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All You Need to Know about Debt Settlement Programs – Debt Settlement Advice

If you’re being crushed by the weight of to many debts and you’re desperate to get out from underneath, debt settlement may be the right option for you.  A good debt settlement company can help you lower the overall balance on you debts, potentially even combining multiple debts into a single monthly payment that is lower that all you exiting payments combined.  Even without consolidation, a lower monthly payment on your largest debts can result from lowering your total balance.  Debt settlement is an effective way to relieve your financial woes without declaring bankruptcy.  If you want to pay you debts, but your payments are unrealistic, look into debt settlement options today.

Debt Settlement Can Lower Your Overall Balance

If you’re receiving multiple calls every day demanding money for debts you cannot afford to pay, odds are you’re getting fed up with your situation.  You may sometimes feel like your creditors are behaving unfairly, but the truth is they are just trying to claim money that is owed to them.  If you are legitimately not going to be able to pay the full amount, creditors are usually willing to agree to a debt settlement that will lower the amount you owe them.  A lower amount is better than nothing, so creditors will often be willing to forgive the remaining money as long as you pay what you can.  When you pay off your debts at the lower balance, they are reported to the national credit agencies as paid in full.  Debt settlement can be a very useful tool in avoiding bankruptcy, which does stay on your credit report for years.  Debt settlement is the light at the end of the tunnel.  If you can use debt settlement to avoid bankruptcy, why wouldn’t you?

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Debt Settlement Can Lower You Monthly Payments

The result of lowering the total amount you owe is that your monthly payments often go down significantly as well.  Lower monthly payments means more money for other necessities, such as food, gas, clothing, or whatever you’re being forced to cut back on now to make your larger payments.  Once your regular payments are back within a range you can afford, you won’t have to deal with creditors trying to take collection action against you.  Oftentimes a debt settlement agreement can also include the dropping of existing late fees and penalties.  In addition to the lowered total due, the exclusion of these fees can be a serious relief to your bank account.

Debt Settlement is Preferable to Bankruptcy

The social stigma associated with bankruptcy is not entirely without cause.  While bankruptcy may be necessary in extreme cases, the truth is that bankruptcy can ruin you.  A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for up to ten years and is visible to anybody who checks it.  Bankruptcy is intended for people who cannot pay any of their debts.  If you are wiling to pay as much as you can, but need your debts to be lowered, then debt settlement is by far the better option.

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Best Legitimate Debt Settlement Process

Nowadays many people require financial support to start or to run a business. Many people are facing financial crisis in these days and striving to get out from debts. Business people usually get loans and credit cards when they start the business. After few days they start facing trouble in settling the debts. So they sometimes get fed up with their business and become stressed out, develop anxiety and also feel depressed which affects their business as well as their personal life.

Debt settlement is a process of diminishing the debts, credit cards and unsecured loans from the current total amount of debts. There are many debt settlement companies who come forward to help the people who are struggling with their debts, unsecured loans, medical bills, auto reclamation credit cards and many more. It is not that easy to clear all your debts in a short span of time. So, sometimes people find a debt settlement company to reduce their financial debts from 40% to 65%.  These debt settlement companies negotiate on behalf of the debtors; they will have a communication between them and the creditors and finally help, to get rid of all the debts.

Still many people are unaware of the problem that they face legally because of their outstanding debts. Creditors may push you into trouble when you are in debt. You may also choose a debt settlement company to symbolize you to your creditors. If you are in a very difficult situation to settle all your debts, debt settlement programs may assist you in a right way to resolve all your debts. It is sensible to use a single credit card to be secured and to avoid unnecessary financial crisis. For a business man it is necessary to plan all his financial needs to live a debt free life. Some people find debt settlement terrifying. They also face difficulty to clear the debt when they are in a bad financial state; hence they get into legal crises.

Every business man must have a financial plan every month to stay away from economic failures. Financial crisis is the ghastly phase in everyone’s life, where they face failure and get depressed. So you must avoid unnecessary financial wants and avoid using many credit cards. You must deliberately check your daily account balance.

Thus clearing all your debts you can live a debt free and stress free life. If all your debts are clear, you can reclaim a peaceful life from depressed state. By choosing a best debt settlement service company you could become debt free in few years and run your business successfully.

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Debt Settlement Services

Debt One Financial is the largest nationally based Debt Relief organization, specializing in debt relief. We understand your situation and together, with you, we will look at all the options that may be available to resolve your debt. Our goal is to provide our clients with an affordable program to get back on their feet financially within 12 to 36 months and find a real solution for the strain and stress caused by debt. With honest and informative advice, outstanding customer service, and a proven debt settlement process we can provide a fast and ethical way for our clients to become debt free and get back on the path to financial freedom.

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Debt One Financial has earned its reputation by taking an honest and informative

approach to helping people find the best solution for handling their debt.D-One provides information about debt, where you may stand and what options may be available to you to assist you in managing your debt and solutions to reduce your debt.

. Our team of debt reduction partners works individually with each client to help with their particular situation and personal goals. D-One maintains and continues to develop relationships with creditors throughout the country. By establishing cooperative and professional relationships with each creditor we are able to reach the most favorable settlement offers for our clients. We work directly and 100% for you!

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Reduce Your Current Monthly Payments by Half

Get Out of Debt in Three Years or Less

Save 40% to 65% on Your Debt

Our debt settlement program is actually quite simple. We negotiate your settlements for you. Your current level of unsecured debt will be skillfully negotiated for you, and essentially you will end up paying a fraction of the debt. Generally, we reduce your debt by 40-60% of the current total.

. Low, affordable monthly payments. We will set you up with an affordable monthly payment, which is determined on a client-by-client basis between you and a counselor at Debt One Financial Based upon what you are able to pay each month into your settlement account, we can determine how many months you will be part of the program, and ultimately be debt free. Throughout the program, we communicate with your creditors, on your behalf. We assist you when dealing with aggressive, confrontational and abusive creditors or collectors.

. Settling of Your Debt. Once you have retained our services, Debt One Financial Service will commence the Service. Debt One Financial Service will advise Client of all good faith offers made by creditors and debt collectors, and of their acceptance of any offers made by Debt One Financial Service. Debt One Financial Service will not settle any account without any approval of Client, who has absolute discretion to accept or reject any settlement offer. We can only settle a debt once the full funds are available in Clients settlement account.

. We work only for our clients, not for the benefit of the creditors. Becoming debt free is the first step to becoming financially secure, and debt settlement may be your best option

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Company debt settlement

In people

the economies of many now suffer from debt and the need for a settlement company debt has increased significantly. In this current generation of people rely on credit cards and the high use of credit card debt will ultimately lead to much more. To get rid of debt and credit card debt are all looking for solutions to the debt.

is debt settlement company

debt settlement companies is an effective way to satisfy the debt to lenders and to reduce the percentage of the balance with the borrowers. This process of debt settlement will take about 12 to 36 months and the companies debt settlement, complete the entire process in this moment of this process, borrowers are not entitled to the lender rather more company debt settlement should contact for any kind of questions all communication be done about debt settlement business legally. The settlement company debt to creditors and tell them about the debt problem and speak in favor of the debtor. Companies debt settlement work hard to remove 40-70% of initial credit. Lenders with companies debt settlement to work, because they are afraid of insolvency. This is a serious problem for the lender to profit for their business, because to win in bankruptcy. Once a consumer files bankruptcy of the lender, they will not negotiate, even a single penny and the lenders with debt settlement companies to get a successful outcome and at least 50% of the amount of principle.

Borrowers must sign the contract papers and “limited power” of companies debt settlement. After signing the contract, the borrower requested, the monthly payment on the clearing account used to pay creditors or collection agencies to do. It is now company began negotiations with lenders and if the transaction is accepted, the amount for the lender is paid. This procedure is applied until the contract is back and everything is paid without credit.

It helps the debtor to a financial freedom to improve the credit habens Scorese make you debt free in a shorter period. So

understand by reading the content above debtor may, the need for company debt settlement and promote the benefits of joining this company. Debt Solutions Group has more information on debt solutions and programs that can help debtors to get rid of debt.

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Legal means of debt settlement

debt concerns are now to be known as more people suffer from links. The current economic situation, people lose their jobs, and they are not capable of the full amount to pay the debt to the lender. Programs debt settlement debt settlement provides specific concerns and how to get rid of debt legally.

approach people to reduce the debt settlement company of some of the outstanding liability. A debt settlement company works honestly, an effective method to detect deal with lenders. Process of resolving the debt absorbs about 10 to 35 months and repayment of debt is working to complete the process within that period. For each type of debt issues, which allows the borrower to contact the lender directly, but they need to contact the company debt settlement. They take care of debt issues in a safe place for the obligations of lenders convincing. Full disclosure is made by the company debt settlement, and they still speak in favor of the debtor. Last year, 1,000,000 bankruptcies were filed, and lenders are afraid of such a failure. Fear because of such bankruptcy, the lender has started cooperation with debt settlement companies. Bankruptcy is a serious problem for the lender to earn income for their business. If the consumer files the bankruptcy of the lender, it is difficult for them to get money to a lender negotiations with the company debt settlement to a successful outcome. In this situation, a settlement company debt can easily remove 40-60% of the original balance and is much in a short time.

The borrower should not sign the papers and consent to join the group’s debt. Then they are asked to pay the deposit amount allocated for the periodic settlement of the debt created by the issuance of debt. This amount will be used to repay the lender as soon as the agent closes the process of debt negotiation. Only if the case is nice group of debt settlement is to transfer the funds on behalf of lenders. This process is followed and the amount will pay off. Some of these benefits, services, debt settlement are to help debtors to have financial freedom to improve credit scores and debt free in a limited time.

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Debt SettlementDebt Settlement ? Enjoy Debt relief

Outstanding credit card debt sound like a night mare. No one would like to pay more than what he has borrowed and that’s also with higher interest rate. Such situation is enough to force one to spend sleepless nights. Accidentally or intentionally , if you forget to pay your due amount of credit card then Credit card debt settlement is the best way to set your self free from such disaster.

Debt settlement is a process in which debtor and creditor negotiate on certain amount for the settlement of an existing debt legally. Certainly, its more beneficial to pay bill on time but if such incident happens than Debt settlement is best to avoid bankruptcy. You have a legal right to negotiate your debt. Settlement of debt  demands high level of expertise to get maximum benefit out of it.

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Facility such as Credit card debt settlement or other debt relief gives great support when you are going through financial hardship. Its mutually beneficial for both debtor and creditor as if your are not in position of pay back and opt for bankruptcy then creditor will get nothing. So, Debt settlement , especially Credit card settlement offers other benefits also to give you complete debt relief.

You have to hire a credit card consolidation company to talk on behalf and negotiate  with the credit company. Once you get associated with a debt relief company, you are free from all threatening calls of credit card company as after that are not allow to contact you directly. The functioning of such debt settlement group is comprehensive and transparent.

In order to join the debt settlement group , borrower has to sign the power of attorney and other debt settlement paper. After this, borrower has to deposit a certain amount in debt settlement account every month. This amount is used to repay the lenders as a debt settlement amount once the credit card consolidation company is done with the negotiation process. Only when the deal is agreeable, debt settlement company transfer that amount to the account of lender.

Enjoy financial freedom and clear credit history with a reliable credit card consolidation or debt settlement company. Debt settlement companies easily remove 40 to 60 percent of amount , you borrowed and help you saving money by settling down the due debts in short period of time.

Debt Settlement

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Debt Settlement vs. Bankruptcy

A recessed economy and bursting of the real estate bubble have pushed borrowers to the point where they can no longer keep up with payments on their credit cards and consumer debt. For those searching for solutions, the decision often comes down to choosing between a variety of debt relief options. The options include debt counseling, debt consolidation, bankruptcy, and debt settlement. Of the four, debt settlement and filing bankruptcy have become the most popular of the solutions due to their advantages relating to decreasing current payments and the reductions in outstanding balances of debt.    

For consumers, the two most common filings are chapters 7 and 13. Of the two, chapter 7 allows for much better outcomes for filers with steep reductions or outright dismissals of debt. Prior to the overhaul of the bankruptcy code in 2005 chapter 7’s were immensely popular for just that reason. Since the overhaul, the choice of which of the two chapters would be available to the consumer is decided by the court depending on the outcome of a means test which is the required first step in any bankruptcy filing. The means test is essentially an evaluation of the filer’s income and expenses which is then set against debt redemption standards as set by the IRS. Measured against the IRS standards, if the borrower falls short of income guidelines he can then file for bankruptcy under the auspices of chapter 7. The guidelines for qualifying for chapter 7, however, are stringent. If the means test reveals that a borrower can pay even one hundred dollars per month toward debt, the filing will automatically go toward a chapter 13 bankruptcy. In either situation, the borrowers are required to get credit counseling and budget analysis at their own expense.   

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Chapter 13, while providing some relief on current payments, is not nearly as consumer friendly as chapter 7 and carries disadvantages that convince many borrowers that the option is just not for them.   The biggest disadvantage is that once the terms of the filing are set, a borrower’s finances can be overseen by a trustee of the court. The invasiveness of having an outsider involved in day to day or monthly budgeting becomes an immediate deal killer and typically turns the borrower toward debt settlement.   

Debt settlement, also known as debt negotiation, is a relatively new and aggressive form of debt relief offering many advantages over counseling, consolidation, and bankruptcy. The first and most immediate advantage is an approximate reduction of 50% on payments related to each account rolled into the debt settlement. Accounts which can be rolled into the settlement include credit cards, department store debt, unpaid utilities, medical bills, and other unsecured debt. Other advantages include:

* Being proactive in pursuing a debt settlement can prevent wage garnishments and attachments – Letting creditors know that you’re in a debt settlement process provides assurance they are going to be paid a least some of their money. Creditors are unlikely to initiate any legal action while a settlement is under way.

* Debt elimination – Outstanding balances can be reduced by 40 to 70%, depending on the creditor. On average, the collective accounts in a settlement will be reduced by 50%.

* Added security for secured assets – Reducing payments and eliminating a portion of unsecured debt relieves pressure on secured assets. Debt settlements, for example, are being combined with loan modifications to help homeowners reduce their total payments toward debt and improving the chances of getting approved for new mortgage terms.

* Complete payoff of debt balances – After the debt reduction, payoff schedules are flexible but generally last no longer than 48 months. The same accounts maintained with minimum payments could take over twenty five years to pay off.

* Faster improvement of credit scores – The settlement of accounts allows for borrowers to begin the process of re-building their credit scores faster than bankruptcy which can remain on a credit report for ten years and stay on the public record indefinitely.     

Debt settlement/negotiation is becoming increasing popular with struggling consumers because of its advantages over every other form of debt relief including bankruptcy. Consumers should still familiarize themselves with all forms of debt relief before making a decision. The best way to sort through the options is to work with an attorney with experience in all forms of debt relief to determine which will deliver the best outcome. Getting on the road to financial recovery is that simple.

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Is Debt Negotiation for You? – Debt Settlement Advice

Debt negotiation is a relatively new form of debt relief that is gaining popularity for its results in reducing credit card and consumer debt and because the process can also help homeowners avoid foreclosure by making home loan modifications more likely to be approved. There are two schools of thought on the subject; one that focuses on broken settlements, credit scores and direct negotiations while the other centers on the short and long term benefits of the practice. First, the arguments against debt negotiations:

* Broken settlements – A settlement can be broken by either the party executing the negotiation or the customer. True, there have been instances were companies didn’t follow through on their promises to see the negotiation from beginning to end. The percentage of customers involved in those situations has been small and could have been prevented with some due diligence. Many companies have been drawn into the debt relief industry by the sheer numbers of borrowers and their escalating debt starting in the late 90’s. What had started as debt counseling run by a few non-profits mushroomed into an industry populated with thousands of new and inexperienced companies offering services far beyond the scope of the original mandate of assisting indebted customers with their debts Within those thousands of companies were those that didn’t deliver on debt negotiations, counseling, or consolidation.  Customers can also break a settlement by not making enough payments to settle the negotiation. Whether by circumstance or intention, some will stop making payments during the 18 to 48 months of the settlement process.  

* Credit scores – A debt negotiation will likely decrease the credit score of a borrower that enters a debt negotiation, but it depends on what that score is at the time the process starts. A vast majority of borrowers that start a debt negotiation are already behind on payments and are consequently taking hits on credit scores so the negotiation won’t have as much of an effect. The second issue on credit scores is that the negotiation stays on the report for up to seven years. While that can be true, doing nothing will leave charge-offs and open balances on the report indefinitely. Finalized, settled, and closed accounts are ultimately a much better reflection on a credit report than accounts that appear intended and/or neglected.

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* Direct negotiation – Borrowers can initiate direct negotiations and, in fact, may be contacted by their lenders to do so. One problem with going direct is that there are normally several accounts to be negotiated, all of which will need to be done independently. A second issue is that the offers in direct negotiations are usually for lump sums or for payoffs within a few months of agreement. Those types of payments are often unworkable for the borrower, especially if there is more than one lump sum agreement at a time.  

The benefits of debt negotiations are as follows:

* Immediate relief – Upon initiation of the debt negotiation, the borrower will immediately experience an approximate reduction of 50% on payment obligations for all accounts involved in the negotiation. Reductions can vary, depending on the borrower’s ability to pay. By making payments in excess of the 50% reduction the borrower may be able to pay off the negotiated balances faster.

* Debt balances cut by 40 to 60% – Depending on the creditor, balances can be negotiated down by 60% or more. For a negotiation covering multiple accounts the average reduction for the total is 50%. Once the negotiated balances have been settled the accounts are considered to be paid in full with no further obligation by the borrower to the lender.

* A wide spectrum of accounts which can be negotiated – A debt negotiation can include credit cards, signature loans, department store debt, unpaid medical bills, unpaid utility bills, and more. This effectively gives the borrower a chance to wipe the slate clean without the disadvantages of filing bankruptcy.

* Paying off all debts within four years – As credit card balances have accumulated for consumers over time, making payments that materially reduce the principle balance has become difficult, if not impossible. For those that can only afford to make minimum payments, a full payoff could take twenty five years or more. Calculated out over that time a borrower would pay many times the actual balance in interest alone. Contrast that scenario with a full payoff of debts over four years or less at approximately half the balance amount and the merits of debt negotiation become very apparent.

* Increased odds of approval for home loan modifications – A debt settlement can enhance an application for a home loan modification by showing a reduction of consumer debt payments which allows for a greater availability of a homeowner’s income toward mortgage payments. In fact, a debt negotiation could be the difference between a successful loan modification and foreclosure.

You will continue to hear pro and con arguments regarding debt negotiations. One thing to keep in mind is that credit counselors have been and still are backed by credit card issuers. When listening or hearing about debt negotiations, always consider the source. If you are contemplating a debt negotiation, be sure to conduct some due diligence before selecting a firm to act on your behalf. Visit the firm and ask enough questions to get comfortable with the partnership. Insist on a law firm experienced in debt negotiations and, if applicable, home loan modifications. Getting back on your feet will take partnering with the right firm and a commitment to seeing the process through to its completion. Take care of those issues, and you’re on your way to financial freedom.

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Solutions to Your Debt Problems – Debt Settlement Help

People throughout the country are asking about solutions to their debt problems.  One issue people don’t seem to understand is that more money isn’t really a solution to your debt problem.  If you think about how you got into your debt problems, you most likely made a fair salary, but overspent by using credit cards and possibly even a personal line of credit.  The issue wasn’t that you didn’t have enough money, in essence, it’s an issue of having eyes too big for your stomach.   The real issue you need to tackle is how much debt you’ve gotten yourself into.

Debt is almost like cancer; cancer is unnatural growth happening in your body.  Debt is unnatural money, money that actually has a minus sign next to it instead of a plus.  By that, I mean if you have in your pocket, then you have in your pocket.  If you have a credit card with a limit, you not only have to pay back that , you also have to pay back the interest.  So instead of having , you have more like -.  When you think about debt that way, like it’s a cancer, you begin to realize how people and nations are in such horrible financial circumstances.

Think about your debt problems like someone who is dealing with cancer.  Does someone with that kind of sickness need more cancer?  Obviously not, but do they need more healthy body?  No, what they need is to get rid of the cancer.  With debt, your problem lies with the debt itself and the ways you accumulated the debt.   Your credit cards, personal lines of credit, medical bills and so forth are causing debt to choke out your finances.  Instead of putting money into a high-yield savings account, it’s going towards debt.  Instead of spending a little bit of money on a movie, you’re spending it on paying off Visa.  Over and over your finances are being choked and your financial future is in jeopardy.

So, how do you deal with your debt problems? Debt settlement companies can help you manage your debt and take care of the thousands in unsecured debt you might have.  Debt settlement companies negotiate your debt amount with lenders and creditors, doing their best to negotiate a low settlement amount.  This means that a ,000 credit card debt might turn into a ,500 debt, or even a ,000 debt.  The first thing you need to do is contact a debt settlement company; then you’ll have to explain your entire situation.  It’s easy to ignore your bills, but it might be difficult to sit down and go through your bills to see exactly what kind of debt you’re in.  However, if you’re going to deal with your debt, you’re not only going to have to go through your bills, but then you’re going to have to explain your debt problem to a debt settlement expert.  Contact a debt settlement expert today and start solving your debt problems.

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Credit Card Debt Settlement – It may be worth sacrificing your credit score

Anyone in advertising will tell you that the most effective marketing campaign is one that manages to attach an emotion to a product.  Clothes, makeup and weight-loss products are marketed to women on the basis that the they will feel sexier, prettier and more attractive, ultimately leading to love.  Cars, beer and aftershave are marketed to men on the basis that the  they will be “cooler” and attract prettier women.  Coca-Cola and McDonald’s show people laughing and having fun, suggesting they will feel happy when drinking a Coke or eating a Big Mac.

Similarly, we are taught through lending practices, parental suggestion, bank advertising and social pressure that a poor credit score suggests not only the loss of untold dollars due to higher interest rates on loans, but amazingly, that a high credit score makes you a “good” person and a low credit score makes you a “bad” person.  Who hasn’t seen the silly television commercials that suggest you’ll be driving a junker car and working at the Renaissance Faire if you have a low credit score? 

This identity-attachment we place on our credit score is so subtle that most people do not even realize it is affecting their financial decisions.  I’ve actually met people who would love to buy a home but stop themselves with a fear-based rational such as, “I might lose my job and not be able to make my mortgage payments.”  What does that actually mean? The deeper thread goes like this, “And if I miss my mortgage payments I may have to sell the house for less than I owe, or worse, foreclose, and that would hurt my credit score and that would make me a bad person.”  People don’t actually put those words to their thoughts but that is the emotional journey they take that prevents them from buying a home.

We’re taught to treat our credit score as if it is part of our identity and guess what? It isn’t.

If you currently have a low credit score and find yourself suffering from the belief that you are a failure, that you are not good with money, or that you don’t deserve a loving spouse, great kids, a good job and “the pursuit of happiness” as much as everyone else does, then discard those thoughts right now.  Having a bad credit score doesn’t make you a bad person any more than not wearing designer clothes or driving a sports car makes you unloveable.  Your credit score is a product, just like everything else advertised to you, and it IS NOT connected to your identity.

What your credit score IS, is one piece of an overall financial picture that includes your income, your expenses, your investments, your assets, your business, your retirement savings and your debt.  I’m suggesting that you look at that whole picture and not make financial decisions based solely on whether or not you might affect your credit score.

If you’re in debt, what that means is that there may be some financial choices available to you, some as small as skipping a credit card or mortgage payment, some as large as bankruptcy or home foreclosure, and inbetween options such as a short sale or debt settlement, that may be viable even if they will lower your credit score.

I know, that’s a bold statement, one that most people would disagree with on face value.  To see what I mean, lets look a little deeper.

Your credit score is a vague, logarithmic calculation that assesses risk for lenders.  A low credit score doesn’t mean the borrower can’t get a loan. People just out of bankruptcy court routinely receive credit card offers in the mail and we’ve all seen commercials for “low credit, no credit” car loans.  More likely than having no access to credit, a low credit score simply means that the borrower will pay more for credit in the form of higher points and interest.

The banking industry would have you believe that, in addition to being a “bad” person, those points and interest on future loans will cost you SO MUCH money that you couldn’t possibly ever consider doing anything that would lower your credit score. 

Let’s do the math on what a low credit score might actually cost.  Say you are buying a $25,000 car, $5,000 down and $20,000 financed.  If you have a “good” credit score, you might get a 5% loan.  Over 60 months, the total interest paid will be $2645.  With a median credit score you might get a 6% loan which would amount to $3199 in interst.  A bad score with a 7% loan, $3761.  The difference between the high score and the low score is $1100 in interest over 60 months, about $18 a month.

What about with a house?  Say you want to buy a $500,000 home with 20% down (sorry, the 0-10% down days are over for awhile).  So you’re financing $400,000 for 30 years.  At 5% you’ll pay $373,000 in interest. (I know, brutal, right? Almost 100% interest over the course of the loan. Most people never consider what a home will actually cost by the time they are done paying it off, but that’s another article).  At 7%, you’ll pay $558,000 in interest.  A difference of $513 a month for 360 months. 

The point is, IT’S NOT THAT BIG OF A DIFFERENCE.  $18 a month on a $25,000 car.  $513 a month on a $500,000 home.  Yes, sure, $500 a month is not meaningless, but it’s not the, “oh my gosh I might hurt my credit score what am I going to do?” doomsday heart palpitations that so many people have when they even consider the notion of their credit score being under 700, or under 600.

If you already own your home and don’t intend to borrow money for any big ticket items in the near future, your credit score becomes even less of a factor in your overall financial picture.

When I had an 800 credit score, I was able to get over $200,000 in credit to pursue a business venture.  When the business venture didn’t work out as planned and I couldn’t meet my monthly interest payments on my cards, a bankruptcy attorney told me about the process of negotiating settlements on credit card balances, to pay them off for less than the amount owed.  My first question was, “how will that affect my credit score?”

In about six months of settlement negotiations, I reduced my credit card debt from $212,000 to $30,000 and I had $115,000 in debt written off.  This reduced my credit score by about 200 points, to just over 600.

But I had $115,000 in debt written off, not to mention all the interest I would have paid on the $212,000 in debt at 18-29% over years of minimum payments.  I couldn’t buy enough new cars in my lifetime at 2 or 3% higher interest to add up to more than I saved by settling my debt. 

Had I been the homebuyer in the example above, I would have paid $185,000 more in interest over 30 years, compared to saving $115,000 in six months.

The point is, if you’re in debt, debt settlement may be a viable option that will save you more money in the long run that you’d save by having a higher credit score and paying a point or two lower on your next car loan.

I’m not suggesting that anyone abandon their credit score to the wind and adopt unsound financial habits. I am suggesting that in the conversations you have with your attorney, accountant, spouse and self, give credit score considerations their proper due.  They are a single part of a large financial equation, not the end-all, absolute factor that your lenders and silly television commercials would have you believe.

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