I've begun the settlement process. . .

I too just started the debt settlement process... We see how it goes... It's all so scary.. But I love somewhere that I can talk to folks doing the same thing...

Good luck you guys! Its a scary thing, but at least you are handling your debt the best way you know how. Keep chipping away at it and before you know it you'll be better off.

Keep coming back for help, encouragement & to let us know how you are doing!

I definitely will keeping you informed... It's only been a week and the quilt of not paying my cards is awful. But I'm so mad at myself for getting myself to this point. I can't wait to have everything paid off and no more credit cards!

I know how you feel. Don't keep kicking yourself though-pat yourself on the back because you recognized you need help with this!!

I wanted to post ad update and I want to be able to communicate with others going through the process...

It's been one month since signing up with the settlement company and the credit card companies are calling. I have avoid picking up the phone and when I do I explain I have no funds to make any payments right now. I have 16 credit cars (i know shoot me)!!! So all these companies will be calling me... It's so embarassing.. I just got caller ID activated so I know when not to pick up the phone...

Is this how it goes for everyone?? Tell me I handle this!!!!!! I'm very stressed out......

3rd month into the process and lots of phone calls from the credit card companies. I have not been answering the phone nor returning calls.. Not a fun process!!!!!!!

I know what you mean. We never answer the phone. We have our family members call us on our cell phones so we don't miss their calls. Turning off the ringer on the main phone helps!

I'll say this.....if you continue to avoid the creditors/collectors the more likely you will receive correspondence from a lawyer.
I speak with my creditors 1-2 times a month. I have 7 total creditors and Advanta Bank is the worst. They call with 3 different numbers and I call back each one telling them they are borderline harassment as defined in Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I only call the creditors back with a clear objectiive.

It is tough in the beginning, especially if you are used to paying your bills. Caller ID comes in REAL handy! But the light at the end of the tunnel will help you sleep at night!

I felt the same way. I had never not paid my bills before. but we have been with a settlement company since December. They said the first month was the worst, then all the calls dropped off. Well, for each seperate card the first month is the worst -- then they drop off. The settlement company helps keep the calls down. And send your own letters telling them not to call you state that they must communicate in writing only. This helped us. It seemed to take some places longer to start calling us. We just had our number changed after a particulary harrassing creditor from HSBC suzuki.

It is very embarassing to me to have thses people call. I was constantly on edge when we had people over to the house. Was the phone going to ring, was is going to continue to ring. What do i do????? What if my mom answers the phone???? I was (and am still to some extent) a bundle of nerves. Hope things work out for you. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnell because we have enough saved to start negotiations on our first account. I figure a weight will be lifted off as soon as that happens.

They call every day at 8:05am. If I talk to them, they'll call the next day at 8:05am. If I don't talk to them, they'll call five more times that day.

One of the reasons I was considering using this group was because they have attorneys, the fdcpa says that creditors can't call if a Law Firm is representing you. Doesn't sound like that to me.

fdcpa only applies to 3rd party collectors. Not original creditors.

4 months into the debt settlement process. I still am getting calls daily. I'm now trying to speak with them, but the calls are just like clock work... I can totally relate to one of the above conversations of the phone ringing when we have company over.. It's totally embarrassing.

I just began the settlement process as well. I am getting calls about 6-7 times per day, and somehow they got the number to my parents house and are calling them as well. My parents have not picked up since they think it is a telemarketer. It is annoying and scary to say the least. I have always paid my bills on time, and thought this process would be a relief for me because I was falling behind and thought this was the best option. But it is now just scary. I don't know what to do. Any relief or help with how to cope? My brother also did a settlement before, but for much less debt than I have, and he told me to hang in there because it will all go away and in the end, I will be debt free. But I am definitely scared.....

The calls are the worst part. They let up after the first 3-4 months or so, but then are sold off to collectors so a new round will begin. I have been in a program for 10 months now, and am just now getting more calls again. I will talk to them one or two times, tell them I am in a settlement program and they have to go through the company handling it, and then just don't talk to them again. I have caller ID, so it makes it easier. I was never behind on bills either, until I had to close a business and was left with 90,000 of debt. But in my first year, four accounts have been settled already, with only the smaller ones to go. So the further along you stick with it, the better things feel.

This is a process I do not want to do again... I'm not using credit cards anymore... 4 months in, calls daily... Having 16 credit cards and I got called by every single one, even if they were with the same company. 7 accounts have been settled... Still have a way to go..... I don't think I can relax and fully by happy until I know this is all done!

Yes, hopefully we've all learned an important lesson! I can't wait to be debt-free, and to stay that way! No more risks for me, no more credit cards except for emergency only. I didn't believe I could do it, but I have been existing without the cards for almost a year now, and the sense of freedom from that is incredible. The freedom from the debt will be even better!