March 1st 2010
Bad Debt Consolidation – Researching Your Options
Are you one of the millions of people who have been so severely affected by the recent economic downturn that you are considering a consolidation debt program? Even though these programs have been around for a long time, it’s only recently that they have grown in popularity. Rest assured that if your finances since immediate attention, there is help out there.
If you are looking into some debt restructuring, it’s probably because you’re already in arrears on most accounts. Most people do the right thing and at least contact their creditors to discuss the problems at hand. However, their plight usually falls on deaf ears; lenders rarely help the consumer directly.
There are all sorts of credit debt consolidation companies and services that offer some type of debt protection and planning. A few are well-established and well-qualified non-profit organizations, and still others are scam artists. A few companies will show you how to do all this yourself, while others will insist on doing everything for you. Just be careful which company you choose to deal with because there are many pitfalls you can get trapped in.
Many organizations calls themselves ‘credit consolidation services’ but their services vary greatly from one to another. There are also many scammers out there who promise to help but end up causing you more problems than you had before. Don’t sign anything and don’t hand over personal information until you at least check the local Better Business Bureau for past reports of questionable activities.
Also check that state’s website to see if the company you are considering doing business with is in fact registered as a real company with that state. It’s easy to have a website that makes a company look bigger and more efficient than it really is, and it’s even easier to get a business phone number and fake address. If this company doesn’t show up as a legally registered entity on the state’s business website, that’s a big red flag.
The entire purpose of trying to consolidate your debts is of course to get your monthly payments low enough where you can pay them, and still be able to control your income. You’ll probably need to pay something for the services provided, but this should not be more than a low percentage of the monthly payments arranged. Remember, all this company will do is arrange new payment terms for you and then it’s up to you to pay your bills.
Any company that wants you to send payments to them so they can pay your bills is probably operated by a scam artist. It could take months to find out that your credit cards aren’t being paid, and that these people have taken your money and left town. You have no recourse other than calling the police and once again trying to deal with your creditors.
Stay away from bad credit debt consolidation companies that insist that you send payments to them so they in turn can pay your bills. This is ludicrous. This is the most common scam of all. Find a reputable consolidation company to help your financial troubles.
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