subject: Debt Relief Options – 10 Reasons Why You Should Use A Debt Settlement Company [print this page] How to choose the right debt settlement company
I suggest a settlement company that uses a law firm and not an arbitrator when dealing with your creditors. They typically have a higher success and satisfaction rating. A good question to ask is who does the actual negotiating? Try to find a company that does not outsource the negotiation process to some 3rd party company. When shopping for the best company you want to look at the total benefit to you. Don't just look at what they charge you but also consider their ability to negotiate your debt to a lower amount because it does you no good to use the cheapest company (fee wise) if they stink at the negotiation process or if they outsource it (losing all quality control). For instance, if a particular company is able to save you let's say an additional 7% due to good negotiating but there fees are higher than the competition by say 3%. It would still be in your best interest to use them due to the total savings realized once the program is done. Around 15% of your total debt is what you should expect to pay for a good debt settlement company. This should be included in your monthly payment and there should be NO upfront fees. Also, don't pay much attention to what these companies estimate your total savings to be because it's just that, an estimate and no one knows what your creditors are going to settle for until they actually settle! Always watch out for the slick talking sales associates that don't have your best interests at heart. Make sure that the company you work with is a member of either T.A.S.C. or the U.S.O.B.A. which are both groups that help make sure that state and federal guidelines are being followed. And forget the BBB (better business bureau) because just about every company in the debt relief industry has an F rating because of the nature of the business. However, I would use the BBB to check the complaint history of a debt settlement company and the law firm they use. Personally I think the number one thing to look for is a quality sales representative that knows what they're talking about and one that you feel you have built a solid relationship with. A bad Representative can make any company seem bad and vice versa. I like to see a company that has a sharp website which shows me that they are investing in their future and are not just a fly by night company. I would suggest going with a company that has more than just a settlement program as an option. This tells me that they're less likely to be biased towards any one particular program.
Debt Relief Options 10 Reasons Why You Should Use A Debt Settlement Company
