When you can’t see any possible way to pay off your credit card balances, credit card debt settlement offers can seem very appealing. After all, who wouldn’t want to settle credit card debt for just pennies on each dollar owed? But because credit card settlement can have many disadvantages, it’s important to know how to settle with credit card companies while protecting your financial interests.
Here’s a short introduction on how to settle with credit card companies that can help anyone who’s interested in the credit card settlement process.
How to settle with credit card companies.
Consumers interested in credit card debt relief often hire credit card settlement companies to show them how to settle with credit card companies. These agencies will usually instruct you to stop making payments on your credit cards for a number of months, sending your account into serious delinquency. As your overdue payments pile up, the credit card companies may begin to get nervous that they won’t be able to get any more money from you. At this point, the settlement agency will propose a credit card lump sum settlement, where the total payment is less than the amount you owe.
While this sounds great, there are several possible downsides. Credit card companies may not accept your offer and may choose to sue you instead, in which case you’ll be even more deeply in debt. If your settlement offer is accepted, you may have to pay taxes that can eat up to 25% of your savings, while fees to the settlement agency may take another 25%. And whether your settlement process works or not, your credit rating will be severely damaged, making it hard to apply for credit for years to come.
How to settle with credit card companies with help from ACCC.
American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit organization that provides free credit counseling and low-cost debt services to consumers looking to find the best path out of debt. During our free credit counseling sessions, you can discuss with a certified financial professional how to settle with credit card companies most effectively, showing you a variety of alternatives for settling your debt. After getting a clear picture of your financial situation and your financial goals, we can help you determine which approach to debt relief makes the most sense for you.
Debt management: how to settle with credit card companies without damaging your credit.
When you want to avoid damaging your credit, ACCC’s counselors can show you how to settle with credit card companies through a debt management program. With debt management, you won’t stop making payments to the credit card companies, so your credit won’t take a big hit. Instead, you’ll make one payment each month to ACCC, and we’ll take responsibility for paying all your bills on time. We’ll also work to seek reductions in finance charges, interest rates and other fees that can help you pay down your debt more quickly.
Contact ACCC today for a free credit counseling session and to learn how to settle with credit card companies with a debt management plan.
