Debt relief services can help you to achieve financial freedom when you have overwhelming debts. They negotiate with the creditors for debt reduction, lowering of interest rate, or extension of the loan repayment period. Either way, you will lessen the debt burden. By reviewing a list of good debt relief services, you can get help to enable you clear debts and gain financial freedom. Remember, for a debt relief program to work, you have to show commitment. Choosing a reputable debt relief company will also ensure that you become successful in achieving your debt settlement goal.
When Can You Use Debt Relief Services?
Below are some of the instances when you may seek debt relief services. Remember it all depends on your existing financial debt burden, and willingness to achieve freedom from debt.
- Inability to repay unsecured debts such as medical, credit card, and unsecured bank loans;
- Failure to meet monthly necessities due to high loan installments;
- Getting constant loan repayment reminders via emails and phone calls to a point where you no longer pick up or respond to lenders’ emails and calls;
- When facing foreclosure or asset repossession by lenders due to loan repayment arrears;
- Delay in bill payments; and
- When high-interest rates affect your loan repayment making it difficult to clear the loan, as it does not decrease despite the high monthly installments repayment.
How Debt Relief Services Work
The first step is to negotiate with the debt relief company of your choice on your current debt crisis and plan on the way forward to become debt free. The options for specific customers will depend on their commitments, incomes, and financial goals. Research on the requirements of every debt relief program can help in choosing the best debt relief program. Once you enroll in any debt relief program, you should show responsibility and commitment. If you do not, the lender may terminate the program. The consequences are hefty penalties and poor credit score ratings. Below are the options to choose from:
1. Settlement negotiations by a debt relief company
There are two options here. First, there is the nonprofit debt settlement option in which there is a simple agreement with the creditor to pay a certain amount within a specific period of time. It is hard to convince some creditors that you will honor the pledge to clear your debts. That is why most debtors do not succeed under this option. Alternatively, the second option is where debtors opt for a debt relief company to negotiate a lower amount and settle the same with the lenders. However, this will affect the credit score, as the report will reflect in your credit rating for several years.
2. Consolidation
A debt relief company evaluates your debts and combines them to ensure the monthly installment amount is lower. They consider the income and negotiate with the lenders to accept a lower affordable loan installment. With a longer repayment period, debt repayment, in the long run, is possible.
3. Professional financial planning services
The main reason why some people get into debt is poor financial planning. With a professional budget counselor, some debtors are able to budget and channel more funds toward repaying debt. Having a budget and reducing costs while maximizing savings help you achieve financial freedom. Debt relief companies may sometimes review your income and help to budget and prioritize needs so as to become debt free.
4. Lender assistance
Though this may apply to specific lenders, lender assistance may also help relieve the debt burden. Some lenders for student loans or mortgages may review a debtor’s financial position and partially forgive the debtors. Debt relief companies work with specific lenders to review the options available for their clients.
5. Bankruptcy
Through legal help, a client may declare bankruptcy. That way, the client gets unsecured debt relief, as he/she does not have to pay these unsecured loans. However, this should be the last option, as it negatively impacts your creditworthiness. Moreover, this option may also be a bit costly, because legal services for such cases are usually high.
Final Notes
A debt relief company can help to alleviate your debt burden. The secret is to identify the best service for your financial crisis. To qualify for debt relief services, they will check on your credit score in case they opt for a consolidation program for you. They also review your income and total debt. Remember, small debts do not qualify for debt relief services.
Once you get out of debt, financial counseling and advice are crucial. That way, you may plan your finances better to avoid future financial crises through debts.