Good Debt Relief Company
http://creditfederal.com/article/articles/422/1/Good-Debt-Relief-Company
By CreditFederal.com - A good or bad credit personal loan, auto and mortgage financing, and credit card resource.
Published on 12/28/2007
How to choose a good debt relief company; for credit counseling or to negotiate debt settlement. Avoid debt relief scams and reduce high monthly bill payments.
Choose a good company for credit counseling or to negotiate debt settlement
Now that Christmas is behind us and those credit card bills start rolling in, some consumers will seek some type of debt relief, either in the form of credit counseling or to negotiate debt settlement. Consumers need to be wary of scam operations purporting to be professionals.
Consumers need to take steps to prevent being a scam victim of scam debt collection agencies as well as unscrupulous debt relief companies.
Here are tips to avoid unscrupulous debt relief companies:
1) Do not do business with any company which sent you an unsolicited email (spam). Companies which violate CAN/SPAM regulations are not the sort of people you can trust to obey other regulations, too.
2) Check each company with the Better Business Bureau.
3) Ask for references of customers who are active, as well as recent customers and some past customers. Call at least two of each category and ask them these questions as a minimum:
- Are you satisfied?
- Do you feel better off now?
- Has your credit improved?
- Were there any hidden fees?
- Do you recommend this company?
Find out if the company is licensed to do business in your state. Contact your creditors and lenders (the people you owe money to) and ask them if they are familiar with the debt relief company and ask if they know of any reported problems. Although your creditors and lenders may decline offering any feedback, this question may open the door for one-on-one negotiation between you and them to resolve your payment problem without needing a debt relief company and thus saving you the cost of fees. However, if you are not comfortable with this, then you may need 3rd party help.
Review tips on how to choose a credit counselor. Learn more about credit counseling vs debt settlement. Download our sample debt negotiation letter so you can do free debt settlement on your own.
Consumers need to take steps to prevent being a scam victim of scam debt collection agencies as well as unscrupulous debt relief companies.
Here are tips to avoid unscrupulous debt relief companies:
1) Do not do business with any company which sent you an unsolicited email (spam). Companies which violate CAN/SPAM regulations are not the sort of people you can trust to obey other regulations, too.
2) Check each company with the Better Business Bureau.
3) Ask for references of customers who are active, as well as recent customers and some past customers. Call at least two of each category and ask them these questions as a minimum:
- Are you satisfied?
- Do you feel better off now?
- Has your credit improved?
- Were there any hidden fees?
- Do you recommend this company?
Find out if the company is licensed to do business in your state. Contact your creditors and lenders (the people you owe money to) and ask them if they are familiar with the debt relief company and ask if they know of any reported problems. Although your creditors and lenders may decline offering any feedback, this question may open the door for one-on-one negotiation between you and them to resolve your payment problem without needing a debt relief company and thus saving you the cost of fees. However, if you are not comfortable with this, then you may need 3rd party help.
Review tips on how to choose a credit counselor. Learn more about credit counseling vs debt settlement. Download our sample debt negotiation letter so you can do free debt settlement on your own.