Debt settlement is the quickest way to become free of cumbersome debts
If you are in over your head with credit card debt, don't throw the towel in and lose hope because there is a solution. But in order for you to rid yourself of your unsecured debts once and for all you have to be in it for the whole nine innings. No overnight debt management methods can totally free you from the credit treadmill. Some quick fix solutions at credit card debt relief are oriented as damage-control measures which try to get around the bad debt situation without completely getting rid of it.
They can also become increasingly complex every time you try to quick fix a problem with another problem. Of all the programs for getting rid of debt, debt reduction is the most successful at saving money and helping debtors become debt free.
Of course, if you are far to deep in debt and bankruptcy is seeming like a reality, the last ditch effort to pay back your debts is through a aggressive form of debt reduction called debt settlement. With this approach, a debt settlement firm attempts at a negotiation with your debt collectors to settle your debt at an amount substantially less than what is owed.
For the duration of the program, you are supposed to set aside funds for a one time settlement payment. If the deal is approved, you will receive a notification via mail from the creditor that the debt has been settled paid in full. The creditor will also be able to notify the credit bureaus that the same debts you owe have been satisfactorily fulfilled. Settlement is particularly lucrative for debt collectors during times of very hard monetary circumstances for the debtor, when he is near corner of filing bankruptcy; in which circumstance the collector is faced with the very real possibiliry of losing more money by getting only a fractional amount of the original debt amount owed.
Debt settlements are only eligible for debts that are unsecured such as those concerning credit cards and medical dues. Also, be aware that this is an last resort alternative to bankruptcy. So you should prepare yourself for the respective consequences. Including lower FICO credit score, an increase in collection calls, the potential chance of being sued, tax obligations, and that all-too-familiar necessity of coming to a terms with your collectors.
If your situation is not as deep as the one mentioned above, then you can get out of debt rather easily. All you need is a plan, patience, and a willingness to try out the most recent of debt reduction methods: snowballing your debt or debt repayment. This practical avenue of reducing debt is especially focused towards revolving credit accounts such as those involved in credit cards.
In order to free yourself from the credit treadmill, first make a list of all your dues in ascending order from the account with the smallest amount owed to the largest (notice that the order is not based on the APR, but on the due amount). If some dues come close in the value of amount, move the one with the highest interest at a higher spot on the list. Then obligate yourself to pay the minimum payment on all bills.
If extra cash is left, add this to the dues on the smallest debt, and keep determination on completing your dues on the smallest debt until it iscompletely paid off. As soon as the smallest debt is taken off of the list, repeat the same process for the next ranked spot, this time adding the previous minimum payment for the old debt onto the cash allocated for the next.
Keep doing this system and you will be surprised at the speed at which you can call yourself debt free.
Steve Martin is a debt analyst with the US Consumer Advocate, which practices credit card debt relief.
Published December 6th, 2007
Filed in Business, Home Business, Management




