Debt Relief

Introduction

In today's world, debt is almost unavoidable. We have been brainwashed to think that more is better, regardless of what more is. Our society is largely commercialized. We are bombarded with subliminal messages, urging us to spend beyond our means. Many of us do just that. We buy without knowing how we are going to pay. We live above our means trying to keep up with the neighbors. The cost of living increases, but our income seems to stay the same. It is virtually impossible to avoid getting into debt. In our diverse society, we have one basic commonality: debt. Debt can be controlled, but we all need to understand it and learn to avoid too much of it.

The following information is designed to answer questions about debt and offer the tools you may need to control it. Contents range from financial planning to debt consolidation, credit reports to bankruptcy, and more.

Debt Management

Debt Management is the process by which debts are consolidated into one lower monthly payment. This one payment is an amount clients can afford and that is apportioned amongst their creditors. The payments go directly to creditors on a client's behalf.

An Interview conducted with a local agency on the issue of debt management summed up some important points for anyone seeking help managing their credit. Here is a summary of the information gathered up from the meeting:

Credit counseling and debt management agencies offer professional help to individuals in need of assistance in paying off their debts. These agencies look at the client's bills, listen to their needs, make recommendations, and create budgets. Although these companies have received bad press in the past, researching a company before selecting an organization can relieve anxiety about the organization. Make sure the organization is affiliated with an accredited organization, such as the Better Business Bureau. Also a debtor must make sure to look at state laws, so that he/she is not overcharged for financial help.

The steps most of these agencies take to help debtors eliminate debt are:

Help debtors to assess their debt situation.
Offer debt counseling, such as, how to avoid overspending and advise in handling existing debts.
Help the client to build and maintain good credit.

Most financial advisors agree that the most important step a person must take before seeking counsel is to change their money management skills. The debtor must change the way he/she thinks. They must rid themselves of all financial anxieties or debt will probably accumulate again.

Credit Management

The most difficult thing to grasp when dealing with management of credit is understanding how one obtains credit in the first place. Usually a creditor follows a checks and balance system of determining if someone has the ability to obtain credit. Specific criteria must then be met in order to obtain credit. Creditors will then solicit a credit history from credit reporting agency such as Experian, Trans Union, and Equifax. A number is assigned based on past history or whether or not there is a history at all. That number is called a Beacon or credit score. If the score is low, then one is considered "high risk" and chances are the request for credit will be denied. The higher the credit score, the more likely one would receive approval. While it may be great to increase the amount of credit to increase the score, each time an applicant applies for credit, the score drops.

Actions You Can Take to Improve Your Score

Apply for a secured card or deposit money in a checking account.
Apply for a department store or gasoline credit card and build small balances, but pay them off in full each month.
Do not use credit cards to purchase food. The amount in interest is nearly 10 times more than what one meal would have cost if cash was used instead of a credit card.
If possible, consider transferring the balance of a credit card to a lower interest rate card. If you do this, immediately destroy the card with the high rate and close the account.

Over time, your credit score will improve, and you will qualify for unsecured credit cards on your own.

For those who need assistance managing their credit there are a variety of choices and options available. In an article by Hispanic magazine, financial author Julie Stav explains what a FICO score is, how credit bureaus calculate it, and ways to improve your score. An article by U.S. News and World Report states the following steps to keep the score manageable:

Pay bills on time.
Pay down debt.
Maintain long-term credit relationships.
Do not apply for too many loans.

A great self-help guide to consider is Repair Your Own Credit which instructs debtors in how to repair and reestablish credit. It also lists organizations that will give free or low cost assistance in helping one stay out of debt. NEA Today, refers to credit management agencies such as Equifax and warns people about credit repair clinic rip-offs. These agencies do not do anything that you cannot do yourself. The counselors at Credit Union Magazine suggest that bankruptcy be the last resort in debt relief.

Credit Card Consolidation

Credit card companies such as Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express have departments that provide essentially the same services as debt consolidation and debt management companies; however, debt reduction and credit counseling are entirely different functions from what the credit card companies do best. These companies are in business to loan money. Credit card companies typically prefer their card holders use specialized debt consolidation firms to help with debt consolidation. These firms take on a substantial burden of individual repayment agreements and terms as well as attendant paperwork. MasterCard for example, prefers their card holders use a debt management service. Therefore, Mastercard does not advertise a debt management department within their company. The Mastercard consolidations department will respond to requests for debt consolidation if a written request from the card holder is made to the proper department.

Although trying to set up a debt management plan using services available through the various credit card companies may prove difficult, the small fees and inconvenience associated with debt management companies may be avoided.

PBS' Frontline aired a comprehensive report on 11/23/04 named The History of the Credit Card. The report gives an in depth look at the credit card business and common practices unknown to many of us.

When the topic of debt management and relief comes up, consolidation is usually one of the words that follows. Many experts agree that debt consolidation is a good idea when it seems a person is getting too deep in debt. Three things to consider before deciding on debt consolidation:

1) Evaluate where you stand with your debts.

2) Don't wait until you are in over your head.

3) Be sure to understand how debt consolidation truly works.(Morris, 103)

Numerous experts also agree that a nonprofit company is the best way to go for premium terms. Also, no matter if they are for-profit or nonprofit, one should gain as much information as possible about the company before dealing with them. Futhermore, ensuring the institution you choose works with your creditors. Checking their status with the Better Business Bureau is a great idea. (Brown, 326) However, there are many different opinions on how to go about this. One common opinion is that only school loans should be consolidated, and this is only because of the enormous necessity of a college education. (Orman, 149)

Credit Harrassment

Creditor Harassment: Know Your Rights With Creditors. Are you being harassed by collection agencies? A creditor has the right to contact you when you fall past due on a debt owed to them. However, you have rights if you feel you are being treated unfairly by a debt collector. Your rights are protected under the Fair Debt Collection Act.

How can you protect yourself from harassment? Asking a collector to stop calling should be effective in most cases. However, a Cease and Desist letter can be sent to third party collection agencies. The Cease and Desist letter will prevent a collection agency from calling you. Once the letter has been received, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or notify you that a specific action will be taken.

You may not send a cease and desist if the debt is still owned by the original creditor, such as a bank or credit card. Cease and desist letters may only be sent to a third party, such as a collection agency or attorney.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects debtors from unfair debt collection processes. The Act ensures you are treated fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. The Collectors (both original and third party agencies) are unable to:

Harass, oppress, abuse, or publish lists of consumers who refuse payment
Use profane language
Repeatedly use the telephone to badger someone
Give false information
Imply they are attorneys, government representatives, or work for a credit bureau
Insinuate you have committed a crime
Falsely suggest they work for a credit bureau
Misinterpret the debt amount
Submit false information about you to anyone (including credit bureaus)
Indicate sent forms are from the court or government agency when they are not
Participate in unfair practices when collecting debt
Obtain amounts greater or less than debt amount (unless state laws permit change)
Deposit a post-dated check prematurely
Use deception to make a debtor accept collects calls
Threaten to take property (unless done legally)

What can you do if the law has been violated? A debtor has the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date of the violation. If a suit is favored by the debtor you may recover money for damages, court and attorney costs, plus an additional amount up to $1,000. A group of debtors can sue and recover funds for damages up to $500,000, or 1% of the collector’s net worth, whichever is less. Any problems or concerns can be reported to your state’s Attorney General’s office, the Federal Trade Commission, and/or the American Collector's Association or local State Bar Association.

Please be advised, that while a creditor may not call and harass you anymore, they still have the right to pursue the debt. However unlikely, they may still file suit in an attempt to collect the debt. Although Cease and Desist is a valuable tool, it should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy occurs when the federal system of statues and courts authorize insolvent individuals or businesses the ability to place their financial affairs under the bankruptcy court's control. When the debtor exceeds his or her ability to pay, the debtor may file a petition with the bankruptcy court for voluntary bankruptcy.

There are two types of personal bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy are legal proceedings that are available to a person to cope with a financial crisis. Personal bankruptcy must be filed in a federal bankruptcy court. You will have to pay a minimal fee for court and attorney costs.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy: involves the liquidation of all your assets that are not exempt from the bankruptcy settlement.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy: is a court-ordered and approved repayment plan to your creditors.

The following questions were answered during a telephone interview with Robert M. Matson from the law offices of Akin, Webster, & Matson, PC Attorney at Law:

1) What is the process of filing for bankruptcy?

First, we invite all potential clients for a free consultation. Second, upon arriving for a free consultation, we tell the clients to bring in a list of their credits as well as the total amount of income he or she might receive. Finally, after going over the client's credit history and income, we inform the client of the best course of action.

2) How long does filing for bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for ten years. Filing for Chapter 13 stays on your creit report for seven years or until you pay off your debt in full.

3) Does filing for bankruptcy make your credit bad?

Yes, because somewhere in the future for instance let's say you want to take out a loan. If the person you are trying to get a loan from pulls up your credit report and sees that you filed for bankruptcy in the past, this person may think that your are incapable of paying off the loan.

4) How do you determine the fee that you charge clients who file for bankruptcy?

The fee that clients are charged for filing for bankruptcy depends on the caseload and what type of bankruptcy the client is filing. In Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases the fee is based upon the client's assets. If the client has a large amount of assets, the higher the fee. If the client has a small amount of assets, the lower the fee. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases the judge determines the fee.

5) Are they any other forms of bankruptcy besides Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?

Yes, their is Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 bankruptcy;however, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are the two most common forms of filing for individual bankruptcy.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy: is the filing of bankruptcy by corporations and some individuals. This form of bankruptcy is rarely filed by individuals because it is rather expensive.
Chapter 12 bankruptcy: is the filing of bankruptcy by farmers.

6) What is the difference between filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy besides, the obvious of Chapter 7 being a liquidation of all you assets and Chapter 13 being court-ordered?

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case the court appoints a trustee to handle the liquidation of your property. The trustee can sell or turn over your property to your creditors. The court then discharges your debts and you will become debt free.
In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case you are allowed to keep your property. This form of bankruptcy allows you to use future income to pay back your debts over a three to five year period. Once you have completed payments under this form of bankruptcy, your debts will be discharged by the court.

Most financial experts agree that bankruptcy should always be the last resort used for managing your debts. Bankruptcy has long lasting results. Filing for bankruptcy remains on your credit report for a period of ten years, making it more difficult to obtain credit in the future.

Bankruptcy is considered to be a "major bomb" in the world of credit. It should be the last resort in most cases for debt relief. Depending on the situation it is sometimes unavoidable.

When selecting a bankruptcy attorney, research his/her background for work experience in this sensitive field of debt relief. There are two types of personal bankruptcies, Chapter thirteen and seven. Corporate bankruptcy is called Chapter eleven and can only be filed by businesses.(Leonard, Attorney Robin "Bankruptcy". Berkley: Nolo Press, 1998). (Credit laws vary from state to state for filing and so does liquidation of assets over a period of time.)

Initially, the person filing will get a sigh of relief from being overwhelmed. Later, credit agencies and other lenders will analyze his/her credit information with a fine tooth comb from seven to ten years or longer. This may be a combination of an advantage and a disadvantage to debt relief. Lenders almost immediately view a person as a high - risk for credit due to having bad debt written off through bankruptcies.

Chapter thirteen can be filed in a court with a trustee assigned and is considered a "reorganization" over a period of time to repay debt. The court trustee decides the total amount to be paid back and the time allotted for payment. The person's salary or income determines what will be allowed for the cost of living and the amount that will be disbursed to the creditors. No new debts can be accumulated without the court's permission (i.e., credit cards, loans). Upon closing, obligations are fulfilled and the person can begin on a new credit journey, but in this new path the person needs to be aware that the discharge will remain on the credit report for the next five to seven years.

Chapter seven can be filed in a court and the person will walk away from most of the debt secured and unsecured. The person's salary is freed from the threat of garnishments and being sued by the creditors. The information stays on the credit report for the next ten years and creditors will view the person as a higher - risk than if the person had filed a Chapter thirteen.

When a person has filed for either bankruptcy it becomes public record information that can be viewed by anyone with acccess to public records documents. Again, bankruptcy needs to be considered as the very last option to debt relief.

Collection Agencies

A Collection agency is not the same as a debt counseling service. Collections agencies are employed by creditors to recover money owed to them.

Creditors wait from six months to two years before turning a bad account over to a collection agency. There are different reasons why the debtor ends up in collections: poor money management skills, illness, no money to pay, and sometimes the debtor just does not care to repay the debt.

The following information was gathered in an interview with Sandra Harden, Manager of Bibb Collections.

A collection agency goes after an individual who will not pay a debt. This debt is anything from medical bills to florists bills.
A Creditor may not employ a collection agency for 6 months to 2 years after the debtor is delinquent.
Bad debt is referred to a collection agency because the debtor has poor money management skills, is ill, or has a lack of desire to pay what is owed.
Collection agencies charge a percentage of what is collected as a fee for the service.
The methods used by credit agencies to collect unpaid accounts are telephone calls to the debtor, lawsuits, and garnishments. Collection agencies will provide a pay plan as well.
If the debtor does not pay using a pay plan, the collection agency will sue or garnishee the wages until the debt is settled.

Something to keep in mind: If there is debt, it does not go away if ignored. The best way to manage it is to face it head on and explore options available.

Bankruptcy is recommended by collection agencies if the debt is severe and there are personal reasons for not being able to pay. Credit counseling is also recommended.

A collection agency is a company that is contacted by the original lender to collect past due and defaulted accounts. (www.spu.edu)

The Federal Trade Commission states that if you use credit cards, owe money on a personal loan, or are paying on a home mortgage, you are a debtor. If you fall behind in repaying your creditors, you will probably be contacted by a collection agency or a "delinquent debt collector".

Mike Ryan, President of NACM Southeast, wrote an article on "Qualifying Your Collection Agency". You, as an owner in a business have to be careful of what collection agency you choose. You have to ask yourself these questions: What does the agency know about your business? Can you rely on them to handle your accounts honestly, ethically, and effectively? Does the agency understand you may do business with this client again in the future? (Ryan, Mike. 106.8) This is the kind of agency that can legimately collect your money.

The FTC also gives a few tips on a fair debt collection. There is an act that requires that debt collectors treat you fairly and prohibits certain methods of debt collection. This is known as the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This does not mean that your debt will just go away. You still have to face this debt head on. This just protects your rights.

You can avoid these agencies all together by simply managing your money right. Self-Help may be the best help.

Debt Relief

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