Help!!

First of all how much are there fees, how long of a program did they put you in and do they take there fees upfront? I am not familiar with the company and it doesnt look like they are members of TASC. None the less I cant seem to find their website.

the paperwork gives a website of 'affsus.com'
phone number 877-513-7863
the federally regulated non profit org that handles the negoations is member services and the website address for them is 'mspus.org'
the better business bureau msp rating is compnay id # 4009110
they charge (incorporated into monthly payment) $47 per month for 60 months and they also charge $995 one time fee. They have lowered my payments by $100 to $200 per month (at the min payments) and the pay off time is 60 months. I can deffer payments every 6 months if needed. The paymetn will go down as account balances are paid off but it is recommended that I pay the same amount to speed up the pay off time frame. They will bring all my accounts (past due) up to current by December 6th so if I cant make the payments in Nov it won't affect my credit because I still won't be 30 days late. They did not say that they planned to reduce debts and they did say that all late fees and penalties will be waived. I have 30 days to decline and they will refund the $995.00 but that still leaves me with not making the payments this month. I need to get a company that will reduce the amount I owe overall as well as the min monthly payment as I just cant make the min payments as of now, even with a reduction of $150 a month. I live in Calif and in order to file a bankruptcy you have to get a certificate in debt or credit management counceling. Should I not be able to make the payments and I end up having to file a BK they can provide me with that certificate. I don't even know if I qualify for a Chapter 7 and anything else wouldn't be worth ruining my credit for. Is there another company that can reduce the amount owed and the payment each month without destroying your credit rating? Right now I have a huge amount of debt (Therefore a low score) but not a bad mark (No late payments or public records). help?

Many companies charge the equivalent of the first months payment, and some sort of monthly fee which usually ranges from $29-$69 dollars per month for servicing, etc... With over 100k in debt it sounds like you definitely made a wise decision going with a credit counseling Service which generally speaking is the most consumer friendly way to deal with large debt loads, i.e. it doesn't really effect your credit score, but it will report the credit bureau's as CCC, which is a red flag when trying to obtain new lines of credit, but it should not effect your overall score while your in the program, however, debt settlement can help reduce the total amount owed but you need to be seriously deliquent for that to happen and it will utterly ruin your credit. My advice is if you can pull together enough funds to make the payment though the non profit - do it and stay put with that organization. From the looks of their BBB report, they have been in business for more than 10 years with an A+ rating. They're the experts. Again, they can probably provide you with a certificate of credit counseling if you decide to do BK - but do your research, bk laws have changed and it's a lot harder to qualify nowadays. Good luck!

Many companies charge the equivalent of the first months payment, and some sort of monthly fee which usually ranges from $29-$69 dollars per month for servicing, etc... With over 100k in debt it sounds like you definitely made a wise decision going with a Credit Counseling Service which generally speaking is the most consumer friendly way to deal with large debt loads, i.e. it doesn't really effect your credit score, but it will report the credit bureau's as CCC, which is a red flag when trying to obtain new lines of credit, but it should not effect your overall score while your in the program, however, debt settlement can help reduce the total amount owed but you need to be seriously deliquent for that to happen and it will utterly ruin your credit. My advice is if you can pull together enough funds to make the payment though the non profit - do it and stay put with that organization. From the looks of their BBB report, they have been in business for more than 10 years with an A+ rating. They're the experts. Again, they can probably provide you with a certificate of credit counseling if you decide to do BK - but do your research, bk laws have changed and it's a lot harder to qualify nowadays. Good luck!

You can't have both. If you're looking to get into a program to lower your overall debt, then debt settlement would be what you're looking for. However there are negative aspects about the program that you should research.

Here's a rule of thumb: If you can make the minimum payments or more, then a dmp or Credit Counseling is your answer. If you can't come close to the minimum payments, then look into settlement. If you can't do that, then I would contact a BK lawyer. Whatever you do with this company you're with now, I wouldn't get into a program I know I'm not going to succeed as you mentioned - don't waste your one-time fee of $995.

American financial freedom is the name and msp is their member services- the fee per month is $49 dollars - yet you did not say all the wonderful benefits you get from this did you? you can call the company member services within 10 days of the payment date to make arrangements to flex the pay. you get pre-paid legal and identity theft protection and a financial reprieve on discounts.. you are in this program to get out of debt in the shortest time available along with that you don't use your credit cards they are closed. the benefits and rewards you get are when you use cash and then can apply the discounts. instead of coming up on this site with the who, what, when and where .. go look at your welcome packet and review the options you have. you people never cease to amaze me- this is how i see it..
N- what are you doing now?
E- what do you enjoy about what you are doing
A- what thing would you like altered if you could do that
D- what decisions are you willing to make
S- what solution have you come up with?
OK you are in debt keep going the way you are and it will take you YEARS to get out. How is your money benefiting you or working for you ? it's not that is why the membership program can help you with saving and cash spending.
the choice is up to you the debt relief person is there to help you with solutions..
let's just say your credit did a good job of getting you into debt
signed
debt counselor :D

You can't have both. If you're looking to get into a program to lower your overall debt, then debt settlement would be what you're looking for. this from JACK BLACK-
Jack you don't know squat about debt settlement or what you're talking about.. consumer credit counseling was designed by the creditors for interest rate reduction- in other words you pay more of the principle and not the interest- they can even waive late fees and bring your accounts current.
debt settlement- this is where you accounts are negotiated with the creditors, you still get the harrassing phone calls letters and possiblity of lawsuits if you can get thru that your good. this ruins your credit. you will now set aside a monthly payment in a trust account so when the funds being to accumulate and the creditors and contacted ONLY when you have enough in the account to start settlement is that done. with credit counseling the money goes right to the creditors monthly..
so next time you want to write about something you know nothing about stay off the site.. just sayin

you forgot to mention that the $49 dollars a month membership give you the below.. rewards.......................LOL

Our Programs
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Dear Guest - Please read the original post. I'm an advocate of both settlement and credit counseling because both involve 2 different type of people with different situations. You can't reduce principal and negotiate your interest rates at the same time. If you can, then sign me up as well as everyone on this forum; we all want have our cake and eat it too.

We just signed on with Member Services a credit counceling non profit. Well, they already upped our monthly payment by $40 and since startng we do not have enough money to buy any daily items. We are having to charge all our groceries and gas for the vehicle. This is crazy and it seems they are screwing us. I am afraid that now we could lose our house and have to move into a crappy trailer.

Sorry, with this type of program how can we afford to go out to save money on your discounts. We have to use our other credit cards to buy groceries. NOw is that rightA?