Get Out Of Debt

If you’ve thought about settling your financial problems once and for all and living a debt free life, debt relief through debt counseling is a viable choice that will have you back on your feet in no time.

Your first step to finding a good counseling agency is to make sure they’re a member of National Foundation for Credit Counseling or the Association of Independent Credit Counseling Agencies. Make sure to check out their background with Better Business Bureau and see if they’ve received any complaints from past customers. There have been cases where consumers ended up with more debt after counseling or they were dragged into a lengthy debt management plan when the alternative could have been something as simple as a workable budget.

You can also check with your state attorney general’s office to see if there are any pending legal investigations against them. Be cautious of agencies that claim they’re non-profit, as most of these could “persuade” you to make a donation to their cause or charge hidden fees. Offering their services for free doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll do a good job for you.

A strong counselor will carefully analyze your financial situation and then present you with your the best option for debt relief. They can re-negotiate loan terms and interest rates with your creditors, and will openly discuss their fees with you or tell you more about the services they offer. Be wary of counselors that rush their decisions or that pressure you into quick decisions. You will only end up in more debt than when you started.
Whether through debt management plans or something just as simple as financial advice, a good debt counselor can help you a great deal with your debt difficulties.

Consumers struggling with a high debt burden are reminded that research is required before enrolling in any debt relief program. While there are hundreds of legitimate companies that can help individuals eliminate their debt, there are also plenty of scams circulating within the industry which should be avoided. Before enrolling in any program it is important to investigate the company and the process they claim to use to eliminate debt. Here we are going to take a closer look at a potential scam that has cost some consumers hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

What is the National Debt Relief Program Scam?

It appears many consumers have received a letter in the mail claiming to be from the National Debt Relief Program. Victims of this scam have stated the letter at first glance appears to be from a government agency. Upon closer inspection it becomes clear the letter is not from a government agency but rather GHS Solutions, a debt settlement company. Jennifer Wallis is a Consumer Credit Counseling Service employee in central Oklahoma. She has clients who have received this letter which states the National Debt Relief Program can “reduce monthly payments by up to 50 percent”. Why is this letter considered a scam? Since the letter is designed to look like correspondence from a government agency, many consumers fail to realize it is actually from a debt settlement company. The information is misleading and many consumers who are desperate for a solution to their debt problem may enroll in a program that can have serious negative consequences.

GHS Solutions is a debt settlement company based in Delray Beach, Florida. The Better Business Bureau has given the company a F rating and reports 102 consumer complaints in the past three years. Of the 102 total complaints against the company, 88 are about the company agreeing to perform according to their contract.

GHS Solutions is not the only debt settlement company linked to the National Debt Relief Program scam. It appears consumers have also complained about a company named National Debt Relief and the program they offer to consumers. In this instance consumers have actually enrolled in the program and claim the company did not perform as promised. Clients claim National Debt Relief failed to stop collection calls and did not begin negotiating debt immediately. Other complaints claim the company misrepresents itself to appear like a government agency which leads consumers to believe they are working with a government program designed to assist individuals facing financial hardships.

It is important for all consumers to understand what type of debt relief program they are committing to before moving forward. Debt settlement is a legal process where individuals or companies hired on their behalf, negotiate with creditors to reduce delinquent balances in order to eliminate debt. Anyone considering this process must thoroughly research both the method and any company they consider hiring. There are several risks involved in the process however it can be the best option for people facing a serious financial hardship who would otherwise have to look toward bankruptcy to address their debt situation. It is unfortunate that some debt settlement companies continue to mislead or misrepresent themselves in order to enroll clients in their programs. Consumers are urged to carefully read any correspondence as well as contracts prior to enrolling in a debt settlement program to avoid confusion and disappointment down the road.

Government grants as an option of debt relief is not very popular. This is basically due to the lack of awareness amongst the people. Every year billions of dollars are kept aside for the purpose of giving away as government grants. People do not opt for these grants for debt relief because they think that either these grants are not available to individuals or they are not eligible to apply for the same.

Why Government Gives Grants For Debt Relief

When people are debt ridden, their expenditure decreases. This reduces the demand for various things in the economy because people will not have money to spend. Slowly this affects all areas of the economy, with the result that the economy of the state / nation suffers. Therefore it is imperative that the people have enough spending capacity so that the economy prospers.

Debt Relief With Government Grants

Government grants are more easily available than other forms of loans. This is because grants unlike loans do not require collateral or any other form of security. These thousands of dollars got as grants can be used for starting a new business, the proceeds from which can be used to clear off previous debts.

Grants are also available for clearing off debts incurred due to specific reasons like health care, education, business expenses etc. For e.g. a debt incurred for health care purposes like hospitalisation, medical bills, etc. can be cleared with the help of government grants. Debts incurred for setting up a business can also be funded using government grants. This makes government grant an ideal debt relief instrument.

Are grants easily available?

Grants are easily available to those people who can prove to the government that they are not in a position to pay off their debts. The social service office elaborately studies the financial position, outstanding debts and repayment capability of the debtor before issuing the grant. This is to ensure that the grant is going to the extremely needy people who have no other means to salvage their debt ridden situation.

Advantages Of Availing Government Grants For Debt Relief

1. A grant is easily available because no collateral is required to be got for it. The debtor just has to prove that he is not in a position to pay off his debts.

2. A grant is an aid from the government. It is not a loan. Hence it need not be paid back. It is both interest-free and non-taxable. It is given with the sole purpose of getting the finances of the debtor back on track, thereby making him debt-free subsequently.

3. With the availability of government grants for debt relief the debtors are saved from declaring bankruptcy.

4. Grants in comparison with other form of debt relief are a better option because they make the debtor debt free instantly.

Government grants are therefore an ideal debt relief option for those debtors who have no other option but to declare bankruptcy.

It’s easy to get the terms credit & debt confused. They seem to be interchangeable, however they are two different words with two different meanings.

Definition of Credit

Credit is a financial tool that people seek to acquire from financial institutions. Canadian Banks, credit unions, credit card companies all offer credit to their customers in Canada.

I call credit the “before” part of the equation. You have to have credit before you have debt.

Credit offers come in many different forms.
Mortgages and 2nd mortgages Car loans Payday loans Credit cards Lines of credit There a many other types of credit which I won’t list here

Here’s where people get confused about Credit / Debt.

There are two types of credit available.

Fixed loans Revolving credit

Mortgages and car loans are fix payment loans Lines of credit and credit cards are revolving credit.

Canadian Mortgages and car loans are only credit that are available to you. That means that once you acquire a mortgage or car loan it becomes a debt to you. A mortgage or car loan is never credit to you.

HERE’S WHY:

Where you ‘re shopping for a $250,000 mortgage, you’re looking for credit to buy your new house. You’re shopping for credit at this point.

When you visit your local banker or mortgage broker in Canada you’re doing the following:

Asking the creditors to give you some credit. You’re applying for credit You need to be a approved for credit. Creditors check out your credit worthiness, credit score, credit reports etc.

These are all the activities you do BEFORE you get the credit that you’re requesting.
Credit cards and lines of credit on the other hand can be BOTH credit and debt.

HERE’S WHY

Let’s say you have a credit card with a $5000 limit. At the beginning you have $5000 worth of credit available to you. After a while of using your credit card, you use up $1,000 worth of credit available. That $1,000 of used credit now becomes debt.

BEFORE: $5,000 credit available

AFTER: $4,000 credit still available $1,000 debt owing

This is probably why people in Canada get the terms credit & debt confused. People don’t usually need credit counselling, they need debt counselling. They counselling after they’ve acquired too much debt. ( I guess people could use credit counselling which would help them learn about how they can wisely use their credit that is still available. )

YOU NEVER HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON CREDIT!!

As I always like to say, “you NEVER have to make payments on your credit available. Credit available DOESN’T ruin marriages. The creditors DON’T make any money on credit available.

You do have to make payments on outstanding debts, or debt that you’ve incurred. Too much debt does ruin marriages, and Canadian creditors love it when you’re indebted to them. That is how they make their money.

Credit / Debt? Debt / Credit?

There is alot of credit available to consumers in Canada. It’s big business. The problem is when Canadians take on too much of that credit which becomes their debt burden.

I hope that this post helps you better understand the difference between credit & debt and how these terms affect your personal finances.

I have written in the past about programs that do not tell consumers the truth, hiding every little detail possible in order to cash in on retainer and monthly maintenance fees. First and foremost avoid most agencies with these unnecessary charges unless they come highly recommended from a reputable source.

What is the truth? Many of us do not want to hear our interest percentage rates will rise, late fees and penalties will continue to accumulate, etc.. when we stop making our monthly payments to our creditors, and there is no one that can make them go away except for consolidation programs that will negotiate to lower interest rates. When consolidating all payments must be made on time otherwise we will be dropped from the program. In order to consolidate debt we must be current on all payments. Settlement programs can not stop these charges at all, and that is the truth.

So now we now if we consolidate we will be paying everything we owe back to our creditors plus interest. What most consolidation companies fail to tell consumers is that for as long as they are in the consolidation program their credit report will look as if they have filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy. This little detail is often not told by credit counselors. If credit score is important any type of debt relief program must be avoided.

The same goes for settlement programs, credit score will be affected as well. The only difference is the person’s credit report will not show a chapter 13 mark. The accounts will be reported as delinquent until settled or payed in full. Again, if credit score is important debt settlement is not the route to go either.

Are there any tax implications on debt settlements? YES. On any savings over $600.00 on any particular settlement a person will receive a 1099 statement and any money saved over $600.00 will have to be claimed as income unless the persons losses for one year are greater than the gains. Meaning if when tax time rolls around a person shows a negative margin on their earnings, for more information on this matter we should consult a licensed tax broker.

Can we be sued, have wages garnished, property attached to? YES. Any creditor has the right to the assert legal action to claim money owed. When we sign our contract agreement we give the credit company or companies the right to do so. If any debt relief agency tells anyone none of the above can happen, they are lying. Some individuals are very lucky, and never even get a phone call from a creditor or a collection agency and have the statue of limitations expire on their debt. I believe everyone must be aware of these possibilities before pursuing settlements on their debt.

So far we know of the fees that will be accumulated on our debt if we discontinue our payments to our creditors, what will happen to our credit reports and scores, the tax implications of debt settlements, the legal implications. Do we really need someone not telling us all this? If I were looking for debt relief help more specifically debt settlement I would like to hear all these little nasty details before deciding to negotiate on my debt. I would be able to sleep better at night knowing the consequences that may or may not happen.

Debt negotiation has yielded great savings to many, especially if they are well informed and the debt relief agency they choose to work with is honest and up front. Even with some of these difficulties waiting to happen some of us have no other choice but to seek debt relief, BE SMART and ask questions, if the answers you are getting do not satisfy you, keep searching. The right debt relief agency is out there for you, just look hard enough and you will find it.