Mar
05

Consumer Debt Relief Programs: The Basics

Debt Relief IQ.com provides a unique on-line debt relief portal that guides consumers with the step-by-step process of settling their credit card debt, personal lines of credit and other unsecured debt using easy-to-use software. Since the Federal Trade Commission has officially banned debt settlement companies from taking any advanced fees (http://ftc.gov/opa/2010/07/tsr.shtm) on October 27, 2010, other debt settlement firms may not charge any upfront or enrollment fees when hired to settle the unsecured debts of the consumer. To be sure, it is no easy task to unravel a credit card debt that has taken years, even decades to amass. And, clearly, much work goes into contacting, managing and negotiating with the consumer debt creditors. Yet, so many unscrupulous firms have forced state enforcers to bring a combined 259 cases to stop deceptive and abusive practices by debt relief providers that have targeted c loan amortization calculator onsumers in financial distress. So, now that the many of the bad guys have been weeded out, where do we go from here?Let’s Start With the BasicsWhile there are exceptions to every rule, debt settlement, the process whereby a consumer hires a firm to settle their credit debt, generally works because it is financially beneficial for the creditors to negotiate with third party firms that maintain a relationship with the consumer and can shepherd a settlement with the creditor as long as the consumer stays in the Program. Creating an affordable monthly payment and enrolling the consumer in an FDIC insured savings account are important functions of the debt settlement firm. By segregating the savings account designated specifically for saving necessary settlement funds, the consumer has a much better completion rate in the debt settlement program because many consumers spend everything in their checking account.

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