I am sorry to hear about your bad experinces with debt settlement companies. Debt settlement can be a good solution for people who can not pay their unsecured debt as agreed, but do want to settle their debts as best they can. Unfortunately, the debt settlement industry is not yet regulated and there are many unscrupulous debt settlement companies, but there are also many reputable debt settlement companies who provide an excellent service.
How do you know what to look for in a debt settlement company to ensure that you will be recieving the help you need?
1. You should look for a debt settlement company that has attorneys licensed in your home state who will supervise your case. Attorneys negotiate on your behalf to achieve aggressive settlements on your unsecured debt and are experts in the complex Federal and State Consumer Statues. They will uphold your rights under Fair Credit Billing, the Fair Credit Debt Collection Practices Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the rules of professional conduct. In addition, legal techniques are used to achieve the best possible settlement.
2. Is the debt settlement company a member of USOBA? The Unites States Organization Of Bankruptcy Attorneys (USOBA) is the most respected trade assoctiation for the debt settlement industry.
3. Do they conduct an in depth analysis of your financial situation? The only way to determine if debt settlement is right for you is by doing a thorough analysis of your financial situation. The debt settlement company would then be able to advise you if the debt settlement program is a good option for you or not. Many debt settlement companies enroll everyone who consults with them, even if it is not a good choice for that person. So, if they are not conducting an in depth analyis of your situation then they are not looking out for your best interest.
By asking these questions you can be confident that you are doing what you need to do to protect yourself.