Debt Settlement - The Absolute Truth

A total of 623,399 U.S. bankruptcies were filed in the first three quarters of 2007, representing a
40.16 percent increase over the 444,789 cases filed in the same period in 2006. There's worse news in the Midwest; specifically in Detroit. Through October 2007, the number of Chapter 7 personal bankruptcies filed in Detroit's federal bankruptcy court jumped 63 percent compared with the first 10 months of last year
Unfortunately, this news is not surprising; after all, foreclosures are at an all-time high throughout the country and credit card debt is skyrocketing. If you find yourself in a situation where you're barely able to keep your head above water, yet have a strong desire to avoid bankruptcy, you may be considering debt settlement. Prior to making a final decision, however, it's important that you review the following information regarding this form of debt relief.

What is Debt Settlement?

Debt settlement is a process utilized by individuals (or professional firms representing those
individuals) in which they negotiate with their creditors to pay their credit card debt in full for less than the balance (typically 50% or less).

Who Should Consider Debt Settlement?
If your debt is out of control, and you're losing sleep at night you're very likely a good candidate for debt settlement. This is especially true if you find yourself borrowing from one credit card to pay another or you're having a tough time avoiding the dreaded bounced check.
Please keep in mind, however, if you should choose debt settlement you must have some type of
funding available to pay your creditors when a negotiated settlement is reached. Many people have accessed a home equity line of credit or retirement fund. Others have been fortunate enough to borrow from friends and family, or simply set aside a certain amount of money each month to go toward future negotiated settlements.

Does Debt Settlement Affect My Credit Score?
If you've managed to maintain current payments and subsequently a decent credit score, it may be negatively impacted as a result of the process used to ultimately reach a settlement agreement with your creditors.
You see, creditors simply do not write off thousands of dollars worth of debt after receiving a
telephone call from you explaining that you're flat-out broke; unfortunately debt settlement doesn't work that way - nor should it. Creditors won't even entertain the possibility of a negotiated settlement until an account is classified as delinquent.
Obviously, this delinquency may result in a reduced credit score.

Will My Creditors Sue Me?
Creditors maintain the right to take whatever action is necessary to collect money owed them, and litigation is certainly a possibility when credit accounts become delinquent. Fortunately, however, the possibility of litigation is somewhat slim. You see, most creditors would much prefer to resolve your
past due accounts out of court, and avoid litigation altogether. That being said, please note that there are some cases where creditors do litigate to collect what is owed them.

How Long Does Debt Settlement Take?
If your accounts are current when you make the decision to negotiate settlements with your creditors, debt settlement can take several months to complete. One of the most critical factors in determining how long you'll be enrolled in this type of program, however, is your ability to generate funds so that negotiations may begin and subsequently your accounts may be ultimately settled and resolved.