Debt Relief - So Many Options
This is the continuing saga in my Debt Settlement Story.
Once I finally realized that my debt was overwhelming, I started doing extensive research on my options. Of course the first thing I thought of was bankruptcy. It was all I knew. I thought if you got behind on your bills, your only option was the big B.
With a few clicks on the web, I soon found a zillion companies offering many options. In the next post I'll share some of my observations on the different companies, but today we'll focus on the five most likely options you have:
1. Bankruptcy - Chapter 13 or 7
2. Debt Consolidation
3. Consumer Credit Counseling
4. Debt Settlement
5. Nothing...which usually gets you back to the top of this list. Not a real option.
Here's what I discovered for my situation:
Bankruptcy
For me, bankruptcy felt like the death of my soul. A complete failure and announcement to the world that I had screwed up so badly that my only option was to wave the white flag. I had regular conversations with my wife about this option. Was this our destination? How could I face my family and friends? Just 2 years ago I was flying high. Now....death. Thinking back on it, the reason I did so much research was because I was compelled to find another way. I wasn't going down without a fight. There MUST be another option.
Consumer Credit Counseling
I was familiar with consumer credit counseling. In fact, I had done this about 9 years ago. When my band, Dogwood Moon, got off the road we had accumulated a bit of debt. In order to gain some sense of control and balance in my life, I got a company to manage my debt. I made a lump sum monthly payment to them and they distributed it to my creditors. They tried to get the bank to lower my interest rates, but none of them actually could. Of course they took a fee, and although it was modest, there was really no significant benefit from the company. They just held my hand throughout the whole thing. I could have done it myself, had I been more disciplined. I soon realized this and when I made a bit of money, I paid the whole thing off early. Wasn't a bad option then, but I wouldn't do it again. In 2009 consumer credit counseling wasn't really an option. I couldn't afford to pay my bills, so it wouldn't help me if they collected my money and distributed it. The money wasn't there.
Debt Consolidation
My credit wasn't good enough to get a decent loan for $130,000. Even if I did, I'd be making payment for the rest of my life. This would take too long and ultimately cost too much. I wanted to take action, rectify my situation and start over. This would be a slow process. I am not a slow kind of guy. I had finally decided to take action and I wanted to get it done....NOW!
Debt Settlement
When I came across the idea of Debt Settlement for the first time, it was a real eye opener for me. I hadn't even considered the prospect of negotiating with the banks in this way. I never thought of the bank as a collection of real people. It just seemed like a monster I had made a bad deal with and was now sucking up all my money. With Debt Settlement, you call your bank and negotiate a lump sum payoff of the account that is less than full balance. This negotiation can be done in 3 different ways:
1. You do it on your own
2.You do it while being coached by a debt settlement specialist.
3 You hire a company to negotiate on your behalf and pay them a fee. BEWARE: THESE FEES CAN VARY DRASTICALLY!
After careful thought, I chose Debt Settlement, option 2. At the heart of Debt Settlement is the ability to negotiate. This was very appealing to me because I love negotiating. My father is a retired lawyer. Growing up was like a series of scenes from that Albert Brooks movie, Defending Your Life. At an early age, I was trained to ask for things in a diplomatic way, stick to my guns and be prepared for the inevitable interrogation. Maybe I should have been a lawyer! You will think I am crazy when I say this, but I have actually enjoyed the Debt Settlement process. I chose a company that was a true consumer advocate. They didn't charge exorbitant fees and the debt settlement specialist assigned to my case was nothing short of awesome. In my humble opinion, critical to your success with Debt Settlement is the company that assists you. Some of them actually will save you money. Others will take advantage of you and PUT YOU FURTHER IN DEBT. I ended up using a DIY program with Consumer Recovery Network.
Stay tuned, stay afloat. WEALTH AND FREEDOM ARE IN YOUR FUTURE!
You can read more about my story at: Debt Settlement Story
Questions and Answers
There are many programs out there offereing debt management and solutions to all your financial troubles. Granted there are viable companies out there that can help you reduce your debt amount, there are those that will take advantage of you. this article will help to recogize the signs of a scam.
Debt management and debt negotiation companies also charge fees for their services. Fees should not be paid until these companies actually provide you with a service. Also, compare several companies to be sure you find the best deal.
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