No one ever said dealing with money was easy, and it can be especially overwhelming to deal with money mistakes. Do you find yourself wondering how you will ever relieve yourself of debt? The good thing is, you won’t ever need to figure it out alone. We’ve compiled a bunch of information about one of your best options in dealing with debt: debt settlement. But before you can answer the question “does debt settlement really work?” you need to ask yourself this: “how does debt settlement work?”
What is debt settlement?
The basics
Debt settlement is one of the many ways that Canadians remedy their seemingly unending and persistent debt. To put it simply, debt settlement is when you, or more often a company you hire, negotiate with your creditors to eliminate your debt by agreeing upon a lump sum that you can pay. Essentially, you are trying to strike a deal that will satisfy both parties. Creditors are aiming to collect a good portion of the money you owe them, and you are trying to find a number that is slightly more reasonable than what you currently owe. The goal is to negotiate with creditors to reduce the amount that you owe while halting any potential lawsuits from your creditors. But remember – a creditor or collector will only accept less than what you originally owed if there is reason to believe that you are not able to pay the full amount!
Do I qualify for debt settlement?
One of the first ways to figure out if debt settlement is right for you is to assess whether or not you qualify! This can be determined through a few questions:
How much debt do you have outstanding?
Debt settlement programs are designed for those that are deeply in debt. But not so far in debt that it is serious enough to file for a consumer proposal or bankruptcy. Choosing the option of debt settlement is often best for those that have at least $10,000 in unsecured debt.
What kind of debt is it?
Unfortunately, debt settlement does not apply to absolutely all debt. Certain debts, such as student loans and mortgages, cannot be settled. However, many other types of debt, like credit card debt or outstanding utility bills, do qualify.
How quickly are you able to repay this debt?
Many creditors want to see that you are able to acquire the monthly payment that you have agreed upon. It is common that people are able to relieve their debt within 1-3 years. However, this obviously depends on how large your debt is and how much you are able to pay each month.
How does debt settlement work?
Once you have determined whether or not you qualify for debt settlement, you are on the road to success and debt relief! But how does debt settlement work?
The Process
Debt Settlement Companies
The first step in the process of becoming debt-free is deciding whether or not to use a debt settlement company. You do not need to use a debt settlement company if you feel comfortable negotiating with creditors yourself. However, it may be worthwhile to seriously consider the option of an intermediary.
Using a debt settlement company to negotiate on your behalf has a number of upsides. The biggest upside is that this is their field of expertise! These companies spend much of their time discussing with creditors, so many have built good relationships with each other. As a result, they are likely to strike a better deal than if you (a stranger in debt) were to negotiate directly with your creditors.
Another upside to using a debt settlement company is the time and headache it saves you! A debt settlement company may offer to handle any and all communication between you and your creditors, while you only need to worry about paying the agreed-upon sum.
Keep in mind that debt settlement companies are also trying to make a profit in their work and that they are a business! With this in mind, make sure to do research on different companies and to refrain from feeling pressured to work with any particular company.
The biggest thing to remember when choosing to do work with a debt settlement company is that your creditors aren’t required to negotiate your debt. However, a debt settlement company may still charge you for their services whether your creditors agree to a settlement or not.
Negotiations
Once you have decided on a debt settlement company to work with (or to handle the debt on your own), negotiations will begin. If you are working with a debt settlement company, then you will first need to negotiate a contract with them. This includes fees for the program and time frames for your debt repayment. Once a contract has been signed between you and the debt settlement company, they will begin negotiations with your creditors.
As previously mentioned, creditors are under no obligation to negotiate your debt. This is why it is crucial to find a debt settlement company that has a high success rate!
Payment
After your debt settlement company has negotiated a deal with your creditors, you will make monthly payments into a special account to build up the lump sum that you will pay to your debt settlement company, who will in turn pay back your creditors.
When the creditors have received the lump sum, the debt will be marked as paid. Then, the debt settlement company you have worked with will likely wish for their payment at this point as well (note, though, that some companies may charge a fee at the beginning of negotiations).
What to look out for when considering debt settlement
When money is involved, not every deal or conversation is going to be sunshine and roses. You should always keep a lookout for people that will try to take advantage of your vulnerable situation. Remember that sometimes, when things look too good to be true, they probably are! It is best to avoid naivety when dealing with debt settlement and to be as realistic as possible. Keep in mind that there are a few things to be careful of…
High-pressure sales tactics
Nobody likes the feeling of being sold to, but it is particularly uncomfortable when companies use slimy sales tactics. Constant calls or pressure from companies could be a sign that they feel they need to convince you to pick them, rather than letting their work speak for itself.
Charging large fees upfront
Every debt settlement company may have a different way that they approach payment from clients, but charging large fees before any work has been done could definitely be a red flag. Yes, some companies may charge an initial fee as a sort of flat rate. But keep an eye out for companies that want a large payment before they have proven that they can achieve everything they have promised. Remember that debt settlement is a for-profit business!
Confusing jargon
There is nothing worse than not being able to understand exactly what you are paying for! Companies should be able to explain and layout contracts and processes in simple and comprehendible terms. If they don’t, they may be trying to confuse you on purpose.
Providing misleading information
This is pretty straightforward – you don’t want to be lied to! Yes, sometimes it is hard to know when this is happening, but that is why it is important to ask as many questions as possible and to really do your research.
Unrealistic Promises
We can’t stress this enough: creditors can refuse to negotiate!! This is probably the most important thing to remind yourself while navigating this process. Any debt settlement company that guarantees to reduce your debt by a certain percentage cannot truly make that promise.
Before you sign up for debt settlement…
- Be aware that this option could negatively affect your credit score
- Understand that there is no guarantee of any particular result
- Do your research! This is applicable to researching the companies you want to work with, as well as your other debt-relief options…
Debt settlement in comparison to other options
Before diving into the nitty-gritty of debt settlement, it is important to examine how debt settlement differs from the other options available.
Consumer proposal
Similar to debt settlement, a consumer proposal contains a legally binding agreement between the debtor and creditor, and the intermediary to communicate and pay the creditors on behalf of the debtor. However, consumer proposals were created by the Canadian government as an alternative to filing for bankruptcy. As a result, consumer proposals grant you some protections that debt settlement programs cannot because they are run by for-profit companies.
To learn more about consumer proposals, check out https://loansgeeks.com/consumer-proposal-vs-debt-consolidation
Credit counselling
Unlike debt settlement, credit counselling is best for those that have less than $10,000 in debt. Credit counsellors often provide advice and assistance in creating a debt repayment plan. Rather than negotiating a new sum to pay creditors, counsellors advise how to pay the existing debt, and can sometimes help to negotiate the reduction of late fees or interest rates on that original debt.
Debt consolidation
In debt consolidation, your debts are brought together and combined. Then, you often take out a loan to pay this combined sum through monthly payments. Bringing your debts together can simplify your finances and sometimes reduce your interest rates.
To find out if debt consolidation is right for you, check out https://loansgeeks.com/is-consolidating-debt-a-good-idea
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is often the last resort when examining debt relief options. In filing for bankruptcy, all of the debtor’s assets are evaluated and often used to help pay back debts.
FAQs
Is debt settlement a good idea?
Yes, if you qualify and if it works with your situation! There are many trustworthy companies with solid reputations that could help you tremendously and not only relieve you of debt but also the stress and anxiety that surrounds it.
How much does debt settlement affect your credit score?
This changes from case to case, so it is difficult to provide one straight answer. Just keep in mind that any time you do not pay your creditors on time, your credit score will be affected. Some debt settlement companies may advise you not to pay your creditors while they are negotiating a settlement, and this could also affect your credit score in some unforeseeable ways.
How long does it take to recover from a debt settlement?
This depends on how much debt you need to settle, as well as how much you are able to pay on a monthly basis. Most people are able to be rid of their debt within 1-3 years of reaching their settlement.
What happens when you settle a debt?
When you settle a debt, you are getting rid of the existing debt, often by negotiating a smaller lump sum that you and your creditor mutually agree upon. Once that lump sum has been paid, you are now debt-free!
Is it better to settle with creditors or pay in full?
By settling with creditors, you can often agree upon a smaller amount of money than what you originally owed. Because you are in a tough spot financially, and your creditors want to get at least a portion of the money you owe them, it may be worthwhile to attempt to negotiate with your creditors, rather than potentially digging a deeper hole by assuming you’ll somehow be able to pay them in full.