecured credit cards, even gas station accounts and department store accounts, should be the first items to be consolidated with all other existing debt so the debt settlement professional can have the highest advantage in negotiating.

• How does debt settlement affect my credit score?

The answer to this question is different with every borrower. For those borrowers without credit problems that start the debt settlement process should expect a negative impact on their credit score. However, if a borrower does not have credit problems, they probably shouldn’t be involved in the debt settlement process to begin with. However, for the majority of those borrowers with too heavy a debt burden, the settlement option definitely affects their scores. This occurs in the differences between the accounts paid in full and those that are marked as satisfactorily settled. Likewise, a temporary fall in your credit score should begin to rise again after the lowering of the overall debt load within a few years.