Posts Tagged ‘debt solutions’

Simple Guide To Debt Consolidation

July 31st, 2010

If you are struggling with credit card debt or overall debt and feel like you’re drowning pay attention because here’s a life preserver.

In today’s insane economy where the polititians, Wall Street, and the bankers have thrown out all the rules and stopped the world and US economy in it’s tracks, you are probably wondering how to deal with all of your mounting debt.

Maybe your house is worth what you paid for it, you may have lost your job or been laid off, or you’re making half as much money as you used to. You are desperate to find real solutions to debt consolidation and debt relief. The question is finding a solution that works!

The adverstisements for debt solutions, or debt consolidation are all over the radio, TV, and internet. Many are scams so here are some tips and some good news!

The good news is that you really can negotiate debt reduction, consolidate your debt, and get some debt relief. The real challenge is in finding someone that knows how the debt consolidation, debt reduction and debt relief business works.

If you have a friend who’s gone through this and found a good lawyer that specializes in debt consolidation, debt reduction and debt relief as well as bankruptcy get their name. It’s worth its weight in gold. If you don’t have a referral to a good lawyer be very, very careful. Many lawyers are focused on one thing, making money, and they will do it at your expense. Do your research and make sure they really specialize in debt relief before you give them one cent.

The amazing thing is that the credit card companies and banks often, offer to reduce or consolidate your payments when you become 60-90 days or more late on your payments. Maybe they know what they’ve done and they’re scrambling to get things back on track. Just be very careful when dealing with banks or credit card companies as they do ot have your best interest at heart. They will offer up solutions but if you don’t have it in writing they will not stick to it. That’s why a good lawyer is a lifesaver.

So here are three tips

One-Hire the best best debt relief and debt consolidation attorney that you can afford.

Two-Be cautious of any debt consolidation company that does not have a lawyer on staff. It’s painful enough to pay a lawyer up front, but, it’s even more painful to pay a fly-by-night company that will probably run off with your money when they discover that they can’t reduce your debt for you. Even worse yet is that you could have negotiated the same debt solution or settlement without them.

Three-Learn everything that you can on debt management and how to eliminate your debt so that you don’t ever have to address this terrible situation again!

Author Derek D’kreif is a globally renowned business man, lecturer, and small business and individual success mentor, who saw a need to lend the small business entrepreneur and others in need of Debt consolidation, and debt relief a helping hand. This article, Simple Guide To Debt Consolidation is available for free reprint.


Debt Collectors Consider Texting

April 12th, 2010

There is no denying that text messaging is turning into a major medium for exchanging information. Fast, painless, no speaking on the phone. No wonder that according to the most current data there were almost 750 billion text messages sent in the U.S. in 2009, which is almost double the amount from one year before. In actuality, technology and research firm executive Michael J Koopmans recently predicted that money transfers will be the number one mobile application by 2012.

Debt collectors have stayed out of this field for now; The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was a landmark law that went into effect in the late 1970s and has restrictively outlined how debt collectors can call and when. Considering that this act is even older than a stereotypical “Saved by the Bell Cell phone” from the 90s, it may just be be due time to adjust the law. But analysts are saying that any change in this area would have to come from consumers seeking change, not collectors.

Under the FDCPA, communications with consumers require a notice that the text is in fact from a debt collector, which leads to issues with the 160 character maximum length of money transferring messages. Another hurdle is determining who will pay the message. There is no current way for a collection agency to know if a consumer has a plan that includes unlimited text messages; the kicker being that if a contact is paid for by the debtor, it is illegal.

Another potential issue for debt collection agencies is determining the ownership of the device itself. For Example, the debtor might be using a company owned wireless device. Said company may be monitoring the usage of the device, leading to third party disclosure issues if there were communications based in text about a debt.

Unfortunately, Congress needs to vote on health care, the budget, cap and trade and a number of other issues first before it can get down and tackle this text message issue. So time will tell.

Mallory McGuinness works for a debt collection company. She also writes articles on business, finance, the credit industry and collection agencies. Don’t reprint this exact article. Instead, reprint a free unique content version of this same article.