Debt Settlement – Your Concerns Addressed

If you find that your credit card bills are extremely difficult to pay each month, chances are you’re considering debt settlement (debt negotiation), a practice used in an attempt to get your creditors to agree to accept less than the full balance owed on your accounts. Perhaps you’ve heard or read many different opinions relating to debt settlement and you’re not sure if debt settlement is your best option. If you’re like many people, you may also be questioning all that you’ve heard, and are likely confused and unsure of what’s fact and what’s fiction. Let’s begin by addressing some of your concerns.

·         Debt Settlement and Your Credit Score

Unfortunately, your creditors will not accept less than what you owe them without some sacrifice and pain on your part. Unless your accounts are currently classified as delinquent, it’s not recommended to attempt to work out a settlement agreement with any of your creditors just yet because it simply won’t happen. You see, your accounts must be at a certain stage of delinquency prior to negotiating a settlement. If you’re determined to attempt to work something out while your accounts are current, or even 30-60 days delinquent, I urge you to do so; in the end you’ll realize it was nothing more than a waste of your time and effort. So, as you can see one unpleasant component of debt settlement is that your accounts must go delinquent, and subsequently, your credit score will be reduced for a few months.

There is bright side, however, to your temporarily reduced credit score. While the reported delinquencies on your credit accounts will have a temporary negative impact on your credit score, the effect won’t be nearly as severe as that of a bankruptcy filing. If you’ve managed to keep your accounts current, and your credit score is reduced during the process of debt settlement, your score will continue to increase as your accounts reflect zero balances, which will occur with each final settlement payment. In most cases, people find that their credit score is as high as 600 or 700 within 6-9 months of completing the process of debt settlement.

·         Debt Settlement and Income Taxes

You’ve likely heard about a possible tax liability as a result of debt settlement, with which you may or may not end up. You see, the IRS requires your creditors to report all canceled debt over the amount of $600 on Form 1099. Due to the fact that an “insolvency” rule exists for individuals who are classified as insolvent at the time of their various settlements, you may or may not be liable for income taxes as a result of debt settlement. In order to be considered insolvent – with little or no taxes owing – your liabilities must exceed your assets. To be certain where you stand regarding the insolvency rule, I highly recommend that you speak with a tax professional.

An important fact you’ll want to consider, however, is if you’re contemplating debt settlement, you’re struggling to meet your monthly financial obligations, or your accounts are already seriously delinquent and you may even be giving some serious thought to a bankruptcy filing. Debt settlement is one of the best alternatives to bankruptcy because it allows you to become free from debt without allowing your personal information to become a matter of public record, as would be the case if you were to file for bankruptcy.

Without a doubt, the most relevant benefit regarding debt settlement is that you’ll be free from debt – period. No more sleepless nights and continual worry, trying to figure out how you’ll make it through the next month with at least a little something in your checking account.

So, is debt settlement the right choice for you? If you’re still just not sure, you can learn more about debt settlement by clicking here.

If you should have any questions, or need assistance, feel free to contact us. For a free consultation, click here. Remember, Donaldson Williams, Inc. charges absolutely no monthly fee and no set-up costs because we work on a contengency basis, and you don't pay a fee for our services until after a satisfactory settlement has been reached with your creditor(s).