Knowing The Real Facts About Debt Settlement

By Author: J.J. Yong
Total Articles: 963
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Many people tend to opt for debt settlement when they have excessive outstanding balances and they are unable to pay back. If you have intention to do so, I would like to remind you that there are 5 areas you need to consider before making your final decision.

Your Credit Score

Do you know that debt settlement will lower your credit score? It is within the range of 45 to 125 points. Besides the reduction on your credit rating, the information related to settlement will remain on your credit report for 7 years. If you already have bad credit, you should think twice before deciding for settlement. It is indeed difficult to get your credit back to the favorable rating within a short period.

The Cost Involved

Settling debt on your own doesn't involve any cost. However, if you approach a professional service provider for assistance, you need to pay an excessive amount of service fee to get your debt negotiation process completed,

The Tax Matter

You will be enjoying debt reduction when your creditors agree to settle your debts at a lower amount. However, don't be happy as the forgiven debt ...
... is taxable. You don't save much from debt settlement.

The Legal Matter

When your creditors accept your proposed settlement offer, you need to make sure that they provide you with proper documentation, i.e. a written agreement with all the new terms stated on it. If you don't have any proper documentation, you may face the risk where the debt collection agencies may still try to collect the balance of debt from you.

The Settlement Procedure

The whole debt negotiation process takes about 2 years and it involves offers and counter offers. A creditor will only consider to settle the debt when the debtors' account is 90 days past due. Do you have time and patience to go for it?

Having a better understanding about the settlement concept will definitely assist you to make better decision. Don't just settle your debt blindly without knowing the effects.
For more information about debt settlement solutions and debt settlement companies, visit DebtSettlementEssentials.com.