What is Debt Settlement
With Debt Settlement the debt settlement company typically acts for and on behalf of their clients with their creditors to negotiate the best possible outcome. This is usually an option to avoid bankruptcy, and often the last resort before filing. Debt settlement allows an individual the chance to work out a program to repay part of their outstanding debt to their creditors who in turn will consider debts as paid as agreed if the client keeps all promises and makes payments as outlined in the negotiated program.
If these negotiated terms are not met by the clients, then they may need to look into bankruptcy solutions. Each of these alternatives to debt negatively impacts credit or FICO scores, however; debt settlement can be removed from your report when all debt and promises are satisfied if the debt is with a junk debt dealer or collection agency. The original negative credit report entries from the original creditor will still remain in effect for the time permissible by law even though the debt has been settled with the collections company.
These options still keep the client open to possible law suits, take between one to five years to follow, and may also lead to paying 100% of the debt in certain situations. These reasons make debt settlement a difficult program to follow. Clients should be aware that even though the process is difficult, it is an opportunity to renegotiate and repay their debts in lieu of bankruptcy, though the program is no guarantee that you will not need to pursue a chapter 7 or chapter 13 filing.
