Lawsuits in matters of debt collection are far less prevalent than one would think. Many debtors fall behind on payments, or are unable to make payments for years, yet never hear from an attorney. Obviously a bank has the right to sue and collect the money owed to them, but most often if you keep the lines of communication open, even if through your negotiator, the likelihood of being sued is minimal. Banks would much rather come to an agreeable compromise than go through the process of litigation. The threat of an impending lawsuit is a primary reason that many people unwisely and hastily file for bankruptcy. It is widely acknowledged that the costs associated with going to court far exceed the benefits. If there is an alternate solution available, such as debt settlement, a creditor typically chooses the avenue that will allow them to minimize their losses.

A common tactic used by aggressive debt collectors is the threat of wage garnishment. Collectors try to make it sound like this will happen on your very next payday if you don't send a check immediately. This, quite simply, is false. The creditor first has to sue you, obtain a judgment, and then file for a garnishment action. Wage garnishment can normally be avoided if you're willing to work with your creditors. 

Our company can only be successful if we do a good job for our clients. Also, our negotiators are largely paid based on the results they achieve for you. We want you debt free, with settlements that will make you happy, as quickly as possible. There is no benefit to us to keep you on the program longer than you need to be. Companies that charge based on results often charge a monthly maintenance fee and may benefit by extending the program or dragging their feet. That is not the case with us.

Banks are required to report canceled debts over $600 to the IRS and you are required to report the same as income on your yearly tax return. The IRS does permit you to write off any "income" from canceled debts up to the amount by which you were "insolvent" at the time.

Every client is issued secured access to our on-line Client Website. There, you can get up to the minute detail of your program balance as well as other important information and data regarding your program. The other way to find out is to call your Program Advocate

Ultimately you do. We provide services as a convenience specific to the program, but only under your direction. The money being set aside each month is yours and you are free to take it and leave the program anytime you wish. Simply contact your Program Advocate and you will be directed on how to access the funds.

Effectively negotiating your debt by yourself is possible, just very risky. Banks rarely take debtors seriously and are well prepared for the amateur do-it-yourself negotiator; they have scripts prearranged for exactly this scenario. Your call will be answered by a customer service representative who will systematically inform you "Unfortunately, we do not settle debts under any circumstance. However I can transfer you to a department that can enroll you in our hardship program, if you qualify." By the time that the conversation is over, the caller feels guilty about the money owed and their lame hardship plan sounds like a great deal after all. Finally, fed up with this "canned" response, a person will usually decide that debt settlement just doesn't work. Without a third party professional, trained in negotiation, this is certainly the case. Your creditors will quickly change their tune when they may no longer contact you and instead must communicate through us, an organization that understands the rules and regulations concerning debt collection. A third party professional on your team will make all the difference. The advantage we have over a consumer trying to settle his own debt is knowledge and experience. We know the creditor and his tendencies and we constantly update that knowledge as creditors change over time. We know when to contact them, who to contact, and what to offer a creditor for settlement. If certain creditors are contacted at the wrong time or if the wrong department is contacted, the creditor may actually accelerate the collection process. We also know if a settlement offer is good or bad based upon the creditor and where the account is in the collection process. It is often said that an attorney who represents himself has a fool for a client, and the same logic can be applied here. The results that a negotiator can obtain will invariably be better than the results that you can expect by doing it yourself. Creditors will no longer have the ability to psychologically pressure or harass you; this tactic stymied by the fact that they cannot have direct communication with you. The banks pull out the big guns when you fall behind and have an army of collectors ready to pressure you with carefully scripted techniques. They have salaried attorneys and collection officers who truly have nothing better to do than to make life miserable for you. Doesn't it just make sense to have someone in your corner?

It would not be wise or practical to purchase a home with debt issues hanging over your head. If buying a home is your goal, utilizing other means to eliminate debt is your wisest first step.

We wish we could say it is. In life, there is no free lunch. You may have uncomfortable moments during your time on the program. Perhaps creditors are calling or you are receiving threatening letters. Coming up with the deposit each month may be painful, especially when an obstacle is thrown in front of you. Our hope is that our hand holding and professionalism makes the process a bit easier. We also hope that when you finish the program, you will feel a sense of great accomplishment, yet at the same time, remember the pain just enough to assure that you avoid depending on debt in the future.

The first step is to participate in a fairly brief consultation with one of our Debt Counselors so a plan and program can be designed. We will walk you through the rest of the process from there.