The Ultimate Guide to Successful Debt Settlement

Before considering debt settlement, consumers should first exhaust all other available options. Debt settlement can be expensive, and some creditors are not willing to settle for less than the full balance owed.

Creditors are typically more willing to negotiate when a borrower is experiencing financial hardship. However, success varies, and it’s important to be aware of potential credit score impacts and tax implications for forgiven amounts.

1. Know Your Options

Debt settlement involves negotiating with creditors to reduce the amount you owe, typically through a third-party debt settlement company. While it may help people manage unmanageable debt, this option can be lengthy, stressful and, in some cases, expensive. If a creditor rejects a settlement offer, fees paid to the debt settlement company and interest charged by the original creditor could add hundreds or even thousands to the total debt owed.

Ultimately, debt settlement does save money for consumers who are unable to pay what they originally owed. But it should be viewed as a last resort, and the process can damage your credit score and require you to pay upfront fees for the debt relief company to negotiate on your behalf. In addition, the IRS considers any forgiven debt as income, so settling for less than you owe can result in tax implications down the road.

If you don’t choose a debt settlement company to handle your negotiations, you can do the work on your own. But this can be a long process that takes years, and you will need enough cash to make your settlement offers. This means you might need to divert your monthly credit card payments into a savings account until you have enough money for the negotiation process. Alternatively, you can also use debt consolidation, which doesn’t affect your credit score and is an option for people who are still able to make regular monthly payments on their debts.

2. Know Your Creditors

When it comes to debt settlement, creditors are more likely to accept a lump-sum offer than one that includes monthly payments. So, before you even think about calling your creditors, make sure you’ve accumulated enough cash to create that first offer. That could mean taking on a part-time job, selling some sports equipment or borrowing money from family and friends.

If you’re considering debt settlement through a company, it’s important to know your creditors and their rights and obligations, as well as what the company will charge you for their services. You should also know how much your creditors are willing to settle for and what percentage of the total debt you owe they usually accept. This will help you create acceptable offers for negotiations.

Creditors may not always agree to a settlement, but they are more likely to cooperate if you’re already delinquent and they have reason to believe that your current financial situation won’t allow you to repay what you owe. If you’ve missed payments and your account has been sold to a collection agency, they may be more inclined to negotiate because it’ll save them the cost of legal action.

Once you’ve negotiated an agreement with your creditor, be sure to get it in writing so that you have a record of what was agreed upon. This will protect you if you later decide to switch to a different company or to go it alone.

4. Know Your Options

Debt settlement can be the quickest and least expensive way to reduce your debt, but it isn’t a guaranteed solution. Before deciding to pursue this option, be sure to explore all your options carefully, including working with a credit counseling agency and a bankruptcy attorney, Detweiler says. Many third-party debt settlement companies charge high fees, and some can even ruin your credit. Also, be wary of any program that encourages you to stop paying in an attempt to pressure creditors into accepting a lower payoff amount—this is illegal and can ruin your credit.

It’s hard to predict how much a creditor will agree to settle for, although some debt settlement companies claim they can negotiate up to half of what you owe. Creditors may be more willing to accept a settlement if you have cash saved up and can demonstrate that your financial hardship makes it unfeasible for you to continue paying the full balance. You’ll also have a better chance of success if you can clearly articulate your circumstances to the creditor and avoid inflammatory language.

If your creditor decides to sue, you may be liable for court costs, interest and taxes on forgiven amounts, which can add up quickly. Also, settled debts are marked as “Settled” or “Paid Settled” on your credit report, which can hurt your score. If you’re unable to settle with your creditor, you might want to consider alternatives such as a debt management plan or debt consolidation loan.